In this guide

  • Our verdict
  • Details
    • Product Overview
    • What are the fees and charges for the Partnership Credit Card?
    • What are the application requirements Partnership Credit Card?
  • Your reviews

John Lewis and Waitrose Partnership Card review 2024

  • Chris Lilly's headshot
John Lewis Partnership Credit Card
3.9
★★★★★
Finder score
4.4
★★★★★
Representative example:
When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 28.94% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 28.9% APR (variable).
Earn rate (at select partners)
1.25 points per £1 spent
Earn rate (elsewhere)
1 point per £1 spent
Account fee
£0

Our verdict

John Lewis Finance has relaunched the Partnership credit card with consumer card issuer NewDay.

If you're a fan of John Lewis and Waitrose, this credit card can earn you loyalty points wherever you use it, and at an enhanced rate when you use it at John Lewis or Waitrose. The points you accumulate can be exchanged for John Lewis and Waitrose vouchers three times a year, in units of £5. Any extra points above the nearest £5 are carried over into the next reward period. Points can be spent online or in-store at any John Lewis store, or Waitrose supermarket.

To draw in new customers, there's an introductory bonus plus introductory 0% periods on both purchases and balance transfers. So if you already have an outstanding balance with another credit card provider, you can apply to bring it across to this card, and pay no interest on that balance for a set period (after which the card's standard rate kicks in). Alternatively if you're anticipating a large expenditure, you can use the card's 0% on purchases period to spread the cost without incurring interest.

You'd expect decent customer service from John Lewis and Waitrose, and indeed it does offer a customer support helpline, charged at local rate. You can also register for online account servicing or download the free mobile app, to carry out a range of tasks including making payments, viewing your current balance and recent statements, requesting a balance transfer or credit limit change or switching to paperless monthly statements.

You can also request cards for up to three other nominated people on your account, which could help you earn points faster (just remember you'll be solely responsible for the card debt). This can be done online, via the app, or in a John Lewis Partnership or Waitrose store.

Ultimately, there are longer 0% deals around for both purchases and balance transfers, and there are better ongoing interest rates out there. However, for regular Waitrose/John Lewis shoppers who don't need longer offers, and don't plan on carrying a balance from month to month, the perks could make this a card worth carrying.

Pros

  • Six months to spread the cost of purchases
  • Earn points on day-to-day spending
  • No annual fee

Cons

  • Applicants with low credit scores are unlikely to be eligible
  • Relatively high balance transfer fee
  • You may be offered an opening credit limit as low as £250

In this guide

  • Our verdict
  • Details
    • Product Overview
    • What are the fees and charges for the Partnership Credit Card?
    • What are the application requirements Partnership Credit Card?
  • Your reviews

Details

Product Overview

Issuer NewDay Ltd
Network Mastercard
Representative APR 28.9% APR (variable)
Annual/monthly fees £0
Loyalty scheme Points
Incentive Earn 2.5% back as points towards gift vouchers on eligible spend at John Lewis and Waitrose in the first 60 days from account opening. Earn 5 points for every £4 spent on eligible purchases at John Lewis and Waitrose and 1 point for every £4 spent elsewhere. 1 point = 1p (min 500pts)
Incentive on opening Earn 2.5% back as points towards gift vouchers on eligible spend at John Lewis and Waitrose in the first 60 days from account opening. Earn 5 points for every £4 spent on eligible purchases at John Lewis and Waitrose and 1 point for every £4 spent elsewhere. 1 point = 1p (min 500pts)
Purchases 28.94%
Purchases interest-free period (days) 56
Balance transfers 28.94%
Potential costs 3.8 ★★★★★
Doing its job 3.8 ★★★★★
Extras 4.7 ★★★★★
Overall Finder Score 3.9 ★★★★★

What are the fees and charges for the Partnership Credit Card?

Minimum monthly payment 1% or £5 (whichever is greater) or the total of any interest, default fees and charges plus 1% of the outstanding balance.
Annual/monthly fees £0
Balance transfer fee 5%
Foreign usage charge (EU) 2.75%
Foreign usage charge (rest of world) 2.75%
Cash advance fee 3% (min. £3)
Late payment fee £12
Exceeding limit fee £12
Additional card fee £0
Dormancy fee £0

What are the application requirements Partnership Credit Card?

Minimum Age 18
Availability Available to new customers

John Lewis stores have been a fixture of our major high streets since 1864, when the first one opened on London’s Oxford Street. The company is one of the best-known employee-owned businesses in the UK, with its staff all given a share of its annual profits.

Like many of its competitors, John Lewis’ expansion of its business has seen it set up its own financial services arm, which offers a range of other products besides the John Lewis credit card. Its card is provided by NewDay, and is issued on the Mastercard network, which means it’s accepted in more than 35 million outlets around the world.

How does this card compare?

The Partnership card

1 - 1 of 1
Name Product UKCCF Finder Score Finder score Purchases Annual/monthly fees Initial credit limits Representative APR Incentive Link
John Lewis Partnership Credit Card
3.9
★★★★★
★★★★★
Expert analysis
28.94%
£0
Min. limit £250, max. limit not specified.
28.9% APR (variable)
Earn 2.5% back as points towards gift vouchers on eligible spend at John Lewis and Waitrose in the first 60 days from account opening. Earn 5 points for every £4 spent on eligible purchases at John Lewis and Waitrose and 1 point for every £4 spent elsewhere. 1 point = 1p (min 500pts)
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 28.94% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 28.9% APR (variable).
Check eligibility
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The competition

Table: sorted by representative APR, promoted deals first
1 - 6 of 35
Name Product UKCCF Finder Score Finder score Purchases Annual/monthly fees Initial credit limits Representative APR Incentive Link
M&S Bank Credit Card Transfer Plus Offer Mastercard
3.9
★★★★★
★★★★★
Expert analysis
0% for 3 months reverting to 24.9%
£0
Min. limit £500, max. limit not specified.
24.9% APR (variable)
1 point per £1 spent with M&S and 1 point per £5 spent elsewhere. Enjoy 55 days interest free, preferential rates plus no cash advance fee when buying M&S travel money with the card.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 24.9% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 24.9% APR (variable).
Check eligibility
M&S Bank Credit Card Purchase Plus Offer Mastercard
4.1
★★★★★
★★★★★
Expert analysis
0% for 20 months reverting to 24.9%
£0
Min. limit £500, max. limit not specified.
24.9% APR (variable)
1 point per £1 spent with M&S and 1 point per £5 spent elsewhere. Enjoy 55 days interest free, preferential rates plus no cash advance fee when buying M&S travel money with the card.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 24.9% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 24.9% APR (variable).
Check eligibility
John Lewis Partnership Credit Card
3.9
★★★★★
★★★★★
Expert analysis
28.94%
£0
Min. limit £250, max. limit not specified.
28.9% APR (variable)
Earn 2.5% back as points towards gift vouchers on eligible spend at John Lewis and Waitrose in the first 60 days from account opening. Earn 5 points for every £4 spent on eligible purchases at John Lewis and Waitrose and 1 point for every £4 spent elsewhere. 1 point = 1p (min 500pts)
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 28.94% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 28.9% APR (variable).
Check eligibility
American Express® Rewards Credit Card
3.9
★★★★★
★★★★★
Expert analysis
30.7%
£0
Min. limit £500, max. limit not specified.
30.7% APR (variable)
Earn 1 Membership Rewards® point for every £1 spent thereafter. Earn up to 90,000 bonus points per year through refer a friend, 4,000 points awarded for every friend approved. 1 point = 0.45p (min 1,000 points) to shop, other rewards have differing conversions.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 30.7% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 30.7% APR (variable).
Check eligibility
British Airways American Express® Credit Card
4.0
★★★★★
★★★★★
Expert analysis
30.7%
£0
Min. limit £700, max. limit not specified.
30.7% APR (variable)
New Cardmembers collect 5,000 bonus Avios when you spend £2,000 in the first 3 months of your Cardmembership. T&Cs Apply, 18+, subject to status.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 30.7% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 30.7% APR (variable).
Check eligibility
Yonder 'No Fee' Credit Card
4.0
★★★★★
★★★★★
Expert analysis
32.9%
£0
Min. limit not specified, max. limit not specified.
32.9% APR (variable)
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 32.9% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 32.9% APR (variable).
Check eligibility
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1 - 6 of 15
Name Product UKCCF Finder Score Finder score Annual/monthly fees Purchases Representative APR Link Cashback details Representative example
Santander All in One Credit Card
4.4
★★★★★
★★★★★
Expert analysis
£3 per month
0% for 15 months reverting to 23.9%
29.8%
Check eligibility
0.5% after £1 of monthly spend. Maximum of £10 cashback paid per month. Cashback paid Monthly into Card Account. Maximum spend for cashback purposes is limited to credit limit.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 23.9% (variable) p.a. with a fee of £3 per month, your representative rate is 29.8% APR (variable).
Amex® Cashback Everyday Credit Card
3.8
★★★★★
★★★★★
Expert analysis
£0
30.7%
30.7%
Check eligibility
Welcome offer: Get 5% cashback on your purchases (up to £125) for the first 5 months of Cardmembership. Terms and minimum spend apply. 18+, subject to status.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 30.7% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 30.7% APR (variable).
Amex® Cashback Credit Card
3.7
★★★★★
★★★★★
Expert analysis
£25 per annum
30.7%
36.3%
Check eligibility
New Cardmembers get 5% cashback on your purchases (up to £125) for the first 3 months of Cardmembership. T&Cs apply, 18+, subject to status.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 30.7% (variable) p.a. with a fee of £25 per annum, your representative rate is 36.3% APR (variable).
Bank of Scotland Platinum Low Rate Credit Card
3.1
★★★★★
★★★★★
Expert analysis
£0
10.94%
10.9%
0.25% after £1 of yearly spend for introductory period of 36 months. Cashback paid On request into Card Account.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 10.94% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 10.9% APR (variable).
MBNA Limited Platinum Visa
4.5
★★★★★
★★★★★
Expert analysis
£0
13.94%
13.9%
0.25% after £1 of yearly spend. Cashback paid January into Card Account. Earn 0.25% cashback on purchases within the first 36 months of account opening. Maximum spend for cashback purposes is limited to credit limit.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 13.94% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 13.9% APR (variable).
Additional account needed
AIB Options 1 Credit Card
3.5
★★★★★
★★★★★
Expert analysis
£0
17.44%
18.9%
0.5% after £5000 of yearly spend. Minimum of 12 transactions per year required. Maximum of £250 cashback paid per year. Cashback paid Anniversary into Card Account. For initial £5K a £25 cashback is paid, plus an additional £1 for every further £200 spent.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 17.44% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 18.9% APR (variable).
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1 - 6 of 8
Name Product UKCCF Finder Score Finder score Purchases Annual/monthly fees Initial credit limits Representative APR Incentive Link
British Airways American Express® Premium Plus Card
4.0
★★★★★
★★★★★
Expert analysis
30.7%
£300 per annum
Min. limit £700, max. limit not specified.
139.2% APR (variable)
New Cardmembers collect 30,000 bonus Avios when you spend £6,000 in the first 3 months of your Cardmembership. T&Cs Apply, 18+, subject to status.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 30.7% (variable) p.a. with a fee of £300 per annum, your representative rate is 139.2% APR (variable).
Check eligibility
British Airways American Express® Credit Card
4.0
★★★★★
★★★★★
Expert analysis
30.7%
£0
Min. limit £700, max. limit not specified.
30.7% APR (variable)
New Cardmembers collect 5,000 bonus Avios when you spend £2,000 in the first 3 months of your Cardmembership. T&Cs Apply, 18+, subject to status.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 30.7% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 30.7% APR (variable).
Check eligibility
Virgin Money Virgin Atlantic Reward Plus Credit Card
4.0
★★★★★
★★★★★
Expert analysis
26.9%
£160 per annum
Min. limit not specified, max. limit not specified.
69.7% APR (variable)
Earn 18,000 bonus points with your first card purchase made within 90 days of account opening. Earn 1.5 Flying Club miles for every £1 spend and 3 miles for every £1 spend with Virgin Atlantic and Virgin Holidays. Spend £10K a year on your card and choose an extra benefit - an upgrade to Premium, or a Companion ticket. Points value varies dependent on reward (min 3000pts)
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 26.9% (variable) p.a. with a fee of £160 per annum, your representative rate is 69.7% APR (variable).
Virgin Money Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card
3.9
★★★★★
★★★★★
Expert analysis
26.9%
£0
Min. limit not specified, max. limit not specified.
26.9% APR (variable)
Earn 3,000 bonus points with your first card purchase made within 90 days of account opening. Earn 0.75 Flying Club miles for every £1 spend and 1.5.miles for every £1 spend with Virgin Atlantic or Virgin Holidays. Spend £20K a year on your card and choose an extra benefit - an upgrade to Premium, or a Companion ticket. Points value varies dependent on reward (min 3000pts)
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 26.9% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 26.9% APR (variable).
Barclaycard Avios Plus Card
4.0
★★★★★
★★★★★
Expert analysis
29.9%
£20 per month
Min. limit £50, max. limit not specified.
80.1% APR (variable)
Earn 25,000 Avios when £3,000 spent on card over the first 3 months of opening. Earn 1.5 Avios for every £1 you spend. Spend £10,000 or more during the year and receive a British Airways cabin upgrade voucher to use on an Avios Reward Flight booking, or 7,000 bonus Avios. Avios value varies dependent on reward (min 1,000pts for flights)
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 29.9% (variable) p.a. with a fee of £20 per month, your representative rate is 80.1% APR (variable).
Lloyds Bank World Elite Mastercard
4.2
★★★★★
★★★★★
Expert analysis
22.94%
£15 per month
Min. limit not specified, max. limit not specified.
55% APR (variable)
0.5% on £1 to £15000 of yearly spend. 1% after £15001 of yearly spend. Cashback paid Anniversary into Card Account. Maximum spend for cashback purposes is limited to credit limit.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 22.94% (variable) p.a. with a fee of £15 per month, your representative rate is 55% APR (variable).
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Repayment options

You can make manual repayments through John Lewis Finance's app by logging in to your online banking or over the phone (0300 175 9829). Alternatively, you may wish to set up a direct debit.

A direct debit protects you from forgetting to make a repayment and either damaging your credit score, getting hit with a penalty fee (£12) or losing any promotional rates as a result.

You can arrange a direct debit for repayments when you apply for the credit card. The table below shows the options available.

Choose from the following direct debit options for your monthly repayments:

Minimum amount Fixed amount Fixed percentage Full amount

How to apply for the Partnership Card

First, you can use Finder's eligibility checker to find out if you'd be likely to get approved for the John Lewis Partnership Credit Card. This won't impact your credit score. If it's good news, you can then proceed to John Lewis Finance's online application, which takes 10–15 minutes to complete.

Frequently asked questions

What credit limit will I get with the John Lewis Partnership Credit Card?

If John Lewis Finance offers you this deal, it will specify a personalised credit limit based on John Lewis Finance's assessment of your situation. The minimum limit offered on this card is £250, and John Lewis Finance does not specify a maximum. Once you've had the card for a while and shown John Lewis Finance you're reliable, you may wish to apply for a credit limit increase.

Can I withdraw cash using the John Lewis Partnership Credit Card?

Although it's possible, withdrawing cash from a credit card account is generally not a good idea, as "cash-like transactions" (such as withdrawing cash at an ATM, getting cashback at the till, spending at a casino or buying currency) often incur steep fees and/or higher rates of interest.

The cash advance fee on the John Lewis Partnership Credit Card is 3% (min. £3). For example, if you withdraw £50, you'll incur a fee of £3.00. Withdraw £250 and you'll incur a fee of £7.50.

The interest rate on this part of your balance will be 38.95%, which is 35% more than the standard purchase rate (chargeable from the day of the transaction – the card's usual "up to 56 days interest-free" grace period won't apply).

How much does it cost to use the John Lewis Partnership Credit Card abroad?

Non-sterling transactions are subject to a 2.75% charge. For example, if you spend 200 euros (£167.38), it'll cost you around £4.60 in fees.

What is the minimum payment on the John Lewis Partnership Credit Card?

Each month, you must pay at least 1% of your balance at that point or £5.00 – whichever of the 2 figures is greater. So if you had, say, £450.00 outstanding, you'd pay £5.00, and if you had £2,000.00 outstanding, you'd pay £20.00.

Paying only the minimum required amount each month is generally not advisable as it tends to be a very expensive way to borrow money, which can lead to persistent debt.

Can I request an additional John Lewis Partnership Credit Card?

Yes, in fact, you can request up to 3 more. There's no fee for additional cards. Plus, with additional cards, you could earn points at a faster rate. Bear in mind that card debt accrued by additional cardholders is the sole responsibility of the account holder – not the additional cardholder.

Finder credit card scores

★★★★★ — Excellent
★★★★★ — Good
★★★★★ — Average
★★★★★ — Subpar
★★★★★ — Poor

Our experts score rewards credit cards to determine their value against similar products on the market. We look at a number of important factors, like welcome bonuses, introductory and ongoing earn-rates, any caps or restrictions on the points you can earn, plus the potential costs involved with running the card both in the short and longer term.

You can read more about our scoring criteria on our credit card methodology page.

We show offers we can track - that's not every product on the market...yet. Unless we've said otherwise, products are in no particular order. The terms "best", "top", "cheap" (and variations of these) aren't ratings, though we always explain what's great about a product when we highlight it. This is subject to our terms of use. When you make major financial decisions, consider getting independent financial advice. Always consider your own circumstances when you compare products so you get what's right for you. Most of the data in Finder's comparison tables has the source: Moneyfacts Group PLC. In other cases, Finder has sourced data directly from providers.
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