With an excellent all-in-one credit card and a selection of offers, not to mention the World Elite Mastercard, Santander could have the right card for you.
You can take advantage of one of the longest 0% balance transfer periods on the market and pay nothing towards transferring your balance with Santander. As one of the leading credit card providers in the UK, Santander offers a range of solid benefits with its cards.
Wholly owned by Santander Group, the Spanish bank established more than a 150 years ago, Santander offers its customers excellent deals on credit cards as well no-fee forex spend on many of its cards which is unusual amongst UK card issuers.
Compare Santander credit cards
Types of Santander credit cards
A straight forward set of credit card offers makes it simple to choose the right Santander card. Santander bundles a lot of value into a single card, so picking just one of the bank’s offers can meet a lot of your requirements.
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0% balance transfer cards
Santander does not offer a balance transfer card by name, but the bank’s All in One Credit Card offers one of the longest balance transfer periods on the market, essentially acting as a top balance transfer product. In addition to the generous 0% period, Santander also waives the usual balance transfer fee so you can move a credit card balance from a different bank and pay nothing for several years.
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0% purchases credit cards
If it’s an interest-free period on purchases that you need, pick the Santander Everyday Credit Card, which offers an exceptionally long 0% period on purchases. This card also offers a very long interest-free period on balance transfers, charging a modest balance transfer fee. Remember to always keep to your card’s terms and conditions, including any minimum payments, or you risk losing your promotional interest rate.
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All-rounder cards
For a card that offers a long 0% period on both balance transfers and on card purchases, choose the Everyday Credit Card. In comparison, the bank’s All in One Credit Card offers only a short period of 0% interest on purchases. However, the All in One Credit Card offers fee-free purchases abroad, so evaluate carefully for how long you need a 0% promotional period on card purchases.
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Overseas spending cards
Santander is unusually generous when it comes to saving you money when you spend abroad. At the time of writing, all Santander cards with the exception of the Everyday Credit Card offer commission and fee-free foreign spend. In addition, the Zero Credit Card offers fee-free cash withdrawals anywhere in the world. Use a qualifying Santander card while you travel and you will be charged at the Visa or Mastercard exchange rate on your transactions with nothing extra to pay.
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Travel perks cards
Available to qualifying Santander banking customers the Santander World Elite Mastercard offers a range of perks, including free Wi-Fi access at over a million hotspots and unlimited entry to a choice of 800 airport lounges courtesy of LoungeKey. You also get discounted travel insurance, access to a Mastercard concierge and cashback on purchases. To top it all off, the Santander World Elite Mastercard charges no foreign transaction fees on purchases made abroad.
What benefits can I get with a Santander credit card?
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Rewards
Your Santander card can reward you for everyday card spend. The Santander All in One Credit Card offers a cash-back percentage on all credit card spend, with no caps on the amount of cash-back you can earn. Both the Everyday Credit Card and the Zero Credit Card offer generous cash-back benefits with select retailers. Finally, the World Elite Mastercard offers cash-back on all card spend but with a cap on the total amount of cash-back you can earn.
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Mobile payments
Link any of your Santander credit cards with Apple Pay or Android Pay and you can pay for goods and services with a tap of your phone. Mobile phone payments are convenient, and you don’t have to carry your card with you.
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Security features
Santander maintains top security measures against a range of security threats, including a partnership with Mastercard SecureCode and Verified by Visa, which helps prevent unauthorised transactions. You also benefit from Santander’s automated fraud monitoring system that keeps a watchful eye on your card purchases.
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Long periods of 0% interest
At the time of writing, all the Santander credit card products, with the exception of the Zero Credit Card, offer a generous initial period of 0% in interest charges on either balance transfers or purchases. You can save a substantial amount by transferring existing balances or by making purchases on your new Santander card.
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No charges on foreign expenditure
Santander products are an excellent choice for the frequent traveller. Most of the Santander credit card products waive foreign currency conversion fees when you spend abroad. The Zero Credit Card also waives the usual cash machine fees when you use it to withdraw cash overseas.
How can I apply for a Santander credit card?
- Santander has a streamlined range of cards, but they are different in the features and benefits on offer. Look at each card and decide which suits you best: do you need a long balance transfer offer, or are you better off with 0% interest on purchases?
- Consider the eligibility criteria for the card you want to apply for. Santander looks for individuals that have a good credit record and no history of county court judgements or individual voluntary arrangements.
- Complete the online application form accurately and you could have an answer within 15 minutes. Occasionally, an application is referred for manual evaluation, in which case you will have to wait a few days for an answer.
- If your application is approved your Santander credit card and PIN will arrive in the mail within 7 to 10 working days.
What supporting documents and information will I need?
Santander follows the standard credit card application process, so you will need your full personal details including recent address history and your employment details including your current income. Sometimes applications will result in a request for you to submit personal identification such as your passport and proof of address such as a letter from HMRC.
The bottom line
Exceptional balance transfer offers and fee-free foreign spend on many of the Santander cards means that you could apply for a Santander card which meets all of your personal requirements in a single product. A solid track record in personal banking and excellent security measures makes Santander one of the most popular choices for credit card products.
Frequently asked questions
The NatWest Balance Transfer Credit Card (existing customers)
Balance transfers:
0% for 23 months reverting to 19.9%Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 19.9% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 19.9% APR (variable).
M&S Bank Shopping Plus Mastercard
Balance transfers:
0% for 20 months reverting to 19.9%Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 19.9% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 19.9% APR (variable).
ASDA Money Cashback Credit Card
Balance transfers:
0% for 12 months reverting to 19.9%Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 19.9% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 19.9% APR (variable).
The Royal Bank Balance Transfer Credit Card (existing customers)
Balance transfers:
0% for 23 months reverting to 19.9%Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 19.9% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 19.9% APR (variable).
*Disclaimer: The offers compared on this page are chosen from a range of products whose details Finder has access to track; they don't represent all the products available in the market. Unless indicated otherwise, products are displayed in no particular order or ranking. The terms "best", "top", "cheap" (and variations) are not product ratings and are subject to our terms of use. You should consider seeking independent financial advice and consider your personal financial circumstances when comparing products.
