Compare Smile credit cards for May 2023

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Compare Smile credit cards

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Name	Product	Ratings	Finder rating	Customer rating	Purchases	Annual/monthly fees	Initial credit limits	Representative APR	Link	Incentive	Representative example
smile Gold Credit Card		Finder score ★★★★★	★★★★★ Expert analysis	Not yet rated	15.8%	£0	Min. limit £300, max. limit not specified.	15.8% APR (variable)	Read review		Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 15.8% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 15.8% APR (variable).	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
smile Classic Credit Card		Finder score ★★★★★	★★★★★ Expert analysis	Not yet rated	19.9%	£0	Min. limit £200, max. limit not specified.	19.9% APR (variable)	Read review	0.25% after £1 of monthly spend. Cashback paid Monthly into Card Account.	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).	Compare	loading Fetching your data...

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What is Smile?

Founded by the Co-operative Bank in 1999, Smile was the UK’s first fully digital bank. Its aim was to make banking accessible, direct and fuss-free. Smile frequently comes out top in industry awards for its customer service.

Smile’s credit cards are part of the Visa network, so they are accepted at tens of millions of merchants and ATMs in more than 200 countries.

What types of card does Smile offer?

Smile takes an uncomplicated approach to the credit card market, offering its customers two distinct choices.

• Cashback cards

  With its Classic credit card, Smile avoids headline-grabbing interest free periods for purchases and balance transfers to entice its customers, and instead focuses on an ongoing low interest rate. With this card you can also earn cashback on your purchases (with the normal exceptions, like cash withdrawals, currency and travellers cheques), allowing you to make your money work harder. This card also has the benefit of no annual fee and no balance transfer fee.
  Learn more about cashback credit cards

• Low-rate cards

  Smile’s Gold card offers an even lower ongoing interest rate than the cashback card. Eligibility remains the same, but this card comes with no cashback incentive. Like the cashback card, it has the benefit of no annual fee and no balance transfer fee, so you know exactly what to expect.
  Learn more about low-rate cards

What benefits can I get with a Smile credit card?

• Online account management. Smile is dedicated to providing a user-friendly, hassle-free online experience, meaning you can manage all your banking on its website and through the Smile app.
• App. With the Smile mobile banking app, you can keep an eye on your recent payments, pay bills from anywhere at any time, set up and manage text alerts and receive personalised content if you wish.
• Global usage. Smile credit cards are part of the Visa network, so they are accepted at tens of millions of merchants and ATMs in more than 200 countries.
• Card reader. A card reader adds an extra layer of protection when you use online banking and pay people online. It’s a free tool, which helps Smile confirm that it’s you using the account.
• Get the advertised rate. If your application is accepted, you’ll receive the exact rate and offer advertised, so there are no nasty surprises.

Applying for a Smile credit card

You can apply for a Smile credit card online in around 10 minutes. Simply fill out the online form providing your personal information such as name, address, bank details, income, outgoings and work status.

Eligibility requirements

To be eligible for a Smile credit card, you must:

• Reside in the UK.
• Be 18 or over.
• Earn over £10,000 a year.
• Be an existing customer having held a Co-operative Bank or Smile current account for at least 7 months (Cashminder, Student and Pathfinder accounts are not eligible).
• Not be currently declared bankrupt, or have had county court judgements or decrees in the last six years.
• Not be in arrears or have not missed more than two payments on any credit agreement in the last six months.
• Be employed full time, part time, self-employed or retired.

Why might you not be approved?

On the whole, if you meet the eligibility requirements but have a history of bad debt or no credit history at all, you may be rejected. Equally if you are in an IVA or have had a CCJ you may not be accepted. If you have ever declared bankruptcy you are also unlikely to receive a card.

Overview of Smile credit cards

Smile customer reviews

Smile has received poor reviews overall from customers, according to review platform Trustpilot. It currently has a rating of 1.5 out of 5, based on more than 450 reviews (updated 17 March 2021). Some customers reported problems with their cards being locked or having transactions declined unexpectedly.

Frequently asked questions

• How are payments allocated for outstanding credit card balances?

  Smile will allocate the payment to the debt that’s accruing interest at the highest rate first. If some amounts are charged at the same interest rate, Smile will apply your payment to the oldest amounts first, unless you have more than one promotional offer at the same rate. In that case, Smile will apply your payment to these balances in the order in which the offers started (so balances on earlier offers will be paid first, even if you have older transactions on an offer that started later).

• How is cashback from my Smile credit card displayed on my online banking recent items and statements?

  In the recent items section of online banking, Smile displays cashback payments as ‘Adjustment TC280’. On your full statement, it displays it as ‘Smile cashback’.

• Can I get a cash advance from my credit card account?

  You can transfer money from your Visa credit card to your current account, but you will be charged interest.