Fintechs (a combination of the words finance and technology) have disrupted the banking industry and are changing the world of finance for consumers. Most recently, fintechs have entered the credit card market. We take a closer look at what’s on offer.
A fintech credit card is often one that’s issued by a neobank, or challenger bank, that waves goodbye to hefty fees, offers innovative features including perks and rewards, and can usually be managed via an app. Perks can include creative reward programmes, no fees for foreign transactions, and the opportunity to build your credit rating.
Below is a list of the top fintech consumer credit cards in the UK and how they work:
You can apply for the Zopa credit card online and use an instant eligibility check which won’t impact your credit score. Once accepted, you can manage your credit card via the app, including downloading statements and seeing what you’ve spent where. You’ll get instant payment notifications and can also use the credit cushion feature to set aside some of your available balance for when you really need it. There are no fees for using your card abroad and it’s easy to freeze your card if you spot any unusual transactions. Interest rates vary depending on your circumstances.
The Jaja credit card can be managed via the app which will help you track your spending, categorise your transactions, and freeze and unfreeze your card with ease. There are no annual fees and no fees for using your card abroad either. At the moment, Jaja is not accepting new customers for its credit card. But the company partnered with Bank of Ireland in 2019 and acquired its existing credit card portfolio, including credit cards from the AA and Post Office.
Tymit Credit is designed for those with medium to high credit scores, and lets you choose how you want to pay for purchases. If you pay over 3 monthly instalments, there is no interest to pay. Alternatively, you can spread the cost over 6, 12, 24 or 36 monthly instalments at an interest rate of 29.9% APR. There are no annual or foreign exchange fees. Tymit Booster, on the other hand, is designed for those looking to build their credit score. You save however much you want into a booster pot and you’ll get a line of credit equivalent to that amount. Used responsibly, your credit score will start to increase. There’s a £9.95 monthly fee.
Bip offers cardless credit which means you can access a line of credit without needing to use a physical card. Instead, you can manage your credit account entirely from your phone. There are no annual fees, no late payment or overlimit fees, and no additional fees for using Bip abroad. You can also cap your own spending and see instant balance updates. You can make online purchases by using your Bip number, expiry date and CVV, or you can choose to make payments online or instore with Google and Apple Pay.
Keebo is designed for those looking to build their credit score who may have been turned away by traditional high street banks. The card is “invite-only” but you can request an invitation for access on its website. Keebo uses open banking to link all of your bank accounts to give a better picture of your finances and determine your affordability. Once you’re accepted for the card, you can set up autopayments and monitor your spending via the app. Every transaction you make with the card goes towards getting you Keebo points which can help build credit. There are no annual fees.
If you’re searching for a rewards credit card, take a look at Yonder. You’ll earn 1 point for every £1 spent and points can be redeemed at selected restaurants, bars and events. Yonder is also a good option for those without a UK credit score who want to build up their credit rating, such as expats and immigrants. It uses open banking to view your banking data and check your income and expenses to assess your affordability. Provided you make your monthly repayment on time, your credit rating should improve. Note there is a high interest rate of 59.3% APR.
If you’re looking for a fintech credit card for your business, take a look at the ones below:
Juni offers digital and virtual business credit cards (technically charge cards) with custom spend limits which you can adjust with ease via the app. The Juni card will give you access to credit lines of up to £2,000,000 and cards are available in sterling or euros, with US dollar cards coming soon. Transactions that match the currency of your card are completely free, but you may be charged foreign exchange fees by Visa if currencies do not match. You’ll also benefit from up to 1% cashback on your card spend, with no annual fee.
This corporate charge card has no fees and offers up to 4% cashback on all spending. With Jeeves you’ll also avoid currency conversion charges when spending on the card abroad. Further benefits include the option to request additional physical cards and up to 100 virtual cards without a fee, and the ability to manage all your company cards, payments and spending limits via the web platform and mobile app. You can also upload receipts and export data to your accounting software.
There are a number of benefits to using a fintech credit card, including:
Perhaps the biggest impact fintech is having on the credit card industry is that consumers are being offered more choice. Many fintech credit cards are aimed towards those who have struggled to get credit elsewhere, offering them an alternative way to access credit and build a credit rating.
What’s more, with most fintech credit cards being managed via an app, it is easy for consumers to track and categorise transactions which in turn could help prevent them from racking up huge amounts of debt. The lack of fees for foreign transactions and other spending also makes borrowing this way cheaper, and with some fintech credit cards offering nifty features to help break down payments into monthly instalments, many consumers will likely find managing their debt far easier.
If you’re looking to take out your first credit card, it can be hard to know what to look for. Here’s what you need to do to find the first credit card that’s best for you.
See which credit cards you can use when shopping at Aldi, as well as your other payment options.
Find out how much it could cost to use your credit card for gambling purposes.
Investing with a credit card is possible, but not advisable. We look into how it could be done, the risks involved and some smarter alternatives.
If you’re always on the road, this credit card helps you earn loyalty points you can redeem for hotel nights, flights and gift cards.
Find out if the perks are worth it, and how it compares to other store and rewards cards.
The supermarket’s new dual offer card means customers don’t have to pay interest on purchases for up to 29 months.
Find out how to dispose of your expired credit card in the safest way possible, to protect your data from criminals.
If you book your holidays through TUI, your day-to-day spending could earn you loyalty point to put towards your next holiday.
Love shopping at Arcadia stores like Topshop, Miss Selfridge or Evans? You could earn Outfit loyalty points wherever you spend and enjoy interest-free credit with the Outfit Mastercard.
