AIB Gold Charge review
- Account fee
- £0
- Minimum credit limit
- £5,000
Our verdict
If you're looking for a no-frills card to offer you flexibility with your spending, the Visa Gold Card from AIB (formerly First Trust Bank) could fit the bill.Available to existing customers only, AIB's Visa Gold Card is a charge card. That means you're expected to clear your balance in full every month. As such, these cards don't charge interest, although there are usually harsh fees if you fail to clear your balance.
The primary benefit of a charge card is flexibility over payments – purchases at the start of the billing cycle are paid for at the end of the billing cycle, so you can enjoy up to 56 days interest-free. If you do expect to carry a balance month to month, then this isn't the card for you.
Similarly, if you're are looking to spread the cost of an upcoming purchase or earn rewards as you spend, there are better deals out there.
Pros
- No annual fee
Cons
- Applicants with low credit scores are unlikely to be eligible
- Only available to existing customers
Details
Product overview
| Issuer | AIB (NI) |
| Network | Visa |
| Annual/monthly fees | £0 |
| Purchases | N/A (this product is a charge card). |
| Minimum credit limit | £5,000 |
| Maximum credit limit | Subject to status |
| Additional cards available | 1 |
| Potential costs | 3.0 ★★★★★ |
| Doing its job | 3.5 ★★★★★ |
| Extras | 2.5 ★★★★★ |
| Overall Finder Score | 3.0 ★★★★★ |
Fees and charges
| Minimum monthly payment | Full outstanding balance |
| Annual/monthly fees | £0 |
| Foreign usage charge (EU) | 2.75% |
| Foreign usage charge (rest of world) | 2.75% |
| Cash advance fee | 1.5% (min. £3) |
| Late payment fee | £12 |
| Exceeding limit fee | £12 |
| Additional card fee | £0 |
| Dormancy fee | £0 |
Application requirements
| Minimum Age | 18 |
| Availability | Available to existing customers |
The AIB Gold Charge is issued on the Visa network (used by a whopping 4.2 billion cards), so you'll be able to use it at more than 100 million merchant locations across more than 200 countries and territories.
How does this card compare with other popular cards on the market?
How to apply for the AIB Visa Gold Card
To apply for a Visa Gold card, you'll need to call in to any AIB branch. You'll need to show proof of your identity and address (such as your passport, driving licence and a gas or electricity bill) if AIB doesn't already hold this information.
Frequently asked questions
What credit limit will I get with the AIB Gold Charge?
If AIB (NI) offers you this deal, it will specify a personalised credit limit based on AIB (NI)'s assessment of your situation. The minimum limit offered on this card is £5,000, and AIB (NI) does not specify a maximum. Once you've had the card for a while and shown AIB (NI) you're reliable, you may wish to apply for a credit limit increase.
How much does it cost to use the AIB Gold Charge abroad?
Non-sterling transactions are subject to a 2.75% charge. For example, if you spend 200 euros (£168.85), it'll cost you around £4.64 in fees.
Finder credit card scores
Our experts score credit cards to determine their value against similar products on the market. We look at a number of important factors, like its suitability for its intended purpose, any perks/extras it brings to the table, 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.
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