Tackling financial exclusion through the use of AI technology, if used correctly, the Keebo credit card could act as a stepping stone to more positive credit.
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Keebo credit card review
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 29.98% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 29.98% APR (variable).
- Representative example:
- When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 29.98% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 29.98% APR (variable).
- Minimum credit limit
- £100
- Interest-free each billing period
- Up to 56 days
- Account fee
- £0
Our verdict
Keebo has launched the UK’s first open-banking credit card aimed at those who want to build or rebuild their credit ratings.
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Keebo has launched the UK’s first open-banking credit card aimed at those who want to build or rebuild their credit ratings. But what does this actually mean?
Traditionally, banks will decide your creditworthiness based on your credit history. However, with the launch into the world of open banking, Keebo will use specialised technology to measure your real-time spending and determine your affordability – all you have to do is link your accounts. The aim is to reduce the overriding importance of your credit record in a card application. You credit history will remain a factor, but hopefully less so. If you're not sure what your credit record looks like, you can access it for free through Finder.
With its handy app, you can set up autopayments and monitor your card spend. Every transaction you make with your Keebo credit card will earn you “Keebo points” and can contribute to building your credit – as long as the card is used responsibly.
Depending on your individual circumstances, you can have access to credit between £100 and £5,000 at a fairly reasonable annual purchase rate (APR), compared to other credit building credit cards on the market.
So, how does the Keebo credit card weigh up against other credit builder credit cards? As the first card in the UK to use open banking, there isn’t much competition, but it is always wise to compare all your options – especially when it comes to credit building cards as you want to get the best deal that will help you build or rebuild your credit in a responsible way.
If you’re tech-savvy and want to take a chance on a new type of credit card, or are simply finding no luck with traditional banks, the Keebo credit card, if used correctly, could act as a stepping stone to more positive credit.
Pros
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Build or improve your credit rating.
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No annual account fee.
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Varied credit limits of £100 to £5,000, depending on your circumstances.
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Maximum 56 days on purchases if you pay the full amount on time each month.
Cons
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The card is "invite-only" but you can request an invitation for access on its website.
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Currently does not offer balance transfers.
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This card carries a 2.5% foreign usage charge.
Details
Product Overview
| Issuer | PayrNet |
| Network | Mastercard |
| Representative APR | 29.98% |
| Annual/monthly fees | £0 |
| Balance transfers | N/A |
| Balance transfer fee | N/A |
| Purchases | 29.98% p.a variable |
| Purchases interest-free period | Up to 56 days |
| Cash advances | 29.98% |
| Minimum credit limit | £100 |
| Maximum credit limit | Subject to status: £5,000 |
| Incentive | |
| Potential costs | 3.5 ★★★★★ |
| Doing its job | 4.0 ★★★★★ |
| Extras | 4.0 ★★★★★ |
| Overall Finder score | 3.5 ★★★★★ |
Fees and charges
| Minimum monthly payment | £5 (or the total amount you owe if less) |
| Annual/monthly fees | £0 |
| Balance transfer fee | N/A |
| Foreign usage charge (EU) | 2.5% |
| Foreign usage charge (rest of world) | 2.5% |
| Cash advance fee | 2.5% (£2.50 minimum) |
| Late payment fee | £10 |
Application Requirements
| Minimum Age | 18 |
| Residency | UK resident |
| Additional Criteria | You agree to link at least 1 current UK bank account or building society account. You agree to set up a direct debit from a linked current account. You have no history of bad debts in the past 6 months. |
The Keebo credit card is issued on the Mastercard network so it's accepted at more than 50 million merchant locations across more than 210 countries and territories.
What is the Keebo credit card?
The Keebo credit card is the first UK-approved credit card to use open banking (that’s where you authorise a company’s systems to make a connection to your bank account and analyse the transactions).
Founded by Michael Vanaselja and Matthew Hallett and provided by PayrNet, the Keebo credit card is backed by local and global fintech investors such as Connect, Innovate UK and Breega. After being awarded a £5 million investment and 3 technology grants from the UK government, it is predicted that the Keebo credit card is about to make some big waves in the credit card industry with potential challengers to follow.
The card is designed for those who are looking to build or rebuild positive credit and may have been turned down by traditional banks. By using open banking to analyse your income and outgoings, the hope is that Keebo might be able to offer credit where other card issuers can’t. And from freelancers to students to expats, the Keebo credit card has the potential to boost credit if used correctly and responsibly.
Repayment options
You can make manual repayments through Keebo’s app, by logging in to your online banking or over the phone. Alternatively, you may wish to set up a direct debit.
A direct debit protects you from forgetting to make a repayment and damaging your credit score – making it harder and more expensive to borrow money in the future – and getting hit with a penalty fee (£5) as a result. In addition to paying the minimum amount, you can also pay both a fixed and full amount per month.
You can arrange a direct debit for repayments when you apply for the credit card.
How to apply for the Keebo credit card
If you've compared cards and settled on the Keebo credit card, completing the secure online application form takes about 15 minutes. Before you apply, check that you meet the eligibility requirements and have the information and documents you'll need to make the process as straightforward as possible.
If you’re an app-lover, you’ll be pleased to know that you can also apply for a Keebo credit card straight from the Keebo app.
Bottom line
If you’re in the market for a credit-building credit card and you’re not afraid of trying something a little less traditional, the Keebo credit card could be for you – as long as it’s used responsibly and the balance is repaid each month. As the UK’s first credit card to use open-banking technology, your creditworthiness will be decided by your real-time spending and not just what’s on your credit report – appealing right? With a fairly average APR and varied credit limits, you can compare the Keebo credit card with other cards on the market to find your best deal.
Although Keebo’s designed to try to stop your credit history being the be-all-and-end-all, there’s no getting away from the fact that your credit report will remain a major factor when Keebo (or others) are deciding whether or not to offer a card. If you don’t know what your credit report looks like, you can check it out for free through Finder.
How does it compare?
Keebo's card
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Approval for any credit card depends on your status. The representative APRs shown represent the interest rate offered to most successful applicants. Depending on your personal circumstances, the APR you're offered may be higher, or you may not be offered credit at all. Fees and rates are subject to change without notice. It's always wise to check the terms of any deal before you borrow. Most of the data in Finder's comparison tables is provided by Moneyfacts.
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Our experts score credit builder credit cards to determine their value against similar products on the market. We look at a number of important factors, like interest rates, credit limits, features to help you track your credit, plus the potential costs involved with running the card both in the short and longer term.
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