Approval for any credit card will depend on your status. The APR shown represents 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.
NatWest Student Credit Card review November 2019
For NatWest student account holders this card could help cover unexpected expenses and kickstart a positive credit history.
Finder rating: ★★★★★
Representative example: When you spend £500 at a purchase rate of 18.95% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 18.9% APR (variable).
18.9%
Representative APR
£0
Account fee
Up to 56 days
Interest-free each billing period
Details
| Issuer | NatWest |
|---|---|
| Network | Mastercard |
| Annual/monthly fees | £0 |
| Min. credit limit | £250 |
| Max credit limit | Subject to status: £500 |
| Purchases | 18.95% |
| Purchases interest-free period (days) | 56 |
| Balance transfers | 18.95% |
| Additional cards available | 1 |
Expert review
Review by
Chris Lilly
chris.lilly@finder.comChris Lilly is a publisher at finder.com. He's a specialist in credit-based products including business and personal loans, mortgages and credit cards, and is passionate about helping UK consumers make informed decisions about their borrowing. In his spare time Chris likes forcing his kids to exercise more.
Expert review
This NatWest card comes with a low credit limit (that’s the amount you’ll be allowed to borrow on the card) and no annual or monthly account fee – pretty standard stuff for a student card. Credit limits are personalised meaning they’re based on NatWest’s assessment of your unique circumstances.
Student cards also typically don’t have the most competitive rates around (in part due to the limited credit histories of many of the card’s users), but if you clear your balance in full each month, you won’t actually have to pay interest on your purchases. This is thanks to the card’s interest-free days on purchases, which could potentially offer a buffer until your next paycheck or student loan instalment comes through. This is a standard feature of almost all credit cards, not just those designed for students.
NatWest also offers an “eligibility checker” on its site which allows you to get a good idea as to whether or not your application would be successful, without a hard credit search (which would have a slight, and usually short-lived, negative effect on your credit score).
You can use Apple Pay with your student card and in the NatWest mobile app you can manage your credit card alongside your NatWest student current account.
It’s smart to be cautious about taking out a credit card while studying. If your income is minimal and paid infrequently, be realistic about how quickly you’ll be able to pay off any borrowing. On the plus side, if you don’t carry a balance from month to month and you use this card responsibly, it could help you to handle fluctuating costs and help you start building a positive credit history, standing you in good stead for future borrowing.
NatWest student credit cards use the Mastercard network, so they can be used at more than 35 million merchants and ATMs worldwide.
How does this card compare with other student cards on the market?
Table: sorted by representative APR, promoted deals first
Updated November 18th, 2019
Repayment options
When it comes to repayments, you can make manual repayments online or over the phone (0345 788 8444), or alternatively set up a direct debit. A direct debit is a great idea because it protects you from forgetting to make a repayment and either damaging your credit score, getting hit with a penalty fee or losing any promotional rates as a result. You can arrange a direct debit for repayments when you apply for the credit card. The table below shows the options available.
Choose from the following direct debit options for your monthly repayments:
| Minimum amount | Fixed amount | Fixed percentage | Full amount |
|---|---|---|---|
How to apply for the NatWest Student Credit Card
If you’ve compared cards and want to apply, completing the secure online application form takes about 15 minutes. Before you apply, first use NatWest’s “eligibility checker” to make sure that you’re not wasting your time. To do this you’ll need to supply some basic details about yourself, plus three years of address history. If you decide to go ahead with a full application, NatWest will additionally ask for your end date of your current course.
Finder credit card ratings
★★★★★ — Excellent
★★★★★ — Good
★★★★★ — Average
★★★★★ — Subpar
★★★★★ — Poor
Our experts evaluate each student credit card comparing it to similar deals available on the market. We look at a wide range of criteria that go from rates and costs, to rewards and extras, to budgeting features that can make your financial life as a student easier.
You can learn more on how our star ratings work on our credit card methodology page.
We show offers we can track - that's not every product on the market...yet. Unless we've said otherwise, products are in no particular order. The terms "best", "top", "cheap" (and variations of these) aren't ratings, though we always explain what's great about a product when we highlight it. This is subject to our terms of use. When you make major financial decisions, consider getting independent financial advice. Always consider your own circumstances when you compare products so you get what's right for you.