opus card review 2023
- Minimum credit limit
- £250
- Interest-free each billing period
- Up to 48 days
- Representative APR
- 39.9% (variable)
- Account fee
- £0
A money transfer credit card for those trying to rebuild a positive credit history.
Using your credit card to withdraw cash is normally a bad idea – with most card issuers charging a fee and a higher rate of interest for the privilege.
The opus card aims to provide a way around this, by offering the facility to transfer money from your credit card to your bank account, giving you greater control over how you use your credit.
For example, say you're getting married and you need to pay various people in cash. You can use the opus card app to quickly and easily transfer funds from your card to your current account as and when you need to, and that could work out cheaper and easier than a cash advance (it certainly would on this card).
There are several catches, however.
There's a money transfer fee of 3% (min. £3) to consider. It's also worth noting that while, like most cards, the opus card won't charge you any interest at all on your purchases if you clear your balance in full each month, money transfers and cash advances (withdrawing cash from your card) are exempt from this. That means any funds you transfer out will start to accrue interest straightaway.
Finally, since it's designed to be accessible to those with less-than-perfect credit histories, the opus card also comes with relatively high rates of interest. What's more, rates are tailored to the applicant, meaning that you might be offered a different (higher) rate than those advertised. Credit limits are also tailored to the applicant.
Pros
- Applicants with low credit scores may be eligible
- No annual fee
Cons
- As with most credit builders, this card packs a fairly steep interest rate on purchases
- A punishing rate of 49.95% on cash withdrawals
- You may be offered an opening credit limit as low as £250
Details
Product Overview
| Issuer | NewDay Ltd |
| Network | Mastercard |
| Annual/monthly fees | £0 |
| Balance transfers | 39.95% |
| Balance transfer fee | 3% (min. £3) |
| Purchases | 39.95% |
| Purchases interest-free period | Up to 48 days |
| Money transfers | 39.95% |
| Cash advances | 49.95% |
| Minimum credit limit | £250 |
| Maximum credit limit | Subject to status |
| Additional cards available | 3 |
| Potential costs | ★★★★★ |
| Doing its job | ★★★★★ |
| Extras | ★★★★★ |
| Overall Finder rating | ★★★★★ |
| Overall customer rating | Not yet rated |
Fees and charges
| Minimum monthly payment | 1% or £5 (whichever is greater) or the total of any interest, default fees and charges plus 1% of the outstanding balance. |
| Annual/monthly fees | £0 |
| Balance transfer fee | 3% (min. £3) |
| Money transfer fee | 3% (min. £3) |
| Foreign usage charge (EU) | 2.95% |
| Foreign usage charge (rest of world) | 2.95% |
| Cash advance fee | 5% (min. £4) |
| Late payment fee | £12 |
| Exceeding limit fee | £12 |
| Additional card fee | £0 |
| Dormancy fee | £0 |
Application Requirements
| Minimum Age | 18 |
| Minimum income | £5,000 |
| Availability | Available to new customers |
Find out which cards you are eligible for
- Check a range of cards in minutes
- No impact on your credit score
- One fast and simple form
As this card is on the Mastercard network, it’s accepted at more than 40 million locations worldwide. You’ll also be able to enjoy access to Priceless Cities experiences.
How does it compare?
NewDay Ltd's card
Other popular credit builders
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.
Repayment options
You can make manual repayments through NewDay Ltd's app by logging in to your online banking or over the phone (0333 414 1077). 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 (£12) 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
When you submit an application for a credit card, the card issuer will run a full credit check, which has a slight (and usually short-lived) negative effect on your credit score.
Since that's particularly unhelpful for those trying to rebuild their credit ratings, the opus site offers a "FastCheck" facility – essentially a soft credit search which won't affect your credit score, but which can tell you your likelihood of approval before you apply. To run the FastCheck, you need to give some basic details about yourself, including where you've lived over the last three years.
After using the FastCheck service, if you're happy to proceed, the simple online application form takes around 10-15 minutes to complete. You won't usually have to wait more than a couple of minutes to find out if your application has been successful. Don't forget to take a close look at what you're offered, since rates and credit limits will be based on your specific circumstances, taking into account factors like credit score, income and level of debt.
Frequently asked questions
What credit limit will I get with the opus card?
If NewDay Ltd is able to offer you this deal, the offer will specify a personalised credit limit based on NewDay Ltd's assessment of your situation. The minimum limit offered on this card is £250 and NewDay Ltd does not specify a maximum. Once you've had the card for a while and shown NewDay Ltd that you're reliable, you may wish to apply for a credit limit increase.
Can I withdraw cash using the opus card?
Although it's possible, withdrawing cash from a credit card account is generally not a good idea, as "cash-like transactions" (such as withdrawing cash at an ATM, getting cashback at the till, spending at a casino or buying currency) often incur steep fees and/or higher rates of interest.
The cash advance fee on the opus card is 5% (min. £4). For example, if you withdraw £50, you'll incur a fee of £4.00. Withdraw £250 and you'll incur a rather painful fee of £12.50.
The interest rate on this part of your balance will be 49.95%, which is 25% more than the standard purchase rate (chargeable from the day of the transaction – the card's usual "up to 48 days interest-free" grace period won't apply).
How much does it cost to use the opus card abroad?
Non-sterling transactions are subject to a 2.95% charge. For example, if you spend 200 euros (£173.36), it'll cost you around £5.11 in fees.
What is the minimum payment on the opus card?
Each month you must pay at least 1% of your balance at that point or £5.00 – whichever of the 2 figures is greater. So if you had, say, £450.00 outstanding, you'd pay £5.00, and if you had £2,000.00 outstanding, you'd pay £20.00.
Paying only the minimum required amount each month is generally not advisable as it tends to be a very expensive way to borrow money which can lead to persistent debt.
Can I transfer money from the opus card to a bank account?
Yes. That's what's known as a "money transfer" (rather than a "balance transfer") in credit card jargon. You can arrange this from your online banking or using NewDay Ltd's app. This part of your card balance will incur interest of 39.95%. The fee for a money transfer is 3% (min. £3).
Finder credit card ratings
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.
You can read more about our scoring criteria on our credit card methodology page.
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