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RBS Reward Black Credit Card review 2022
Existing RBS customers can earn reward points as you spend and avoid fees when you use your card abroad.
Finder rating: ★★★★★
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Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 21.9% (variable) p.a. with a fee of £84 per annum. Reward Black Current Account holders: £0 per annum, your representative rate is 40.7% APR (variable).
40.7%
Representative APR
0%
Balance transfer fee
0%
Foreign transaction charge
Up to 56 days
Interest-free each billing period
Details
| Issuer | Royal Bank of Scotland |
|---|---|
| Network | Mastercard |
| Annual/monthly fees | £84 per annum. Reward Black Current Account holders: £0 per annum |
| Balance transfers | 21.9% |
| Balance transfer fee | 0% |
| Purchases | 21.9% |
| Purchases interest-free period | Up to 56 days |
| Money transfers | 26.9% |
| Cash advances | 26.9% |
| Minimum credit limit | £5,000 |
| Maximum credit limit | Not specified |
| Additional cards available | 3 |
| Incentive | Earn 1% back at supermarkets and 0.5% back everywhere else, including supermarket petrol stations. At selected retailers, you could earn 1-15% back. |
| Additional Rewards Info | Call Prority Servicing. |
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 premium RBS card earns reward points at a respectable rate on spending both at home and abroad. If you are heading overseas, you’ll also benefit from Mastercard exchange rates on non-sterling transactions (card issuers normally add their own fee or margin on top of this).
Once your balance has grown to £5 or more, reward points can be converted into cash, vouchers or even charitable donations. However, you’ll need to weigh up if the rewards you might earn will outweigh the hefty annual fee (which is waived for RBS Reward Black current account holders). Don’t forget RBS offers the option to add one additional cardholder, which could boost your reward earnings (though the account holder is solely responsible for all spending on both cards).
The best earn-rates are to be had at RBS MyRewards partner retailers (at the time of writing, these include Caffe Nero, Missguided and French Connection, among others) and at supermarkets (RBS states that this includes, but is not limited to: Asda, Iceland, Marks & Spencer, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, ALDI, LIDL, Tesco, The Co-operative and Waitrose).
Unless you already hold a Reward Black current account, this card mostly makes sense if you travel abroad quite often and can benefit from the lack of foreign transaction fees. If you don’t, you may want to consider its RBS sister, the RBS Reward credit card, that offers similar rewards for a much cheaper annual fee.
Finally, this card is a bit lacking in terms of perks and extras. If you’re in it for the 0% deals, or would also like insurance and travel benefits, you’ll have to keep looking (our rewards credit card page may help!).
Pros and cons
Pros
- Avoid currency conversion charges when spending abroad
- Earn points on day-to-day spending
Cons
- Annual fee
- Minimum annual income requirement of £15,000
- Applicants with low credit scores are unlikely to be eligible
- Only available to existing customers
How does this compare with other rewards cards?
Table: sorted by representative APR, promoted deals first
Repayment options
You can make manual repayments through Royal Bank of Scotland's app, by logging in to your online banking or over the phone (0345 724 2424). Alternatively, you may wish to set up a direct debit.
A direct debit protects you from forgetting to make a repayment and either damaging your credit score, getting hit with a penalty fee (£12) 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 RBS Reward Black Credit Card
First, you can use Finder's eligibility checker to find out if you'd be likely to get approved for the RBS Reward Black Credit Card. This won't impact your credit score. If it's good news, you can then proceed to Royal Bank of Scotland's online application, which takes 10-15 minutes to complete.
Frequently asked questions
What credit limit will I get with the RBS Reward Black Credit Card?
If Royal Bank of Scotland is able to offer you this deal, the offer will specify a personalised credit limit based on Royal Bank of Scotland's assessment of your situation. The minimum limit offered on this card is £5,000 and Royal Bank of Scotland does not specify a maximum. Once you've had the card for a while and shown Royal Bank of Scotland that you're reliable, you may wish to apply for a credit limit increase.
Can I withdraw cash using the RBS Reward Black Credit 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 RBS Reward Black Credit Card is 3% (min. £3). For example, if you withdraw £50, you'll incur a fee of £3.00. Withdraw £250, and you'll incur a fee of £7.50.
The interest rate on this part of your balance will be 26.9% (chargeable from the day of the transaction – the card's usual "up to 56 days interest-free" grace period won't apply).
