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TSB Classic Credit Card review 2021
Last updated:
Kick-start your credit history with this credit builder that offers 0% interest on purchases and balance transfers, available exclusively in-branch.
Finder rating: ★★★★★
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 26.95% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 26.9% APR (variable).
£500
Minimum credit limit
Up to 56 days
Interest-free each billing period
26.9%
Representative APR
£0
Account fee
Details
| Issuer | TSB |
|---|---|
| Network | Mastercard |
| Annual/monthly fees | £0 |
| Balance transfers | 0% for 5 months reverting to 26.95% |
| Balance transfer fee | 2.95% for 3 months reverting to 3% |
| Purchases | 0% for 5 months reverting to 26.95% |
| Purchases interest-free period | Up to 56 days |
| Cash advances | 26.95% |
| Min credit limit | £500 |
| Max credit limit | Not specified |
| Additional cards available | 1 |
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
For those looking to build or rebuild a positive credit record, TSB’s Classic Credit Card offers a chance to consolidate higher-rate balances you might have on other cards, and also to spread the cost of upcoming purchases.
As you might expect from a “credit builder”, the Classic card comes with no annual fee to worry about, plus opening credit limits (which are tailored to the applicant) are relatively small and the standard rate is relatively high. However, if you clear your balance in full each month, you won’t pay interest on purchases – you’ll benefit from up to 56 days of 0% interest each billing cycle.
Don’t forget that if you opt to take advantage of the balance transfer offer, there’s a fee of 1.45% for 3 months reverting to 3%, and that after any introductory offer periods have expired, your balance will start to accrue interest at a not-so-competitive rate.
What's in this review?
The TSB Classic Credit Card is issued on the Mastercard network so it's accepted at nearly 53 million merchants across more than 210 countries and territories.
Pros and cons
Pros
- No annual fee
Cons
- Applicants with low credit scores are unlikely to be eligible
How does it compare with other credit builders?
Table: sorted by representative APR, promoted deals first
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.
Repayment options
You can make manual repayments through TSB's app, by logging in to your online banking or over the phone (0345 835 3846). 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
This card is currently only available in-branch – you can't apply online. If you don't fancy heading to your nearest branch, you may wish to consider one of the alternatives listed above, which are available online.
Frequently asked questions
What credit limit will I get with the TSB Classic Credit Card?
If TSB is able to offer you this deal, the offer will specify a personalised credit limit based on TSB's assessment of your situation. The minimum limit offered on this card is £500 and TSB does not specify a maximum. Once you've had the card for a while and shown TSB that you're reliable, you may wish to apply for a credit limit increase.
Can I withdraw cash using the TSB Classic Credit Card?
Although it's possible, withdrawing cash from a credit card account is generally not a good idea, as "cash-like transactions" (withdrawing cash at an ATM, getting cashback at the till, spending at a casino, buying currency, etc.) often incur steep fees and/or higher rates of interest.
The cash advance fee on the TSB Classic 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 26.95%, which is the same as the standard purchases rate (chargeable from the day of the transaction – the card's usual "up to 56 days interest-free" grace period won't apply).
How much does it cost to use the TSB Classic Credit Card abroad?
Non-sterling transactions are subject to a 2.95% charge. For example, if you spend 200 euros (£174.17), it'll cost you around £5.14.
What is the minimum payment on the TSB Classic Credit Card?
Each month you must pay at least 1% of your balance at that point or £5.00 – whichever of the two 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.
Finder credit card ratings
★★★★★ — Excellent
★★★★★ — Good
★★★★★ — Average
★★★★★ — Subpar
★★★★★ — Poor
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.
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.