Metrobank vs. N&P vs. Halifax Clarity vs. Post Office

Jew

I'm looking for a card for spending abroad but also taking over the duties here in the UK as I'm not really married to any cards I have at the moment (NatWest MasterCard, Debit, and Barclay's non-contactless).

The best would be a credit card (just in case there's any problems) like the Halifax Clarity (was rejected before; "Good" @ Experian) or the Post Office MasterCard.

But a debit card like Norwich & Peterborough's, or Metrobank's is something I'm also considering...

The best would be if it was also contactless... and gave some cashback. Any ideas?


Update: Opened a Metro Bank account — they will be introducing contact-less debit cards soon! The debit card will be great for using abroad to take out cash!

dzug1

Metrobank also do a credit card

If you can get a Nationwide flex account and then qualify for their select credit card the latter allows free spending overseas and gives cashback

jen245

If you open a Halifax Reward current account and a Clarity Reward credit card (best done in branch) and you can pay in £1000pm to the Reward current account, you will get £5 per month for nothing, and if you spend £300pm on the credit card, you'll get an additional £5 paid to your credit card account, plus fee free foreign spending.
I do this, and the £5 I get from my Reward account, I pay towards my credit card, so I basically get £10 per month off my bill.

chattychappy

Out of the cards mentioned, I have only used Post Office card, but I have used it a huge amount - principally in Asia.

I've found it reliable and only blocked very occasionally (that's something you have to expect when using CCs overseas, take backups).

When I've had to call them I've always got through to someone helpful and efficient.

The downsides are the appalling and confusing online system and that they gave me a much lower limit than I got with other cards.

Jew

dzug1 wrote: »

Metrobank also do a credit card

If you can get a Nationwide flex account and then qualify for their select credit card the latter allows free spending overseas and gives cashback

So do the Metrobank and Nationwide CCs have any load on the exchange rate?