Santander Credit Cards 16 August 2022 at 8:37AM in Credit cards 6 replies 302 views

JasonSmart2022

As a 35  year old single man who is looking to save/spend in the future to buy a house, new car and go on holiday I am looking at getting a credit card. I bank with Santander and a have a 122 Lute current account and the Regular Saver.   I wonder if anyone can give some advice about which of Santander's credit card range may be most suitable for me? Many thanks

[Deleted User]

Rather than tie yourself to a specific provider, what is it you're looking for in a credit card? A 0% period? Rewards? Cashback? Airmiles?

Once you're determined that, you can look at what cards you might be eligible for. Bear in mind that if this is your first card, you may have to choose from a lesser selection.

grumbler

I don't see any relevance between "looking to save/spend in the future to buy a house, new car and go on holiday" and "getting a credit card".

However, building some credit history can help with getting mortgage in the future.

JasonSmart2022

Thanks both.   Anyone else have any advice/experience? 

Marchitiello

How often do you go on holiday? A Credit Card that allow free foreign spending is a good option. Santander did the Zero card that was without an annual /monthly fee, but it is not open to new customers and similar features cards from Santander are now on monthly subscription and the ones from other provider are not necessarily easily to get. Maybe try the eligibility checker on Barclaycard site for their Rewards card (similar forex free). There are more positive reports of the card being given to first time CC users but with low credit limits (which if you the Use regularly and pay on full, can get increased over time or they may be asking you for further documents straight away and get an higher limit to start with)

WillPS

If it's just for straight forward every day spending and Santander are the only provider you're willing to look at - if you'll spend more than £600/month go for the 'All-in-one' card (£600 spend will generate £3 cashback which will offset the £3 fee, everything above is 'profit' for you), if you'll spend less go for either of the others.

Ensure you clear your balance in full.

Do consider not using Santander and instead going with a more competitive provider. Lloyds and Halifax have a card which offers 0.25% cashback up to £4k pa then 0.5% above that, with no annual fee. Barclaycard have an Avios card which pays 1 avios per £ spent with no annual fee, which if you convert to Nectar points works out as 0.8% rewards to spend at Sainsburys/Argos/Ebay. Using a separate provider might mean that you're less dependent on a single bank's IT availability.

[Deleted User]

WillPS said:

If it's just for straight forward every day spending and Santander are the only provider you're willing to look at - if you'll spend more than £600/month go for the 'All-in-one' card (£600 spend will generate £3 cashback which will offset the £3 fee, everything above is 'profit' for you), if you'll spend less go for either of the others.

Ensure you clear your balance in full.

Do consider not using Santander and instead going with a more competitive provider. Lloyds and Halifax have a card which offers 0.25% cashback up to £3k pa then 0.5% above that, with no annual fee. Barclaycard have an Avios card which pays 1 avios per £ spent with no annual fee, which if you convert to Nectar points works out as 0.8% rewards to spend at Sainsburys/Argos/Ebay. Using a separate provider might mean that you're less dependent on a single bank's IT availability.

Unless they changed it, the Lloyds/Halifax one is £4k spend limit, though they have offered me 0.5% on the Halifax for a couple of months even though I very rarely use it as the Lloyds one had that offer before Halifax launched it