Smile Bank Credit Card - views, experiences, alternatives?

ircE

I am on the look out for a credit card I can use for places that do not accept American Express. Specifically I want a card that offers cashback (or other form of reward?) and that is not provided by one of the big mainstream banks. I came upon Smile's Classic credit card that offers 0.25% cashback, but I can't seem to find much information about it online. Anyone here have any experiences to share, or can suggest an alternative?

jbrassy

The best cashback card right now is the Chase debit card (1% cashback), although this is a debit not a credit card.

If you want a non-Amex cashback credit card, you'd be better off getting the Barclaycard Rewards card which also pays 0.25% cashback, but is better than Smile as you can also use it abroad with no additional fees: https://www.barclaycard.co.uk/personal/credit-cards/barclaycard-rewards

Other than that, your best options are cards offered by supermarkets. See the following article: https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/credit-cards/best-credit-card-rewards/

I have to say though, if you do not have an Amex card, they are worth getting. They're accepted in more places nowadays than people realise. 

ircE

To clarify, I do indeed have an Amex card, I am looking for an alternative for the places that do not take it.

I am also specifically looking for a card not provided by a mainstream bank. I am well aware of Barclaycard, since they're recommended by everyone - but it's not for me.

[Deleted User]

What's the reason you're wanting to avoid the mainstream lenders? 

dcfc67

virgin have a free Mastercard. 0.75 points per £1 spend, 

lots of ways to boost points through everyday shopping.

tons of ways to spend points to 

WillPS

dcfc67 said:

virgin have a free Mastercard. 0.75 points per £1 spend, 

lots of ways to boost points through everyday shopping.

tons of ways to spend points to 

Virgin Points aren't terribly useful if you don't use Virgin Atlantic or another Skyteam airline, and even then only really become valuable when used for upper class redemptions.

Avios on the other hand are very useful as they can be converted to Nectar, and the Avios Barclaycard is a great option which earns the equivalent in 0.66% back in rewards to spend at Sainsburys, Argos or Ebay.

I'm not sure how Co-op Bank is any less mainstream than anyone else.

Do you consider NewDay to be 'mainstream'? If not then their John Lewis Partnership Card might be worth a look.

Similar for Jaja and Asda.

km1500

The co-op bank (Smile) seems pretty mainstream to me

JLP is HSBC - even more mainstream

ASDA are non-mainstream

WillPS

km1500 said:

The co-op bank (Smile) seems pretty mainstream to me

JLP is HSBC - even more mainstream

ASDA are non-mainstream

Partnership Card is nothing to with HSBC. The JLFS (HSBC) product closed last Autumn, replaced by the NewDay affinity product which launched last Summer.

km1500

Ah ok thanks

jbrassy

ircE said:

To clarify, I do indeed have an Amex card, I am looking for an alternative for the places that do not take it.

I am also specifically looking for a card not provided by a mainstream bank. I am well aware of Barclaycard, since they're recommended by everyone - but it's not for me.

What's wrong with mainstream banks and in particular Barclaycard? I've got the BC Rewards and think it's pretty decent. 

Stuart_W

If you are considering a Smile Credit Card (which I have) you might also want to consider the Co-op Bank Members' credit card (which I also have).

Depends what features you are looking for in a credit card, non-Amex cashback seems to be your driver here. The smile one pays a clean 0.25% on all spending and pays it in the following month as a credit to the bill. Simple, straight forward, no faff, no points, no vouchers or redemption periods.

The Co-op Memebers' one is slightly higher paying, at 0.3%, but it is paid via a Co-op Membership account (free to join if you are not a blue card co-op member, the first £1 is kept as your share in the Co-op if you are not already a member (refundable if you leave). Cashback is accumulated over a sixth month period then transferred to your co-op membership account, which is then paid in May and November every year - and you can elect to receive it as Co-op vouchers or as a cash payment into a bank account. It is paid very much in arrears - cashback accured Jan-Jun is paid in November payount, Jul-Dec cashback the following May. 

Co-op one has the option of paper statements - smile doesn't - if that makes any difference.

The online billing is a bit pants for credit cards - six months history then it disappears. They have updated current accounts but not credit cards. Also no instant alerts/notifications when you spend if that matters (if that really matters Curve is an option which I use with my Co-op credit and debit card) And also pending transactions do not appear on the online transactions when you log in our use the app, they only appear a few days later when posted to the account. Available balance does adjust instantly though. Bill payments into the account usually appear the next working day.

It does the job for me - never had an issue with Co-op/Smile myself but the general consensus on here is to generally dislike them or complain the IT is a bit out of date - so you might want to research - just depends what you're looking for. I have just received another £40 cashback payment this month into my bank account so the members' credit card is doing OK for me.