Credit Card Issuers

Who are the main UK credit card issuers and how do these credit card issuers affect balance transfers?

There are currently over 60 balance transfer credit cards available online in the UK, with some cash back and rewards credit cards also available.

However there are far fewer UK credit card issuers, with many of the credit card companies issuing a large number of credit cards, often under different brand names.

It is not always immediately apparent who the actual credit card issuer is for each and every different credit card. The actual credit card issuers name can often only be found in the small print of the credit card agreement.

Did you know for example that the M & S credit card and the John Lewis Partnership credit card are actually both cards from the same credit card issuer, HSBC?

Why does this matter?

Well the credit card companies do not allow balance transfer between credit cards which are both issued by the same company.

So a customer who applied for a John Lewis Partnership credit card while looking to make a balance transfer from a M & S credit card, may get accepted for the card, but the balance transfer would be refused.

Here at Balance Transfer Expert, to help cardholders avoid the above issue, we have done all the hard work of finding out which credit card issuers are behind each brand.

Our 0% Balance Transfer Credit Card page shows for every card listed, those cards from which you cannot make a balance transfer to that card.

The main UK credit card issuers, at the time of writing, include all of the following credit card companies:-

American Express
Barclaycard
Bank of Ireland (UK)
Capital One
The Co-operative Bank
Bank of Scotland
HSBC Bank
Lloyds Bank
MBNA
Nationwide
Royal Bank of Scotland
Sainsbury’s Bank
Santander
Sygma Bank UK
Tesco Bank

Popular featured 0% balance transfer credit cards from these issuers include the following cards:-

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Card Offers

HSBC Balance Transfer*

Balance Transfers:

0% for 25 months

Balance Transfer Fee:

2.85%

Purchases:

0% for 3 months

Representative APR:

21.9% APR (variable)

Card Details

HSBC Balance Transfer*

0% interest for 25 months on balance transfers made within first 60 days of account opening
2.85% balance transfer fee applies (minimum £5)
0% interest on purchases for 3 months from account opening
At end of promotional period, balance transfers and purchases will revert to standard variable rate
Worldwide offers and discounts with HSBC home&Away
Manage your card online
Annual Fee: None

Application Criteria

HSBC Balance Transfer*

You have an annual income or pension before tax of £6,800 or more
You are a UK resident
You are aged 18 or over
You do not hold an HSBC Basic bank account

Representative Example: 21.9% APR representative (variable). Based on an assumed credit limit of £1,200 and a purchase rate of 21.9% p.a. (variable)

Credit is subject to status, affordability and applicable terms and conditions

No balance transfers allowed to this card from first direct, HSBC, M&S or Partnership credit cards

Card Offers

NatWest Balance Transfer

Balance Transfers:

0% for 18 months

Balance Transfer Fee:

Purchases:

0% for 3 months

Representative APR:

21.9% APR (variable)

Card Details

NatWest Balance Transfer

0% on balance transfers for 18 months from account opening
0% balance transfer fee
0% on purchases for first 3 months from account opening
Lock and unlock your credit card in app
Manage your card 24/7 online and by telephone banking
Annual Fee: None

Application Criteria

NatWest Balance Transfer

You are a NatWest customer
You are a UK resident
You are earning at least £10,000 per year
You are aged 18 or over

Only available to customers who have a current account, savings account, credit card or mortgage with NatWest

Representative Example: 21.9% APR representative (variable). Based on an assumed credit limit of £1,200 and a purchase rate of 21.9% p.a. (variable)

No balance transfers allowed to this card from NatWest, RBS or Ulster Bank credit cards

Card Offers

HSBC Purchase Plus*

Balance Transfers:

0% for 18 months

Balance Transfer Fee:

2.9%

Purchases:

0% for 18 months

Representative APR:

22.9% APR (variable)

Card Details

HSBC Purchase Plus*

0% interest for 18 months on balance transfers made within first 60 days of account opening
2.9% balance transfer fee applies (minimum £5)
0% interest on purchases for 18 months from account opening
At end of promotional period, balance transfers and purchases will revert to standard variable rate
Worldwide offers and discounts with HSBC home&Away
Manage your card online
Annual Fee: None

Application Criteria

HSBC Purchase Plus*

You have an annual income or pension before tax of £6,800 or more
You are a UK resident
You are aged 18 or over
You do not hold an HSBC Basic bank account

Representative Example: 22.9% APR representative (variable). Based on an assumed credit limit of £1,200 and a purchase rate of 22.9% p.a. (variable)

Credit is subject to status, affordability and applicable terms and conditions

No balance transfers allowed to this card from first direct, HSBC, M&S or Partnership credit cards

Card Offers

Co-operative Bank Balance Transfer

Balance Transfers:

0% for 24 months

Balance Transfer Fee:

Purchases:

0% for 4 months

Representative APR:

20.6% APR (variable)

Card Details

Co-operative Bank Balance Transfer

0% interest for 24 months for balance transfers made within 60 days
3% balance transfer fee, minimum £5
0% interest on purchases for 4 months from account opening
All successful applicants will receive this exact rate and offer
Online account management
Annual Fee: None

Application Criteria

Co-operative Bank Balance Transfer

Only available to customers who have held a Co-operative Bank or smile current account for 1 month or more
You are a UK resident
You have annual income of £10,000 or more
You are aged 18 or over

Only available to Co-operative Bank customers

Representative Example: 20.6% APR representative (variable). Based on an assumed credit limit of £1,200 and a purchase rate of 20.6% p.a. (variable)

No balance transfers allowed to this card from Co-operative credit cards

There are a number of other smaller more specialised UK credit card issuers as well, but most credit cards available in the UK today are issued by one of above main companies.

Some of the main credit card companies do issue credit cards using both the MasterCard and Visa branding. MBNA have in the past used both Mastercard and Visa, as well as American Express branding.

Credit Card Issuers