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 80 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.

Go to our 0% Balance Transfer Credit Card page
Then select the name of your current credit card from the list of available credit cards
We will then show you, only those credit cards from different credit card issuers
These cards will accept a balance transfer from your current credit card*

(*Provided of course, that you are accepted for the new 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
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:-

Balance Transfer Expert may receive commissions from some of the credit card companies that we refer users to. How this site works.

Card Offers

M&S Transfer Plus*

Balance Transfers:

0% for 28 Months

Balance Transfer Fee:

2.85%

Purchases:

0% for 6 Months

Representative APR:

19.9% APR (variable)

Card Details

M&S Transfer Plus*

0% for 28 months on balance transfers made within 90 days of account opening
2.85% balance transfer fee, minimum £5
0% on purchases for 6 months from account opening
Collect M&S points every time you shop anywhere in the world with your card
Preferential rates when you use your card to order M&S Travel Money
Manage account online
Annual Fee: None

Application Criteria

M&S Transfer Plus*

You are a UK resident
You have a UK bank or building society account
You are aged 18 or over
You have not held a credit card with M&S Bank within previous 12 months

Representative Example: 19.9% APR representative (variable). Based on an assumed credit limit of £1,200 and a purchase rate of 19.9% p.a. (variable)

Card Offers

HSBC Balance Transfer*

Balance Transfers:

0% for 25 Months

Balance Transfer Fee:

1.5%

Purchases:

0% for 3 Months

Representative APR:

21.9% APR (variable)

Card Details

HSBC Balance Transfer*

0% interest on balance transfers for 25 months made within first 60 days of account opening
1.5% balance transfer fee (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
home&Away rewards programme giving you instant discounts from well-known brands
Online account management
Annual Fee: None

Application Criteria

HSBC Balance Transfer*

You have an annual income or pension before tax of £8,500 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

Card Offers

M&S Shopping Plus*

Balance Transfers:

0% for 20 Months

Balance Transfer Fee:

2.9%

Purchases:

0% for 20 Months

Representative APR:

19.9% APR (variable)

Card Details

M&S Shopping Plus*

0% for 20 months on balance transfers made within 90 days of account opening
2.9% balance transfer fee, minimum £5
0% on purchases for 20 months from account opening
Collect M&S points every time you shop anywhere in the world with your card
Preferential rates when you use your card to order M&S Travel Money
Manage account online
Annual Fee: None

Application Criteria

M&S Shopping Plus*

You are a UK resident
You have a UK bank or building society account
You are aged 18 or over
You have not held a credit card with M&S Bank within previous 12 months

Representative Example: 19.9% APR representative (variable). Based on an assumed credit limit of £1,200 and a purchase rate of 19.9% p.a. (variable)

Card Offers

Nationwide Member Credit Card*

Balance Transfers:

0% for 18 Months

Balance Transfer Fee:

1.5%

Purchases:

0% for 3 Months

Representative APR:

19.9% APR (variable)

Card Details

Nationwide Member Credit Card*

0% on balance transfers for 18 months if made within 90 days of account opening
1.5% balance transfer fee within first 90 days, after that 2.4% fee applies, minimum £5
0% on purchases for 3 months from date you open your account
Unlimited commission-free purchases abroad
Manage account online
Annual Fee: None

Application Criteria

Nationwide Member Credit Card*

Must be a Member of Nationwide. This means you already have a current account, mortgage or savings account with Nationwide
You are a UK resident
You have a minimum income of £5000 per year
You have a good credit history
You are aged 18 or over

Must be a Member of Nationwide. This means you already have a current account, mortgage or savings account with Nationwide

Representative Example: 19.9% APR representative (variable). Based on an assumed credit limit of £1,200 and a purchase rate of 19.9% p.a. (variable)

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 (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
home&Away rewards programme giving you instant discounts from well-known brands
Online account management
Annual Fee: None

Application Criteria

HSBC Purchase Plus*

You have an annual income or pension before tax of £8,500 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

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, with MBNA currently using both MaterCard and Visa as well as American Express branding.

Credit Card Issuers