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:-

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

Card Offers

Sainsbury’s Balance Transfer

Balance Transfers:

0% for up to 29 months

Balance Transfer Fee:

Purchases:

0% for 3 months

Representative APR:

21.9% APR (variable)

Card Details

Sainsbury’s Balance Transfer

0% interest on balance transfers for up to 29 months
3% or 4% balance transfer fee on transfers made at application, depending on your individual circumstances (minimum £3)
0% interest on purchases for your first 3 months
Collect 2 Nectar points per £1 spent on Sainsbury's shopping and fuel
Collect 1 Nectar point for every £5 spent on your card elsewhere
Online account management
Annual Fee: None

Application Criteria

Sainsbury’s Balance Transfer

You have a permanent UK address
You have not been declined for credit in the last month
You do not have a history of bad credit
You are aged 18 or over

Representative Example: 21.9% APR representative (variable). Based on an assumed credit limit of £1,200 and a purchase rate of 21.95% p.a. (variable)

No balance transfers allowed to this card from Sainsbury’s credit cards

Card Offers

NatWest Longer Balance Transfer

Balance Transfers:

0% for 23 months

Balance Transfer Fee:

1.99%

Purchases:

0% for 3 months

Representative APR:

19.9% APR (variable)

Card Details

NatWest Longer Balance Transfer

0% on balance transfers for 23 months from account opening
1.99% 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 Longer 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: 19.9% APR representative (variable). Based on an assumed credit limit of £1,200 and a purchase rate of 19.9% p.a. (variable)

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

Card Offers

TSB Platinum Balance Transfer

Balance Transfers:

0% for up to 28 months

Balance Transfer Fee:

2.95%

Purchases:

0% for 3 months

Representative APR:

19.9% APR (variable)

Card Details

TSB Platinum Balance Transfer

0% interest for up to 28 months on balances transferred within first 90 days
2.95% balance transfer fee during first 90 days, 3% fee applies afer 90 days
0% interest for the first 3 months on purchases
Internet fraud protection and Clicksafe
Apple Pay and Android Pay
Annual Fee: None

Application Criteria

TSB Platinum Balance Transfer

You are an existing TSB customer
You are not currently declared bankrupt, have CCJs or subject to IVA
You have a good credit rating and regular income
You are a UK resident
You are aged 18 or over

Representative Example: 19.9% APR representative (variable). Based on an assumed credit limit of £1,200 and a purchase rate of 19.95% p.a. (variable)

No balance transfers allowed to this card from TSB credit cards

Card Offers

Santander All in One

Balance Transfers:

0% for 26 Month

Balance Transfer Fee:

Purchases:

0% for 26 months

Representative APR:

21.7% APR (variable)

Card Details

Santander All in One

0% interest on balance transfers for 26 month from date account opened
0% balance transfer fee
0% interest on purchases for 26 month from date account opened
0.5% cashback on all of your purchases
No foreign transaction fee on purchases made abroad in local currency
Cashback through Retailer Offers
Monthly Fee: £3

Application Criteria

Santander All in One

You are a permanent UK resident
You have a good credit history with no history of bad credit
You have an income of £7,500 per year or more
You are at least 18 years of age

Monthly fee of £3 payable

Representative Example: 21.7% APR representative (variable). Based on an assumed credit limit of £1,200 and a purchase rate of 15.9% p.a. (variable) with a monthly fee of £3 payable

No balance transfers allowed to this card from Santander 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