Standard
The most basic Halifax card is an all-rounder, offering a low interest rate on purchases, balance transfers, and cash advances – but there’s no 0% interest period
See our range of Halifax credit cards
Check your eligibility without harming your credit score
See your likelihood of approval before you apply
MoneySuperMarket is a credit broker not a lender. You must be 18 or over and a UK resident.
Halifax is a high-street bank, but was originally founded as a mutual building society in the West Yorkshire town of the same name in 1853. In 2001, Halifax merged with the Bank of Scotland, and in 2009 both banks were acquired by Lloyds Banking Group. With more than 500 branches in the UK, Halifax is a household name and it offers a range of credit cards to borrowers.
The most basic Halifax card is an all-rounder, offering a low interest rate on purchases, balance transfers, and cash advances – but there’s no 0% interest period
You can use Halifax’s cashback rewards card for your everyday spending and you’ll get a percentage of your annual spending back every year. There’s also no annual fee.
For globetrotters, there’s a travel credit card – unlike most credit cards, it won’t charge you a fee for withdrawing cash abroad, and there’s also a 0% commission on foreign currency transactions
There’s also a balance transfer card which offers an introductory period at 0% interest for balances. Transfer fees may apply
As a mainstream bank, Halifax offer many different types of credit cards. The best Halifax credit card will depend on what you’re looking for:
You travel often: If you’re often out of the country, then Halifax’s travel credit card can come in handy as you’re not charged for using it overseas.
Want to earn cashback: With Halifax’s cashback credit card, you can earn cashback when you shop at selected retailers.
Have a big purchase: If you want to spread the cost of a large purchase then you could consider Halifax’s purchase credit card. These cards can even come with an interest-free period.
MoneySuperMarket has won the Feefo Platinum Trusted Service Award, an independent seal of excellence, which recognises businesses that consistently deliver a world-class customer experience.
To be eligible for any Halifax card, you’ll need to meet the following criteria*:
You must be 18 or over
You must be a UK resident, with a UK bank or building society account and a permanent UK address
You must have a regular income
You must not be subject to a County Court Judgement (CCJ), Individual Voluntary Agreement (IVA), or bankruptcy proceedings
You won’t be eligible if you’ve been declined for a Halifax card in the last 30 days
You can’t be unemployed or a student
*Meeting the criteria does not guarantee acceptance
Comparing credit cards couldn’t be easier with MoneySuperMarket. Our eligibility checker tool will show you the cards you’re most likely to be approved for – and we'll protect your credit using a soft search.
We'll ask you a handful of simple questions about you and your financial circumstances, and what you need from a credit card
We'll sift through dozens of offers from across the market, and show you the cards we think will suit you best
You'll be shown a range of cards, which you'll be able to sort according to APR, features and your chances of being approved
While the card will last until its expiry date, the 0%-interest period will last for as long as you have agreed. For purchases it can be as low as three months, but for balance transfers it’s usually between about nine months and 28 months. After that, your interest rate will shoot up.
Credit card providers usually advertise ‘representative’ deals on their cards – ie what the majority of people will be offered. If your credit rating is strong, you’ll more than likely get the headline deal, but if you have slightly worse credit, you might be offered slightly worse terms.
You have to make an agreed minimum payment on your credit card debt every month. If you miss a repayment on your credit card balance, or if you underpay, you’ll probably have to pay a penalty fee. What’s more, if you have any type of promotional offer with your card, such as an interest-free deal, this may be cancelled, and a missed payment may have a negative effect on your credit score.
APR stands for annual percentage rate and it represents how much it’ll cost to borrow money on a particular credit card. It’s calculated by taking into account your interest rate and any additional fees and charges.
However, you might see the term ‘representative APR’ on adverts for credit cards – this means that the interest rate quoted only has to be offered to at least 51% of successful applicants, so it may not be the actual rate you get when you apply.
There could be a number of reasons you are paying interest on your 0% credit card. These include:
The card only offers 0% on new purchases. If you shift debt from an old credit card it may not be covered as part of the interest free agreement
You have broken the terms of your 0% deal by not paying off the minimum amount each month and your provider has withdrawn the interest free period
The introductory 0% interest period has ended
Every 0% interest credit card has a time limit on the interest-free period which is offered. While some 0% interest periods can last several years, in the end they run out.
Once the interest-free period comes to an end, the provider will start charging a sizable APR on any balance that remains on the card, potentially wiping out the savings you've previously made. That's why it's always best to pay off your balance before your interest-free window closes.
To be eligible for an interest free credit card you’ll need to be at least 18 years old, live at a UK address, in most cases be employed, and have a credit history.
A bad credit rating can affect your chances of getting a good 0% credit card deal, but some lenders will offer interest free credit cards for a few months. A higher credit score means you’ll have a stronger chance of being accepted for a wider range of interest free credit cards.
There is no limit to the amount of 0% credit cards you can hold at any given time, but each application will be subject to approval from a credit card provider. They will take a view on your available credit – the amount you can borrow across all your cards – before deciding whether to grant you further opportunities to borrow.
There is no direct affect on your credit score from having a 0% credit card and as long as you pay off the debt on time and don’t incur interest charges there should be little need to worry.
It's worth noting that if you spend up to the limit it will increase your credit utilisation (the proportion of available credit you are using), which could harm your score.
However, simply by taking out the card, your credit utilisation will also be lowered, which could be beneficial. The main message is to use the cards responsibly and always pay them off on time and in full.
Whether you can get a 0% credit card with a high credit limit depends on factors such as your credit rating, your ability to eventually pay off the debt and the credit card provider’s view of your current financial situation, including any existing loans and credit cards.
An interest free purchase credit card might be right for you if you need to make a large purchase, don’t have the cash up front and are confident you can repay it over the months that follow.
A 0% balance transfer credit card may also be the right option if you have existing debts on other credit cards. By shifting what you owe to the new 0% card it can help you save on interest payments and clear the debt more quickly.
It’s best to pay off your entire credit card balance every month if you can afford to – this way you won’t pay interest and you can avoid building up debt. If you can’t afford to pay off the full balance, you must pay off at least the minimum monthly payment – ideally more.
Avoid missing credit card payments – credit card providers will often charge a penalty if you miss a payment and you also risk harming your credit score.
Setting up a direct debit could be a good way to ensure you pay off at least the minimum amount of your credit balance each month.
Each time you make an application for a credit card, it leaves a record – known as a ‘hard search’ - on your credit report. Too many applications can make lenders think you are in desperate need for credit and your application may be rejected.
Some credit cards have extra benefits that reward you when you use them a certain way. While some of them can be tempting, it’s better to get a credit card that will give you rewards for the way you spend already. For example, an airmiles credit card is only going to be useful if you’re a regular flyer, but if you’re a regular shopper at a particular high street store, there might be a credit card that gives you cashback for shopping there.
If you’re planning to use your credit card overseas, check whether or not you’ll be charged for doing so. Many credit cards charge fees for foreign transactions, so it can be a good idea to look for a card that won’t charge you for using it abroad.
Some credit cards will charge a fee if you use them to take cash out of a cash machine, and on top of that you’ll be charged interest from the moment you receive your money. Avoid using your credit card for cash withdrawals unless it’s an emergency.
Credit card fraud, like any fraud, is serious – you should always take care when using your credit card and be careful where you keep it. Never tell anyone your PIN and regularly check your statements every month – or if your credit card has an app, check that regularly - to make sure there are no surprises.
APR stands for Annual Percentage Rate and it represents how much it’ll cost to borrow money on a particular credit card. It’s calculated by taking into account:
Your interest rate
Additional fees and charges.
However, you might see the term ‘representative APR’ on adverts for credit cards – this means that the interest rate quoted only has to be offered to at least 51% of successful applicants, so it may not be the actual rate you get when you apply.
Credit card providers can change interest rates at any time, so it’s always a good idea to stay on top of your credit balance. If you have a 0% offer on your credit card, this will only be for a set number of months so you should make sure you clear your balance before it ends, or transfer your remaining balance to another 0% card.
You can apply for credit cards online, either using MoneySuperMarket or going directly to the provider, or by calling them up or through the post. You can also stop by your bank or building society branch and apply in person.
First consider what you want to use the credit card for – cards come with different features that are useful for different purposes.
If you have a large purchase coming up, you might want to spread the cost with a 0% purchase card, if you fly a lot you might want an airmiles card, and if you want to transfer a balance to avoid interest payments, a balance transfer card could be ideal.
By comparing on MoneySuperMarket, you’ll be able to see a list of credit cards, so you can browse at will and choose which one suits you best.
You’ll get a cooling off period of two weeks from when you receive your card, and you’ll have 30 days to pay off your balance. You can cancel by contacting your bank or building society, either by post, phone, online, or in-branch.
However, if you want to cancel your card after the cooling off period, your account balance generally must be zero.
Your credit score is a number that represents your creditworthiness to credit lenders, based on an analysis of your credit history (your history of borrowing and paying back credit).
The higher your score, the more likely you are to be accepted for future credit applications. If your score is low, there are ways to improve it. MoneySuperMarket’s Credit Monitor lets you check your credit score for free and gives you tips on how to improve it.
A soft credit search is a way of finding out which credit cards you’re most likely to be accepted for without your credit score being affected. This is usually done via a website such as MoneySuperMarket.
A hard search on your credit report is a mark left by a lender who has assessed your credit rating after you have applied for a credit card. Too many hard searches (often through multiple applications) may make lenders think you are desperate for credit so it’s best to limit your applications for credit in a short space of time.
If you have a bad credit rating or you don’t have a credit history because you’ve never borrowed before, you might not qualify for the very best credit card deals. However, some credit cards are designed specifically for those who need to build up their credit score. Just be aware they often come with low credit limits and high interest rates.
However, if you use this type of card sensibly and always pay off your balance in full, you can improve your credit score so you’ll eventually be eligible for better credit cards.
If you miss a repayment on your credit card balance, you likely have to pay a penalty fee. What’s more, if you have any type of promotional offer with your card, such as an interest-free deal, this may be cancelled, and a missed payment may have a negative effect on your credit score.
If you get rejected for a credit card, this will leave a mark on your credit report and could lead to further rejections in the future. It’s a good idea to use MoneySuperMarket’s Eligibility Checker to see how likely you are to be accepted for a card before applying to get it.
You might be able to get more credit from your provider if you prove yourself to be a responsible borrower by repaying on time and never missing payments. Once you’ve established a good credit history, you might be successful when asking for a higher credit limit.
Unlike many loans and mortgages, you generally won’t be charged for making early repayments on your credit card – which means it’s a good way to get ahead of your balance.
You can’t get joint credit cards in the same way as bank accounts and mortgages, but you can add additional users to your own credit cards. However, you should remember that it’s still the primary cardholder’s responsibility to pay off the balance.
The Consumer Credit Act was established in 1974, and under Section 75 the credit card lender is jointly responsible with the retailer or supplier for any goods or services you purchase with your credit card.
This means if those products are faulty, or if there was any contract breach or misrepresentation on the retailer’s part, you can claim from your credit card company as well as the retailer.
However, you can’t recover money from both sides, so it’s useful for when the retailer has gone bust or they won’t respond to your communication. You should be aware the purchase value must be more than £100 and not more than £30,000 for you to be able to claim.
You can cancel your credit card by contacting your lender, by phone, email, online, post, or in person if they have a local branch.
If you’re applying for a credit card, you might be able to find a better deal if you look through offers from different providers before taking one out. With MoneySuperMarket you’ll be able to search through multiple credit cards and compare them by a range of factors, including their interest rates and any benefits and rewards they come with.
All you need to do is answer a few questions about yourself and your financial situation, and our Eligibility Checker will show your chances of being accepted for different credit cards. This won’t affect your credit score, so you can run a check without any worries.
Once you know which card you want, you can normally apply by phone, online, or in person if the provider has a high street branch. However, when you do apply, the provider will usually run a hard credit check – which will show up on your credit report – to confirm whether they’ll give you the card. If you’re accepted they’ll tell you your credit limit and interest rate, and soon you’ll be ready to start using your credit card.
MoneySuperMarket gives you lots of clever ways to save a lot, by doing very little.
Take control of your credit score by checking and improving it for free with Credit Monitor
Never overpay again with Energy Monitor, our energy monitoring service
Over 50 ways to Get Money Calm
So how do we make our money? In a nutshell, when you use us to buy a product, we get a reward from the company you’re buying from.
But you might have other questions. Do we provide access to all the companies operating in a given market? Do we have commercial relationships or ownership ties that might make us feature one company above another?
We commit to providing you with clear and informative answers on all points such as this, so we have gathered the relevant information on this page.
