NatWest is a well-known and well-established high-street bank. It joined Royal Bank of Scotland banking group in 2000, but it has retained its own brand.
It offers a range of consumer banking products and services. This includes current accounts, savings, loans, mortgages, investments and insurance products – as well as a host of credit cards.
What types of cards do NatWest offer?
As you’d expect from one of the ‘Big Four’ banks in the UK, NatWest offer a wide range of credit cards, including:
Rewards credit card
You can earn rewards every time you spend at selected retailers with NatWest’s Rewards credit card. NatWest also offers a Reward Black credit card which comes with no foreign transaction fees, but has a higher APR than their standard rewards credit card. It also offers a Travel Reward credit card.
Balance transfer card
If you want to move your existing credit card balance to another provider, NatWest have a few options you can choose from. NatWest offer three types of balance transfer cards: Purchase & Balance Transfer card, Longer Balance Transfer card and a Balance Transfer credit card.
Low rate card
The NatWest Credit Card offers low rates on purchases and balance transfers. The card also doesn’t have any foreign transaction and balance transfer fees. Keep in mind the APR you end up being offered will depend on the lender’s credit assessment of you.
The best NatWest credit card will depend on your financial situation and what you intend to use the card for. You could consider which situation applies to you when making your decision:
If you have niggling debts on different pieces of plastic, you might want to look at a balance transfer card which comes with no balance transfer fee
If you are looking to make a big purchase, you could look for a card offering a low rate on spending, as well as breathing space to pay off purchases – and potentially balance transfers, too
If you travel a lot, you might want to think about a card which offers travel benefits, and which doesn’t levy fees on foreign transactions
If you are disciplined about paying off your balance in full, you could focus on cards which reward you with cashback on your everyday spending
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Am I eligible for a NatWest card?
To qualify for a NatWest card, you will have to meet a few basic criteria*:
Be aged 18 or over
Be aged 18 or over in most cases (some cards may have a minimum age of 21) and have a UK bank account
Be a UK resident
You'll need to be a permanent UK resident. Plus you’ll usually be asked to show proof of income through payslips or bank statements
Meet earnings threshold
Earn at least £10,000 per year (rising to at least £15,000 for some cards)
Bank with NatWest
For some cards, you may need to already hold a NatWest current account, savings account, credit card or mortgage
*Meeting the criteria does not guarantee acceptance
How to compare credit cards with MoneySupermarket
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.
Tell us about yourself
We'll ask you a handful of simple questions about you and your financial circumstances, and what you need from a credit card
We browse the market
We'll sift through dozens of offers from across the market, and show you the cards we think will suit you best
Pick the card you want
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
How long does it take to get a NatWest credit card?
You should hear whether you’ve been approved in a matter of minutes, but it can take longer if there are complications involved.
Assuming you’re approved for the card you applied for, you should then receive it in the post within a week or two.
Can I get a NatWest credit card with bad credit?
NatWest doesn’t generally offer cards that fall into the category of ‘easiest to get’ and that are targeted at people with impaired credit ratings. However, it does have a dedicated credit builder card which comes with no annual fee and 3% less interest after a year.
How can I contact NatWest?
You can get in touch with NatWest on its general helpline by ringing 0345 788 8444. Opening hours are Mon - Fri 8am-6pm, Sat - Sun 9am - 4pm. Check for variations on Bank Holidays. You can also use Cora, NatWest’s AI chat service, that can connect you with a human if they can’t answer your query.
Pay off as much as you can – in full if possible
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.
Don’t miss payments
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.
Set up a direct debit to pay your credit card balance
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.
Don’t apply for new credit cards too often
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.
Get credit cards that offer rewards
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. or one that earns you Avios travel-related points, 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.
Be careful when travelling overseas
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.
Don’t use your credit card for cash withdrawals
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.
Protect yourself from fraud
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.
Our credit card calculator shows you how much it would cost in interest to pay off your card balance
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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.