National Westminster Bank, commonly known as NatWest, offers a small range of credit cards to suit different needs.
About NatWest
NatWest began in 1968 when the National Provincial Bank, Westminster Bank, and District Bank came together to form National Westminster Bank, commonly known as NatWest. NatWest was responsible for leading the growth of ATMs in the 1960s and 70s, and launching the Switch debit card in the 1980s.
Today, it offers a large range of financial products and services, including a simple selection of credit cards.
NatWest Credit Cards
NatWest has a small range of four credit cards, each suitable for different needs. They are:
The NatWest Credit Card – for low rates and using abroad
Reward credit card – for earning Rewards on your shopping spend
Reward Black credit card – for earning Rewards and using abroad
Student credit card – for students
All NatWest credit cards are MasterCard, which means they accepted all over the world. They are also Contactless and Apple Pay enabled, so you can pay for purchases up to £30 at selected UK retailers without the need to enter your PIN.
At A Glance
| Product | Card | Purchase rate p.a. (variable) | Balance transfer rate | Annual fees | rep. APR |
| The NatWest credit card |  |
9.9% |
6.9% |
£0 |
9.9% |
| Reward credit card |  |
18.9% |
18.9% |
£24* |
23.7% |
| Reward Black credit card |  |
18.9% |
18.9% |
£84** |
37.1% |
| Student credit card |  |
18.95% |
18.95% |
£0 |
18.9% |
*Your £24 annual fee will be refunded to you if you have a NatWest Reward current account.
**Your £84 annual fee will be refunded to you if you have a NatWest Reward Black current account.
The actual credit limit and APR you will receive will depend on your circumstances and may vary from the representative examples given.
The NatWest Credit Card
Representative example: Representative 9.9% APR (variable) based on an assumed Credit Limit of £1,200. Standard interest rate for purchases: 9.9% p.a. (variable). Annual fee: £0
Key features
- No foreign transaction fees – good if you’re travelling abroad
- Low interest rates – 9.9% representative APR (variable)
- No balance transfer fees
- No annual fee
- You must be earning – at least £10k a year
- Apple Pay and Contactless
- Manage your card 24/7 via the app
Eligibility (The NatWest Credit Card)
- 18 +
- UK resident
- Earning £10k + a year
The NatWest Credit Card is NatWest’s low rate credit card. This credit card may be of particular interest if you are looking to transfer a balance. With no balance transfer fees and interest rates as low as 6.9% on balance transfers, this credit card could save you money.
NatWest has a useful Interest Calculator on their website so you can see what you could save by transferring a balance.
The NatWest credit card also has no foreign transaction fees and nothing added on top of the Mastercard exchange rate, so it’s great if you’re going on holiday abroad. However, you should note that you’ll still pay fees when you withdraw cash from the ATM or do a cash advance abroad.
| Pros | Cons |
| ü Low interest rates | o Must be earning at least £10k a year |
| ü 0% foreign transaction fees | |
| ü No balance transfer fees | |
| ü No annual fee
ü Spread the cost with 56 days interest free |
Reward Credit Card
Representative example: Representative 23.7% APR (variable) based on an assumed Credit Limit of £1,200. Standard interest rate for purchases: 18.9% p.a. (variable). Annual fee: £24.
Key features
- Earn Rewards on petrol and groceries – earn 1% on your supermarket spend and 0.5% at supermarket petrol stations
- 1-15% Rewards at selected MyRewards retailers
- 5% in Rewards everywhere else
- Representative 23.7% APR (variable)
- Annual fee £24 – refunded if you have a NatWest Reward current account
- Apple Pay and Contactless
- Mange your credit card 24/7 with the app
Eligibility (Reward Credit Card)
- 18 +
- UK mainland resident
- Earning £10k + a year
The Reward credit card lets you earn points (known as Rewards) while you spend. It’s an incentive credit card. You will earn 1% back in Rewards at supermarkets and 0.5% everywhere else: occasionally you’ll receive special offers of up to 15% at selected retailers.
Once you’ve earned at least £5 worth of Rewards, you can choose what to do with them – bank the cash, trade them for vouchers or donate them to charity.
The representative APR is 23.7% and you’ll pay from 18.9% on purchases and balance transfers. The Reward credit card may, therefore, be better if you plan on clearing your balance each month. You can get an idea how many Rewards you could earn using the Rewards Calculator.
There is an annual fee of £24, however, this is refunded if you have a Reward current account.
| Pros | Cons |
| ü Earn Reward points as you spend | o 23.7 % representative APR |
| o Annual fee £24 | |
| ü Choose how to use your Rewards | o Must be earning at least £10k a year |
| ü Annual fee refunded if you have a Reward current account
ü Spread the cost with 56 days interest free |
o Must be a UK mainland resident |
Reward Black Credit Card
Representative example: Representative 37.1% APR (variable) based on an assumed Credit Limit of £1,200. Standard interest rate for purchases: 18.9% p.a. (variable). Annual fee: £84.
Key features
- No foreign transaction fees
- Earn Rewards on petrol and groceries – earn 1% on your supermarket spend and 0.5% at supermarket petrol stations
- 1-15% back at selected MyRewards retailers
- Representative 37.1% APR (variable)
- Annual fee £84 – refunded if you have a Reward Black current account
- Minimum £5,000 credit limit
- Add an additional cardholder
- Mange your credit card 24/7 with the app
- Priority service when you call NatWest
- Apple Pay and Contactless
Eligibility (Reward Black Credit Card)
- 18 +
- UK mainland resident
- Earning £15k + a year
The Reward Black credit card combines the benefits of 0% foreign transaction fees with the Rewards incentive. It’s good for holidays abroad and earning points while you spend – you’ll earn 1% Rewards at supermarkets and 0.5% elsewhere.
This is a premium credit card, so the minimum credit limit is £5000. The annual fee is £84, unless you are also Reward Black current account holder, in which case your annual fee will be refunded. You will benefit from priority service if you need to call NatWest, and have the option to add an additional cardholder.
You can get an idea how many Rewards you could earn using the Rewards Calculator.
| Pros | Cons |
| ü Earn Reward points as you spend | o 37.1 % representative APR |
| ü Annual fee refunded if you have a Reward Black current account | o Annual fee £84 |
| ü Choose how to use your Rewards | o Must be a UK mainland resident |
| ü 0% foreign transaction fees | o £5k minimum credit limit |
| ü Add an additional cardholder
ü Spread the cost with 56 days interest free |
o Rates from 18.9% on balance transfers |
Student Credit Card
Representative example: Representative 18.9% APR (variable) based on an assumed Credit Limit of £500. Standard interest rate for purchases: 18.95% p.a. (variable). Annual fee: £0.
Key features
- Useful safety net for student life
- Maximum credit limit of £500
- Build a credit profile for your future
- Spread the cost of purchases with 56 days interest free
Eligibility (Student Credit Card)
- 18 +
- UK resident
- NatWest Student current account holder
The Student credit card is for… students. You need to have a NatWest Student current account to get their Student credit card. There is no annual fee and a maximum credit limit of £500, making the card a good safety net for student life. It allows students to begin building their credit profile for future borrowing.
| Pros | Cons |
| ü No annual fee | o £500 maximum credit limit |
| ü £500 maximum credit limit | |
| ü Build a credit profile
ü Spread the cost with 56 days interest free |
How To Apply
You can use the NatWest credit card eligibility checker to see if you’re likely to be accepted for a credit card. This is a ‘soft search’ which means your credit rating will not be affected. You’ll be able to see the search if you check your credit file, but lenders won’t.
When you’re happy you understand the Ts & Cs and the features and benefits of the credit card, you can apply. NatWest has produced a short video guide to the online application process:
The application process takes around 15 minutes. If you bank online with NatWest already, the process will be even quicker as they’ll pre-fill some of the application form fields for you.
You’ll be asked to provide your:
- personal details (name, date of birth, address etc),
- addresses for the last 3 years
- net income
- details of your monthly outgoings e.g. rent/ mortgage and other household bills
NatWest will then conduct a full credit search. You will usually get an instant decision but occasionally you may have to provide further details – if this is the case, you will be told what information is required and how to submit it.
What Next?
If your application is declined – you will be told why this may be.
If your application is accepted – you will read the credit agreement and sign online. You will receive your credit card in the next 5-7 working days.
What Are Credit Cards?
A credit card allows you to buy now and pay later – it’s a way of borrowing money to buy things, up to an agreed limit, then you pay for them later either in one go or bit-by-bit.
You use a credit card in a shop on online the same way as you would a debit card, but, unlike a debit card (where you’re spending the money that’s actually in your bank account) with a credit card you’re borrowing the money from your credit card provider.
You pay back the amount you’ve spent on your credit card plus any interest and fees.
APR Explained
APR stands for Annual Percentage Rate. APR is a way for lenders to show the annual cost of borrowing money. It includes the interest rate and other charges you have to pay (for example any arrangement fee). All lenders have to calculate the APR of their products in a standardised way and must tell you how much the APR is before you sign an agreement. APR can, therefore, be a useful tool when comparing credit products.
One thing to bear in mind is the advertised APR is a representative APR.
Representative APR means over half the people who have taken that credit card have been given that rate. This means 51% of people have been given the advertised rate, but 49% of people could be paying more.
Purchase Rate
The purchase rate of a credit card is the rate of interest you will be charged when you purchase most goods or services using that card. If you pay the credit card balance off in full every month, you will not be charged interest.
What Is A Balance Transfer?
A balance transfer is when you move a credit card balance from one credit card provider to another, usually with a lower rate of interest. This can help reduce your monthly credit card payments and/or help you to clear your debt quicker.
FAQs
How do I apply for a credit online?
You’ll need to provide your addresses for the last three years, income and employment details, bank account details, details of any card you wish to transfer a balance from and details of your monthly expenses e.g. rent/ mortgage.
Where can I use my credit card?
NatWest credit cards are Mastercard which are widely accepted around the world.
Can having a credit card improve my credit rating?
Yes. When you apply to borrow money, lenders will look at your past borrowing and how you’ve managed it. Paying your credit card on time every month and staying within your agreed credit limit can be an effective way to improve your credit rating.
How do Rewards work?
You earn points as you spend, usually at a rate of 1% at supermarkets and 0.5% elsewhere. There’s no cap on the amount of points you can earn. 5 Reward points equals £5 when redeemed. When your Rewards balance reaches at least £5, you can choose to bank them as cash, trade them up for vouchers or donate them to charity.