NatWest Business Plus Credit Card review
- Representative example:
- When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 13.9% (variable) p.a. with a fee of £70 per annum, your representative rate is 29% APR (variable).
- Interest-free each billing period
- Up to 56 days
- Earn rate
- 1p per £2 spent
- Foreign transaction charge
- 0%
Our verdict
Existing Business Bank Account customers can earn cashback on day-to-day spending and benefit from no foreign transaction fees.If you already use NatWest Business Banking, then a £70 per annum might be a small sum to pay in return for the significant perks this card has to offer. Just bear in mind that that fee is per cardholder however.
In return for that £70 per annum fee, you'll enjoy 0% fees on non-sterling transactions, 0.5% cashback on everything you buy plus a well-below-average standard rate of 13.9%. So if you're currently paying more elsewhere, you could take advantage of the fee-free balance transfer facility (no 0%-interest offers here, sadly) to save on the interest you're paying each month.
As with almost all credit cards, provided you clear your balance in full each month, you'll benefit from up to 56 days of 0% interest on your purchases each billing cycle (this doesn't apply to cash advances). If you don't clear your balance in full – say if you only make the minimum required payment – you'll be charged interest on each transaction from the day on which it occurred.
All-in-all, this is a respectable and versatile option, and NatWest's new "ClearSpend" app makes for a straightforward and pleasant way to track your spending in real time. For the hardcore perk-seekers out there, a few other business cards on the market (from the likes of American Express or Capital on Tap) can offer a little more excitement.
Pros
- Up to 56 days to spread the cost of purchases (provided you pay off your balance in full each month)
- Customers report excellent customer service when dealing with NatWest
- Avoid currency conversion charges when spending abroad
- Earn cashback on day-to-day spending
- A relatively low 13.9% interest rate on purchases
Cons
- £70 annual account fee
- Applicants with low credit scores are unlikely to be eligible
Details
Product Overview
| Issuer | NatWest |
| Network | Mastercard |
| Annual/monthly fees | £70 per annum |
| Balance transfers | 13.9% |
| Purchases | 13.9% |
| Purchases interest-free period | Up to 56 days |
| Cash advances | 13.9% |
| Minimum credit limit | £500 |
| Maximum credit limit | Subject to status |
| Additional Rewards Info | Free 'online account servicing' via ClearSpend mobile and desktop app. |
| Cashback details | 0.5% after £1 of yearly spend. Maximum of £600 cashback paid per month. Cashback paid Monthly into Card Account. 3% cashback on eligible fuel and electric vehicle charging stations, 2% cashback on eligible trade and business supplies, 1% cashback on eligible travel and accommodation spend and 0.5% cashback on all other business spending. Max £600 per annum. |
| Potential costs | 6.2Standard |
| Doing its job | 6.3Standard |
| Extras | 10Excellent |
| Overall Finder Score | 6.1Standard |
Fees and charges
| Minimum monthly payment | 3% or £5 (whichever is greater) or the balance if less; or that month's interest, any default charges, 1/12th of any annual fee and 3% of the remaining balance. |
| Annual/monthly fees | £70 per annum |
| Foreign usage charge (EU) | 0% |
| Foreign usage charge (rest of world) | 0% |
| Cash advance fee | 3% (min. £3) |
| Late payment fee | £12 |
| Exceeding limit fee | £12 |
| Additional card fee | £70 |
| Dormancy fee | £0 |
The NatWest Business Plus Credit Card is issued on the Mastercard network, so it's accepted at more than 50 million merchant locations across more than 210 countries and territories.
How does it compare?
NatWest's card
Other popular business cards
Approval for any credit card depends on your status. The representative APRs shown represent the interest rate offered to most successful applicants. Depending on your personal circumstances, the APR you're offered may be higher, or you may not be offered credit at all. Fees and rates are subject to change without notice. It's always wise to check the terms of any deal before you borrow. Most of the data in Finder's comparison tables is provided by Moneyfacts.
Repayment options
You can make manual repayments through NatWest's app by logging in to your online banking or over the phone (0345 711 44 77). Alternatively, you may wish to set up a direct debit.
A direct debit protects you from forgetting to make a repayment and either damaging your credit score, getting hit with a penalty fee (£12) or losing any promotional rates as a result.
You can arrange a direct debit for repayments when you apply for the credit card. The table below shows the options available.
Choose from the following direct debit options for your monthly repayments:
| Minimum amount | |
|---|---|
| Fixed amount | |
| Fixed percentage | |
| Full amount |
Am I eligible?
Interested? Before going any further, check you meet the following requirements:
- Your business will need to be registered in the UK and have an annual turnover below £6m.
- You’ll need to already hold a business current account with NatWest (in the same legal entity name).
- You’ll need to be a director of the business, aged over 18 and resident in the UK and not have been declared bankrupt or received a county court judgement (CCJ) or Court Decree.
How to apply
If you’ve compared cards and want to apply, you can download an application form from the NatWest site. You’ll then need to submit the form in one of the following ways:
- Scan and email the form.
- Post the form to NatWest.
- Drop the form in at a branch.
To help speed up your application, it’s a good idea to have a few key details to hand. You’ll need your business address, trading address (and registered address if different), and company number if you have one. You’ll also be asked for financial information such as your business turnover, net profit before tax and bank details. Finally, NatWest will need details of each business partner/owner, including their date of birth and three years’ UK residential address history.
If you want to transfer a balance, you’ll need to phone the NatWest business team (0345 711 44 77).
The bottom line
If you simply want a card to help manage an irregular cash flow, then this card’s little sister can do that too, without the annual fee. But for most businesses with an annual turnover of up to £6m, this card is likely to offer more in benefits than it costs. However, you could potentially access even more rewards through the likes of American Express or Capital on Tap
Frequently asked questions
What credit limit will I get with the NatWest Business Plus Credit Card?
If NatWest offers you this deal, it will specify a tailored credit limit based on NatWest's assessment of your situation and your business. The minimum limit offered on this card is £500, and NatWest does not specify a maximum. Once you've had the card for a while and shown NatWest you're reliable, you may wish to apply for a credit limit increase.
Can I withdraw cash using the NatWest Business Plus Credit Card?
Although it's possible, withdrawing cash from a credit card account is generally not a good idea, as "cash-like transactions" (such as withdrawing cash at an ATM, getting cashback at the till, spending at a casino or buying currency) often incur steep fees and/or higher rates of interest.
The cash advance fee on the NatWest Business Plus Credit Card is 3% (min. £3). For example, if you withdraw £50, you'll incur a fee of £3.00. Withdraw £250 and you'll incur a fee of £7.50.
The interest rate on this part of your balance will be 13.9% (chargeable from the day of the transaction – the card's usual "up to 56 days interest-free" grace period won't apply).
How much does it cost to use the NatWest Business Plus Credit Card abroad?
Non-sterling transactions are subject to a 0% charge. For example, if you spend 200 euros (£164.83), it'll cost you around £0.00 in fees.
Can I get additional NatWest Business Plus Credit Cards for my team?
Yes. NatWest doesn't specify a maximum number of cards you can request. Each card comes with an additional account fee of £70. Plus, with additional cards, you could earn cashback at a faster rate.
Can I transfer a balance from another NatWest or RBS card?
No. Sadly, transfers from any other Royal Bank of Scotland Group cards (NatWest, RBS, Ulster Bank) are off the table. As are transfers from any personal credit cards (regardless of bank).
Do I get interest-free days on non-sterling transactions?
Yes! That “up to 56” days applies to transactions at home and abroad. So if you make a purchase abroad on day one of your billing cycle, then pay it off your payment-due date, it will have benefitted from the full 56 days. It doesn’t apply to cash transactions, however (which includes withdrawing cash and buying foreign currency). Additionally, you’ll need to have paid off your full balance from the previous billing period and you’ll need to pay off your full balance at the end of the current billing period in order to benefit from this feature. Set-up a direct debit to always clear the full balance, and you won’t even have to think about it.
