Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 31% (variable) p.a. with a fee of Year 1 - £0, Year 2 onwards - £195 per annum, your representative rate is 88.8% APR (variable).
A black credit card is a premium credit card that offers more status and benefits than standard, gold or platinum credit cards. The use of the term “black” for this type of credit card refers to the level of the account, similar to how airline and hotel programs have different status levels.
However, there are some standard credit cards that are also labelled as “black” cards by the provider. These cards may offer more benefits than other similar cards, but without the exclusivity of the elite black cards.
Black credit cards offer a range of exclusive features that vary between cards. A few notable features may include:
What are the most prestigious credit 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.
As you’d expect, the perks offered by the best black credit cards can often come with a premium price tag. Depending on the card, you may be faced with an annual fee in the thousands of pounds, though many black cards have annual fees around £300 or less.
Most black credit cards are designed for people with high incomes and high monthly charges. They’re also usually reserved for those with excellent credit scores.
But meeting the application requirements doesn’t necessarily mean you should get a black credit card. If you never travel, for example, you won’t leverage perks like travel credits, airport lounge access and status upgrades in hotel and airline programs. In that case, it might not be worth paying a high annual fee.
On the other hand, if you travel often and love accessing special events through your card, you might find your card pays for itself many times over.
There are three main factors to consider when comparing black credit cards:
Not everyone will qualify for the most exclusive black credit cards, which is part of the appeal. This type of card comes with a high annual fee, robust luxury features and is often available by invitation only.
However, there are some black cards that offer better rewards and benefits, without the associated cost. You also don’t have to get a black card to enjoy high-class travel benefits. If you don’t meet the criteria or are looking for a more affordable option, compare travel credit cards and see if you can find the alternative that’s right for you.
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