To make comparing even easier we came up with the Finder Score. Costs, perks and suitability across 120+ cards are all weighted and scaled to produce a score out of 10. The higher the score the better the card – simple.
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.
What is AIB?
AIB Group is a commercial banking group in Northern Ireland. As such, it forms part of one of the “Big Four” banks in Northern Ireland. First Trust Bank was formed in 1991 when TSB Northern Ireland merged with AIB Group’s other interests. Then, in 2019, it made the switch to simply “AIB”.
Its credit cards are issued on the Visa or Mastercard networks (you can decide which you’d rather), meaning they’re accepted pretty much everywhere that takes plastic. For most of us, either network is perfectly fine, but you can read up on some of the differences between the biggest card networks.
Pros and cons
Pros
Introductory interest rates on selected cards.
Up to 56 days interest free.
Spread your repayments.
No annual fee.
Cons
Minimum salary requirements.
Interest charged after introductory period.
Incorrect usage can hurt your credit score.
Types of AIB credit cards
AIB offers a range of credit cards designed to suit a range of purposes.
Cashback cards. If you don’t anticipate carrying a balance from month to month, you could benefit from cashback on all purchases combined with interest-free days each billing cycle, meaning your credit card could earn rather than cost you money. Compare cashback credit cards
Low rate cards. For those who aren’t impressed by 0% periods that expire only to be replaced with punishing rates, or those who don’t anticipate carrying a balance from month to month, low rate cards can be a hassle-free option. Compare low rate credit cards
Student cards. If you don’t carry a balance from month to month and use a student card responsibly, it could help you to handle fluctuating costs and kickstart a positive credit record, standing you in good stead for your future borrowing requirements. Compare student credit cards
Charge cards. Charge cards come with a 0% ongoing interest rate, but you must settle your balance in full every month, or you’ll incur late payment charges.
What's the difference between a charge card and a credit card?
With a charge card, you’re expected to clear your balance in full every month. As such, these cards don’t charge interest, although there are usually harsh fees if you fail to clear your balance. The benefits of charge cards include flexibility over payments (purchases at the start of the billing cycle are paid for at the end of the billing cycle) and, in some cases, rewards on your spending. Charge cards can come with a monthly or annual fee attached and do not offer purchase protection under section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act.
While charge cards are fairly rare in the consumer space, they are more prevalent in business banking.
What benefits can I get with an AIB Bank credit card?
24-hour customer support. The AIB customer care team is on hand around the clock to answer any queries you have.
No annual or monthly fees. You will not be charged an annual fee on any AIB credit cards.
Global usage. The AIB credit cards are part of the Visa and Mastercard networks, meaning they are accepted at more than 35 million locations worldwide.
Contactless payments. All the AIB credit cards are enabled for contactless payments of under £45.
Enhanced security. Have peace of mind when shopping online with Verified by Visa and Mastercard SecureCode.
Online account management. See your balance and make a payment at any time, from anywhere.
Applying for an AIB credit card
Fill out the application form on the website with your basic personal and contact details.
An AIB advisor calls you to complete your application. This takes about 10 minutes. Alternatively, you can call the AIB freephone number.
A credit check is performed based on the information you have given, and you will receive a quick decision.
Once approved, you should receive your new AIB credit card within 3–5 working days.
Eligibility requirements
To be eligible for an AIB credit card, you must:
Be at least 18 years old.
Be resident in the UK.
Have an AIB current account.
You must ensure that you can meet the repayments. Missed payments incur a charge and could severely impact your ability to obtain future credit.
Must meet the minimum salary requirements.
For the Student Mastercard, you must also be in full-time education as a third-level student.
Why might you not be approved?
On the whole, if you meet the eligibility requirements but have a history of bad debt or no credit history at all, you may be rejected. Equally, if you’re in an IVA or have had a CCJ, you may not be accepted. If you’ve ever declared bankruptcy, you’re also unlikely to receive a card.
AIB customer reviews
AIB has received mostly negative reviews from customers, according to review platform Trustpilot. It currently has a rating of 1.3 out of 5, based on more than 630 reviews (updated October 2023). Customers reported a negative experience when dealing with the bank.
Some customers also cited poor customer service and issues when using their cards.
Customer support information
If you need support or have any queries, you can contact the AIB customer support team on 0345 600 5925.
Our verdict
When used correctly, an AIB credit card could help you improve your credit score. However, incorrect usage, such as missed payments, could damage your credit score. Unsure what your credit score is? Check it for free with Finder.
Frequently asked questions
If you have an active account and feel the credit limit is inadequate for your needs, you can contact your local branch or call AIB. Additional lending decisions are subject to an assessment of your ability to repay.
Yes. You can change your payment due date to a date in the month that suits you best.
Yes. Your AIB credit card will work anywhere Visa Credit or MasterCard Credit is accepted, at over 35 million locations worldwide.
You can use your AIB credit card at any cash machine accepting Visa Credit or MasterCard Credit. A list of over 800,000 locations, spread over 120 countries worldwide, is available on the Visa and Mastercard websites.
We show offers we can track - that's not every product on the market...yet. Unless we've said otherwise, products are in no particular order. The terms "best", "top", "cheap" (and variations of these) aren't ratings, though we always explain what's great about a product when we highlight it. This is subject to our terms of use. When you make major financial decisions, consider getting independent financial advice. Always consider your own circumstances when you compare products so you get what's right for you. Most of the data in Finder's comparison tables has the source: Moneyfacts Group PLC. In other cases, Finder has sourced data directly from providers.
Chris Lilly is Head of publishing at finder.com. He's a specialist in personal finance, from day-to-day banking to investing to borrowing, and is passionate about helping UK consumers make informed decisions about their money. In his spare time Chris likes forcing his kids to exercise more. See full bio
Chris's expertise
Chris has written 601 Finder guides across topics including:
Earn cashback on your day-to-day spending and enjoy interest-free days on purchases with this AIB offer.
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Advertiser disclosure
Finder.com is an independent comparison platform and information service that aims to provide you with the tools you need to make better decisions. While we are independent, the offers that appear on this site are from companies from which Finder receives compensation. We may receive compensation from our partners for placement of their products or services. We may also receive compensation if you click on certain links posted on our site. While compensation arrangements may affect the order, position or placement of product information, it doesn't influence our assessment of those products. Please don't interpret the order in which products appear on our Site as any endorsement or recommendation from us. Finder compares a wide range of products, providers and services but we don't provide information on all available products, providers or services. Please appreciate that there may be other options available to you than the products, providers or services covered by our service.
We update our data regularly, but information can change between updates. Confirm details with the provider you're interested in before making a decision.
