AIB Student Credit Card review
- Representative example:
- When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 12.2% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 12.9% APR (variable).
- Minimum credit limit
- £300
- Interest-free each billing period
- Up to 56 days
- Account fee
- £0
Our verdict
A straightforward card designed to give existing AIB (formerly First Trust Bank) account holders financial freedom and convenience during their student days.If you don't anticipate carrying a balance from month-to-month, then a student credit card can offer a smart way to deal with unexpected costs and take control of your finances while studying.
Provided you pay your balance in full and on time each month, you won't incur any interest on purchases or cash advances (taking out cash from the card) because the card comes with up to 56 days of 0% interest on your purchases each billing cycle.
To apply you need to be 18 or over, a full-time student and resident in the UK. You will also need to hold an existing AIB account.
Pros
- Since it's a student card, you aren't required to have a super-high credit score in order to be approved
- Up to 56 days to spread the cost of purchases (provided you pay off your balance in full each month)
- A low ongoing interest rate (variable)
- No annual fee
Cons
- To apply, you must hold a student bank account with AIB (NI)
Details
Product overview
| Issuer | AIB (NI) |
| Network | Visa |
| Annual/monthly fees | £0 |
| Minimum credit limit | £300 |
| Maximum credit limit | Subject to status |
| Credit limit note | Subject to status |
| Purchases | 12.2% |
| Purchases interest-free period (days) | 56 |
| Additional cards available | 1 |
| Potential costs | 4.5 ★★★★★ |
| Doing its job | 4.0 ★★★★★ |
| Extras | 3.5 ★★★★★ |
| Overall Finder Score | 4.0 ★★★★★ |
Fees and charges
| Minimum monthly payment | 3% or £5 (whichever is greater) or the total of any interest, default fees and charges plus 1% of the outstanding balance. |
| Annual/monthly fees | £0 |
| Foreign usage charge (EU) | 2.75% |
| Foreign usage charge (rest of world) | 2.75% |
| Cash advance fee | 1.5% (min. £0) |
| Late payment fee | £12 |
| Exceeding limit fee | £12 |
| Additional card fee | £0 |
| Dormancy fee | £0 |
Application requirements
| Minimum Age | 18 |
| Availability | Available to existing customers |
The AIB Student Credit Card is issued on the Visa network (used by a whopping 4.2 billion cards), so you'll be able to use it at more than 100 million merchant locations across more than 200 countries and territories.
How does it compare with other student deals?
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 AIB (NI)'s app by logging in to your online banking or over the phone (0345 600 5925). Alternatively, you may wish to set up a direct debit.
A direct debit protects you from forgetting to make a repayment and damaging your credit score – making it harder and more expensive to borrow money in the future – and getting hit with a penalty fee (£12) 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 |
How to apply
If you have compared your options and want to apply, you'll need to call AIB (or request a callback) or head to a branch. A credit check and affordability assessment will be performed based on the information you've given, and you will normally receive a quick decision. Once approved, you should receive your new AIB credit card within 3-5 working days.
Frequently asked questions
What credit limit will I get with the AIB Student Credit Card?
If AIB (NI) offers you this deal, it will specify a personalised credit limit based on AIB (NI)'s assessment of your situation. The minimum limit offered on this card is £300, and AIB (NI) does not specify a maximum. Once you've had the card for a while and shown AIB (NI) you're reliable, you may wish to apply for a credit limit increase.
Can I withdraw cash using the AIB Student 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 AIB Student Credit Card is 1.5%.
The interest rate on this part of your balance will be 12.2% (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 AIB Student Credit Card abroad?
Non-sterling transactions are subject to a 2.75% charge. For example, if you spend 200 euros (£165.32), it'll cost you around £4.55 in fees.
What is the minimum payment on the AIB Student Credit Card?
Each month, you must pay at least 3% of your balance at that point or £5.00 – whichever of the 2 figures is greater. So if you had, say, £150.00 outstanding, you'd pay £5.00, and if you had £666.67 outstanding, you'd pay £20.00.
Paying only the minimum required amount each month is generally not advisable as it tends to be a very expensive way to borrow money, which can lead to persistent debt.
Do I need to be an existing AIB (NI) customer to apply for the AIB Student Credit Card?
Yes, you must already hold a AIB (NI) student bank account.
What does "Up to 56 days interest-free" on purchases mean?
Almost all credit cards offer you a "grace period" in which to settle your purchases. But to enjoy this feature, you have to clear your full balance each month (cash withdrawals and non-sterling transactions sadly tend not to benefit from this feature).
Let's say you make a purchase using the AIB Student Credit Card on the 1st day the month. Shortly after the end of the month you receive your statement and bill from AIB (NI) which needs to paid by, say, the 25th of the month. If you then pay off your balance in full on the 25th, you won't be charged interest on that purchase, and you'll have enjoyed 56 days interest-free.
Finder credit card scores
Our experts score student credit cards to determine their value against similar products on the market. We look at a number of important factors, like credit limits, flexibility, any perks/benefits, plus the potential costs involved with running the card both in the short and longer term.
You can read more about our scoring criteria on our credit card methodology page.
