NatWest Travel Reward Credit Card review
- Representative example:
- When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 27.9% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 27.9% APR (variable).
- Foreign transaction charge
- 0%
- Account fee
- £0
- Balance transfer fee
- 0%
Our verdict
NatWest has launched its Travel Reward Credit Card with no annual fee, no FX fees and earn rewards when spending, but will it be your sunny saviour this summer?Offering a host of benefits to make your travels easier and more rewarding; is the NatWest Travel Reward Credit Card your perfect travel companion?
With the NatWest Travel Rewards Credit Card, you could earn 1% back on eligible travel spending across a range of categories including flights, trains, car rentals, accommodation and more. Plus, you’ll earn between 1% to 15% at selected partner retailers, and for those everyday expenses that don’t fall into these categories you’ll still earn 0.1% back. To learn more about how NatWest MyRewards work, read our guide here.
Whether you're dining at a charming seaside café or picking up souvenirs from the local market, the NatWest Travel Reward card has no foreign exchange fees, so you won’t be stung by those pesky fees. Plus, there’s no annual fee with this card to nibble away at your travel budget.
However, whilst tapping your card to make purchases is fee-free, withdrawing cash from ATMs abroad or getting a cash advance will incur charges, and local fees might also apply. Additionally, with only 0.1% back on everyday purchases, you might find a more rewarding system with another rewards card. Or, if you want to travel and earn rewards with no FX fees, you might want to check out the Yonder credit card.
If you’re planning to jet off soon, the NatWest Travel Rewards Credit Card could be your ticket to a more rewarding holiday. Just remember, while it’s great for spending, it's best to avoid those cash withdrawals abroad. Stick to using your card for purchases, pay off your balance in full each month and you could enjoy a breezy, catch-free experience.
One last travel tip: whenever you're given the choice, always opt to pay in the local currency rather than letting the local merchant or bank convert it for you. This way, you can take full advantage of the card issuer's favourable conversion rates rather than potentially higher rates charged locally. And if you're venturing outside the EU, be aware that some merchants might add a surcharge on credit card transactions, so it’s always good to ask before you pay.
Pros
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No annual fee
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No FX fee
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Earn rewards on all eligible spending
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Customers report excellent customer service when dealing with NatWest
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Available to new customers
Cons
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Applicants with low credit scores are unlikely to be eligible
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Minimum annual income requirement of £10,000
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You may be offered an opening credit limit as low as £250
Details
Product overview
| Issuer | NatWest |
| Network | Visa |
| Representative APR | 27.9% APR (variable) |
| Annual/monthly fees | £0 |
| Loyalty scheme | Rewards |
| Incentive | Earn 1% in Rewards on eligible travel spending and up to 15% on monthly offers from chosen partner retailers. Earn 0.1% everywhere else. Rewards can be converted into money and transferred to a current account, exchanged for e-codes with some retailers worth more than the cash or converted into money and donated to one of the RBS Group chosen charities. |
| Purchases | 27.9% |
| Purchases interest-free period (days) | 56 |
| Balance transfers | 27.9% |
| Potential costs | 4.2 ★★★★★ |
| Doing its job | 4.5 ★★★★★ |
| Extras | 3.7 ★★★★★ |
| Overall Finder Score | 4.3 ★★★★★ |
Fees and charges
| Minimum monthly payment | 1% or £5 (whichever is greater) or the total of any interest, default fees and charges, 1/12th of annual fee plus 1% of the outstanding balance or double the amount of that month's interest and any default charges, plus any instalment plan fee(s), plus £1. |
| Annual/monthly fees | £0 |
| Balance transfer fee | 0% |
| Money transfer fee | 0% |
| Foreign usage charge (EU) | 0% |
| Foreign usage charge (rest of world) | 0% |
| Cash advance fee | 3% (min. £3) |
| Late payment fee | £12 |
| Duplicate statement fee | £3 |
| Exceeding limit fee | £12 |
| Additional card fee | £0 |
| Dormancy fee | £0 |
Application requirements
| Minimum Age | 18 |
| Minimum income | £10,000 |
| Availability | Available to new customers |
The NatWest Travel Reward 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?
NatWest's card
Finder Score for credit cards
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.
Read the full methodologyOther popular cards for overseas spending
Finder Score for credit cards
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.
Read the full methodologyApproval 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 788 8444). 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 |
How to apply for the NatWest Travel Reward Credit Card
If you've compared cards and settled on the NatWest Travel Reward Credit Card, completing the secure online application form takes about 15 minutes. Before you apply, check that you meet the eligibility requirements and have the information and documents you'll need to make the process as straightforward as possible.
Frequently asked questions
What credit limit will I get with the NatWest Travel Reward Credit Card?
If NatWest offers you this deal, it will specify a personalised credit limit based on NatWest's assessment of your situation. The minimum limit offered on this card is £250, 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 Travel Reward 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 Travel Reward 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 29.9%, which is 7% more than the standard purchase rate (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 Travel Reward 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.
Finder credit card scores
Our experts score travel credit cards to determine their value against similar products on the market. We look at a number of important factors, like the cost for non-sterling transactions, any caveats or restrictions related to using your card overseas, travel-related 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.
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