Fintechs (a combination of the words finance and technology) have disrupted the banking industry and are changing the world of finance for consumers. Most recently, fintechs have entered the credit card market. We take a closer look at what’s on offer.
What are fintech credit cards?
A fintech credit card is often one that’s issued by a neobank, or challenger bank, that waves goodbye to hefty fees, offers innovative features including perks and rewards, and can usually be managed via an app. Perks can include creative reward programmes, no fees for foreign transactions, and the opportunity to build your credit rating.
Top fintech credit cards in the UK
Below is a list of the top fintech consumer credit cards in the UK and how they work:
Zopa
You can apply for the Zopa credit card online and use an instant eligibility check which won’t impact your credit score. Once accepted, you can manage your credit card via the app, including downloading statements and seeing what you’ve spent where. You’ll get instant payment notifications and can also use the credit cushion feature to set aside some of your available balance for when you really need it. There are no fees for using your card abroad and it’s easy to freeze your card if you spot any unusual transactions. Interest rates vary depending on your circumstances.
Jaja
The Jaja credit card can be managed via the app which will help you track your spending, categorise your transactions, and freeze and unfreeze your card with ease. There are no annual fees and no fees for using your card abroad either. At the moment, Jaja is not accepting new customers for its credit card. But the company partnered with Bank of Ireland in 2019 and acquired its existing credit card portfolio, including credit cards from the AA and Post Office.
Tymit
Tymit Credit is designed for those with medium to high credit scores, and lets you choose how you want to pay for purchases. If you pay over 3 monthly instalments, there is no interest to pay. Alternatively, you can spread the cost over 6, 12, 24 or 36 monthly instalments at an interest rate of 29.9% APR. There are no annual or foreign exchange fees. Tymit Booster, on the other hand, is designed for those looking to build their credit score. You save however much you want into a booster pot and you’ll get a line of credit equivalent to that amount. Used responsibly, your credit score will start to increase. There’s a £9.95 monthly fee.
Bip
Bip offers cardless credit which means you can access a line of credit without needing to use a physical card. Instead, you can manage your credit account entirely from your phone. There are no annual fees, no late payment or overlimit fees, and no additional fees for using Bip abroad. You can also cap your own spending and see instant balance updates. You can make online purchases by using your Bip number, expiry date and CVV, or you can choose to make payments online or instore with Google and Apple Pay.
Keebo
Keebo is designed for those looking to build their credit score who may have been turned away by traditional high street banks. The card is “invite-only” but you can request an invitation for access on its website. Keebo uses open banking to link all of your bank accounts to give a better picture of your finances and determine your affordability. Once you’re accepted for the card, you can set up autopayments and monitor your spending via the app. Every transaction you make with the card goes towards getting you Keebo points which can help build credit. There are no annual fees.
Yonder
If you’re searching for a rewards credit card, take a look at Yonder. With the Yonder membership – costing £15 per month – you’ll earn 5 points per £1 spent and points can be redeemed at selected restaurants, bars and events. Yonder is also a good option for those without a UK credit score who want to build up their credit rating, such as expats and immigrants. It uses open banking to view your banking data and check your income and expenses to assess your affordability. Provided you make your monthly repayment on time, your credit rating should improve. Note there is a high interest rate of 66.7% APR.
Top fintech business credit cards
If you’re looking for a fintech credit card for your business, take a look at the ones below:
Juni
Juni offers digital and virtual business credit cards (technically charge cards) with custom spend limits which you can adjust with ease via the app. The Juni card will give you access to credit lines of up to £2,000,000 and cards are available in sterling or euros, with US dollar cards coming soon. Transactions that match the currency of your card are completely free, but you may be charged foreign exchange fees by Visa if currencies do not match. You’ll also benefit from up to 1% cashback on your card spend, with no annual fee.
Jeeves
This corporate charge card has no fees and offers up to 4% cashback on all spending. With Jeeves you’ll also avoid currency conversion charges when spending on the card abroad. Further benefits include the option to request additional physical cards and up to 100 virtual cards without a fee, and the ability to manage all your company cards, payments and spending limits via the web platform and mobile app. You can also upload receipts and export data to your accounting software.
Fintech credit card benefits
There are a number of benefits to using a fintech credit card, including:
They tend to offer more innovative features, such as rewards and cashback.
They can be managed via the provider’s app, helping you to keep on top of your spending.
Fees tend to be lower, with many offering fee-free transactions abroad.
They may be easier to get accepted for compared to regular credit cards.
They can help you to build credit.
How is fintech impacting the credit card industry?
Perhaps the biggest impact fintech is having on the credit card industry is that consumers are being offered more choice. Many fintech credit cards are aimed towards those who have struggled to get credit elsewhere, offering them an alternative way to access credit and build a credit rating.
What’s more, with most fintech credit cards being managed via an app, it is easy for consumers to track and categorise transactions which in turn could help prevent them from racking up huge amounts of debt. The lack of fees for foreign transactions and other spending also makes borrowing this way cheaper, and with some fintech credit cards offering nifty features to help break down payments into monthly instalments, many consumers will likely find managing their debt far easier.
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.
Frequently asked questions
Mastercard is a payment network which processes payments on credit cards and debit cards. It partners with many fintech companies to offer fintech credit cards.
Visa is another payment network that processes payments and has also partnered with fintech companies to offer fintech credit cards.
Percentage of shoppers that would prefer to use a credit card for purchases over £100
Response
% of shoppers
Yorkshire and the Humber
24.24%
West Midlands
33.90%
Wales
22.92%
South West
30.23%
South East
33.94%
Scotland
18.02%
Northern Ireland
24.56%
North West
25.11%
North East
14.81%
Greater London
28.05%
East of England
35.79%
East Midlands
27.21%
Source: Finder survey by Censuswide of 2,000 UK shoppers
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.
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Written by
Rachel Wait
Rachel Wait is a freelance journalist and has been writing about personal finance for more than a decade, covering everything from insurance to mortgages. She has written for a range of personal finance websites and national newspapers, including The Observer, The Mail on Sunday, The Sun and the Evening Standard. Rachel is a keen baker in her spare time. See full profile
The Yonder credit card has launched in the UK, using open banking to create a personalised picture of your spending habits to help you get the most out of your credit card.
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