RBS Reward Credit Card review
- Representative example:
- When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 25.9% (variable) p.a. with a fee of £24 per annum. Reward Current Account holders: £0 per annum, your representative rate is 31% APR (variable).
- Balance transfer fee
- 0%
- Interest-free each billing period
- Up to 56 days
- Minimum credit limit
- £250
Our verdict
Existing RBS customers can get cashback at a range of different earn-rates with this RBS Reward Credit Card.This card offers you the opportunity to earn cashback on all of your spending, but how much you'll earn depends on where you use it.
The best earn-rates are to be had at RBS MyRewards partner retailers and at supermarkets (RBS states that this includes, but is not limited to: Asda, Iceland, Marks & Spencer, Morrisons, Sainsbury's, ALDI, LIDL, Tesco, The Co-operative and Waitrose).
You'll also earn rewards on the rest of your shopping, but at a lower rate. Don't forget the option to add an additional cardholder could boost your cashback earnings (though the account holder is solely responsible for all spending on both cards).
With an annual fee that's waived for Reward current account holders, it's existing RBS customers who are responsible for their household's weekly shopping and who don't anticipate carrying a balance from month to month that will stand to benefit the most from this deal. As with all reward credit cards, it's a smart idea to weigh up what you're likely to earn from the card versus what it's likely to cost you.
While it does the job in terms of rewards, this card is a bit lacking in terms of extras and perks. It offers no 0% deals on balance transfers or purchases, so if you need to pay back old debt or spread the cost of an incoming purchase, it isn't the right card for you.
Pros
- Customers report excellent customer service when dealing with Royal Bank of Scotland
- Earn points on day-to-day spending
Cons
- Annual fee
- Minimum annual income requirement of £10,000
- Applicants with low credit scores are unlikely to be eligible
- You may be offered an opening credit limit as low as £250
Details
Product overview
| Issuer | Royal Bank of Scotland |
| Network | Mastercard |
| Representative APR | 31% APR (variable) |
| Annual/monthly fees | £24 per annum. Reward Current Account holders: £0 per annum |
| Loyalty scheme | Rewards |
| Incentive | Earn 1% back at supermarkets and 0.25% back everywhere else, including supermarket petrol stations. At selected retailers, you could earn 1-15% back. |
| Additional Rewards Info | 1% Rewards earned on supermarket spend and 0.25% at their petrol stations, at least 1-15% Rewards earned at MyRewards retailers and 0.25% everywhere else when shopping at home and abroad. 5 Rewards is £5 when redeemed. Rewards can be converted into money and transferred to a current account, exchanged for gift cards or tickets with some retailers doubling their value or converted into money and donated to one of the RBS Group chosen charities. |
| Purchases | 25.9% |
| Purchases interest-free period (days) | 56 |
| Balance transfers | 25.9% |
| Potential costs | 7.2Great |
| Doing its job | 6.7Standard |
| Extras | 9.4Excellent |
| Overall Finder Score | 7.6Great |
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; double the amount of that month's interest and any default charges, plus any instalment plan fee(s), plus £1; or the excess over your credit limit after deducting any overdue amounts from previous statements. |
| Annual/monthly fees | £24 per annum. Reward Current Account holders: £0 per annum |
| Balance transfer fee | 0% |
| Money transfer fee | 0% |
| Foreign usage charge (EU) | 2.75% |
| Foreign usage charge (rest of world) | 2.75% |
| 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 RBS Reward Credit Card is issued on the Mastercard network, so it's accepted at more than 50 million merchant locations across more than 210 countries and territories.
How does it compare?
Royal Bank of Scotland'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 reward cards
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 Royal Bank of Scotland's app by logging in to your online banking or over the phone (0345 724 2424). 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
If you've compared cards and settled on the RBS 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 RBS Reward Credit Card?
If Royal Bank of Scotland offers you this deal, it will specify a personalised credit limit based on Royal Bank of Scotland's assessment of your situation. The minimum limit offered on this card is £250, and Royal Bank of Scotland does not specify a maximum. Once you've had the card for a while and shown Royal Bank of Scotland you're reliable, you may wish to apply for a credit limit increase.
Can I withdraw cash using the RBS 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 RBS 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 26.9% (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 RBS Reward Credit Card abroad?
Non-sterling transactions are subject to a 2.75% charge. For example, if you spend 200 euros (£164.83), it'll cost you around £4.53 in fees.
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