TSB Student Credit Card review
- Representative example:
- When you spend £1,000 at a purchase rate of 21.95% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 21.9% APR (variable).
- Minimum credit limit
- £500
- Interest-free each billing period
- Up to 56 days
- Account fee
- £0
Our verdict
Existing TSB student account holders can apply for this card to cover unexpected expenses and build a good credit history.Like most student credit cards, TSB's card comes with low credit limits and no annual or monthly fee. TSB will issue you a personalised credit limit when you open your account, and it's important to stay within this limit – student credit cards can kick-start a positive credit history, but if they are used incorrectly they will do the opposite.
Student cards also typically don't have the the headline-grabbing low rates (in part due to the limited credit histories of many of the card's users). However provided you clear your balance in full each month, you'll be able to take advantage of up to 56 days of 0% interest on your purchases (this doesn't apply to cash advances).
It's smart to be cautious about taking out a credit card while studying. If your income is minimal and paid infrequently, be realistic about how quickly you'll be able to pay off any borrowing. On the plus side, if you don't carry a balance from month-to-month and you use this card responsibly, it could help you to handle fluctuating costs and help kick start a positive credit record – standing you in good stead for your future borrowing requirements.
As is generally the case with student credit cards, you’ll need to already hold a student bank account with TSB to be eligible to apply.
Pros
-
No annual fee
-
Relatively higher credit limits
-
Available to those with limited credit history
Cons
-
Existing TSB student customers only
-
No rewards or other incentives
Details
Product overview
| Issuer | TSB |
| Network | Mastercard |
| Annual/monthly fees | £0 |
| Minimum credit limit | £500 |
| Maximum credit limit | Subject to status: £1,000 |
| Credit limit note | Subject to status |
| Purchases | 21.95% |
| Purchases interest-free period (days) | 56 |
| Balance transfers | 21.95% |
| Potential costs | 3.5 ★★★★★ |
| Doing its job | 3.5 ★★★★★ |
| Extras | 3.0 ★★★★★ |
| Overall Finder Score | 3.5 ★★★★★ |
Fees and charges
| Minimum monthly payment | 1% 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 |
| Balance transfer fee | 5% |
| Foreign usage charge (EU) | 2.95% |
| Foreign usage charge (rest of world) | 2.95% |
| Cash advance fee | 3% (min. £3) |
| Late payment fee | £12 |
| Duplicate statement fee | £0 |
| Exceeding limit fee | £12 |
| Additional card fee | £0 |
| Dormancy fee | £0 |
Application requirements
| Minimum Age | 18 |
| Availability | Available to existing customers |
The TSB Student 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?
TSB's card
Other popular 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 TSB's app by logging in to your online banking or over the phone (0345 835 3846). 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're an existing TSB student banking customer and you've compared cards and settled on the TSB Student Credit Card, provided you're registered for internet banking you can log-in and apply in a few minutes using the secure online form. 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
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.
