Updated September 28, 2026 · DebitCue Editorial Team
Capital One UK vs Capitec Bank
Capital One UK
Higher score in this comparison
Capitec Bank
Where Capital One UK and Capitec Bank differ
| Compare | Capital One UKReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | Capitec BankReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | £0 | ZAR 0 |
| APR | 34.9% | 9.75%Lower |
| Currency conversion fee | 2.75% | 0%Lower |
| Rewards type | None | Cashback |
| Credit needed | Poor | Fair |
| Perks | Free CreditWise credit score and report, Up to 56 days interest free on new spends, Section 75 protection on spends between GBP 100 and GBP 30,000, Up to 2 credit limit increases a year, Free QuickCheck eligibility check with no impact to credit score, Round the clock fraud security | Travel insurance, Tap to pay, Virtual cards, Temporary card freeze, Contactless payments |
| Rewards rate | Not confirmed | 0.5% cashback on qualifying purchases (5+ transactions monthly) |
| Balance transfer intro period | 18 months | Not confirmed |
| Balance transfer fee | 3% | Not confirmed |
| Cashback rate | Not confirmed | 0.5% |
Same on both: Card kind (Credit).
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Key differences
- Founded is lower at Capital One UK: 1996 vs 2001.
- APR is lower at Capitec Bank: 9.75% vs 34.9%.
- Currency conversion fee is lower at Capitec Bank: 0% vs 2.75%.
- Perks: only Capital One UK offers Free CreditWise credit score and report, Up to 56 days interest free on new spends, Section 75 protection on spends between GBP 100 and GBP 30,000.
- Perks: only Capitec Bank offers Travel insurance, Tap to pay, Virtual cards.
Our verdict on each
Capital One UK
Capital One UK suits UK shoppers building a score or clearing a balance, offering a balance transfer intro of 18 and credit tools with no fee to hold. The representative APR of 34.9% makes it a card to clear rather than revolve.
Capitec Bank
Capitec Bank suits South African spenders who want everyday spending and borrowing from the same bank, not the lowest monthly cost. Its credit card has an annual fee of ZAR 0 and an APR of 9.75%, while the debit side carries a monthly fee of ZAR 7.50.
Score breakdown
| Area | Capital One UK | Capitec Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.7Annual fee £0 and a 3% balance transfer fee keep costs low, against 34.9% interest and 2.75% abroad. | 9.0HigherThe debit account charges ZAR 7.50 a month and free ATM withdrawals sit at ZAR 0. |
| Offer | 9.5HigherBalance transfer intro of 18, free credit score tools, and no rewards (none). | 9.3 |
| Trust | 9.0 | 9.2Higher |
How they place
| Ranking | Capital One UK | Capitec Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Credit cards | 153 of 1020 | 154 of 1020 |
| Bad credit and credit builder cards | 10 of 23 | 11 of 23 |
Where each is licensed and available
Additional countries for Capital One UK: 1. Additional countries for Capitec Bank: 1.
Spending 1,000 abroad
Capital One UK
27.5
2.75% of 1,000
Capitec Bank
0
0% of 1,000
Capitec Bank comes out 27.5 lower in this example.
Worked out from the stated prices and rates; your own total depends on how you use it. Facts checked September 26, 2026.
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Capital One UK | Capitec Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | No annual fee | No annual fee |
| Features | Not confirmed | Travel |
| Legal entity | Capital One (Europe) plc | Capitec Bank Limited |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | South Africa |
| Founded | 1996Lower | 2001 |
| Support channels | Chat, Phone, Email, Help centre | Phone, Email, Chat, Help centre |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Capital One UK | Capitec Bank | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| APR | 34.9%highest quarter | 9.75%lowest quarter | 19.39% |
| Currency conversion fee | 2.75%highest quarter | 0%below the median | 1% |
| Balance transfer intro period | 18 monthsabove the median | Not confirmed | 15 months |
| Balance transfer fee | 3%at the median | Not confirmed | 3% |
| Cashback rate | Not confirmed | 0.5%lowest quarter | 1.5% |
Median across 312 listed cards.
Pros and cons
Capital One UK
Pros
- Aimed at poor credit, so applicants turned down elsewhere can still apply.
- Support runs on chat, phone and email, so help is easy to reach by phone, chat, email or a help centre.
- Credit building tools come as standard: a free credit score and report, an eligibility check that leaves the credit score untouched, and round the clock fraud security.
Cons
- Representative APR of 34.9% sits above the site average of 20.97%, so an unpaid balance costs quickly.
- Foreign purchases are charged 2.75% in currency conversion, above the site average of 1%.
- The rewards type is listed as none, so nothing comes back on everyday spending.
Capitec Bank
Pros
- Currency conversion costs 0%, so spending in another currency adds no fee on top of the rate.
- Cashback of 0.5% on qualifying purchases, once a set number of transactions go through each month.
- Perks run to travel insurance, tap to pay and virtual cards, covering both everyday payments and travel.
Cons
- The debit account charges ZAR 7.50 a month, where the site median is €0.
- Free ATM withdrawals are set at ZAR 0, so cash machine use is not covered.
- Cashback of 0.5% applies only once a set number of transactions go through each month.
Who each suits
Capital One UK
Who it suits
- UK applicants with poor credit who want a mainstream card rather than a secured one.
- Balances being cleared, where the 18 transfer window and 3% fee on the balance transfer card keep the move contained.
- Cardholders who pay in full and would rather build a score than chase rewards.
Who should look elsewhere
- Not for frequent foreign spend, where Wise charges 0% on currency conversion against 2.75% on this card.
- Not for anyone after a deposit backed card, since Varo Believe Secured Credit Card has an annual fee of $0 on a secured basis.
- Not for shoppers who want a rewards earn on everyday buying, as the rewards type here is none and Chime Card (Secured Visa Credit Card) offers the same credit building route.
Capitec Bank
Who it suits
- South African residents who want debit spending and a credit card from the same bank, run by Capitec Bank Limited.
- People who pay in other currencies, since the conversion fee is 0%.
- Cardholders who want travel cover, with travel insurance among travel insurance, tap to pay and virtual cards.
Who should look elsewhere
- Readers who want no monthly account charge: Wise charges £0.
- Borrowers who want a secured card rather than a debit card: Varo Believe Secured Credit Card charges $0.
- Shoppers who want a Visa network: Chime Card charges $0, where this card runs on mastercard.
Current offers
Capital One UK
Current offer
First period offer
0% interest on balance transfers for up to 18 months and on purchases for up to 3 months: 0% for up to 18 months on balance transfers; 0% for up to 3 months on purchases
Balance Transfer card; up to 3% transfer fee (maximum 3%); up to GBP 8,000 starting credit limit; representative example assumes a GBP 1,200 credit limit with 34.94% p.a. variable interest on purchases giving 34.9% APR representative variable
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Capital One UK | Capitec Bank |
|---|---|---|
| South Africa | No | Yes |
| United Kingdom | Yes | No |
Questions about each
Capital One UK
Is there an annual fee on the Capital One UK credit card?+
There is no annual fee. The card is sold on a no annual fee model, so the annual fee is £0 and the only real cost is interest. That interest is the part to watch, at a representative APR of 34.9%, because the card is aimed at poor credit and some applicants will revolve.
What rate applies if I do not clear the balance?+
The representative APR is 34.9%, above the site average of 20.97%. New purchases sit inside the interest free window the card offers, so the rate matters most once that window runs out or a transferred balance is still unpaid.
Capitec Bank
How much does the Capitec Bank debit account cost each month?+
The debit side charges a monthly fee of ZAR 7.50. That sits above the site median of €0, so the account is not the cheapest place to hold everyday spending money. The credit card is a separate product, billed on its own terms.
What does the Capitec Bank credit card charge in fees and interest?+
The credit card has an annual fee of ZAR 0 and an APR of 9.75%, and it runs on the no annual fee model. The debit account is a separate product billed at ZAR 7.50 a month, so opening both means paying both.
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Capital One UK
Capitec Bank