Updated September 28, 2026 · DebitCue Editorial Team
Capital One UK vs U.S. Bank
Capital One UK
Higher score in this comparison
U.S. Bank
Capital One UK vs U.S. Bank: the differences
| Compare | Capital One UKReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | U.S. BankReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | £0 | $0 |
| APR | 34.9% | 0%Lower |
| Rewards type | None | Cashback |
| Balance transfer intro period | 18 monthsHigher | 12 months |
| Balance transfer fee | 3%Lower | 5% |
| Credit needed | Poor | Good |
| 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 | Cash back deals from brands via the U.S. Bank Mobile App or online banking, Flexible cash back redemption: direct deposit, statement credit, rewards card, merchant gift cards, U.S. Bank ExtendPay Plan with a $0 fee offer for new cardmembers on plans opened in the first 60 days, Contactless chip payment on all U.S. Bank credit cards |
| Currency conversion fee | 2.75% | Not confirmed |
| Rewards rate | Not confirmed | Unlimited 2% cash back on every purchase, plus up to an additional 2% on the first $10,000 in eligible Net Purchases each billing cycle when paired with a U.S. Bank Smartly Savings account and qualifying checking balances (total 2.5% / 3% / 4% by qualifying balance) |
| Cashback rate | Not confirmed | 2% |
Same on both: Card kind (Credit).
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Key differences
- APR is lower at U.S. Bank: 0% vs 34.9%.
- Balance transfer fee is lower at Capital One UK: 3% vs 5%.
- Balance transfer intro period is higher at Capital One UK: 18 months vs 12 months.
- 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 U.S. Bank offers Cash back deals from brands via the U.S. Bank Mobile App or online banking, Flexible cash back redemption: direct deposit, statement credit, rewards card, merchant gift cards, U.S. Bank ExtendPay Plan with a $0 fee offer for new cardmembers on plans opened in the first 60 days.
- Support channels: only Capital One UK offers Chat, Email.
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.
U.S. Bank
U.S. Bank suits people already banking with the bank who want a no cost debit card and a cash back credit card in the same place. The checking account carries a monthly fee of $0 and the Bank Smartly Visa Signature has an annual fee of $0 and rewards of 2%.
Score breakdown
| Area | Capital One UK | U.S. Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.7Annual fee £0 and a 3% balance transfer fee keep costs low, against 34.9% interest and 2.75% abroad. | 9.2HigherMonthly fee of $0 on the checking account and $0 on the credit card, with cash back rewards |
| Offer | 9.5HigherBalance transfer intro of 18, free credit score tools, and no rewards (none). | 8.9 |
| Trust | 9.0 | Not confirmed |
Pick Capital One UK if, pick U.S. Bank if
Pick Capital One UK if offer, balance transfer intro period, and balance transfer fee matter most.
Pick U.S. Bank if cost and apr matter most.
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | Capital One UK | U.S. Bank |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Not confirmed | FDIC FDIC cert 6548 |
Additional countries for Capital One UK: 1. Additional countries for U.S. Bank: 1.
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | Capital One UK | U.S. Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Credit cards | 153 of 1020 | 164 of 1020 |
| Balance transfer cards | 10 of 35 | 12 of 35 |
Where these facts come from
Capital One UK
- capitalone.co.uk: 14 facts, checked September 26, 2026
U.S. Bank
- usbank.com: 14 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- banks.data.fdic.gov: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Capital One UK | U.S. Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | No annual fee | No annual fee |
| Features | Not confirmed | Virtual card |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Business, Student, Kids |
| Legal entity | Capital One (Europe) plc | U.S. Bank National Association |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | United States |
| Founded | 1996 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Chat, Phone, Email, Help centreCovers more | Phone, Help centre |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Capital One UK | U.S. Bank | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| APR | 34.9%highest quarter | 0%lowest quarter | 19.39% |
| Currency conversion fee | 2.75%highest quarter | Not confirmed | 1% |
| Balance transfer intro period | 18 monthsabove the median | 12 monthsbelow the median | 15 months |
| Balance transfer fee | 3%at the median | 5%highest quarter | 3% |
| Cashback rate | Not confirmed | 2%above the median | 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.
U.S. Bank
Pros
- Monthly fee of $0 on the Smartly checking account keeps the everyday account cost at nil
- Cash back credit card with an annual fee of $0 and a rewards rate of 2% on every purchase
- Debit card on the visa network with a virtual card option for online spending
Cons
- Support runs on phone and help centre only, so there is no email or live chat option
- A balance transfer offer of 12 months comes with a fee of 5%
- The highest cash back rate on the credit card depends on holding a Smartly Savings account and qualifying checking balances
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.
U.S. Bank
Who it suits
- Existing U.S. Bank customers who want the checking account and credit card together
- Business owners looking for a debit card with a virtual card for online purchases
- Students and parents setting up a kids account on the same bank
Who should look elsewhere
- People who want a card with no foreign exchange costs, where Wise is a closer match
- Anyone who needs live chat or email help, as support runs on phone and help centre only
- Customers unwilling to hold a savings balance, since the highest cash back rate depends on qualifying checking balances
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
U.S. Bank
Current offer
Bonus
Score up to $450 with U.S. Bank Smartly Checking: up to $450
Open a new U.S. Bank Smartly Checking account and complete required activities. Offer valid through November 10. Terms and limitations apply.
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Capital One UK | U.S. Bank |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Yes | No |
| United States | No | Yes |
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.
U.S. Bank
What does the U.S. Bank debit card cost to hold?+
The Smartly checking account that the debit card sits on has a monthly fee of $0, so the account itself adds nothing to your costs. The card runs on the visa network, so it works in the same ATMs and shops as other Visa cards. Support is available on phone and help centre.
Is my money protected at U.S. Bank?+
U.S. Bank National Association is the legal entity behind the account, and the bank is headquartered in the US. It is supervised by the FDIC and listed under FDIC cert 6548. The balance sits in a bank current account rather than a prepaid balance, and support runs on phone and help centre.
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Capital One UK
U.S. Bank