Updated September 28, 2026 · DebitCue Editorial Team
Capital One UK vs Kiwibank
Capital One UK
Kiwibank
Higher score in this comparison
Capital One UK vs Kiwibank: the differences
| Compare | Capital One UKReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | KiwibankReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | £0 | NZ$0 |
| APR | 34.9% | 12.9%Lower |
| Currency conversion fee | 2.75% | 2.5%Lower |
| Balance transfer intro period | 18 monthsHigher | 6 months |
| Balance transfer fee | 3% | 1%Lower |
| 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 | 55 days interest free on purchases |
| Credit needed | Poor | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Rewards type (None), Card kind (Credit).
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Key differences
- Kiwibank scores higher overall: 9.2 vs 9.1.
- Founded is lower at Capital One UK: 1996 vs 2001.
- APR is lower at Kiwibank: 12.9% vs 34.9%.
- Currency conversion fee is lower at Kiwibank: 2.5% vs 2.75%.
- Balance transfer fee is lower at Kiwibank: 1% vs 3%.
- Balance transfer intro period is higher at Capital One UK: 18 months vs 6 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 Kiwibank offers 55 days interest free on purchases.
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.
Kiwibank
Kiwibank suits New Zealand customers who already bank with the brand and want everyday spending and borrowing on one relationship. The credit card carries an annual fee of NZD 0 and an APR of 12.9%, so it only suits you if you clear balances rather than carry them.
Score breakdown
| Area | Capital One UK | Kiwibank |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.7Annual fee £0 and a 3% balance transfer fee keep costs low, against 34.9% interest and 2.75% abroad. | 8.8HigherAnnual fee NZD 0 and monthly fee NZD 0 sit against a currency conversion fee of 2.5%. |
| Offer | 9.5Balance transfer intro of 18, free credit score tools, and no rewards (none). | 9.9Higher |
| Trust | 9.0 | 9.2Higher |
Spending 1,000 abroad
Capital One UK
27.5
2.75% of 1,000
Kiwibank
25
2.5% of 1,000
Kiwibank comes out 2.5 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.
Moving a 3,000 balance
Capital One UK
90
3% of 3,000
Kiwibank
30
1% of 3,000
Kiwibank comes out 60 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.
Choosing between them
Pick Capital One UK if balance transfer intro period matter most.
Pick Kiwibank if offer, apr, currency conversion fee, and balance transfer fee matter most.
How they place
| Ranking | Capital One UK | Kiwibank |
|---|---|---|
| Credit cards | 153 of 1020 | 130 of 1020 |
| Balance transfer cards | 10 of 35 | 5 of 35 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Capital One UK | Kiwibank |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | No annual fee | No annual fee |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Business |
| Legal entity | Capital One (Europe) plc | Kiwibank Limited |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | New Zealand |
| 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 | Kiwibank | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| APR | 34.9%highest quarter | 12.9%lowest quarter | 19.39% |
| Currency conversion fee | 2.75%highest quarter | 2.5%above the median | 1% |
| Balance transfer intro period | 18 monthsabove the median | 6 monthslowest quarter | 15 months |
| Balance transfer fee | 3%at the median | 1%lowest quarter | 3% |
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.
Kiwibank
Pros
- The credit card has an annual fee of NZD 0 and the everyday Visa debit card has a monthly fee of NZD 0
- Purchases get an interest-free period of 55 days interest free on purchases, which suits clearing balances in full each cycle
- Help is offered on phone, email and chat, including phone, email, chat and a help centre
Cons
- The rewards type on the credit card is none, so everyday spending earns nothing back
- The currency conversion fee of 2.5% ranks 192 of 259 brands compared
- A balance transfer charges a fee of 1% and lasts 6, so the saving is short lived
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.
Kiwibank
Who it suits
- Kiwibank account holders in New Zealand who want a Visa card for everyday spending with a monthly fee of NZD 0
- People planning a large purchase and paying it off inside the interest-free period of 55 days interest free on purchases
- Business users of a Visa debit card, since the card is aimed at a business audience
Who should look elsewhere
- Travellers who spend abroad often, since the currency conversion fee is 2.5%
- Shoppers who want cashback, since the rewards type is none
- Borrowers carrying a balance past the 6 intro period, who pay 12.9% and might prefer the Varo Believe Secured Credit Card
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 | Kiwibank |
|---|---|---|
| New Zealand | 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.
Kiwibank
What does it cost to keep a Kiwibank card?+
The credit card has an annual fee of NZD 0 and the everyday Visa debit card has a monthly fee of NZD 0, so holding either costs nothing on its own. Borrowing on the credit card is what costs money, at an APR of 12.9% on any balance you carry.
What is the interest-free period on purchases?+
Purchases get an interest-free period of 55 days interest free on purchases, which is one of the longer runs on the market and suits people who clear the balance each cycle. Any unpaid amount after that period is charged at the standard rate of 12.9%.
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Capital One UK
Kiwibank