Updated September 28, 2026 · DebitCue Editorial Team
Capital One UK vs Santander UK
Capital One UK
Santander UK
Higher score in this comparison
Capital One UK vs Santander UK: the differences
| Compare | Capital One UKReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | Santander UKReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| APR | 34.9% | 24.9%Lower |
| Currency conversion fee | 2.75%Lower | 2.95% |
| Balance transfer intro period | 18 monthsHigher | 12 months |
| Balance transfer fee | 3% | 0%Lower |
| Credit needed | Poor | Not confirmed |
| 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 | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Annual fee (£0), Rewards type (None), Card kind (Credit).
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Key differences
- Santander UK scores higher overall: 9.2 vs 9.1.
- Founded is lower at Santander UK: 1988 vs 1996.
- APR is lower at Santander UK: 24.9% vs 34.9%.
- Currency conversion fee is lower at Capital One UK: 2.75% vs 2.95%.
- Balance transfer fee is lower at Santander UK: 0% vs 3%.
- Balance transfer intro period is higher at Capital One UK: 18 months vs 12 months.
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.
Santander UK
Santander UK pairs a balance transfer credit card with a debit card whose monthly fee is £0. It suits UK residents who want one high street name behind everyday spending, and who plan to move an old balance across before spending again on credit.
Score breakdown
| Area | Capital One UK | Santander UK |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.7Annual fee £0 and a 3% balance transfer fee keep costs low, against 34.9% interest and 2.75% abroad. | 8.8HigherA monthly fee of £0 and a balance transfer fee of 0% keep holding costs down, though currency conversion at 2.95% is the expensive part. |
| Offer | 9.5Balance transfer intro of 18, free credit score tools, and no rewards (none). | Not confirmed |
| Trust | 9.0 | 9.5Higher |
Moving a 3,000 balance
Capital One UK
90
3% of 3,000
Santander UK
0
0% of 3,000
Santander UK comes out 90 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.
Spending 1,000 abroad
Capital One UK
27.5
2.75% of 1,000
Santander UK
29.5
2.95% of 1,000
Capital One UK comes out 2 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.
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | Capital One UK | Santander UK |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Not confirmed | Financial Conduct Authority 106054 |
Available in 1 country for both.
What we checked
Capital One UK
- capitalone.co.uk: 14 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Santander UK
- santander.co.uk: 10 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | Capital One UK | Santander UK |
|---|---|---|
| Credit cards | 153 of 1020 | 138 of 1020 |
| Balance transfer cards | 10 of 35 | 7 of 35 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Capital One UK | Santander UK |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | No annual fee | No annual fee |
| Legal entity | Capital One (Europe) plc | Santander UK plc |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | United Kingdom |
| Founded | 1996 | 1988Lower |
| Support channels | Chat, Phone, Email, Help centre | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Capital One UK | Santander UK | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | £0at the median | £0at the median | £0 |
| APR | 34.9%highest quarter | 24.9%above the median | 19.39% |
| Currency conversion fee | 2.75%highest quarter | 2.95%highest quarter | 1% |
| Balance transfer intro period | 18 monthsabove the median | 12 monthsbelow the median | 15 months |
| Balance transfer fee | 3%at the median | 0%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.
Santander UK
Pros
- The balance transfer offer runs for 12, a clear window for moving and clearing an old balance.
- One provider covers the current account, the debit card and the credit card, so the same bank handles the transfer.
- Regulated in the UK by the Financial Conduct Authority, with Santander UK plc behind the accounts.
Cons
- Currency conversion of 2.95% is the weak point, ranking 213 of 259 brands on that fee.
- The rewards type is none, so nothing comes back on credit card spending.
- An APR of 24.9% is steep, and with a rewards type of none there is nothing to offset a balance left over from month to 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.
Santander UK
Who it suits
- UK residents who want a current account and a credit card from one high street brand.
- Anyone with an old balance to move across during the 12 transfer window.
- People who pay the credit card in full each month and want an annual fee of £0.
Who should look elsewhere
- Wise, if you spend abroad regularly: its currency conversion fee of 0.1% sits a long way under the 2.95% charged here.
- Varo Believe Secured Credit Card, if you would rather build credit from a deposit, since it is a secured card with a monthly fee of $0.
- Chime Card (Secured Visa Credit Card), if a US dollar secured card with a monthly fee of $0 suits you better than a UK current account.
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
Santander UK
Current offer
Bonus
Get 240 GBP for switching to Everyday Current Account: 240 GBP
Switch to Everyday Current Account
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Capital One UK | Santander UK |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Yes | 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.
Santander UK
What does the Everyday current account cost each month?+
The account carries a monthly fee of £0, so holding it adds no regular charge to your bills. The card that comes with it is a debit card, so spending draws on money already in the account rather than adding to a balance. Keeping a small buffer there is the practical use.
How long is the balance transfer offer?+
The transfer offer runs for 12 and the balance transfer fee is 0%. That is the window for moving an existing balance from another card and paying it down. Start the transfer at the beginning of a billing period so the full window is available to you.
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Capital One UK
Santander UK