Updated September 28, 2026 · DebitCue Editorial Team
CrediMax vs Sainsbury's
CrediMax
Higher score in this comparison
Sainsbury's
What sets them apart
| Compare | CrediMaxReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | Sainsbury'sReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | BHD 0 | £0 |
| Rewards type | Cashback | Points |
| Rewards rate | 30% cashback on talabat orders, up to 1% cashback on other spends | 2 points per GBP1 at Sainsbury's, 1 point per GBP5 elsewhere |
| Balance transfer intro period | 6 months | 34 monthsHigher |
| Perks | Airport lounge access worldwide via MasterCard Travel Pass, Up to 25% off travel bookings via trip.com, IHG Hotels and Ole Sereni Hotels, Up to 20% off car rentals at select partners, Purchase protection against theft or damage for up to 90 days, Free talabat Pro subscription and free food and grocery deliveries, Monthly flexible payment plan, Grace period of up to 25 days from statement date, up to 55 days, Annual raffle entry for cars and cash prizes, 24/7 support via online banking, mobile app and customer service | Nectar points |
| APR | Not confirmed | 20.95% |
| Balance transfer fee | Not confirmed | 2.88% to 3.88% |
Same on both: Card kind (Credit).
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Key differences
- Founded is lower at Sainsbury's: 1996 vs 1999.
- Balance transfer intro period is higher at Sainsbury's: 34 months vs 6 months.
- Perks: only CrediMax offers Airport lounge access worldwide via MasterCard Travel Pass, Up to 25% off travel bookings via trip.com, IHG Hotels and Ole Sereni Hotels, Up to 20% off car rentals at select partners.
- Perks: only Sainsbury's offers Nectar points.
Our verdict on each
CrediMax
CrediMax is a Bahraini issuer built around talabat rewards, so it suits households and businesses that order food and groceries through the app and pay their balance down each month. Balance transfers get an intro period of 6 months under the Central Bank of Bahrain.
Sainsbury's
Sainsbury's is a points credit card for shoppers who already spend with the supermarket and want no annual charge, paying 20.95% on borrowing. The balance transfer offer, with a fee of 2.88% to 3.88% across a 34 intro period, is the reason to look past the everyday card when old balances need clearing.
Score breakdown
| Area | CrediMax | Sainsbury's |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Not confirmed | 9.2Annual fee of £0 helps, but 20.95% interest and a 2.88% to 3.88% transfer fee keep costs mid-range. |
| Offer | 9.2HigherAnnual fee BHD 0 on the talabat credit card, monthly fee BHD 0 on the prepaid card, cashback rewards. | 9.0Points as the points reward plus a 34 balance transfer window cover everyday spend and old debt. |
| Trust | 9.0 | 9.0 |
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | CrediMax | Sainsbury's |
|---|---|---|
| Credit cards | 150 of 1020 | 171 of 1020 |
| Balance transfer cards | 8 of 35 | 13 of 35 |
Licences and countries
| Country | CrediMax | Sainsbury's |
|---|---|---|
| Bahrain | Not confirmed |
Additional countries for CrediMax: 1. Additional countries for Sainsbury's: 1.
Every fact side by side
| Fact | CrediMax | Sainsbury's |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | No annual fee | No annual fee |
| Features | Rewards | Rewards |
| Audience | Business, Student | Not confirmed |
| Legal entity | CrediMax B.S.C. | Sainsbury's Bank plc |
| Headquarters | Bahrain | United Kingdom |
| Founded | 1999 | 1996Lower |
| Support channels | Phone, Email, Help centre | Not confirmed |
Debit cards
| Fact | CrediMax | Sainsbury's |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee | BHD 0 | Not confirmed |
| Card type | Prepaid | Not confirmed |
| Card network | Visa | Not confirmed |
| Currencies | 33 | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | CrediMax | Sainsbury's | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| APR | Not confirmed | 20.95%above the median | 19.39% |
| Balance transfer intro period | 6 monthslowest quarter | 34 monthshighest quarter | 15 months |
| Balance transfer fee | Not confirmed | 2.88% to 3.88%below the median | 3 |
Median across 196 listed cards.
Pros and cons
CrediMax
Pros
- The talabat credit card has an annual fee of BHD 0, and the prepaid card a monthly fee of BHD 0
- Cashback rewards tilt towards talabat orders, with a much smaller rebate on other spending, and the card adds a free talabat Pro subscription and free food and grocery deliveries
- Balance transfer offers run an intro period of 6 months, useful for clearing a balance on a set timetable
Cons
- The rewards rate leans on talabat orders, so spending elsewhere earns a much smaller rebate
- Support runs on phone, email and help centre, which does not include live chat or a community channel
- Multi-currency is not among its features (rewards), where rewards is the only entry
Sainsbury's
Pros
- Spending in the supermarket earns the stronger rate set out in 2 points per GBP1 at Sainsbury's, 1 point per GBP5 elsewhere, so card spend in a single place is worth more.
- Clearing an old balance is possible: the transfer window runs 34 and the charge for moving the balance is 2.88% to 3.88%.
- The card is issued by Sainsbury's Bank plc, trading since 1996, rather than by a newer entrant.
Cons
- Borrowing is not cheap: 20.95% applies to anything carried from one statement to the next, so the card only pays when balances are cleared.
- The balance transfer is a paid deal rather than a free one, with 2.88% to 3.88% for the balance moved and 20.95% charged outside the 34 window.
- The reward is points tied to a single supermarket chain, and the thinner part of 2 points per GBP1 at Sainsbury's, 1 point per GBP5 elsewhere covers everything else.
Who each suits
CrediMax
Who it suits
- Households and businesses that order food and groceries through talabat and want the spending rebated
- Business and student cardholders, the two audiences CrediMax lists for its cards
- Card users clearing an existing balance inside a short transfer window
Who should look elsewhere
- Card shoppers after a secured credit card rather than a rewards card: Chime Card (Secured Visa Credit Card) also has an annual fee of $0
- Readers who mainly want an account for spending abroad, since Wise is priced on an annual fee of £0
- Anyone shopping purely on the annual fee, since Varo Believe Secured Credit Card also charges $0
Sainsbury's
Who it suits
- Shoppers who put most of their card spend through the supermarket and already collect Nectar points.
- Borrowers clearing a balance on another card who can use the 34 window and pay the 2.88% to 3.88% fee.
- People who pay their statement in full each month and want a credit card carrying an annual fee of £0.
Who should look elsewhere
- Starling Personal Account Debit Card, where everyday spending comes straight from the account balance instead of accruing 20.95% on a credit card.
- Varo Believe Secured Credit Card or Chime Card, which also charge an annual fee and suit anyone focused on secured credit building rather than points at 2 points per GBP1 at Sainsbury's, 1 point per GBP5 elsewhere.
- Anyone who spends little in the supermarket, since the thinner rate in 2 points per GBP1 at Sainsbury's, 1 point per GBP5 elsewhere then covers most of the card use.
Current offers
CrediMax
Current offer
Bonus
talabat Credit Card welcome bonus: BD 30 talabat credit
Spend BD 300 in eligible transactions within 45 days of card issuance; government, utilities and education transactions excluded
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Free bet
OSN+ Standard subscription offer: 4 months of OSN+ Standard
Active CrediMax Mastercard Platinum, World or World Elite credit card; Bahrain resident aged 18+; new OSN+ Standard Plan customers who have not used another OSN+ offer in 12 months; redeem at osnplus.com/en-bh/redeem?campaign=credimax; valid 17 August 2026 to 17 February 2027
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | CrediMax | Sainsbury's |
|---|---|---|
| Bahrain | Yes | No |
| United Kingdom | No | Yes |
Questions about each
CrediMax
What does the CrediMax talabat credit card cost to keep?+
The talabat credit card has an annual fee of BHD 0, and a no annual fee model is the standard CrediMax approach. The prepaid Cardy Ex carries a monthly fee of BHD 0. Rewards are paid as cashback, with the heaviest rebates on talabat orders.
Is CrediMax regulated, and where is it based?+
The legal entity is CrediMax B.S.C., licensed by the Central Bank of Bahrain, and its head office is in Bahrain. Customer service is listed on phone, email and help centre, alongside online banking, mobile app and customer service around the clock.
Sainsbury's
What does it cost to keep the card open?+
The annual fee is £0 on the main card, so there is no charge for holding it year on year. That applies to the card as issued; the balance transfer deal is the only other fee the terms set out, at 2.88% to 3.88% for the balance moved. Borrowing, not holding, is what costs money here.
What rate is charged if I carry a balance?+
Purchases that are not cleared each month are charged at 20.95%. That rate is the card's real cost, and it applies whatever the rewards are doing, so the card suits someone who pays in full each statement rather than revolving a balance month to month.
Other options to compare
CrediMax
Sainsbury's