Updated September 28, 2026 · DebitCue Editorial Team
NHL® Discover it® vs Santander UK
NHL® Discover it®
Higher score in this comparison
Santander UK
NHL® Discover it® vs Santander UK: the differences
| Compare | NHL® Discover it®ReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | Santander UKReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $0 | £0 |
| APR | 18.49% to 28.49%Lower | 24.9% |
| Rewards type | Cashback | None |
| Balance transfer intro period | 15 monthsHigher | 12 months |
| Balance transfer fee | 3% | 0%Lower |
| Currency conversion fee | Not confirmed | 2.95% |
| Rewards rate | 1% cash back on all other purchases; 5% cash back in rotating categories, plus dollar-for-dollar match in first year | Not confirmed |
| Credit needed | Good | Not confirmed |
| Perks | $0 fraud liability on unauthorized purchases, Unlimited Cashback Match: dollar for dollar match of cash back earned in the first 365 days, Free CreditWise credit monitoring and FICO Score 8 access, Pre approval tool that does not impact your credit score, Card Lock in the mobile app, 99% nationwide acceptance (Nilson Report, Feb 2026), Virtual card available before the physical card arrives, if eligible | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Card kind (Credit).
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Key differences
- NHL® Discover it® scores higher overall: 9.3 vs 9.2.
- Founded is lower at NHL® Discover it®: 1985 vs 1988.
- APR is lower at NHL® Discover it®: 18.49% to 28.49% vs 24.9%.
- Balance transfer fee is lower at Santander UK: 0% vs 3%.
- Balance transfer intro period is higher at NHL® Discover it®: 15 months vs 12 months.
Our verdict on each
NHL® Discover it®
NHL Discover it is a US credit card that suits people who want cashback on everyday spending without paying an annual fee, and who are comfortable holding a balance at 18.49% to 28.49%. It is issued by Discover by Capital One, N.A., and rewards are cashback rather than points or miles.
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 | NHL® Discover it® | Santander UK |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.2HigherAnnual fee of $0 and a balance transfer fee of 3%, with APRs of 18.49% to 28.49% against a site median of 20.97%. | 8.8A 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 | 9.4Cashback on every purchase with a match on the first 15 of spending, plus good credit needed. | Not confirmed |
| Trust | 9.4 | 9.5Higher |
How they place
| Ranking | NHL® Discover it® | Santander UK |
|---|---|---|
| Debit cards | 100 of 1336 | 147 of 1336 |
| Credit cards | 96 of 1020 | 138 of 1020 |
| Balance transfer cards | 3 of 35 | 7 of 35 |
Choosing between them
Pick NHL® Discover it® if cost, apr, and balance transfer intro period matter most.
Pick Santander UK if balance transfer fee matter most.
Licences and countries
| Country | NHL® Discover it® | Santander UK |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Not confirmed | Financial Conduct Authority 106054 |
Additional countries for NHL® Discover it®: 1. Additional countries for Santander UK: 1.
What we checked
NHL® Discover it®
- discover.com: 12 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- en.wikipedia.org: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- capitalone.com: 1 fact, 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
Every fact side by side
| Fact | NHL® Discover it® | Santander UK |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | No annual fee | No annual fee |
| Features | Rewards | Not confirmed |
| Legal entity | Discover by Capital One, N.A. | Santander UK plc |
| Headquarters | United States | United Kingdom |
| Founded | 1985Lower | 1988 |
| Support channels | Phone, Chat, Help centre | Not confirmed |
Debit cards
| Fact | NHL® Discover it® | Santander UK |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee | Not confirmed | £0 |
| Card type | Not confirmed | Debit |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | NHL® Discover it® | Santander UK | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| APR | 18.49% to 28.49%below the median | 24.9%above the median | 19.39 |
| Currency conversion fee | Not confirmed | 2.95%highest quarter | 1% |
| Balance transfer intro period | 15 monthsat 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
NHL® Discover it®
Pros
- No annual fee, so nothing to pay for keeping the card open: $0
- Cashback on all purchases, with a dollar-for-dollar match on the first 15 of spending
- Balance transfer offer of 15 at a fee of 3%
Cons
- Purchases carry an APR of 18.49% to 28.49%, and cashback is smaller than the interest on a carried balance
- Rotating category bonuses mean the 15 match is the strongest part of the offer only early on
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
NHL® Discover it®
Who it suits
- US cardholders who want a simple cashback card with no annual fee
- People planning a balance transfer who can clear the balance inside the offer period
- Hockey fans who want a card with cashback and no annual fee
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone wanting points or miles instead of cashback, where Wise has no rewards at all
- Anyone who needs a debit card for daily spending, where Starling is the better fit
- Anyone rebuilding credit from scratch, where Varo is the better fit
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
NHL® Discover it®
Current offer
Bonus
Discover it Cash Back $200 welcome bonus: $200 statement credit after spending $500 on purchases within 3 months of account opening
One-time, new cardholders only, available by clicking Apply Now on the page; may not be available if you navigate away or close the page
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Bonus
Unlimited Cashback Match on Discover it Cash Back: Dollar-for-dollar match of all cash back earned in the first 365 days, no limit
For new cardholders; no purchase minimums; offered from account approval through first 365 days; promotional offer may not be available in the future
Source, checked September 26, 2026
First period offer
0% intro APR on Discover it Cash Back: 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers
Eligible customers only; 18.49% to 28.49% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies
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 | NHL® Discover it® | Santander UK |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | No | Yes |
| United States | Yes | No |
Questions about each
NHL® Discover it®
What does NHL Discover it cost to keep?+
There is an annual fee of $0, so the card costs nothing while it sits in your wallet. A balance transfer costs 3% and runs for 15, which is the only separate charge on the card.
What APR will I pay on purchases?+
Purchases carry an APR of 18.49% to 28.49%, which is a range set by your credit profile. The site median across compared cards is 20.97%, so check where your own rate lands before carrying a balance.
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.
Other options to compare
Other matchups
NHL® Discover it®
Santander UK