Updated September 28, 2026 · DebitCue Editorial Team
Virgin Money vs Ocean Finance Card
Virgin Money
Higher score in this comparison
Ocean Finance Card
What sets them apart
| Compare | Virgin MoneyReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | Ocean Finance CardReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| APR | 27.9%Lower | 39.9% |
| Rewards type | Cashback | None |
| Balance transfer intro period | 21 monthsHigher | 6 months |
| Balance transfer fee | 2.95% | 2.9%Lower |
| Perks | Up to 21 months 0% interest on balance transfers, Up to 21 months 0% interest on purchases, Money transfer option, Virgin Money Cashback offers in the credit card app, 24/7 in app chat support with Redi, Virgin Money Rewards and Virgin Red offers | Credit limit of GBP 200 to GBP 8,000, Section 75 protection on purchases between GBP 100 and GBP 30,000, Mobile app to make payments and check balance, Free email and text alerts, Card usable online before the physical card arrives, Eligibility check does not affect credit score, No Apple Pay |
| Annual fee | Not confirmed | £0 |
| Currency conversion fee | 0% | Not confirmed |
| Credit needed | Not confirmed | Poor |
Same on both: Card kind (Credit).
We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings.
Key differences
- Virgin Money scores higher overall: 9.5 vs 9.2.
- APR is lower at Virgin Money: 27.9% vs 39.9%.
- Balance transfer fee is lower at Ocean Finance Card: 2.9% vs 2.95%.
- Balance transfer intro period is higher at Virgin Money: 21 months vs 6 months.
- Perks: only Virgin Money offers Up to 21 months 0% interest on balance transfers, Up to 21 months 0% interest on purchases, Money transfer option.
- Perks: only Ocean Finance Card offers Credit limit of GBP 200 to GBP 8,000, Section 75 protection on purchases between GBP 100 and GBP 30,000, Mobile app to make payments and check balance.
- Support channels: only Ocean Finance Card offers Chat.
Our verdict on each
Virgin Money
Virgin Money suits UK readers who want a free everyday account and foreign spending at a currency conversion fee of 0%. The provider pairs a debit current account with a cashback credit card, so the same name covers day to day money and borrowing, and the account costs nothing to keep.
Ocean Finance Card
Ocean Finance Card suits applicants with poor credit who want a UK credit card with no annual fee, £0, and a balance transfer option. Borrowing is the expensive part, with 39.9% charged on revolving balances, so the card only pays off if you clear balances or keep them off the card.
Score breakdown
| Area | Virgin Money | Ocean Finance Card |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.4HigherA monthly fee of £0 and a currency conversion fee of 0%, with the credit card APR of 27.9% the cost drag. | 9.0There is no annual fee, £0, and a balance transfer fee of 2.9%, so cost sits in the interest on revolving balances. |
| Offer | 9.6Higher | 9.3A transfer window of 6 with a 2.9% fee is the only offer, and rewards on spending are none. |
| Trust | Not confirmed | 9.3 |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | Virgin Money | Ocean Finance Card |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Financial Conduct Authority 310069 |
Available in 1 country for both.
Pick Virgin Money if, pick Ocean Finance Card if
Pick Virgin Money if cost, offer, apr, and balance transfer intro period matter most.
Pick Ocean Finance Card if balance transfer fee matter most.
Moving a 3,000 balance
Virgin Money
88.5
2.95% of 3,000
Ocean Finance Card
87
2.9% of 3,000
Ocean Finance Card comes out 1.5 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.
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | Virgin Money | Ocean Finance Card |
|---|---|---|
| Credit cards | 77 of 1020 | 132 of 1020 |
| Balance transfer cards | 2 of 35 | 6 of 35 |
Sources behind this comparison
Virgin Money
- uk.virginmoney.com: 11 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Ocean Finance Card
- oceanfinance.co.uk: 13 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Virgin Money | Ocean Finance Card |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Not confirmed | No annual fee |
| Features | Travel | Not confirmed |
| Legal entity | Nationwide Building Society (trading as Virgin Money) | Intelligent Lending Limited |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | United Kingdom |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 1991 |
| Support channels | Phone, Email, Help centre | Chat, Phone, Email, Help centreCovers more |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Virgin Money | Ocean Finance Card | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | Not confirmed | £0at the median | £0 |
| APR | 27.9%highest quarter | 39.9%highest quarter | 19.39% |
| Currency conversion fee | 0%below the median | Not confirmed | 1% |
| Balance transfer intro period | 21 monthsabove the median | 6 monthslowest quarter | 15 months |
| Balance transfer fee | 2.95%below the median | 2.9%below the median | 3% |
Median across 312 listed cards.
Pros and cons
Virgin Money
Pros
- The current account carries a monthly fee of £0 and a currency conversion fee of 0%, so holding it and spending abroad are both free.
- Balance transfers run interest free for 21 with a fee of 2.95%, a cheap way to clear old card debt.
- Support runs on phone, email and help centre, and the card side adds round the clock in-app chat support with Redi.
Cons
- The credit card charges 27.9%, so a balance left past the interest free window of 21 is expensive to clear.
- Cashback belongs to the credit card, so debit account holders lean on Virgin Money Rewards and Virgin Red offers instead.
- A monthly fee of £0 and a currency conversion fee of 0% apply to the current account, while the card side runs on 27.9%, so the two halves need judging separately.
Ocean Finance Card
Pros
- The card is built for applicants with poor credit, and the eligibility check does not affect your credit score.
- Purchase protection covers spending inside a range set out in Credit limit of GBP 200 to GBP 8,000, Section 75 protection on purchases between GBP 100 and GBP 30,000 and Mobile app to make payments and check balance, so a supplier that fails to deliver has a claim route.
- Support runs on chat, phone and email, and the mobile app covers payments and balance checks.
Cons
- 39.9% sits above the 34.9% upper end of bad credit cards, so carrying a balance is expensive.
- Rewards on spending are none, so nothing comes back on everyday purchases.
Who each suits
Virgin Money
Who it suits
- Readers in the UK who want an everyday account with a monthly fee of £0 and a currency conversion fee of 0%, so a trip costs no more to run than a week at home.
- Anyone clearing an old balance, who can move it for a fee of 2.95% and pay no interest for 21.
- People who want a debit account and a cashback card from one provider, with phone and email support (phone, email and help centre) when a payment needs checking.
Who should look elsewhere
- Chime Card (Secured Visa Credit Card), for readers who want a card tied to a deposit; its monthly fee of $0 comes with that secured card rather than lending at 27.9%.
- Varo Believe Secured Credit Card, for readers whose limit should track a deposit; its monthly fee of $0 comes with a secured card instead of credit at 27.9%.
Ocean Finance Card
Who it suits
- Applicants with poor credit who want a limit without paying an annual fee.
- Borrowers moving a balance who can cover the 2.9% transfer fee and clear it inside the intro period.
- People who put an eligibility check that leaves their credit score alone, and the purchase protection in Credit limit of GBP 200 to GBP 8,000, Section 75 protection on purchases between GBP 100 and GBP 30,000 and Mobile app to make payments and check balance, above cash back.
Who should look elsewhere
- Starling Personal Account Debit Card fits day to day spending from money already in an account, with a borrowing rate of 15% instead of revolving card interest.
- Chime Card (Secured Visa Credit Card) suits customers shopping in the US who want a secured line, with an annual fee of $0.
- Varo Believe Secured Credit Card suits savers who prefer a secured card, with an annual fee of $0.
Current offers
Ocean Finance Card
Current offer
First period offer
0% for 6 months on balance transfers and purchases on the Ocean Credit Card: 0% for 6 months, 2.9% balance transfer fee
Representative 39.9% APR (variable) after the offer, purchase rate 39.94% APR (variable), credit subject to status
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Virgin Money | Ocean Finance Card |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Yes | Yes |
Questions about each
Virgin Money
What does the Virgin Money current account cost to run each month?+
The current account has a monthly fee of £0, so there is no charge for keeping it open. Spending abroad is covered by a currency conversion fee of 0%, which means changing money on a trip does not add a markup either. The two figures most people compare before choosing an account are the two this one keeps at nil.
Is there really no extra charge when I use the card abroad?+
The currency conversion fee on the current account is 0%, so the amount that leaves your balance is the amount the card screen showed, with nothing added by the provider. You still pay what the shop or restaurant charges, and the exchange rate a network offers can move. Virgin Money simply does not layer a foreign transaction charge on top of it.
Ocean Finance Card
What does it cost to hold the Ocean Finance Card?+
The annual fee is £0, so holding the card costs nothing to run. A balance transfer carries a fee of 2.9%, and anything left on the credit card balance is charged at 39.9% until it is paid.
What rate does the Ocean Finance Card charge?+
The rate is 39.9%, high against the bad credit card group, where the upper quartile sits at 34.9%. Interest only applies to balances you do not clear, so the card costs nothing extra if you pay in full each month.
Other options to compare
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- Ocean Finance Card vs IDFC FIRST Bank Credit Cards
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Virgin Money
Ocean Finance Card