Updated September 28, 2026 · DebitCue Editorial Team
Virgin Money vs SBI Card
SBI Card
Virgin Money
Higher score in this comparison
Virgin Money vs SBI Card: the differences
| Compare | Virgin MoneyReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | SBI CardReviewVisitVisit |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee | £0 | ₹0 to ₹9,999 |
| Currency conversion fee | 0%Lower | 1.99% to 3.5% |
| Card type | Debit | Not confirmed |
| Card network | Not confirmed | Visa |
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Key differences
- Virgin Money scores higher overall: 9.5 vs 8.7.
- Currency conversion fee is lower at Virgin Money: 0% vs 1.99% to 3.5%.
- Support channels: only Virgin Money offers Email, Help centre.
- Features: only SBI Card offers Virtual card.
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.
SBI Card
SBI Card suits business users in India who want a Visa credit line and a balance transfer route, though the pricing runs high. The APR of 45% is the figure to weigh, and the annual fee of INR 499 sits on top of it every year.
Score breakdown
| Area | Virgin Money | SBI 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. | 8.8Annual fee INR 499 and APR 45% against free annual fees on Wise, £0, and Chime Card, $0. |
| Offer | 9.6Higher | 8.1The offer is the balance transfer option, fee 2% with an intro period of 2, on Visa network visa. |
| Trust | Not confirmed | 9.0 |
How they place
| Ranking | Virgin Money | SBI Card |
|---|---|---|
| Credit cards | 77 of 1020 | 35 of 1020 |
| Balance transfer cards | 2 of 35 | 1 of 35 |
| Travel cards | 41 of 443 | 22 of 443 |
What we checked
Virgin Money
- uk.virginmoney.com: 7 facts, checked September 26, 2026
SBI Card
- sbicard.com: 9 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Virgin Money | SBI Card |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Travel | Virtual card, TravelCovers more |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Business |
| Legal entity | Nationwide Building Society (trading as Virgin Money) | SBI Cards and Payment Services Limited |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | India |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 1998 |
| Support channels | Phone, Email, Help centreCovers more | Phone |
Credit cards
| Fact | Virgin Money | SBI Card |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | Not confirmed | ₹499 |
| APR | 27.9%Lower | 45% |
| Rewards type | Cashback | Not confirmed |
| Balance transfer intro period | 21 monthsHigher | 2 months |
| Balance transfer fee | 2.95% | 2%Lower |
| Credit needed | Not confirmed | Excellent |
| 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 | Not confirmed |
| Card kind | Credit | Credit |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Virgin Money | SBI Card | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Currency conversion fee | 0%below the median | 1.99% to 3.5%above the median | 1% |
Median across 387 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.
SBI Card
Pros
- Balance transfers are available, with a fee of 2% over an intro period of 2.
- Runs on the Visa network, so the card is accepted wherever Visa is taken: visa.
- Virtual card and travel features are both listed, which suits spending abroad: virtual card and travel.
Cons
- The APR is 45%, which ranks 123 of 133 brands on rate.
- An annual fee of INR 499 applies, against £0 on Wise and $0 on Chime Card.
- Support runs on phone only, so there is no listed written channel for questions.
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%.
SBI Card
Who it suits
- Business owners in India who want a revolving Visa line and a balance transfer route for existing borrowing.
- Travellers who want a business card with travel features from a long established Indian issuer.
- Applicants with an excellent credit history, excellent, who can carry a high APR without strain.
Who should look elsewhere
- Wise, if the annual charge decides it: the annual fee is £0 against INR 499 here.
- Varo Believe Secured Credit Card, whose annual fee is $0, for applicants building a credit history from scratch.
- Chime Card (Secured Visa Credit Card), with an annual fee of $0, if the lowest annual charge matters most.
Country by country
| Country | Virgin Money | SBI Card |
|---|---|---|
| India | No | Yes |
| United Kingdom | Yes | No |
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.
SBI Card
What does an SBI Card cost to hold and borrow on?+
The annual fee is INR 499 on the cards in the range that charge an annual fee, and the APR is 45%. Borrowing at that rate is the main cost, and it sits at 123 of 133 brands in this comparison. Monthly fees run INR 0 to INR 9,999 on top, so the price depends on the card you pick.
What does it cost to spend in another currency?+
Currency conversion fees run 1.99% to 3.5% across the range and apply whenever a purchase is made abroad. Spending in the local currency avoids the conversion charge. Travel features are listed, virtual card and travel, though the conversion rate still applies to foreign transactions on any card in the range.
Other options to compare
SBI Card
Virgin Money