Updated September 28, 2026 · DebitCue Editorial Team
Ocean Finance Card vs Sainsbury's
Ocean Finance Card
Higher score in this comparison
Sainsbury's
What sets them apart
| Compare | Ocean Finance CardReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | Sainsbury'sReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| APR | 39.9% | 20.95%Lower |
| Rewards type | None | Points |
| Balance transfer intro period | 6 months | 34 monthsHigher |
| Balance transfer fee | 2.9% | 2.88% to 3.88%Lower |
| Perks | 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 | Nectar points |
| Rewards rate | Not confirmed | 2 points per GBP1 at Sainsbury's, 1 point per GBP5 elsewhere |
| Credit needed | Poor | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Annual fee (£0), Card kind (Credit).
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Key differences
- Ocean Finance Card scores higher overall: 9.2 vs 9.1.
- Founded is lower at Ocean Finance Card: 1991 vs 1996.
- APR is lower at Sainsbury's: 20.95% vs 39.9%.
- Balance transfer fee is lower at Sainsbury's: 2.88% to 3.88% vs 2.9%.
- Balance transfer intro period is higher at Sainsbury's: 34 months vs 6 months.
- 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.
- Perks: only Sainsbury's offers Nectar points.
Our verdict on each
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.
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 | Ocean Finance Card | Sainsbury's |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.0There is no annual fee, £0, and a balance transfer fee of 2.9%, so cost sits in the interest on revolving balances. | 9.2HigherAnnual fee of £0 helps, but 20.95% interest and a 2.88% to 3.88% transfer fee keep costs mid-range. |
| Offer | 9.3HigherA transfer window of 6 with a 2.9% fee is the only offer, and rewards on spending are none. | 9.0Points as the points reward plus a 34 balance transfer window cover everyday spend and old debt. |
| Trust | 9.3Higher | 9.0 |
Availability and regulation
| Country | Ocean Finance Card | Sainsbury's |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Financial Conduct Authority 310069 | Not confirmed |
Available in 1 country for both.
Which one suits you
Pick Ocean Finance Card if offer and trust matter most.
Pick Sainsbury's if apr, balance transfer intro period, and balance transfer fee matter most.
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | Ocean Finance Card | Sainsbury's |
|---|---|---|
| Credit cards | 132 of 1020 | 171 of 1020 |
| Balance transfer cards | 6 of 35 | 13 of 35 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Ocean Finance Card | Sainsbury's |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | No annual fee | No annual fee |
| Features | Not confirmed | Rewards |
| Legal entity | Intelligent Lending Limited | Sainsbury's Bank plc |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | United Kingdom |
| Founded | 1991Lower | 1996 |
| Support channels | Chat, Phone, Email, Help centre | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Ocean Finance Card | Sainsbury's | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | £0at the median | £0at the median | £0 |
| APR | 39.9%highest quarter | 20.95%above the median | 19.39% |
| Balance transfer intro period | 6 monthslowest quarter | 34 monthshighest quarter | 15 months |
| Balance transfer fee | 2.9%below the median | 2.88% to 3.88%below the median | 3% |
Median across 196 listed cards.
Pros and cons
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.
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
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.
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
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 | Ocean Finance Card | Sainsbury's |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Yes | Yes |
Questions about each
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.
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.
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Ocean Finance Card
Sainsbury's