Updated September 28, 2026 · DebitCue Editorial Team
Sainsbury's vs Santander UK
Sainsbury's
Santander UK
Higher score in this comparison
Where Sainsbury's and Santander UK differ
| Compare | Sainsbury'sReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | Santander UKReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| APR | 20.95%Lower | 24.9% |
| Rewards type | Points | None |
| Balance transfer intro period | 34 monthsHigher | 12 months |
| Balance transfer fee | 2.88% to 3.88% | 0%Lower |
| Currency conversion fee | Not confirmed | 2.95% |
| Rewards rate | 2 points per GBP1 at Sainsbury's, 1 point per GBP5 elsewhere | Not confirmed |
| Perks | Nectar points | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Annual fee (£0), 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
- Santander UK scores higher overall: 9.2 vs 9.1.
- Founded is lower at Santander UK: 1988 vs 1996.
- APR is lower at Sainsbury's: 20.95% vs 24.9%.
- Balance transfer fee is lower at Santander UK: 0% vs 2.88% to 3.88%.
- Balance transfer intro period is higher at Sainsbury's: 34 months vs 12 months.
Our verdict on each
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.
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 | Sainsbury's | Santander UK |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.2HigherAnnual fee of £0 helps, but 20.95% interest and a 2.88% to 3.88% transfer fee keep costs mid-range. | 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 | 9.0Points as the points reward plus a 34 balance transfer window cover everyday spend and old debt. | Not confirmed |
| Trust | 9.0 | 9.5Higher |
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | Sainsbury's | Santander UK |
|---|---|---|
| Credit cards | 171 of 1020 | 138 of 1020 |
| Balance transfer cards | 13 of 35 | 7 of 35 |
Availability and regulation
| Country | Sainsbury's | Santander UK |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Not confirmed | Financial Conduct Authority 106054 |
Available in 1 country for both.
Cost in a real example
A year with 1,000 spent abroad
Sainsbury's
£0
1 × £0
Santander UK
£0
1 × £0
Both come to the same total.
Excludes currency conversion fee (not stated by Sainsbury's). Worked out from the stated prices and rates; your own total depends on how you use it. Facts checked September 26, 2026.
Moving a 3,000 balance
Sainsbury's
86.4 to 116.4
2.88% to 3.88% of 3,000
Santander UK
0
0% of 3,000
Santander UK comes out 86.4 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.
What we checked
Sainsbury's
- clearscore.com: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- en.wikipedia.org: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- wp.estoaresearch.com: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- goodmoneyguide.com: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- lovemoney.com: 2 facts, 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 | Sainsbury's | Santander UK |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | No annual fee | No annual fee |
| Features | Rewards | Not confirmed |
| Legal entity | Sainsbury's Bank plc | Santander UK plc |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | United Kingdom |
| Founded | 1996 | 1988Lower |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Sainsbury's | Santander UK | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | £0at the median | £0at the median | £0 |
| APR | 20.95%above the median | 24.9%above the median | 19.39% |
| Currency conversion fee | Not confirmed | 2.95%highest quarter | 1% |
| Balance transfer intro period | 34 monthshighest quarter | 12 monthsbelow the median | 15 months |
| Balance transfer fee | 2.88% to 3.88%below the median | 0%lowest quarter | 3 |
Median across 312 listed cards.
Pros and cons
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.
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
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.
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
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 | Sainsbury's | Santander UK |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Yes | Yes |
Questions about each
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.
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
Sainsbury's
Santander UK