Updated September 28, 2026 · DebitCue Editorial Team
Sainsbury's vs Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card
Sainsbury's
Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card
Higher score in this comparison
Where Sainsbury's and Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card differ
| Compare | Sainsbury'sReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit CardReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| APR | 20.95%Lower | 27.9% |
| Rewards type | Points | Cashback |
| Balance transfer intro period | 34 monthsHigher | 21 months |
| Balance transfer fee | 2.88% to 3.88%Lower | 2.95% |
| Perks | Nectar points | 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 |
| Annual fee | £0 | Not confirmed |
| Currency conversion fee | Not confirmed | 0% |
| Rewards rate | 2 points per GBP1 at Sainsbury's, 1 point per GBP5 elsewhere | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Card kind (Credit).
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Key differences
- Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card scores higher overall: 9.3 vs 9.1.
- APR is lower at Sainsbury's: 20.95% vs 27.9%.
- Balance transfer fee is lower at Sainsbury's: 2.88% to 3.88% vs 2.95%.
- Balance transfer intro period is higher at Sainsbury's: 34 months vs 21 months.
- Perks: only Sainsbury's offers Nectar points.
- Perks: only Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card offers Up to 21 months 0% interest on balance transfers, Up to 21 months 0% interest on purchases, Money transfer option.
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.
Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card
The Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card is a credit card from Nationwide Building Society, trading as Virgin Money, and it suits anyone clearing an existing balance while earning cashback. The interest free transfer window runs 21 with a fee of 2.95%, and support runs through chat, help centre and phone.
Score breakdown
| Area | Sainsbury's | Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.2HigherAnnual fee of £0 helps, but 20.95% interest and a 2.88% to 3.88% transfer fee keep costs mid-range. | 9.1Purchases run at 27.9% against a typical 20.97% on the site, while £0 keeps the account fee at nothing. |
| Offer | 9.0Points as the points reward plus a 34 balance transfer window cover everyday spend and old debt. | 9.4HigherRewards are cashback, with a money transfer option and an interest free period on purchases. |
| Trust | 9.0 | Not confirmed |
Availability and regulation
| Country | Sainsbury's | Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Not confirmed |
Available in 1 country for both.
Also worth a look
HSBC UK has balance transfer intro period at 17 to 36 months, against 34 months for Sainsbury's and 21 months for Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card.
HSBC UK reviewHow they place
| Ranking | Sainsbury's | Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card |
|---|---|---|
| Credit cards | 171 of 1020 | 112 of 1020 |
| Balance transfer cards | 13 of 35 | 4 of 35 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Sainsbury's | Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | No annual fee | Not confirmed |
| Features | Rewards | Rewards |
| Legal entity | Sainsbury's Bank plc | Nationwide Building Society (trading as Virgin Money) |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | United Kingdom |
| Founded | 1996 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Not confirmed | Chat, Help centre, Phone |
Debit cards
| Fact | Sainsbury's | Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee | Not confirmed | £0 |
| Card type | Not confirmed | Debit |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Sainsbury's | Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | £0at the median | Not confirmed | £0 |
| APR | 20.95%above the median | 27.9%highest quarter | 19.39% |
| Currency conversion fee | Not confirmed | 0%below the median | 1% |
| Balance transfer intro period | 34 monthshighest quarter | 21 monthsabove the median | 15 months |
| Balance transfer fee | 2.88% to 3.88%below the median | 2.95%below the median | 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.
Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card
Pros
- The listed Up to 21 months 0% interest on balance transfers, Up to 21 months 0% interest on purchases and Money transfer option put an interest free period on purchases alongside the balance transfer offer, so everyday spending can run interest free too while an old balance is being cleared.
- Help runs through chat, help centre and phone, with chat with Redi in the card app day and night for a quick answer on a charge or a transfer.
- The issuer is Nationwide Building Society (trading as Virgin Money), regulated in the UK by the Prudential Regulation Authority under reference 106078.
Cons
- Purchases run at 27.9%, above the typical 20.97% across the site, so a balance carried beyond the interest free window is costly to keep.
- It sits at position 105 of 133 brands on APR, which leaves less expensive rates sitting elsewhere in the comparison.
- Transfers cost 2.95% each, and 21 is the maximum interest free window offered rather than a fixed run for every applicant.
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.
Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card
Who it suits
- Anyone clearing a balance on an existing card and willing to pay 2.95% for 21 of interest free running.
- Existing Virgin Money customers who already use the app, since the listed Up to 21 months 0% interest on balance transfers, Up to 21 months 0% interest on purchases and Money transfer option are built around in app chat and cashback offers.
- Cashback shoppers who want an interest free period on purchases as well as on transfers, with both covered in the Up to 21 months 0% interest on balance transfers, Up to 21 months 0% interest on purchases and Money transfer option.
Who should look elsewhere
- Not for anyone after the lowest possible rate: the Varo Believe Secured Credit Card is listed at 0%, though it works as a secured card.
- Not for pure everyday spending from an account balance, where the Starling Personal Account Debit Card at 15% is the simpler arrangement.
- Not for paying interest month to month, since the AXI Card Tarjeta y Credito lists 21.59% against 27.9% here.
Current offers
Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card
Current offer
Bonus
0% interest for up to 21 months on balance transfers and purchases on the all round credit card: 0% for up to 21 months, 2.95% balance transfer fee
Promotional offer varies based on your circumstances and starts from account opening date; applies to transfers made in the first 60 days. Credit is available, subject to status, only to UK residents aged 18 or over.
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Bonus
Get 0% interest on balance transfers for up to 36 months on the balance transfer credit card: 0% for up to 36 months, fee per transfer
Promotional offer varies based on your circumstances and starts from account opening date. Applies to transfers made in the first 60 days. Fees and terms apply.
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Bonus
Virgin Money Cashback from selected top retailers on the Everyday Cashback Credit Card: up to 12% additional cashback
Register in the Virgin Money Credit Card app. Terms apply. Cashback credited monthly; does not count towards your monthly minimum payment.
Source, checked September 26, 2026
First period offer
Everyday Cashback introductory rate: 1% cashback for the first 90 days, then 0.25%, up to £15 a month
90 days starts from when the account opens; cashback deducted from your card balance monthly. Other fees may apply.
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Sainsbury's | Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card
What does it cost to hold and to borrow?+
The monthly fee is £0, so holding the account adds nothing in account fees. Borrowing is the expensive part: purchases run at 27.9%, and each balance transfer costs 2.95%. The transfer figure is the one to weigh against a card that charges nothing to move a balance.
How long is the interest free period on a balance transfer?+
The interest free window on balance transfers runs 21, and moving a balance costs 2.95%. Once that window ends the purchase rate of 27.9% is what applies, so the card works when the balance is cleared inside the period. Treat the window as the maximum rather than a fixed run.
Other options to compare
Other matchups
Sainsbury's
Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card