Updated September 28, 2026 · DebitCue Editorial Team
Santander UK vs Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card
Santander UK
Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card
Higher score in this comparison
Santander UK vs Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card: the differences
| Compare | Santander UKReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit CardReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Currency conversion fee | 2.95% | 0%Lower |
Same on both: Monthly fee (£0), Card type (Debit).
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 Atlantic Reward Credit Card scores higher overall: 9.3 vs 9.2.
- Currency conversion fee is lower at Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card: 0% vs 2.95%.
Our verdict on each
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.
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 | Santander UK | Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 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. | 9.1HigherPurchases run at 27.9% against a typical 20.97% on the site, while £0 keeps the account fee at nothing. |
| Offer | Not confirmed | 9.4Rewards are cashback, with a money transfer option and an interest free period on purchases. |
| Trust | 9.5 | Not confirmed |
Cost in a real example
A year with 1,000 spent abroad
Santander UK
£29.50
12 × £0 + 2.95% of 1,000
Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card
£0
12 × £0 + 0% of 1,000
Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card costs £29.50 less.
Worked out from the stated prices and rates; your own total depends on how you use it. Facts checked September 26, 2026.
Availability and regulation
| Country | Santander UK | Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Financial Conduct Authority 106054 |
Available in 1 country for both.
How they place
| Ranking | Santander UK | Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card |
|---|---|---|
| Debit cards | 147 of 1336 | 114 of 1336 |
| Credit cards | 138 of 1020 | 112 of 1020 |
| Balance transfer cards | 7 of 35 | 4 of 35 |
Sources behind this comparison
Santander UK
- santander.co.uk: 5 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card
- uk.virginmoney.com: 7 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Santander UK | Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Not confirmed | Rewards |
| Legal entity | Santander UK plc | Nationwide Building Society (trading as Virgin Money) |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | United Kingdom |
| Founded | 1988 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Not confirmed | Chat, Help centre, Phone |
Credit cards
| Fact | Santander UK | Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | £0 | Not confirmed |
| APR | 24.9%Lower | 27.9% |
| Rewards type | None | Cashback |
| Pricing model | No annual fee | Not confirmed |
| Balance transfer intro period | 12 months | 21 monthsHigher |
| Balance transfer fee | 0%Lower | 2.95% |
| Perks | Not confirmed | 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 |
| Card kind | Credit | Credit |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Santander UK | Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee | £0at the median | £0at the median | £0 |
| Currency conversion fee | 2.95%highest quarter | 0%below the median | 1% |
Median across 387 listed cards.
Pros and cons
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.
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
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.
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
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
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 | Santander UK | Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Yes | Yes |
Questions about each
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.
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
Santander UK
Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card