Barclays credit cards

Compare the range of Barclays credit cards available to find the right fit for your finances


  • Find cards you may be eligible for with our handy smart search tool
  • Avoid interest payments by paying off your balance in full each month
  • Missing a payment could cause your interest-free period to end prematurely
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Who is Barclays?

Originally founded in London in 1690, today Barclays is a British universal bank and a global financial services provider.

Barclays provides a number of products and services to consumers and businesses, from retail banking and credit cards to corporate and investment banking.

Barclaycard is Barclays’ credit card brand and is the largest credit card provider in the UK, offering a wide range of cards to suit different needs.

Barclays logo

What kind of credit cards does Barclays offer?

Barclays offers several different types of credit card to cater to a range of spending and borrowing needs:

Balance transfer credit cards

You can transfer your existing debt from a credit card or store card to a 0% interest balance transfer Barclaycard.

Doing this can save you money on interest and help you to pay off your debts more quickly.

Barclaycard offers a range of balance transfer cards. Some provide an interest-free introductory period of up to 30 months, while others will offer 0% interest on new purchases for a set time, too.

You’ll be required to make your balance transfer within a certain number of months after opening the account.

Please note that you can’t transfer debt to a Barclaycard from another Barclays credit card, or from a company that’s part of the Barclays group.

Credit building credit cards

If you haven't built up a credit history or have a poor credit rating, using a Barclaycard credit building card could help.

By paying off the balance or minimum payment each month and staying within your credit limit, it can help demonstrate that you’re a responsible borrower.

However, keep in mind that paying off the balance in full is the best option with credit building credit cards as they tend to have a higher interest rate than a standard card.

It should take around four to six months for your credit rating to start improving using a credit building credit card.

Plus, if you make all your payments on time, Barclays promises to reduce your interest rate by 3% after the first year and by another 2% after the second year.

Purchase credit cards

A Barclaycard purchase credit card can help you spread the cost of your spending.

They can be particularly helpful if you need to buy an expensive item like a sofa or boiler.

Providing 0% interest on purchases for a certain length of time, you can spread the cost out over a number of months or even years.

For example, the Barclaycard Platinum card has a 28-month interest-free period - so you’ll have more than two years to pay off the balance before interest is applied.

Rewards credit cards

Rewards credit cards give you cashback or travel rewards for every pound you spend.

This type of card is suited more for everyday spending. The more you use the card, the more rewards you’ll build up.

With some cards you can earn Avios points, which can help you to get money off flights, seat upgrades and travel-related expenses like hotels and car hire.

Another option is to choose a Barclaycard rewards credit card that earns you cashback. This money will be paid into your account, helping to reduce your credit card bill.

Pay off the balance in full each month to avoid any interest wiping out your reward points or cashback.

What features and benefits come with every Barclaycard?

  • The Barclaycard app can help you manage your money on the move
  • Each card has fraud prevention features that include 24/7 monitoring
  • 5% savings on tickets through Barclaycard Entertainment
  • Barclaycard provides help and support by phone or online
  • Take out a Barclaycard and get up to five months free of Apple services

How to make the most of my Barclays credit card?

A credit card can be a flexible way to borrow money and help you to make a purchase when you don’t have the cash readily available.

You can make the most of your credit card by:

  1. Choosing the most suitable card for your spending and borrowing needs

  2. Clearing the balance each month if you can, or making the minimum payments at the very least

  3. Aiming to pay off your balance before the interest-free period ends

  4. Earning rewards or cashback by using your card for everyday spending

  5. Using introductory interest-free periods for balance transfers or big purchases

  6. Improving your credit score by using your card responsibly

Are Barclays credit cards hard to get?

As with any credit card, when you apply for a Barclaycard, you’ll need to provide some personal details and your credit history will be checked.

You’re most likely to be successful if you have a high credit score.

If you apply for a credit card and are rejected this can affect your credit rating.

So a quick and easy way to check whether you’re likely to be accepted before you apply is to use our smart search.

You can find out which cards you’re more likely to be accepted for and, because it’s not an application for a credit card, using this tool won’t affect your credit score.

What are the risks?

There are some risks that you need to be aware of when you’re taking out any type of credit card.

For example, making a late repayment on your card could affect your credit rating. This can make it more difficult for you to borrow money in the future.

And be aware that if you don’t pay off your balance in full by the end of the interest-free period, you’ll be charged interest.

This can quickly increase the amount you owe and can mean it’ll take you longer to pay off the debt.

Look out for the annual percentage rate (APR) that will be applied once the interest-free period comes to an end - at this point, it’s a good idea to compare other cards and shop around for a better deal.

Remember to always spend within your credit limit, going over the amount set by your lender could result in charges.

If you’re struggling to pay off your credit card debt, make sure you get in touch with Barclays as soon as possible, so you can reach a solution together to help ease the financial pressure.

Also, avoid using your credit card to take cash out - you could be charged a cash advance fee and a higher annual percentage rate (APR) on this amount will often apply.

What charges do I pay for my Barclays credit card?

While you’re unlikely to need to pay an annual fee - unless you choose the Barclaycard Avios Plus reward card - you may still need to pay the following:

  1. Late payment fees

    You’ll need to pay £12 when you make a late payment, but you won’t be charged a late payment fee more than four times a year

  2. Fees for balance transfers

    You may need to pay a fee if you choose to transfer a balance from another card to a Barclaycard. This will be a percentage of the amount you’re transferring

  3. Fees for cash withdrawal

    If you take out cash from a cash machine in the UK or over the counter, you’ll be charged a fee

  4. Fees for using your card abroad

    You’ll be charged a fee every time you use the card to make a purchase abroad or to withdraw foreign currency

Where can I use my Barclays credit card?

Barclaycard credit cards use the Visa network. This means your card will be accepted at millions of places in the UK and abroad.

How do I get the best deal for me?

Use our smart search to find which cards you’re more likely to be accepted for.

In just a few minutes, we can help you compare cards and find the best deals from the top credit card providers.

Check for interest rates, introductory periods, perks and rewards, as well as any fees or charges.

Is Barclays the best credit card for me?

When you’re choosing a credit card you need to consider what you’ll be using it for and what you want to achieve.

For example, a balance transfer card can help you to pay off a debt or you might want to use a credit builder card to improve your credit rating.

Barclaycard offers a range of cards to suit different needs, but it’s also a good idea to compare cards from other providers to help you find the best deal.

Useful links

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