Natwest Student Credit Card

Natwest knows it's not always easy managing your money, so we have designed a Credit Card that is flexible enough to help you make the most of it.

Good because you get great value - typical

18.9% APR (variable),

plus you receive

Great discounts

(Click here to view details of Available discounts)

-Up to 56 days' interest free credit on purchases*

-Maximum £500 credit limit

-Straightforward repayments by Direct Debit

-Transfer money by phone

-Daily cash advance of up to £300**

-No annual fee

-Worldwide acceptance

-Special offers, and the occasional free gift, from the NatWest Wine Club***

-Don't forget you need a NatWest Student Current Account to apply for our Student Credit Card. Please ask in branch for more details.

Please note that balance transfers are not permitted on Student Credit Card Accounts.

Link to previous article: Barclaycard Graduate Credit Card

Barclaycard Student Credit Card

Suits you if you:

• Are entering full-time education

• Are 18 or over

• Have a permanent UK address

• Don't already have a Barclaycard

• Haven't missed multiple payments on a credit agreement within the last 12 months

• Don't have a CCJ, IVA or have not been registered bankrupt

• A low APR of 14.9% APR typical variable

• No over limit fees

• Great deals on student essentials from Argos

• Freeloader vouchers e.g. 2 for 1 curries or leisure vouchers

• Retailer discounts

14.9% APR typical variable

A credit card designed for student life
Now you’re a student, managing your money has never been so important. Our Student Card helps you do just that and it’s packed with benefits that will make your cash go further and keep you in control.

Stay on top of your finances

• Manageable credit limit

• Minimum monthly repayment of 5% of your balance or £5 (whichever is greater)

• Free text reminders of payment due or set up a direct debit

• Itemised monthly statement

• Convenient online account management

Make your money work

• Use your card worldwide wherever you see the Mastercard sign
• Buy online, by phone and by mail order
• Cash withdrawal from over 800,000 cash machines worldwide
• Enjoy exclusive offers and discounts from leading brands like Argos and Ticketmaster

Be protected at all times

• Fraud protection - including Chip & PIN – protects against unauthorised spending on your account

• Identity protection service provides confidential advice if you become a victim of identity theft

• Purchase delivery protection protects your online, phone or mail orders against loss or damage from despatch to door (excludes second hand goods)

• Worldwide assistance - including legal assistance, help with getting home fast and interpretation services - are only a phone call away when you’re abroad

• Emergency card replacement and emergency cash advance

• 24 hour telephone hotline

• Optional card protection available

As a responsible lender, we’ll do everything we can to help you stay in control. We have tried to make our service to you as open and transparent as possible. All we ask in return is that you take a sensible approach to using your card.

Important information
Cash advances are charged at a rate of 14.9% p.a. and the handling fee is 2.5% (minimum £2.50). If you withdraw cash or use your card while abroad, a foreign transaction fee of 2.75% applies – see Summary Box for full card details.
Barclaycard reserves the right to withdraw this offer at any time. This offer is only available to new customers. You will be required to use a PIN with this credit card in order to pay for goods and services over the counter in shops and other outlets. If you have any particular requirements concerning communications with Barclaycard or use of your credit card arising from a disability, please contact us on 0845 7660 758 before completing your application.

Link to Previous article : Barclaycard Football Credit Card

Tips for safe borrowing and using credit card

It’s important that once you have found the right card you use it responsibly. Living away from home gives you more freedom than ever before but the reality of rent, utilities, food and bills means you will have to budget to ensure you don’t run into problem debt. Below is a list of top tips to help keep your finances healthy and give you peace of mind:

1. Budget before you borrow. You should work out a budget and stick to it. When making purchases shop around for the best deal. Ask yourself if you can afford the repayments before you make a purchase. Do NOT use your credit card to buy goods you can't afford or to fund a lifestyle that is beyond your means.

2. Consider setting up direct debits. If you make monthly payments on any credit cards you can ensure that you never incur any late payment fees. Talk to your card issuer to find out how. It may pay to set up direct debits on other regular bills as many companies will give you discounts.

3. Beware of only making minimum repayments on credit cards. Unless you’re taking advantage of a special deal or a zero per cent offer, only ever paying the minimum repayment will cost you more and increase the time taken to clear your debt. It is NOT a suggested payment schedule.

4. Check all your monthly statements. Managing your money means knowing what you are spending and, on a credit card, what you owe. How much interest are you paying? What repayments must you make? The answers are all on your monthly statement.

5. Keep your details up to date. If you’ve moved out of home to start university you will need to notify your bank and any credit card companies of your change of address so that you can continue to receive your monthly statements. Alternatively, you may be able to access your accounts online allowing you to check your finances regularly.

6. Keep your PIN safe. Never ever write your PIN down or tell it to others, not even your friends. If you have difficulty remembering your PIN then you can always change it to a more memorable number at most cash machines.

7. Allow time for card payments to reach your account. Debit and credit card payments can take several days or more to reach your account. There will normally be information on your statement that tells you how long you should allow.

8. Be wary when withdrawing cash. Even if you only use your debit card to get cash from cash machines, remember most cash machines operated by banks and building societies let you withdraw money for free. Non-bank cash machines, however, will usually charge a fee. You will always be told if you are going to be charged. Constantly incurring a fee to access your cash will soon mount up and eat into the money you have to spend on yourself. Withdrawing cash on a credit card is more expensive with interest charged from the day you make the withdrawal.

Previous Article: Student Credit Cards - II

-(As advised by FSA)

Student Credit Cards - II

If you decide a credit card is right for you, with so many cards to choose from it is crucial that you think about what you want from a credit card and how you intend to use it. Different cards suit different people’s needs.

The following list of top questions provides a guide to for a student for some of the things you should think about before deciding on a credit card.

1. Do I need a credit card? Can I afford it?

2. What do I want the credit card for?

Is it just to pay for things and not for credit at all? And, do you intend to pay off your balance in full every month? Credit cards can be very effective in helping you spread the cost of spending over a number of months – this may prove particularly useful during the first few months of university when you have heavy set up costs to deal with. You may also consider a credit card as a standby option in the case of an emergency.

3. What card features are important to me?

Check things like the interest rates — for purchases, balance transfers, cash advances and credit card cheques; the length of the interest free period for purchases; incentives and benefits such as cashback, rewards or loyalty points; being able to manage your account online; using your credit card when you are abroad.

Once you know what kind of credit card you want and how you intend to use it:

4. Make a shortlist.

When you know what you are looking for, talk to card companies, look online, look at the Summary Box for each credit card and make a ‘top five’ list of credit cards that are right for you.

5. Compare cards.

Get a copy of the Summary Box for the cards on your shortlist. Have a look at all the different features and decide which card is most suited to your needs.

6. Review the terms and conditions.

Make sure you have read, in full, the terms & conditions of the credit card that you decide to apply for. This is important to ensure that you fully understand your responsibilities and obligations.

7. Apply for a card.

You can apply for your card in person, on the phone, by post or online. Remember, you need to be completely truthful in your application. As part of the application you will sign to indicate your acceptance of the terms and conditions.

8. The card company’s decision.

Your card company will run some credit checks on you and look at your application form and any
past payment behaviour before deciding if you are eligible for a credit card. If more than one interest rate is available for a credit card, the card company will decide which rate and credit limit are appropriate, depending on what they think you can afford to pay back.

9. Receiving your card.

Some issuers may require you to activate your card before you can begin using it. If on receipt of your card
you decide that the credit is not for you then you should immediately contact the card company and ask to cancel the agreement.

10. Tidy up loose ends.

If you’re transferring a balance from another credit card or closing an old account remember to check that any regular or recurring payments have been cancelled or moved from your old credit card.

Previous Article: Student Credit Cards - I

Student Credit Cards - I

Introduction

So, you’ve accepted your offer and you’re off to university! Your student days promise a busy social life, the chance to develop new interests and, of course, the opportunity to study your chosen subject. You’ll be given a lot of independence – perhaps moving out of the family home for the first time – and deciding how you want to live your life. You’ll also be responsible for managing your finances.

Looking after your money is a big responsibility, and for some students it can be a constant burden. While there’s no avoiding university fees and the cost of living, by learning to manage your money you are giving yourself the best chance of graduating with both your career and your bank balance in order.

Before you rush into any decisions, it pays to be aware of the financial options available to you.

Here we outline some of the key considerations students should make when making financial decisions, particularly about choosing and using plastic cards.


Used sensibly, credit cards offer many benefits, but used

Benefits
• Free, short-term credit as long as you always pay your balance in full by the due date shown on your statement

• A safe and convenient way to pay for goods and services, particularly over the internet, by telephone or by mail order

• Protection against fraud — if you are the innocent victim of fraud you will not be expected to pay if a criminal uses your card

• Incentives for using a card such as loyalty points and cash-back, or payments to support a charity

• Convenience when travelling, as credit cards are accepted in virtually every country around the world

• Perhaps the most flexible and convenient way of borrowing money in the short term

Risks

• Can lead to unplanned levels of debt

• Can incur charges if you make late payments, miss them altogether or go over your credit limit

• Can damage your credit rating if you continually make late payments or miss them altogether

• Can cost you more and take you longer to pay off than the alternatives, particularly if you only ever make the minimum repayment

• Can make it difficult to manage your finances if you have more cards than you need

Choosing the financial products that suit you:
During the first few weeks of university it is likely that you will receive offers from local banks and building societies to set up an account, take out a loan or apply for a credit card.

Often these offers are accompanied by free gifts or incentives such as iPods, MP3 players or discounted travel cards; some more valuable than others. If you decide to open an account, it is important to choose the right one.

Studying the terms and conditions and key features, such as overdraft limits and credit interest, may be time consuming but it’s important if you want to get the best from your bank.

For those considering the option of a credit card, think about what you need it for: is it a luxury or a necessity?

A credit card is a convenient short-term way to borrow money, usually offering a period of interest free credit. But if you’re thinking about borrowing money for more than a few months then you might want to consider a personal loan.

Remember, you have to pay back what you borrow. The golden rule is, if you can’t afford to pay it back, don’t spend it!

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