Check your eligibility for a credit card

A balance transfer card can bring down the amount of interest you pay each month on one or more existing credit cards, by allowing you to transfer existing credit card debt to a new account. Many providers offer lengthy interest-free periods too, so your repayments can go towards clearing the debt rather than the interest, helping you clear the debt more quickly. Typically there's a fee to transfer a balance, usually up to 3%, which is applied to your new card's balance.

A 0% purchase card can help you make large purchases and spread the cost over several months. Many providers also offer lengthy interest-free periods as well, so as long as you clear the balance before the end of the interest-free period you won’t pay any interest for your purchases.

Money transfer cards let you move money from the credit card to your bank account, meaning you can withdraw cash from an ATM or use the money to pay for goods and services directly from your bank account. Like with 0% purchase and balance transfer cards, many firms offer lengthy interest-free periods.

Credit building cards are designed to help improve your credit score if you have either no credit history or a poor credit history. They typically come with higher interest rates and lower credit limits but they can help improve your score if you make your repayments on time.

Rewards cards offer you incentives when you pay for goods and services using the card. The benefits range by provider and may offer you store vouchers or cashback, air miles or discounted concert tickets. These types of cards often come with high APRs and may also charge a monthly or annual fee, so it’s important to clear the balance each month so you can enjoy the benefit of the rewards.