Halifax Credit Cards
We've looked at the Halifax credit cards in the UK to see how they compare on 0% promotional periods for purchases and balance transfers, as well as perks like no transaction fees on travel spending. Discover which might best suit your needs.
The guidance on this site is based on our own analysis and is meant to help you identify options and narrow down your choices. We do not advise or tell you which product to buy; undertake your own due diligence before entering into any agreement. Read our full disclosure here.
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Best Halifax for Using Abroad
Halifax Clarity Credit Card -
Halifax Balance Transfers
Best Balance Transfer Deals -
Best Halifax for rewards
Cashback rewards
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What You Need to Know: Halifax Credit Cards
Important Details -
Choosing
Comparing Halifax Credit Cards vs. Other Credit Card Alternatives
Best Halifax Card for Overseas Travel: Halifax Clarity Credit Card
The Halifax Clarity Credit Card can be a great card for using abroad since you can use it overseas without paying a fee on foreign transactions. This applies to both purchases (e.g., at a restaurant) and cash withdrawals from ATMs.
This doesn't mean ATM withdrawals don't cost you anything, though. Some ATMs will charge their own fee for use of the machine, which is not related to Halifax. While ATM withdrawals won't incur a fee from Halifax, they will be charged interest, however. Interest charges on cash transactions start accruing immediately, so you can limit this cost by going online to pay back any ATM withdrawals as soon as possible. The 23.9% variable interest rate on cash withdrawals is quite a bit lower than average, however, making it a solid travel card.
- No fees on non-sterling ATM withdrawals or transactions abroad
- Lower-than-average 23.9% interest rate on cash withdrawals (variable)
- No interest grace period on ATM withdrawals
Best Halifax Balance Transfer Deals
Halifax historically offers some of the most competitive balance transfer and purchase promotions in the UK—but offers change constantly so we'll direct you to Halifax to see their latest offers, as they change from time to time.
Good to know:
- Like many other 0% balance transfer and purchases deals on the market, Halifax might approve your for a shorter no-interest period, depending on your individual situation.
- Halifax has an eligibility checker to see your odds of being accepted, which we recommend using.
- Balances must be transferred within 90 days to get promotional 0% offers.
Halifax No Fee Balance Transfer
This Halifax Credit Card "0% Balance Transfer Fee Offer is for people who don't want to pay a fee on balance transfers and who can manage with a shorter 0% promotional period. New purchases also benefit from a period of time without interest on purchases. As is common with many balance transfer cards, applicants with a weaker credit history may get a shorter 0% interest balance transfer period. In either case, there is no fee when you initially transfer the balance. This offer applies to balance transferred in the first 90 days.
- No initial balance transfer fee (then 3%)
- Generally of the longest no-fee balance transfer offers
- You may get a shorter 0% promotional period
Halifax Low Fee Balance Transfer
We also quite like the features of Halifax's low fee balance transfer, which is more suited to those who want a slightly longer 0% promotional period on transferred balances. The initial balance transfer fee is generally competitive and less than the fee on the longest balance transfers (e.g. 1%). The card comes with another perk: 0% on purchases for longer than you'll get on many competing balance transfer cards (e.g. 12 months). Transfers must be made within 90 days of the account opening to get the promotional offer. This card can be an efficient way to handle both existing debt and upcoming purchases.
- A longer, lower fee balance transfer offer
- o% on purchases, too
- You may get a shorter 0% promotional period
Halifax Purchase and Balance Transfer Card
The Halifax Purchases Credit Card sports one of the longest 0% purchases promotional offers, aimed at those needing as long as possible to spread out the cost of any upcoming purchases. Halifax often has a market leading offer in this category (e.g. 17 months), however those with weaker credit files may only receive a shorter no-interest promotional period or the Classic Credit Card.
- Longer 0% promotional period for purchases and balance transfers
- Eligibility checker
- May get a shorter promotional period
Best Halifax Card for Rewards: Halifax Cashback Credit Card
The Halifax Cashback Credit Card pays you cashback on your spending. Cardholders earn 0.25% cashback on your first £4000 of purchases per calendar year, then 0.5% cashback on further purchases once you’ve made over £4000 of purchases per calendar year. There's no cap on the amount of cashback you can earn, and there's a welcome bonus of £20 cashback if you make card purchases of £1000 within the first 90 days of account opening.
- 0.25% or 0.5% cashback on spending
- Eligibility checker
- Lower cashback rewards than some competing Amex cards
What You Need to Know About Halifax Credit Cards
Halifax consistently offers some of the best credit card deals in the market, whether your priority is a balance transfer, paying no interest on purchases or paying no fees overseas with a travel card. There are some important facts to be aware of, however, to get the most out of a Halifax card.
Pay On Time
For instance, you must always pay on time and stay within your credit limit in order to keep any 0% promotional periods. In the case of purchases or balance transfer cards, losing your promotional period would mean your interest rate pops up from 0% to the stated interest rate (usually 19.9% or higher). Also, it's good to know that you may not receive the full promotional period for which you apply. Like many banks, Halifax might approve your for a higher interest rate and/or a shorter 0% promotional period.
You Still Make Monthly Payments
Remember that "no interest" doesn’t mean "no monthly payments." You will still be required to make monthly payments on purchases and balance transfers, in order to reduce your balances. However we'd like to stress the benefit of paying MORE than the minimum each month. Ideally, balances on a 0 interest card are paid off in full before the promotional period comes to and end. To calculate the size of the monthly payments needed to accomplish this, divide the balance by the months of 0% interest remaining.
Use the Eligibility Checker
Halifax is one of the UK credit card companies offering free soft eligibility checks to potential applicants to find out your odds of being accepted. The Halifax eligibility check performs a soft credit search that will not leave a mark on your credit file for other lenders to see. (You, however, will see all soft searches when you check your own file.)
This is a great tool but is not offered by all banks—a definite perk. Additionally, those loyal to Halifax will be pleased to hear that you can take out a second credit card, subject to conditions discussed below. However, while you can hold two Halifax credit cards under some conditions, you cannot transfer a balance from one Halifax credit card to another.
What if I Already have a Halifax Card?
Halifax permits you to have a second credit card, which is handy useful because different cards serve different needs. For example, you may need one card to manage existing outstanding balances but want another for upcoming holiday abroad purchases (fee free). You can apply for a second Halifax Credit Card, as long as you satisfy the following conditions:
- Your existing card with Lloyds Banking Group is not a Student Card
- You apply more than 60 days after your first Halifax credit card was opened
- You can have a maximum of 2 Halifax credit cards
- You can have a maximum of 5 cards with Lloyds Banking Group (including Bank of Scotland and Lloyds Bank)
- Your application is subject to a full credit and affordability check
Comparing Halifax Credit Cards to Other Similar Cards
If you want to know if any of the cards mentioned above are right for you, it can help to know what other similar cards are available. Below, we highlight a few cards that offer similar functionality, in order to help you make an informed decision.
For Purchases: Sainsbury's Purchase Credit Card
The Sainsbury's Purchase Credit Card has one of the longest interest-free period on purchases, at up to 20 months. In addition to the long no-interest promotion, cardholders can earn an extra 1% rewards in Nectar points on their Sainsbury's shopping and fuel. While the card also earns you Nectar points on other non-Sainsbury's spending, those rewards are a very small 0.1% or so. Although the Sainsbury's card also offers balance transfer functionality, the balance transfer fee is relatively high at 3% for 3 months.
Bottom Line: If you need a purchases card, the Sainsbury's Purchase offer is often the best and longest offer available, with the added benefit of earning Nectar points on purchases.
For Travel: Barclaycard Rewards Credit Card
The Barclayard Rewards Credit Card is another good choice for people to use when travelling because it doesn't charge FX fees on purchases—but it's less desirable for any ATM withdrawals due to the cash fees. Plus cardholders get 0.25% back on purchases. While this is less than the best rewards cards, it is at least something for a travel card.
Bottom Line: If you need a no transaction fee travel card, the Barclaycard Rewards card is another solid option for purchases abroad.
For Balance Transfers: Sainsbury's No Fee Balance Transfer Credit Card
The Sainsbury's No Fee Balance Transfer Credit Card acts as a rewards card as well as a balance transfer card with a relatively long 0% promotional period. While you don't earn rewards on transferred balances, you will earn Nectar points on new purchases with the card, at a rate of 2 points per £1 spent on Sainsbury's shopping and fuel, and 1 point for every £5 spent elsewhere. Please note that a balance transfer fee might be charged initially but is refunded within 60 days so long as you're not in default.