Updated September 28, 2026 · SumCue Editorial Team
Capital One UK vs U.S. Bank
Capital One UK
U.S. Bank
Higher score in this comparison
Capital One UK vs U.S. Bank: the differences
| Compare | Capital One UKReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | U.S. BankReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | £0 | $0 |
| APR | 34.9% | 0%Lower |
| Rewards type | None | Cashback |
| Balance transfer intro period | 18 monthsHigher | 12 months |
| Balance transfer fee | 3%Lower | 5% |
| Credit needed | Poor | Good |
| Perks | Free CreditWise credit score and report, Up to 56 days interest free on new spends, Section 75 protection on spends between GBP 100 and GBP 30,000, Up to 2 credit limit increases a year, Free QuickCheck eligibility check with no impact to credit score, Round the clock fraud security | Cash back deals from brands via the U.S. Bank Mobile App or online banking, Flexible cash back redemption: direct deposit, statement credit, rewards card, merchant gift cards, U.S. Bank ExtendPay Plan with a $0 fee offer for new cardmembers on plans opened in the first 60 days, Contactless chip payment on all U.S. Bank credit cards |
| Currency conversion fee | 2.75% | Not confirmed |
| Rewards rate | Not confirmed | Unlimited 2% cash back on every purchase, plus up to an additional 2% on the first $10,000 in eligible Net Purchases each billing cycle when paired with a U.S. Bank Smartly Savings account and qualifying checking balances (total 2.5% / 3% / 4% by qualifying balance) |
| Cashback rate | Not confirmed | 2% |
Same on both: Card kind (Credit).
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Key differences
- U.S. Bank scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 9.0.
- Founded is lower at U.S. Bank: 1863 vs 1996.
- APR is lower at U.S. Bank: 0% vs 34.9%.
- Balance transfer fee is lower at Capital One UK: 3% vs 5%.
- Balance transfer intro period is higher at Capital One UK: 18 months vs 12 months.
- Perks: only Capital One UK offers Free CreditWise credit score and report, Up to 56 days interest free on new spends, Section 75 protection on spends between GBP 100 and GBP 30,000.
- Perks: only U.S. Bank offers Cash back deals from brands via the U.S. Bank Mobile App or online banking, Flexible cash back redemption: direct deposit, statement credit, rewards card, merchant gift cards, U.S. Bank ExtendPay Plan with a $0 fee offer for new cardmembers on plans opened in the first 60 days.
- Support channels: only Capital One UK offers Chat, Email.
Our verdict on each
Capital One UK
Capital One UK suits UK applicants with poor credit who want a card with a long balance transfer runway and no annual fee. Borrowing is the weak point: the card charges an APR of 34.9%, and the promotional window of 18 months is where the value sits.
U.S. Bank
U.S. Bank suits people who want a large US bank behind a rewards card that ranks 1 of 312 brands for annual fee. The same group also runs personal loans, savings and mortgages, so you can keep your money with one name across each product.
Score breakdown
| Area | Capital One UK | U.S. Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.8Annual fee of £0 helps, but a conversion fee of 2.75% and a balance transfer fee of 3% weigh against it. | 9.2HigherPersonal loans carry an origination fee of 0 USD (no origination fees) and the checking account a monthly fee of $0. |
| Offer | 9.5HigherFree credit score and report, an eligibility check that leaves the score untouched, statutory purchase protection and 18 months of balance transfers. | 8.9The card pays 2% cash back on every purchase, with more when paired with a Smartly Savings account. |
| Trust | 8.9 | 9.9Higher |
Availability and regulation
| Country | Capital One UK | U.S. Bank |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Not confirmed | FDIC FDIC cert 6548 |
Additional countries for Capital One UK: 1. Additional countries for U.S. Bank: 1.
Which one suits you
Pick Capital One UK if offer, balance transfer intro period, and balance transfer fee matter most.
Pick U.S. Bank if cost and apr matter most.
Moving a 3,000 balance
Capital One UK
90
3% of 3,000
U.S. Bank
150
5% of 3,000
Capital One UK comes out 60 lower in this example.
Worked out from the stated prices and rates; your own total depends on how you use it. Facts checked September 26, 2026.
Where these facts come from
Capital One UK
- capitalone.co.uk: 14 facts, checked September 26, 2026
U.S. Bank
- usbank.com: 15 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- banks.data.fdic.gov: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | Capital One UK | U.S. Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Credit and debit cards | 474 of 1594 | 202 of 1594 |
| Credit cards | 147 of 421 | 73 of 421 |
| Balance transfer cards | 19 of 32 | 6 of 32 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Capital One UK | U.S. Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | No annual fee | No annual fee |
| Features | Not confirmed | Rewards, Secured |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Business, Student, Kids |
| Legal entity | Capital One (Europe) plc | U.S. Bank National Association |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | United States |
| Founded | 1996 | 1863Lower |
| Support channels | Chat, Phone, Email, Help centreCovers more | Phone, Help centre |
Loans
| Fact | Capital One UK | U.S. Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Loan amount | Not confirmed | $1,000 to $50,000 |
| Term | Not confirmed | 12 to 84 months |
| Arrangement fee | Not confirmed | 0 USD (no origination fees) |
| Credit check | Not confirmed | Hard |
| Funding time | Not confirmed | 1 to 4 business days after loan closing, same day if eligible |
| Representative example | Not confirmed | Loan payment example: Monthly payments for a $10,000 loan at 12.60% APR with a term of 36 months would be $335.02. |
| Rate type | Not confirmed | Variable |
| Lender type | Not confirmed | Direct lender |
| Free early repayment | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Eligibility | Not confirmed | Credit approval and program guidelines; needs SSN, US home address and employment information; not all programs available in all states |
| Origination fee (%) | Not confirmed | 0% |
| Loan types | Not confirmed | Personal, Debt consolidation, Credit line, Car |
| Use cases | Not confirmed | Home improvement |
Savings
| Fact | Capital One UK | U.S. Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Headline rate | Not confirmed | 3.5% |
| Minimum deposit | Not confirmed | $25 |
| Deposit protection | Not confirmed | FDIC up to USD 250,000 |
| Access terms | Not confirmed | Easy access to funds: withdraw or transfer at thousands of U.S. Bank branches and ATMs; open with $25, no fixed term |
| Monthly fee | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Account kind | Not confirmed | Easy access |
Debit cards
| Fact | Capital One UK | U.S. Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Card type | Not confirmed | Debit |
| Card network | Not confirmed | Visa |
Mortgages
| Fact | Capital One UK | U.S. Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Initial rate | Not confirmed | 6.625% |
| APRC | Not confirmed | 6.794% |
| Fixed period | Not confirmed | 30 years |
| Maximum loan to value | Not confirmed | 75% |
| Purpose | Not confirmed | Purchase, Remortgage, First time buyer, Home equity |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Capital One UK | U.S. Bank | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| APR | 34.9%highest quarter | 0%lowest quarter | 11.635% |
| Currency conversion fee | 2.75%highest quarter | Not confirmed | 1% |
| Balance transfer intro period | 18 monthsabove the median | 12 monthsat the median | 12 months |
| Balance transfer fee | 3%at the median | 5%highest quarter | 3% |
| Cashback rate | Not confirmed | 2%above the median | 1.5% |
Median across 486 listed providers.
Pros and cons
Capital One UK
Pros
- Annual fee of £0, ranking 1 of 312 cards on that measure.
- A balance transfer fee of 3% paired with a 18 month promotional period gives a long runway on old card debt.
- A free credit score and report, an eligibility check that leaves the credit score untouched, and statutory purchase protection on qualifying spends.
Cons
- An APR of 34.9% sits well above the site median of 15.5%, so a carried balance is expensive.
- Rewards type is none, so everyday spending earns nothing back.
- A currency conversion fee of 2.75% on foreign spending compares with a site median of 1%.
U.S. Bank
Pros
- Rewards are cashback, with flexible redemption from direct deposit to statement credit and gift cards.
- Savings deposits carry FDIC up to USD 250,000 of cover from an FDIC insured bank.
- Personal loans allow free early repayment, with borrowing of $1,000 to $50,000 over terms of 12 to 84.
Cons
- Support runs on phone and help centre only.
- Savings pay 3.5% at a variable rate, so the return can fall as well as rise.
- Loans expect good credit and a hard credit check, so approval is not automatic.
Who each suits
Capital One UK
Who it suits
- UK applicants with poor credit who want a mainstream card rather than a premium one.
- Anyone clearing an old card balance and valuing a 18 month window to do it.
- People who want a credit score and report kept free alongside the card.
Who should look elsewhere
- Wise, for anyone spending abroad often, since its card conversion fee is 0% against 2.75% here.
- Varo Believe Secured Credit Card, if a secured card route suits better, with an annual fee of $0 and no promotional period to lean on.
- bunq, whose personal plans carry an annual fee of €0, for euro account holders rather than UK credit applicants.
U.S. Bank
Who it suits
- People already banking with U.S. Bank who want cash back on everyday spend from a card that pairs with a savings account.
- Borrowers with good credit who want to clear a personal loan early at no cost.
- Savers who want easy access at branches and ATMs, a variable rate and insured deposits.
Who should look elsewhere
- Starling Personal Account Debit Card, if you want a UK account and a card at £0 rather than a US bank that also lends.
- bunq, if a euro plan at €0 suits your spending better than a US dollar bank.
- Wise, if you want a card with an annual fee of £0 and no lending, savings or mortgage side.
Current offers
Capital One UK
Current offer
First period offer
0% interest on balance transfers for up to 18 months and on purchases for up to 3 months: 0% for up to 18 months on balance transfers; 0% for up to 3 months on purchases
Balance Transfer card; up to 3% transfer fee (maximum 3%); up to GBP 8,000 starting credit limit; representative example assumes a GBP 1,200 credit limit with 34.94% p.a. variable interest on purchases giving 34.9% APR representative variable
Source, checked September 26, 2026
U.S. Bank
Current offer
Bonus
U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa Signature Card one-time cash back bonus (increased from $150 to $200): $200
Approved for a new Cash+ Visa Signature Card and $1,000 or more in eligible Net Purchases within 90 days of account opening; not combinable with other bonus offers; subject to credit approval.
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Bonus
U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card welcome bonus: 20,000 points
Approved for a new Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card and $1,000 or more in total eligible Net Purchases within 90 days of account opening; previous cardmembers who received a bonus for this product in the last five years are not eligible.
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Bonus
U.S. Bank Altitude Go Visa Signature Card welcome bonus: 20,000 points
Approved for a new Altitude Go Visa Signature Card and $1,000 or more in total eligible Net Purchases within 90 days of account opening; previous cardmembers who received a bonus for this product in the last five years are not eligible.
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Capital One UK | U.S. Bank |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Yes | No |
| United States | No | Yes |
Questions about each
Capital One UK
Is there an annual fee to hold the card?+
No annual fee is charged on the credit card, so keeping it open costs nothing in fees. The value sits elsewhere: a balance transfer fee of 3% and a promotional period of 18 months. Rewards type is none, so nothing comes back on everyday spending.
What rate do I pay if I carry a balance?+
The card's standard rate is an APR of 34.9%, well above the site median of 15.5%. That rate applies to new purchases and to any balance left after the promotional period ends, so carrying a balance is the expensive way to use it. Clearing the full amount each month avoids the interest.
U.S. Bank
What does the U.S. Bank Smartly credit card cost to hold?+
The Bank Smartly Visa Signature card charges an annual fee of $0, and it is sold as no annual fee. The purchase APR is listed as 0%, so check how long any promotional period runs before relying on it. Support runs on phone and help centre.
How much cash back do I earn, and how do I use it?+
Every purchase earns 2% in cash back, and pairing the card with a U.S. Bank Smartly Savings account and qualifying checking balances adds more on the first eligible purchases each cycle. Rewards are cashback, and redemption is flexible across direct deposit, statement credit, a rewards card and merchant gift cards.
Other options to compare
Other matchups
Capital One UK
U.S. Bank