Updated September 28, 2026 · SumCue Editorial Team
Ocean Finance Card vs Virgin Money
Ocean Finance Card
Virgin Money
Higher score in this comparison
Where Ocean Finance Card and Virgin Money differ
| Compare | Ocean Finance CardReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | Virgin MoneyReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| APR | 39.9% | 27.9%Lower |
| Rewards type | None | Cashback |
| Balance transfer intro period | 6 months | 21 monthsHigher |
| Balance transfer fee | 2.9%Lower | 2.95% |
| Perks | Credit limit of GBP 200 to GBP 8,000, Section 75 protection on purchases between GBP 100 and GBP 30,000, Mobile app to make payments and check balance, Free email and text alerts, Card usable online before the physical card arrives, Eligibility check does not affect credit score, No Apple Pay | Up to 21 months 0% interest on balance transfers, Up to 21 months 0% interest on purchases, Money transfer option, Virgin Money Cashback offers in the credit card app, 24/7 in app chat support with Redi, Virgin Money Rewards and Virgin Red offers |
| Annual fee | £0 | Not confirmed |
| Currency conversion fee | Not confirmed | 0% |
| Credit needed | Poor | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Card kind (Credit).
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Key differences
- Virgin Money scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 9.1.
- APR is lower at Virgin Money: 27.9% vs 39.9%.
- Balance transfer fee is lower at Ocean Finance Card: 2.9% vs 2.95%.
- Balance transfer intro period is higher at Virgin Money: 21 months vs 6 months.
- Perks: only Ocean Finance Card offers Credit limit of GBP 200 to GBP 8,000, Section 75 protection on purchases between GBP 100 and GBP 30,000, Mobile app to make payments and check balance.
- Perks: only Virgin Money offers Up to 21 months 0% interest on balance transfers, Up to 21 months 0% interest on purchases, Money transfer option.
- Support channels: only Ocean Finance Card offers Chat.
Our verdict on each
Ocean Finance Card
The Ocean Finance Card suits borrowers with a poor credit history who plan to clear a balance: a transfer fee of 2.9% on what you move, and an annual fee of £0. Anyone wanting a rewards card should look elsewhere, since this one is priced for short borrowing.
Virgin Money
Virgin Money suits UK households wanting everyday spending, travel money and card clearing under a single roof. It wins on running costs: the current account charges £0 a month and converts currency for 0%, while the credit card side is the weak point at 27.9% representative APR.
Score breakdown
| Area | Ocean Finance Card | Virgin Money |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.1Annual fee £0, but interest at 39.9% is what holders really pay. | 9.4HigherHolding costs nothing: £0 a month and 0% to convert, while borrowing on the credit card runs at 27.9%. |
| Offer | 9.2The rewards type is none, so the offer rests on practical extras. | 9.4Higher |
| Trust | 9.1 | Not confirmed |
How they place
| Ranking | Ocean Finance Card | Virgin Money |
|---|---|---|
| Credit and debit cards | 426 of 1594 | 199 of 1594 |
| Balance transfer cards | 15 of 32 | 5 of 32 |
Choosing between them
Pick Ocean Finance Card if balance transfer fee matter most.
Pick Virgin Money if cost, apr, and balance transfer intro period matter most.
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | Ocean Finance Card | Virgin Money |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Financial Conduct Authority 310069 |
Available in 1 country for both.
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Ocean Finance Card | Virgin Money |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | No annual fee | Not confirmed |
| Features | Not confirmed | Travel |
| Legal entity | Intelligent Lending Limited | Nationwide Building Society (trading as Virgin Money) |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | United Kingdom |
| Founded | 1991 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Chat, Phone, Email, Help centreCovers more | Phone, Email, Help centre |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Ocean Finance Card | Virgin Money | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | £0at the median | Not confirmed | £0 |
| APR | 39.9%highest quarter | 27.9%highest quarter | 11.635% |
| Currency conversion fee | Not confirmed | 0%below the median | 1% |
| Balance transfer intro period | 6 monthslowest quarter | 21 monthshighest quarter | 12 months |
| Balance transfer fee | 2.9%below the median | 2.95%below the median | 3% |
Median across 486 listed providers.
Pros and cons
Ocean Finance Card
Pros
- Balance transfers cost 2.9% over 6, so old card debt has a route out.
- The perk list Credit limit of GBP 200 to GBP 8,000, Section 75 protection on purchases between GBP 100 and GBP 30,000 and Mobile app to make payments and check balance adds an app, free alerts and purchase protection.
- Support runs on chat, phone and email, so help comes through several channels.
Cons
- The APR is 39.9%, so carrying a balance month to month is expensive.
- The rewards type is none, so everyday spending earns nothing back.
- Apple Pay is not among its perks (Credit limit of GBP 200 to GBP 8,000, Section 75 protection on purchases between GBP 100 and GBP 30,000 and Mobile app to make payments and check balance).
Virgin Money
Pros
- Keeping the current account costs £0 a month, so there is no standing charge to offset against the balance.
- The account's card converts currency for 0%, against a conversion fee of 0.1% at Wise.
- Help is reachable on phone, email and help centre, which includes a phone line as well as email and a help centre.
Cons
- Anything carried or bought on the credit card outside an interest free period costs 27.9% representative APR, well above the 15.5% APR most cards in this comparison sit at.
- A fee of 2.95% applies to a balance transfer, so the interest free offer is not a straight move between lenders.
- Account queries run on phone, email and help centre, while the round the clock in-app chat with Redi listed under Up to 21 months 0% interest on balance transfers, Up to 21 months 0% interest on purchases and Money transfer option belongs to the credit card, not the current account.
Who each suits
Ocean Finance Card
Who it suits
- Borrowers with a poor credit history, since the annual fee is £0.
- Anyone clearing a balance on another card, where the transfer fee is 2.9%.
- Card users who want purchase protection on larger buys, listed under Credit limit of GBP 200 to GBP 8,000, Section 75 protection on purchases between GBP 100 and GBP 30,000 and Mobile app to make payments and check balance.
Who should look elsewhere
- Starling Personal Account Debit Card, at an APR of 15%, for current account borrowing.
- Varo Believe Secured Credit Card, with $0 annual fee, for a secured route.
Virgin Money
Who it suits
- Households that spend or travel abroad: the account's card converts currency for 0% where Wise lists 0.1%.
- Readers clearing old card balances, who can move them onto 21 months of interest free balance transfers for a fee of 2.95% instead of a secured card such as Varo Believe Secured Credit Card.
- Customers who want a building society behind the brand: Nationwide Building Society (trading as Virgin Money) holds a Prudential Regulation Authority licence in the United Kingdom, 106078, and help runs on phone, email and help centre.
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone after a euro account rather than a UK one: bunq's monthly fee is €0, and Virgin Money's operation sits in the United Kingdom.
- Readers who will not carry a balance at 27.9% representative APR or pay 2.95% to move one, who would do better on a secured card such as Varo Believe Secured Credit Card.
Current offers
Ocean Finance Card
Current offer
First period offer
0% for 6 months on balance transfers and purchases on the Ocean Credit Card: 0% for 6 months, 2.9% balance transfer fee
Representative 39.9% APR (variable) after the offer, purchase rate 39.94% APR (variable), credit subject to status
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Ocean Finance Card | Virgin Money |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Yes | Yes |
Questions about each
Ocean Finance Card
Is there an annual fee on the Ocean Finance Card?+
The annual fee is £0, so holding the card year on year costs nothing beyond interest. That suits anyone clearing a balance slowly, since the only bill is what is owed. The rate to watch is the APR on balances you do not clear, at 39.9%.
What is the APR on the Ocean Finance Card?+
The APR is 39.9%, a high rate for borrowing month to month. Interest is the real cost here, because the annual fee is £0 and nothing is charged for holding it. The cheaper route is moving a balance from another lender, where the fee is 2.9%.
Virgin Money
What does the Virgin Money current account cost each month?+
The monthly fee is £0, so holding the account and using its card adds nothing to regular outgoings. That sits alongside 0% to convert currency on the account's card, the second figure most readers check. The account ranks 1 of 422 brands on the monthly fee measure on this site.
Does the card cost anything when I spend in another currency?+
The currency conversion charge on the account's card is 0%, and that is the figure that decides whether spending abroad is cheap to run. Wise lists a conversion fee of 0.1%, and most cards here convert at a percentage, so the gap matters for regular travellers. Virgin Money ranks 1 of 258 brands on this measure.
Other options to compare
Other matchups
Ocean Finance Card
Virgin Money