Updated September 28, 2026 · SumCue Editorial Team
Santander UK vs SBI Card
SBI Card
Santander UK
Higher score in this comparison
Where Santander UK and SBI Card differ
| Compare | Santander UKReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | SBI CardReviewVisitVisit |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | £0 | ₹499 |
| APR | 24.9%Lower | 45% |
| Balance transfer intro period | 12 monthsHigher | 2 months |
| Balance transfer fee | 0%Lower | 2% |
| Credit needed | Good | Excellent |
| Currency conversion fee | 2.95% | Not confirmed |
| Rewards type | None | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Card kind (Credit).
We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings. Partners with a live offer in your country come first, then every other brand by score.
Key differences
- Santander UK scores higher overall: 9.2 vs 8.7.
- Founded is lower at Santander UK: 1988 vs 1998.
- APR is lower at Santander UK: 24.9% vs 45%.
- Balance transfer fee is lower at Santander UK: 0% vs 2%.
- Balance transfer intro period is higher at Santander UK: 12 months vs 2 months.
- Support channels: only Santander UK offers Chat, Help centre.
Our verdict on each
Santander UK
Santander UK suits UK households wanting everyday banking, savings and borrowing from one Financial Conduct Authority regulated bank, with an easy-access saver paying 2% variable. The charges elsewhere, 2.95% for currency conversion and 24.9% on the credit card, are where the case weakens.
SBI Card
SBI Card is a credit card for Indian applicants with excellent credit, and the balance transfer option is the reason to look past its steep borrowing cost. It charges an APR of 45% and an annual fee of INR 499, with help on phone.
Score breakdown
| Area | Santander UK | SBI Card |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.8Monthly fee £0 and annual fee £0 are low, but 2.95% on conversion and 24.9% on the card are not. | 8.8Annual fee INR 499 and APR 45% push costs up, with a balance transfer fee of 2% the only relief. |
| Offer | 9.4Higher | 8.1A 2 month balance transfer window is the whole offer, and phone support adds little. |
| Trust | 9.4Higher | 8.9 |
Licences and countries
| Country | Santander UK | SBI Card |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Financial Conduct Authority 106054 | Not confirmed |
Additional countries for Santander UK: 1. Additional countries for SBI Card: 1.
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | Santander UK | SBI Card |
|---|---|---|
| Credit and debit cards | 348 of 1594 | 52 of 1594 |
| Credit cards | 111 of 421 | 19 of 421 |
| Balance transfer cards | 12 of 32 | 2 of 32 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Santander UK | SBI Card |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | No annual fee | Not confirmed |
| Features | Same day funding | Not confirmed |
| Audience | Seniors | Not confirmed |
| Legal entity | Santander UK plc | SBI Cards and Payment Services Limited |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | India |
| Founded | 1988Lower | 1998 |
| Support channels | Chat, Phone, Help centreCovers more | Phone |
Loans
| Fact | Santander UK | SBI Card |
|---|---|---|
| Loan amount | £1,000 to £25,000 | Not confirmed |
| Term | 12 to 60 months | Not confirmed |
| Arrangement fee | 0 GBP | Not confirmed |
| Credit check | Hard | Not confirmed |
| Funding time | Within 2 working days of releasing funds | Not confirmed |
| Rate type | Variable | Not confirmed |
| Lender type | Direct lender | Not confirmed |
| Free early repayment | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Eligibility | Aged 21 or over, live permanently in the UK, regular yearly income of GBP 10,500+ for loans up to GBP 19,999 and GBP 20,000+ for loans up to GBP 25,000, good credit record | Not confirmed |
| Origination fee (%) | 0% | Not confirmed |
| Loan types | Personal, Debt consolidation, Car | Not confirmed |
| Use cases | Home improvement | Not confirmed |
Personal insurance
| Fact | Santander UK | SBI Card |
|---|---|---|
| Premium from | £6 | Not confirmed |
| Insurance types | Auto, Home, Renters, Life, Travel, Landlord, Critical illness | Not confirmed |
| Provider type | Broker | Not confirmed |
| Monthly payments | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Excess from | £100 to £500 | Not confirmed |
| Cover limit | Contents sum insured up to GBP 50,000 (Classic), unlimited (Plus) | Not confirmed |
| Claims channels | Online, Phone | Not confirmed |
| Age range | 50 and over | Not confirmed |
Savings
| Fact | Santander UK | SBI Card |
|---|---|---|
| Headline rate | 2% | Not confirmed |
| Minimum deposit | £1 | Not confirmed |
| Deposit protection | FSCS up to GBP 85,000 | Not confirmed |
| Access terms | Instant, penalty-free access; withdrawals by website, Mobile and Online Banking, in branch or over the phone | Not confirmed |
| Monthly fee | £0 | Not confirmed |
| Account kind | Easy access | Not confirmed |
Mortgages
| Fact | Santander UK | SBI Card |
|---|---|---|
| Initial rate | 4.28% | Not confirmed |
| APRC | 6.2% | Not confirmed |
| Fixed period | 2 years | Not confirmed |
| Maximum loan to value | 95% | Not confirmed |
| Product fee | £999 | Not confirmed |
| Purpose | Purchase, Remortgage, First time buyer, Buy to let | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Santander UK | SBI Card | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| APR | 24.9%highest quarter | 45%highest quarter | 11.635% |
| Currency conversion fee | 2.95%highest quarter | Not confirmed | 1% |
| Balance transfer intro period | 12 monthsat the median | 2 monthslowest quarter | 12 months |
| Balance transfer fee | 0%lowest quarter | 2%below the median | 3% |
Median across 486 listed providers.
Pros and cons
Santander UK
Pros
- The easy-access saver pays 2% at a variable rate with instant, penalty-free access, and deposit protection is FSCS up to GBP 85,000.
- Personal loans of £1,000 to £25,000 over 12 to 60 carry an origination fee of 0 GBP, and early repayment is free.
- Regulated in the UK by the Financial Conduct Authority, with support on chat, phone and help centre.
Cons
- Currency conversion on the basic current account costs 2.95%, against 1% for a typical brand on the site.
- Credit card borrowing runs at 24.9%, well above the 15.5% typical across the site.
- Rewards on the everyday credit card are none.
SBI Card
Pros
- A balance transfer charges 2% and runs for 2 months, the one lower interest route on the card.
- Card type is credit, and the issuer has been issuing cards since 1998.
- Support runs on phone for anyone who wants to talk a balance down with the issuer.
Cons
- An APR of 45% makes any carried balance costly, and the annual fee of INR 499 ranks 223 out of 312.
- Support runs on phone only, so no written or online help route is listed.
- The credit bar is excellent, and only 5.6% of cards in the credit card comparison ask for as much.
Who each suits
Santander UK
Who it suits
- Households that want a current account paired with an easy-access saver.
- Borrowers consolidating debt or funding home improvement, given a good credit record and a hard credit check.
- Savers who want instant, penalty-free withdrawals by app, in branch or over the phone.
Who should look elsewhere
- Wise, for regular sending and converting abroad, where the conversion fee is 0.1%.
- bunq, whose plan is priced in euro with a monthly fee of €0, fits euro-based banking better.
- The Varo Believe Secured Credit Card, if a US dollar card with a monthly fee of $0 is the goal.
SBI Card
Who it suits
- Indian applicants with excellent credit who want to shift an existing card balance onto a lower interest option.
- Borrowers who plan to clear the moved balance inside the 2 month low interest window.
- Cardholders who would rather call phone than work through online self service.
Who should look elsewhere
- Wise and bunq, which show annual fees of £0 and €0, suit spending that carries no borrowing cost.
- Varo Believe Secured Credit Card, with an annual fee of $0, suits applicants building a credit record rather than moving a balance.
- bunq, with an annual fee of €0, suits anyone who wants a card without paying for a balance transfer option.
Current offers
Santander UK
Current offer
Bonus
Get 240 GBP for switching to Everyday Current Account: 240 GBP
Switch to Everyday Current Account
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Santander UK | SBI Card |
|---|---|---|
| India | No | Yes |
| United Kingdom | Yes | No |
Questions about each
Santander UK
What does the everyday current account cost?+
The monthly fee is £0, and the everyday credit card carries an annual fee of £0. The charge to watch is currency conversion at 2.95% on the basic current account, and help is available on chat, phone and help centre.
Is my money protected?+
Deposits are covered by FSCS up to GBP 85,000, and the bank is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the UK. Savings pay 2% at a variable rate with instant, penalty-free access.
SBI Card
What does SBI Card charge each year?+
The annual fee is INR 499, on a card that is a credit product rather than a charge card. Interest builds only if a balance is carried, so clearing the statement in full avoids the rate. The balance transfer route adds 2% on top, and that fee is the figure to weigh against the annual cost.
What is the APR on an SBI Card?+
The APR is 45%, which is high against the wider credit card set, where the card ranks 128 out of 138. Paying in full each month means the rate is never charged. Anyone planning to carry a balance should treat 45% as the true cost of this card.
Other options to compare
Other matchups
SBI Card
Santander UK