Updated October 14, 2026 · SumCue Editorial Team
Santander UK vs Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card
Santander UK
Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card
Higher score in this comparison
Santander UK vs Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card: the differences
| Compare | Santander UKReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit CardReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Currency conversion fee | 2.95% | 0%Lower |
Same on both: Monthly fee (£0), Card type (Debit).
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
- Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card scores higher overall: 9.3 vs 9.2.
- Currency conversion fee is lower at Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card: 0% vs 2.95%.
- Features: only Santander UK offers Same day funding.
- Features: only Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card offers Rewards.
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.
Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card
The UK Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card has no annual card fee and earns 0.75 Virgin Points per £1 on everyday purchases. The card page says monthly points are capped based on the credit limit and that the Virgin Money Credit Card app is needed to manage the card. Credit is available only to UK...
Score breakdown
| Area | Santander UK | Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit 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. | 9.2Higher |
| Offer | 9.4 | 9.4 |
| Trust | 9.4 | Not confirmed |
Cost in a real example
A year with 1,000 spent abroad
Santander UK
£29.50
12 × £0 + 2.95% of 1,000
Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card
£0
12 × £0 + 0% of 1,000
Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card costs £29.50 less.
Worked out from the stated prices and rates; your own total depends on how you use it. Facts checked September 26, 2026.
How they place
| Ranking | Santander UK | Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card |
|---|---|---|
| Credit and debit cards | 348 of 1594 | 271 of 1594 |
| Credit cards | 111 of 421 | 91 of 421 |
| Debit cards | 218 of 826 | 168 of 826 |
| Balance transfer cards | 12 of 32 | 7 of 32 |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | Santander UK | Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Financial Conduct Authority 106054 |
Available in 1 country for both.
What we checked
Santander UK
- santander.co.uk: 8 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card
- uk.virginmoney.com: 7 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Santander UK | Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Same day funding | Rewards |
| Audience | Seniors | Not confirmed |
| Legal entity | Santander UK plc | Nationwide Building Society (trading as Virgin Money) |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | United Kingdom |
| Founded | 1988 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Chat, Phone, Help centre | Chat, Help centre, Phone |
Loans
| Fact | Santander UK | Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card |
|---|---|---|
| APR | 24.9%Lower | 27.9% |
| 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 |
| Pricing model | No annual fee | 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 |
| Credit needed | Good | Not confirmed |
| Use cases | Home improvement | Not confirmed |
Credit cards
| Fact | Santander UK | Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | £0 | Not confirmed |
| Rewards type | None | Cashback |
| Balance transfer intro period | 12 months | 21 monthsHigher |
| Balance transfer fee | 0%Lower | 2.95% |
| Perks | Not confirmed | 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 |
| Card kind | Credit | Credit |
Personal insurance
| Fact | Santander UK | Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit 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 | Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit 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 |
| Account kind | Easy access | Not confirmed |
Mortgages
| Fact | Santander UK | Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit 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 | Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee | £0at the median | £0at the median | £0 |
| Currency conversion fee | 2.95%highest quarter | 0%below the median | 1% |
Median across 336 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.
Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card
Pros
- The Reward card page lists no annual card fee and an everyday earning rate of 0.75 Virgin Points per £1.
- The page explains that monthly points are capped based on the credit limit, making that limit relevant when considering potential points earned.
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.
Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card
Who it suits
- UK residents aged 18 or over who meet the subject-to-status condition, value Virgin Points and are or can become Virgin Atlantic Flying Club members.
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
Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card
Current offer
Bonus
0% interest for up to 21 months on balance transfers and purchases on the all round credit card: 0% for up to 21 months, 2.95% balance transfer fee
Promotional offer varies based on your circumstances and starts from account opening date; applies to transfers made in the first 60 days. Credit is available, subject to status, only to UK residents aged 18 or over.
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Bonus
Get 0% interest on balance transfers for up to 36 months on the balance transfer credit card: 0% for up to 36 months, fee per transfer
Promotional offer varies based on your circumstances and starts from account opening date. Applies to transfers made in the first 60 days. Fees and terms apply.
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Bonus
Virgin Money Cashback from selected top retailers on the Everyday Cashback Credit Card: up to 12% additional cashback
Register in the Virgin Money Credit Card app. Terms apply. Cashback credited monthly; does not count towards your monthly minimum payment.
Source, checked September 26, 2026
First period offer
Everyday Cashback introductory rate: 1% cashback for the first 90 days, then 0.25%, up to £15 a month
90 days starts from when the account opens; cashback deducted from your card balance monthly. Other fees may apply.
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Santander UK | Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Yes | Yes |
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.
Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card
Who can apply for the Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card?+
The card page says credit is available subject to status only to UK residents aged 18 or over.
Do cardholders need membership to benefit from points?+
Yes. The page says a Virgin Atlantic Flying Club membership is needed to benefit from points earned.
Other options to compare
Other matchups
Santander UK
Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card