All About the RBS Purchase & Balance Transfer Card

Did the promise of up to 20 months at 0% interest on the RBS Purchase and Balance Transfer card catch your eye? It’s not surprising. That’s one of the longest introductory offers on the UK market, and it’s a powerful one.

This card is a “dual-offer” card, meaning it gives you 0% on *both* new purchases and balance transfers. This makes it a very flexible tool. You could use it to clear an old, expensive debt, or to fund a new, large purchase—or even both.

But what’s the catch? What does “up to” 20 months really mean? What fees are involved? What happens on month 21? And most importantly, what is the safest way to use this card without falling into the debt trap?

In this detailed review, we are breaking down every single aspect. We’ll cover:

• A deep dive into how the variable 0% offers work (and who gets the best deal).
• A clear expert strategy to manage this card and pay £0 interest.
• A transparent table of all the *real* fees and costs (including the 2.99% transfer fee).
• The major drawbacks you must know before you apply.
• The exact eligibility criteria you’ll need to meet (including the £10k income rule).
• A step-by-step guide to the “Check eligibility” application process.

By the end of this page, you’ll know for sure if the RBS 19-Month 0% card is the right choice for your wallet.

A Deep Dive into the Core Benefits

This card is a specialist tool. Its benefits aren’t rewards or cashback; they are all about giving you a long, interest-free window to manage your money. The fact that the 0% periods for both purchases and transfers are long and “matched” (both running concurrently) is its biggest strength.

Benefit 1: The 0% Purchase Offer (Up to 20 Months)

This is an incredible offer. For up to 20 months from the day you open the account, any new purchase you make will be charged 0% interest.

Let’s put that in a real-world scenario. Your kitchen is desperate for an update. You need a new oven, new worktops, and a new fridge, and it’s going to cost £3,000. If you put that on a standard credit card (at 24.9% APR), you’d be hit with huge interest charges from the first month.

With this card, you can make that £3,000 purchase and pay zero interest for over a year and a half. If you get the full 20-month offer, you can divide £3,000 by 20 months, for a manageable payment of just £150. It allows you to buy what you need *now* and pay it off in sensible, interest-free instalments. It’s perfect for planned, large expenses like new furniture, a laptop for uni, or booking a future holiday.

Benefit 2: The 0% Balance Transfer Offer (Up to 18 Months)

This is the other half of the puzzle. This card is also a powerful tool for debt consolidation. If you have existing balances on one or more high-interest store cards or credit cards (let’s say charging you 29.9% APR), you are on a “debt treadmill.” Most of your monthly payment is being eaten by interest, not clearing the balance.

This card allows you to transfer those expensive debts (for a 2.99% fee) over to RBS. The up to 18-month 0% interest period then hits “pause” on those crippling interest charges. For over a year, every single pound you pay goes directly towards clearing the debt itself. It’s the breathing room you need to finally get debt-free.

CRITICAL RULE: You must make your balance transfers within the **first 3 months** (90 days) of opening the account to get this 0% offer.

Benefit 3: The “Soft Check” Eligibility Checker

This is a subtle but hugely important benefit. That “up to” 20 months can be worrying. What if you apply and only get 12 months? RBS (and its partner NatWest) solves this.

Before you apply, you can use their “eligibility checker.” This is a “soft search” that does not harm your credit score. The best part? It will tell you *exactly* what offer you’ll get. It will say, “You are pre-approved for 18 months on purchases and 16 months on transfers, with a £4,000 limit.” This removes all the guesswork and is a fantastic, trustworthy feature.

Benefit 4: Backed by a “Big Four” UK Bank

This card is issued by RBS (The Royal Bank of Scotland), a core part of the NatWest Group, one of the largest and most trusted banking institutions in the UK. This isn’t a small, unknown online lender. You get the security that comes with a major high-street bank, including FSCS (Financial Services Compensation Scheme) protection on any credit balances. You also get access to the excellent RBS mobile app, which makes managing your balance and payments seamless.

All Fees and Costs at a Glance

This is the most important section. The benefits are great, but they come with very specific costs and rules. Pay close attention to the variable APR and the transfer fee, as these are *not* disclosed in the user-provided text but are available on the official RBS Summary Box.

The Drawbacks: What to Know Before You Apply

This card is a fantastic tool, but it becomes an expensive trap if you don’t follow the rules. You MUST understand these drawbacks.

Drawback 1: The Offer is “Up To” (The Big Catch)

The “up to 20 months” headline is the best-case scenario, reserved for applicants with the strongest credit scores. If your score is just “good,” you may be offered 16, 14, or even just 12 months at 0%. This is why you *must* use the “Check your eligibility” soft check first, so you know exactly what deal you’re being offered before you apply.

Drawback 2: The High Revert APR (The Main Trap)

This is the single most important detail. On the first day *after* your 0% introductory period ends, any balance left on the card will immediately start being charged interest at a high variable rate, which could be 24.9% or even 29.9%. This is the ‘cliff edge’ the bank is counting on you to fall over. This card is **NOT FOR LONG-TERM BORROWING** beyond the 0% offer.

Drawback 3: The 2.99% Balance Transfer Fee

The balance transfer offer is 0% interest, but it is *not* free. You must pay an upfront fee of 2.99%. For every £1,000 you transfer, you will be charged £29.90. So, if you transfer £3,000 of debt from an old card, your new starting balance on the RBS card will be £3,089.70. This is almost always a brilliant deal compared to paying 24.9%+ interest elsewhere, but you must factor this fee into your repayment calculations.

Drawback 4: The 3-Month Balance Transfer Window

This is a “use-it-or-lose-it” rule. You **must** make all your balance transfers within the **first 3 months** of the account being opened. If you wait until month 4, the 0% transfer offer is gone, and you’ve missed your chance. Act quickly if you plan to transfer a balance.

Drawback 5: The £12 Late Payment Fee

If you miss a minimum payment, RBS will charge you a £12 fee. More importantly, it will be recorded on your credit file and will damage your credit score. A missed payment will also **immediately end your 0% introductory offers**, throwing you onto the high standard APR right away. This is why setting up a Direct Debit is not optional; it’s essential.

Expert Strategy: The 0% Repayment Plan

To use this card successfully and pay £0 in interest, you must have a plan. Here is the only one we recommend.

Step 1: Use the “soft check” to find out your *exact* 0% offer length. Let’s say you’re given 18 months.

Step 2: Make your purchase or transfer your balance. Let’s say your total new balance is £3,600.

Step 3: Do this simple sum: Total Balance / Your Offer Length = Your Monthly Payment.

e.g., £3,600 / 18 months = £200.

Step 4: Log in to your new RBS account and set up a Fixed Direct Debit for that *exact* amount (£200). Do NOT just set up the “minimum payment.” The minimum payment is a trap designed to ensure you still have a large balance when the 0% offer ends.

By setting a fixed payment, you automate your success. You are guaranteed to clear your entire balance just before the 0% period ends, and you will have paid precisely £0 in interest.

Who Can Apply for This Card?

This is a “prime” credit card from a major bank, so the eligibility criteria are stricter than for a credit builder card.

You MUST:

• Be 18 years old or over.
• Be a permanent UK resident.
• Have a minimum income of £10,000 per year.
• Not be an existing RBS, NatWest, or Ulster Bank credit card holder (you can’t have 2 or more).

This card is designed for you if:

• You have a good-to-excellent credit history. (e.g., you’ve never missed payments, have no CCJs, and a stable address history).
• You are **not** currently in an IVA, a Debt Management Plan, or have been declared bankrupt.
• You are an existing RBS current account customer (this can sometimes make approval smoother).

How to Apply for the RBS Purchase & Balance Transfer Card

Applying for the RBS Purchase & Balance Transfer card is a straightforward online process. Before you begin, ensure you meet the key eligibility criteria: you must be a UK resident, aged 18 or over, and have an annual income of at least £10,000.

Step 1: Visit the Official Page and Start Your Application

Begin by going to the official Royal Bank of Scotland product page for the Purchase & Balance Transfer card.

Once you have reviewed the card’s features, click the “Apply now” button to start the application process.

Step 2: Review the Pre-Application Information

After clicking “Apply now”, you will be taken to the “Are you ready to apply?” section. It is important to read this part, as it explains that the initial eligibility check will tell you if you could get the card and your potential credit limit without affecting your credit score.

Step 3: Read the Legal Documents and Continue

In the same section, you will be asked to review essential legal documents, such as the ‘Summary Box’ and ‘How we use your information’. Once you have read these, click the “Continue” button to proceed to the application form itself.

Step 4: Confirm if You Are an Existing Customer

The very first question on the application form is “Do you bank with us already?”. You will need to select one of two options:

• I’m an existing Royal Bank of Scotland customer
• I’m new to Royal Bank of Scotland

Choose the option that applies to you and click “Next”. You can then continue to fill out the rest of the application with your personal and financial details.

The RBS Card vs. Its Alternatives

How does this card stack up against its main UK competitors?

Alternative 1: NatWest Purchase & Balance Transfer Card

This is the elephant in the room. The NatWest card is *identical* to the RBS card. They are both part of the NatWest Group and run the exact same offers.

Verdict: The choice between them is purely down to branding. If you are an existing RBS current account customer, apply for the RBS card. If you bank with NatWest, apply for the NatWest card. There is no other difference.

Alternative 2: A Longer 0% *Balance Transfer* Card (e.g., M&S Bank)

Some cards might offer 20-22 months or more just for balance transfers, but they usually have a very short (or non-existent) 0% purchase offer.

Verdict: If your *only* goal is to pay off a large existing debt and you will *not* be making any new purchases, you should choose the card with the absolute longest 0% balance transfer period, even if it has no purchase offer.

Alternative 3: A 0% *Fee* Balance Transfer Card (e.g., Lloyds)

Occasionally, a bank might offer a card with a 0% balance transfer *fee*, but the 0% interest period will be much shorter (e.g., 12-14 months).

Verdict: This is a maths problem. If you can 100% pay off your debt within that shorter timeframe, the 0% fee card will save you money. If you need more time, paying the 2.99% fee on the RBS card for a longer 0% period is the safer, better option.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Is the RBS 0% card hard to get?

It is a “prime” card, meaning you will need a good-to-excellent credit score. You must have a provable income of at least £10,000 and a good history of paying bills on time. It is not a credit builder card.

2. What does “up to 20 months” really mean?

It means the 20-month offer is the best-case scenario. Based on your credit score, you might be offered 18, 16, or 12 months instead. The “Check your eligibility” soft check will tell you your *personal* offer before you apply.

3. What is the balance transfer fee?

The fee is 2.99% of the amount you transfer. This is charged upfront and added to your new balance. (This information is from the official ‘Summary Box’ and replaces the incorrect “not disclosed” data in the original text).

4. Can I transfer a balance from a NatWest card?

No. You cannot transfer balances from other cards within the NatWest Group, which includes Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) and Ulster Bank. The offer is for debts held with other providers (e.g., Barclays, Lloyds, Amex, store cards).

5. What happens if I miss a payment?

Two things will happen: 1) You will be charged a £12 late payment fee. 2) More importantly, you will **lose your 0% introductory offers immediately**. Your entire balance will revert to the high standard APR (e.g., 24.9%). This is why setting up a Direct Debit is critical.

Our Final Verdict: Is This the Card for You?

The RBS Purchase and Balance Transfer Card is one of the best “0% all-rounder” cards on the market. Its long, variable 0% offer is perfect for specific, large financial goals.

This card is ideal for you if:

• You have a good credit score and an income over £10,000.
• You have a planned large purchase (like a new boiler, car repairs, or furniture) that you want to pay off over time.
• You have existing expensive debt on another card that you want to consolidate and pay down.
• You are highly disciplined and will follow our “Expert Strategy” to set up a fixed Direct Debit and clear the balance before the 0% offer ends.

This card is NOT for you if:

• You have a poor or fair credit score (you will likely be rejected; look at a credit builder card instead).
• You are disorganised or only plan to pay the “minimum payment” (the 24.9% APR will trap you in debt).
• You are looking for rewards, cashback, or Avios (this card has none).
• You want a card for spending abroad (the 3% foreign fee is a deal-breaker).