The Halifax Clarity Credit Card is one of the best travel credit cards for use while abroad. As it charges no fx fees, it is suitable non-Sterling purchases made abroad. However there are reasons you shouldn't necessarily use it for cash withdrawals, despite the lack of fees. Read our review to find out more.

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Halifax Clarity Credit Card Review

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The Halifax Clarity Credit Card can be a great credit card for travel use, charging no fees for non-Sterling cash withdrawals and transactions made abroad. But should you use it to get cash from an ATM? Not necessarily, because cash withdrawals start accruing interest IMMEDIATELY. That's the case with most credit cards in the UK.

While it's generally good to avoid withdrawing cash on a credit card due to interest charges, the good news is that the Halifax Clarity charges relatively low interest rates on cash withdrawals for any unavoidable withdrawals. The Halifax Clarity card charges the same rate for cash withdrawals as it does for purchases: 23.9% APR, variable. Just try to pay back any withdrawals ASAP since there's no interest-free grace period.

Note: While Halifax doesn't charge fees to use their card at an ATM, you might still be charged fees. Some ATM providers charge to use their machines. You should be alerted to any such charge on the ATM screen before you proceed with an ATM withdrawal.

Can I use the Halifax Clarity for balance transfers?

The Halifax Clarity Credit Card is open to balance transfers but the fees are higher than you can find in the UK balance transfer market. You are likely to find a lower fee on another balance transfer card, if that's important to you.

Bottom Line: The Halifax Clarity Credit Card is a travel card for both cash withdrawals and purchases made abroad, with a lower-than-average cash APR. Since there is no grace period on cash withdrawals (i.e., interest charges start accruing immediately), pay off your full balance as soon as possible to limit interest charges.

Halifax Clarity Benefits & Features

Why You Should Pay Back Cash Withdrawals ASAP

When it comes to credit card interest charges, cash withdrawals are typically treated differently than purchases. While purchases are given a grace period (e.g., there's no interest charge if you pay off your full every month), cash withdrawals accumulate interest from the day you withdraw the cash until the day you pay off the cash balance.

How much interest will you pay on a cash withdrawal? We've calculated sample interest charges on cash withdrawals of £100, £500 and £1,000, when you pay 30 and 60 days after the original withdrawal (assuming an 23.9% APR).

Pay in Local Currency or Pounds When Abroad?

As with all travel transactions, we recommend paying for purchases in the local currency. You’ll almost always get a better exchange rate if the credit card does the conversion, as opposed to the shop where you’re making a purchase. If you elect to "pay in pounds" when abroad, then you're leaving the currency conversion to the local retailer and there are no guarantees as to the rate you'll receive.

As a result, it's advisable to pay in local currency. The Halifax card is a Mastercard, which is known to give consumers some of the best exchange rates.

How does the Halifax Clarity Credit Card Compare to Other Credit Cards?

In order to decide if the Halifax Clarity is for you, it’s best to compare it against some of its closest competitors.

Halifax Clarity Credit Card vs Barclaycard Rewards Credit Card

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The Barclaycard Rewards Credit Card charges no fees on non-sterling cash withdrawals or transactions, making it an ideal travel card. The only aspect of the card to be aware of is that, like most credit cards, interest on cash ATM withdrawals starts accruing immediately. By getting online and paying back your cash withdrawals ASAP (even while you're still abroad), you can mitigate this potential cost. One added bonus of this card is that cardholders earn 0.25% cashback on all of their purchases.

Quick Takeaway: The Barclaycard Rewards has a higher interest rate than the Halifax Clarity card; with the Barclaycard Rewards card you might get up to 56 days interest free on non-sterling cash withdrawals, too. Plus the Barclaycard pays 0.25% cash back on purchases - not huge rewards, but who doesn't like to get some cash back? Both are good for transactions like paying at restaurants, bars, hotels and shops abroad as they don't charge foreign transaction fees.