Note, Sainsbury's is no longer offering credit cards to new customers. However, existing customers can continue to use their cards. This article is being left up for historical purposes. If you want to earn Nectar points on credit card spending, consider the Amex Nectar card.

Sainsbury's Bank has changed their offering of personal credit cards quite a bit. They used to offer a special Nectar card with the ability to earn extra Nectar points, as well as cards with longer 0% purchase periods. More recently, however, they only have balance transfer cards available. While these cards typically have a 0% period for purchases as well, it's limited to a 3-month period.

Where the current set of cards tends to differ is in months of 0% interest on balance transfers and the balance transfer fee that is charged when you move the balance over to the card.

Choosing the right card for you will depend on your individual needs. With a Sainsbury's credit card, you earn extra Nectar points when you make purchases. You can earn up to 3 Nectar points for every £2 you spend at Sainsbury’s, Argos, Habitat and Tu Clothing (and 1 Nectar point for every £5 you spend elsewhere). Note, you don't earn extra Nectar points when you transfer a balance, only on purchases.

Sainsbury's Credit Cards

In analyzing Sainsbury's credit cards, we considered how features like 0% periods on purchases and balance transfers and balance transfer fees compare to other offers in the market.

Longest 0% for Balance Transfers: Sainsbury's 28 Month Balance Transfer Credit Card

While the market changes regularly, the Sainsbury's longest balance transfer offer supplies a longer-than-average interest-free balance transfer period: up to 28 months. Cardholders therefore have up to 28 months (it may be shorter, depending on the offer you're given) to spread the repayment of your existing credit card debt without incurring any interest charges - so long as minimum payments are made on time. There's also a 0% period on purchases for 3 months. In addition to the interest-free periods, cardholders can earn additional rewards on their Sainsbury's shopping and fuel, through extra Nectar points. You will earn Nectar points on other spending, too, but those rewards are only about 0.1%.

For the longer 0% period on balance transfers, you'll have to pay a higher balance transfer fee of 3.24% or 4.24%.

####Summary

• 0% interest on purchases for 3 months

• Earn 3 Nectar points for every £1 spent at Sainsbury’s

• Earn 1 Nectar point for every £5 spent outside Sainsbury’s

• 0% interest on balance transfers for up to 28 months (3.24% or 4.24% balance transfer fee, min £3)

Balance Transfers: Sainsbury's Lower Balance Transfer Fee Credit Card

The Sainsbury's Lower Balance Transfer Fee card acts as a rewards card as well as a balance transfer card, charging no interest (0%) on initial transferred balances for up to 24 months (the interest-free period could be shorter, however). On this card, the initial balance transfer fee is either 1.98% or 2.98%. While you don't earn rewards on transferred balances, you will earn Nectar points on new purchases with the card. Nectar points are accumulated at a rate of 2 points per £1 spent on Sainsbury's shopping and fuel, and 1 point for every £5 spent elsewhere. This leads to a rewards rate of 1% on your Sainsbury's shopping and fuel purchases, but only 0.1% elsewhere. There is a 3-month interest-free period on purchases with this card.

• 1.98% or 2.98% balance transfer fee

• 0% on balance transfers for up to 24 months

• Offer good for balances transferred within first three months

• Earn 1 Nectar point for every £2 spent at Sainsbury’s, Argos, Habitat and Tu Clothing

• Earn 1 Nectar point for every £5 spent elsewhere

Lowest Transfer Fee for Balance Transfers

This card provides a shorter 0% interest period for balance transfers for 3 months. The initial fee to transfer a balance is 1% or 2%. As with all introductory 0% periods, be sure to pay at least the minimum monthly amount to keep the zero percent interest rate, or else your rate will jump up to a representative for 23.9% APR.

####Summary

• Initial 1% or 2% balance transfer fee (then 3%), minimum £3

• 0% on balance transfers for up to 20 months

• 0% on purchases for 3 months

• Offer good for balances transferred within first three months

• Earn 3 Nectar points for every £1 spent at Sainsbury’s

• Earn 1 Nectar point for every £5 spent outside Sainsbury’s

Summary of Sainsbury's Bank Credit Cards

ClearScore is a credit broker, not a lender