Sainsbury's Bank credit cards, including the Nectar Purchase Credit Card and balance transfer products, are no longer available to new applicants. This page explains what happened, what it means for existing cardholders, and where to find alternatives for earning Nectar points through a credit card.

The Sainsbury’s Purchase Credit Card is both a rewards and purchases credit card. But how do the rewards and the 0% purchases period compare? Read our review to find out.

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What happened to Sainsbury's Bank credit cards?

Sainsbury's Bank announced in January 2024 that it would stop providing most banking services to new customers, including credit cards, loans and savings accounts, as part of a strategic decision to focus on its retail businesses.

In June 2024, Sainsbury's Bank confirmed it had agreed to sell its credit card, loan and savings portfolios to NatWest. The transfer completed on 1 May 2025. The migration of over one million customers to NatWest was completed in November 2025, and Sainsbury's Bank plans to surrender its banking licence by July 2026.

Sainsbury's Bank no longer offers or manages credit cards or loans. All accounts that were not transferred to NatWest on 1 May 2025 have been closed. If you held a Sainsbury's Bank credit card and your account transferred to NatWest, you can contact NatWest directly on 0345 366 7005 for support. For accounts that did not transfer, Sainsbury's Bank has a dedicated support page at money.sainsburys.co.uk/accountsupport.

Other ways to earn Nectar points

Closing the Sainsbury's Bank credit card doesn't mean you have to stop earning Nectar points on your spending. There are several alternatives worth knowing about.

The Nectar loyalty programme itself

Nectar points can be earned at Sainsbury's, Argos, Habitat, eBay and a range of other partners without any credit card. Simply using your Nectar card or app at the till earns 1 point per £1 spent at Sainsbury's. Points can be redeemed for money off at Sainsbury's and partner brands, with each point worth 0.5p.

The American Express Nectar Credit Card

The most direct credit card replacement for Sainsbury's shoppers wanting to earn Nectar points on spending is the American Express Nectar Credit Card. It earns 2 Nectar points per £1 on all eligible spending (not just at Sainsbury's) with a welcome bonus of 20,000 Nectar points (worth £100) for new cardholders who spend £2,000 in the first three months. Note: the card carries a £30 annual fee, but this is waived in the first year.

Representative example: Based on an assumed credit limit of £1,200 at a purchase rate of 29.1% p.a. (variable) and an annual fee of £30 (waived in year one), the representative APR is 35.8% variable.

Note that American Express is not accepted everywhere, so it can be worth keeping a Visa or Mastercard as a backup for retailers that don't take Amex.

The NatWest Nectar Credit Card

NatWest also offers a Nectar credit card on the Visa network, making it more widely accepted than the Amex option. It earns 1 Nectar point for every £2 spent at Sainsbury's, Argos, Habitat and Tu Clothing, a lower earn rate than the Amex card, but with broader acceptance and no annual fee.

Representative example: Based on an assumed credit limit of £1,200 at a purchase rate of 24.9% p.a. (variable) with no annual fee, the representative APR is 24.9% variable.

Other grocery-linked cards

If earning points at Sainsbury's specifically is less important than general grocery rewards, Tesco Bank's Clubcard credit card earns Clubcard points on Tesco spending and elsewhere. The John Lewis Partnership Credit Card earns points at John Lewis and Waitrose. The Asda Money Credit Card earns cashback at Asda. Each suits different shopping habits. See our individual card reviews or our article on Grocery Credit Cards for current earn rates and terms.