• What: A credit card is a way for you to borrow money.
• How: You can use it to buy things up to an agreed limit, then pay later – either in one go, or bit by bit.

For more info, read our credit card guide.

You’ll find answers to these questions and more:

"Is it a good idea to get a credit card in the first place?", "What is a balance transfer, or credit scoring?", "Do I always pay interest on a credit card?", "What's the protection you get if you buy something with your Royal Bank of Scotland credit card?"

As well as credit cards, we offer:

Loans.

Overdrafts.

So, which is the best way for you to borrow?

Figure it out fast, with our borrowing needs tool: 

Check out our Borrowing Options Tool.

Our credit cards are Mastercard or Visa, so you can use them almost everywhere:

• Buy things online – wherever you see the Mastercard or Visa sign.
• Buy things in-store – it’s contactless, so just tap to pay.
• Take cash out of cash machines – you’ll be charged a fee to do so, though.

Want your card for abroad?

• You can use your card worldwide wherever you see the Mastercard or Visa sign.
• When you return home, your credit card statement will show what you bought and how much cash you took out – in local currency, plus the cost exchanged into pounds.
• Some of our credit cards charge a small percentage to cover the foreign exchange fee. 

APR stands for ‘Annual Percentage Rate’.

It’s an easy way for you to compare the cost of credit cards.

That’s because it gives you the full cost of borrowing, including:

• The yearly cost of borrowing (the interest you’d pay).
• Plus, any extra charges (like an annual fee).

It takes less than 10 minutes to check your eligibility and apply for one of our credit cards.

If we say ‘yes’, your card could wing its way to you in 5-7 working days.

To find out which credit card is right for you, why not check out our credit card guide?

It’s a quick read that tells you how credit cards work and the types we offer.

Yes, we often ask for ID to make sure we’re opening the right account for the right person.

To help you get your credit card faster, we work with Mitek, who check your ID in a safe, quick way.

Mitek could ask you for:

• Photo ID – like a driving licence, passport, or EU ID card.
• A short video or selfie – to compare with your photo ID.
• Proof of address – think a driving licence, utility bill, bank statement, or tax documents.

Find out more about Mitek

Yes. Pay back all the balance (debt) you owe on your card each month – and you could get up to 56 days’ interest-free credit.

That’s not all.

You could protect your purchases

Buy something on your card that costs from £100 and £30,000. And if it’s faulty or doesn’t turn up, you could get your money back thanks to section 75 protection.

To make a section 75 claim, you’ll need to:

• Contact our disputes team.
• Have proof that something’s gone wrong.

Want to learn more about section 75 and credit cards?

Check out our credit card guide