Charity Credit Cards

Charity credit cards are an excellent way of donating money to your favourite charity by simply using your card normally. Most offer the same features as standard credit cars in terms of competitive interest rates, and balance transfer and purchases offers. What makes them different is that every time the card is used, an additional donation is made to the charity of the cardholder’s choice – at no extra cost. Generally, users make a small donation to their chosen charity when opening the card.

Charity Cards		Balance Transfers	Purchases	APR Representative (Variable)
	Amnesty Standard Card	0^% 6 months 3% fee	0^% 6 months	18.9^%
Representative Example: The annual purchase rate is 18.9% p.a (variable) so if you spend £1200 your representative apr will be 18.9% p.a (variable)
	ActionAid Standard Card	0^% 6 months 3% fee	0^% 6 months	18.9^%
Representative Example: The annual purchase rate is 18.9% p.a (variable) so if you spend £1200 your representative apr will be 18.9% p.a (variable)
	Christian Aid Standard Card	0^% 6 months 3% fee	0^% 6 months	18.9^%
Representative Example: The annual purchase rate is 18.9% p.a (variable) so if you spend £1200 your representative apr will be 18.9% p.a (variable)
	Greenpeace Card	0^% 6 months 3% fee	0^% 6 months	18.9^%
Representative Example: The annual purchase rate is 18.9% p.a (variable) so if you spend £1200 your representative apr will be 18.9% p.a (variable)
	RSPB Standard Card	0^% 6 months 3% fee	0^% 6 months	18.9^%
Representative Example: The annual purchase rate is 18.9% p.a (variable) so if you spend £1200 your representative apr will be 18.9% p.a (variable)
	Save The Children Standard	0^% 6 months 3% fee	0^% 6 months	18.9^%
Representative Example: The annual purchase rate is 18.9% p.a (variable) so if you spend £1200 your representative apr will be 18.9% p.a (variable)
	WaterAid Standard Card	0^% 6 months 3% fee	0^% 6 months	18.9^%
Representative Example: The annual purchase rate is 18.9% p.a (variable) so if you spend £1200 your representative apr will be 18.9% p.a (variable)

A guide to Charity Credit Cards

Choose one of the numerous charity credit cards on the market and you’ll be donating to a good cause as you spend.

The ways to make your charity credit card really work is to shop around for the best rate and providers’ donations.”

Keeping up the good work

The perceived wisdom about charity credit cards is that even though the intentions of the product are good, the annual percentage rates are not always favourable and nor is the proportion of donation.

Nevertheless, using a charity card can be a consistent way to give money to your favourite cause, especially if you are always meaning to make a one-off donation but never get around to it.

Every little helps

Typically, the card provider will pay the charity a sum of money, anything from £5-£20 when you open the card and then an additional percentage of your spending. This ranges from around 0.25% or 0.4% of each purchase made or it can be a set figure such as 30p for each £100 you spend.

Some cards also pay the charity an additional £2 each year you continue to carry the card. So if you spend £400 a month and your provider paid 0.4% on this sum of money, your charity would receive £19.20 a year plus a possible £2 extra if you continue to use the card.

Look at donating in a different way

There are other ways to use different types of credit cards and still donate to charity. For instance if you use a cashback card that gives a good rate on your spending, when you receive it simply donate some, or all of it to your favourite charity. If you do it through Gift Aid your money will go even further, as Gift Aid treats donations as if the donor had already deducted basic rate tax from them. The charity can reclaim this tax to increase the value of a donation.

Ethical Credit

The way to make your charity credit card really work is to shop around for the best rate and most generous donation. You can then combine this with using another card such as a cashback card and make your own further contribution from the cash you receive and make real a difference.

Charity cards exist so why not use them. Continuous spending and small regular donations are better than no support at all.


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Charity Credit Cards

Charity Cards

Choose one of the numerous charity credit cards on the market and you’ll be donating to a good cause as you spend.

More from the CardSmart News Desk

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