Credit Builder Credit Card
This one's designed to build your credit score
Build your credit rating
by paying on time and staying within your limit.
£250 – £2,500
personalised credit limit.
Credit Builder Card Provider of the Year
Moneyfacts Awards 2023, 2024 and 2025
Representative
37.9% APR
(variable)
Your APR and credit limit may vary based on your circumstances.
Am I eligible for a Vanquis Credit Card?
You can apply if you’re 18 years old or over, have a regular income and are a permanent UK resident.
You’re not eligible if you are currently bankrupt, have an active Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA), have a card or open application with us or we’ve declined you in the last 6 months.
To check your eligibility, you’ll need your address details for the last 3 years, your bank details, your annual income and your monthly outgoings.
Benefits of the Vanquis Credit Builder Credit Card
Our Credit Builder Credit Card comes with a range of useful features, including:
A credit limit to suit you
If you’re likely to be accepted after our initial eligibility check, you’ll be given a credit limit that’s both suitable and manageable. And if you manage your account well, we may be able to increase it over time.
We check whether you're eligible for a credit limit increase regularly, so you may be offered one if you’re consistently making your monthly repayments.
No annual fee
With a Vanquis Credit Card, you don’t pay any annual sign-up fees. You only pay transaction fees for withdrawing cash, balance transfers and using your card in a foreign currency.
Improve your chances of getting lower interest rates
By making your minimum repayments on time, and staying within your credit limit, you’ll show lenders you can manage your credit responsibly. If you’re able to pay off your balance in full each month, even better.
Over time, this can improve your credit file, which may help you qualify for a wider range of credit cards. This includes those with lower interest rates, as lenders may see you as a more reliable borrower.
Manage your money with the Vanquis app
Using our app is the quick and easy way to check your balance, make payments and track your account in real time.
- View your PIN and card details
- Verify online purchases in seconds
- Make payments and set up automatic payments
- Check all your transactions
- See up to 12 months of statements
- Report your card lost or stolen instantly
- Update your address and contact details with ease
Who are Credit Builder Credit Cards for?
The Vanquis Credit Builder Credit Card is ideal for those looking to improve their credit score and build a strong credit history.
Whether you’ve come through a rocky financial patch and want to get things moving in the right direction, or you’re just starting out on your credit journey, our Credit Builder card is here to help. It’s designed to give you access to credit and support you in building or repairing your score.
How can I get a Credit Builder card?
To get a Vanquis Credit Builder Credit Card, you need to start by checking if you’re eligible.
When you apply, we’ll run you through our eligibility checker. This gives you a rough idea of the credit limit, interest rate and minimum monthly repayment you can expect if you’re eligible.
If you decide to go ahead with the full application (which includes a hard credit search) and are accepted, you’ll receive your new credit card and PIN in the post.
When you get your card, don’t forget to download our app, so you’re ready to begin your journey to better credit.
Using your new Vanquis Credit Builder Credit Card
Using your new card is nice and simple. But to get the most out of it, a few of things are worth remembering.
Make your payments on time – Late or missed payments could damage your overall credit file.
Don’t worry though, setting up an automatic payment instruction like a Direct Debit or standing order can help make sure you never miss a payment.
Why not use the Vanquis app to keep on top of your payments?
Pay more than the minimum amount – If you can afford to, it’s a good idea to pay more than just the minimum amount on your balance each month.
The more you can repay each month, the less you’ll need to pay in interest.
It can also help to pay off the full statement balance each month if this is affordable.
Charges for withdrawing cash or using your card abroad – Our Credit Builder cards aren’t designed for cash withdrawals. Doing so means you’re likely to be charged an extra fee. Extra charges may also apply when using your card abroad.
How does a Credit Builder Credit Card work?
Our Credit Builder cards are designed to help people improve their credit score or build it up from scratch.
They usually come with a lower credit limit and a higher interest rate, which means you might pay more interest on outstanding balances. But if used responsibly, these cards can help improve your credit score over time.
Why is building my credit score important?
Your credit score is one of the main things banks look at to decide how reliable you are when it comes to making repayments.
Having a good credit score can really help when you’re applying for bigger loans like a mortgage or car finance. And it can also make it easier to get things like phone contracts approved.
A high credit score can open up a lot of opportunities, like higher credit limits for bigger purchases and better financing options for car leases or phone plans. It can also help you get a lower APR on future credit cards and loans.
Why choose Vanquis?
We're the bank that's got your back.
We lend to a much wider range of customers than the high street banks.
Our eligibility checks give you confidence you’ll only be accepted for a credit card if you can afford the repayments and the APR is right for you.
All our credit cards are easy to apply for and simple to manage through our app.
We've helped over 5 million people and we're ready to help you.
Check out our Trustpilot reviews to read what our customers say. Why not join them and apply online today?
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get accepted if I’ve had bad credit before?
You could be accepted if you’ve had bad credit before but improved it over time.
If you currently have poor credit, you may still be accepted for a credit card. But the range of credit cards on offer is likely to be limited. And this could mean higher interest rates and lower credit limits.
What happens if I’m rejected for a Credit Builder card?
If you’re rejected for a Vanquis Credit Builder Credit Card, don’t worry. There are things you can do to repair your credit score.
You could sign up for a free credit-checking service, like Experian, or consider taking an eligibility check with another lender before you apply.
You could also try Snoop, the money-saving app from Vanquis. It’s designed to help you take control of your finances, improve your monthly budgeting, save for the future and make the most of your money. Snoop is free to download and use.
Why does my credit record matter?
Credit reference agencies use your credit history and other factors to work out your credit score. This helps them understand how well you manage your money and if you can afford to repay what you owe.
Having bad credit or no credit history can make it harder to get approved for things like credit cards, mortgages or other services that involve a credit check, like phone contracts or broadband.
Unfortunately, many lenders turn down applications with little or bad credit history. But we might be able to help you – check your eligibility today.
How do I repay my Credit Builder Credit Card?
When you’ve spent money on your Vanquis Credit Builder Credit Card, you can simply transfer the money from a debit or savings account to the value of your minimum payment (or however much of the debt you want to repay at the time).
To make sure you never miss your minimum payment, you can set up a Direct Debit that will take your minimum payment each month on the day it’s due. This can also be set up to take your full balance, a fixed amount or a percentage of what you owe.
Find out more in our guide on ways to pay.
How long does it take to improve your credit score?
If you have no credit history and are looking to build a good track record of credit, it can take up to six months to move to a reasonable score. It can potentially take longer to achieve a good or excellent score.
Good financial practice over time – like promptly repaying credit, meeting at least your minimum repayment and not going over your credit limit – can help you improve your credit score faster.