Applying for a second credit card
If your borrowing needs have changed recently, a second credit card could help.
A second credit card could be one way:
- To secure the flexibility to make planned purchases.
- To keep other balances and everyday spending separate.
- To transfer balances from other credit card providers.
- To transfer money to your UK current account. Available on selected cards only.
If you have two credit cards with the same lender, you may be able to redistribute your credit limits so you can take full advantage of the lowest and longest lasting interests rates.
Other ways to borrow
Ready to apply for a second credit card?
Types of credit card offered by Lloyds Bank
Frequently asked questions about second credit cards
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The lowest and longest lasting introductory interest rates are usually offered on one primary transaction type, so think about the main reason you need a second credit card.
Card purchases – if you’re planning a larger purchase and need to spread the cost over a number of months, a second credit card could offer that flexibility.
Or, if you’ve got a balance on your existing credit card that you’re focussed on paying off, a second credit card could help you to manage your everyday spending separately.
Just bear in mind, unless a 0% p.a. promotional rate for purchases applies, to avoid paying interest on purchases you need to pay off your monthly statement balance in full every month.
Balance transfers – with a second credit card, you could consolidate credit card balances you hold elsewhere, making your outgoings easier to keep track of. Transfer fees may apply.
At Lloyds Bank, you can transfer balances from most credit cards and store cards which display the Mastercard®, American Express®, or Visa® logos, but not from loan companies, bank accounts or other Lloyds Bank credit cards.
Money transfers – with selected credit cards you can transfer funds to your UK current account, helping you to manage cash-only purchases and unexpected expenses. Transfer fees may apply. Just bear in mind, if you make a purchase using money transferred from your credit card to your current account, the purchase will not be protected under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 – unlike some credit card purchases.
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There are conditions to applying for a second credit card with Lloyds Bank, as detailed earlier in this page. For instance, it must be at least 60 days since you applied for your first credit card with us.
Otherwise, as with any credit application, you’ll be accepted subject to an assessment of your personal circumstances. This is based on a number of factors, including:
Your credit record – credit reference agencies securely hold information about you and your financial past, issuing you a credit score. We use this information to inform our lending decisions.
Affordability – we’ll assess what we think you can reasonably and sustainably afford to repay, based on things like your income and the total amount of credit that’s already available to you.
Current and past relationships – we also hold a record of accounts you’ve held with Lloyds Bank, including information about how well they were managed.
You can find and compare the Lloyds Bank credit cards you’re eligible to apply for, without affecting your credit score, by using One Check. Simply fill in a short form to get started.
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Applying for a second credit card could affect your credit score in a few ways:
- Any full application for credit will be recorded on your file at the Credit Reference Agencies.
- If your application is approved, the total amount of credit available to you will increase, which may limit further credit applications being approved, at least in the short term.
- If your application is declined, it could affect your credit score negatively.
The way you manage your borrowing is also important. For instance, if you don’t make payments on time or go over your credit limit, in addition to fees, charges and the possibility of losing any promotional interest rates, your credit score could also be affected.
Before you apply for a second credit card, consider if this is the right borrowing option for you and if you’ll be able to make repayments, even if your circumstances change.
If you’re concerned about protecting your credit score, you might prefer to make changes to your existing credit card, rather than applying for a second credit card. There’s more detail about that in the next section below.
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You could make some changes to your existing credit card, so it suits your needs better:
- Increase your credit limit for added flexibility, without applying for a new card, subject to status and security checks.
- Check for promotional interest rates on your existing credit card. We may contact you by email or post when new rates are available, but you may also see offers advertised when you log on to Internet Banking or the Mobile Banking app.
- Add additional cardholders, so you can keep track of family spending in one place. Just be aware, cardholders must be aged 18 or over, and you’ll be responsible for all spending and repayments.
Alternatively, you may be able to swap your existing Lloyds Bank credit card to take advantage of new interest rates.
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Yes. Once you’ve got 2 Lloyds Bank credit cards, you can request to redistribute your credit limits between them. For example, if there’s a promotional interest rate on one card, you could move a portion of your available credit from your other card, so you can take full advantage.
You can redistribute your credit limit once every 6 months, moving a minimum of £100 and up to 90% of your available credit limit. Any single card must have a credit limit of at least £500.
Your outstanding balance remains the same, and this won’t increase your combined credit limit. It’s simply a way to split your credit limit to better suit your needs.
If you’d like to redistribute your credit limit, please call us on 0345 606 2172. Speak to an adviser 7am-11pm, 7 days a week.
Where next?
Important legal information
Lloyds Bank plc. Registered office: 25 Gresham Street, London EC2V 7HN. Registered in England and Wales No. 2065. Lloyds Bank plc is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority under registration number 119278.
We may monitor or record telephone calls to check out your instructions correctly and to help us improve the quality of our service. Calls from abroad are charged according to the telephone service provider’s published tariff. Not all Telephone Banking services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Please speak to an adviser for more information.