Santander business credit cards: features, cashback and alternatives
Published on: 1st August 2026
Santander offers one business credit card, the Business Cashback Credit Card. It pays 1% cashback on business spend, carries a £30 annual fee, and is only available to businesses that already hold a Santander Business Current Account. In this guide, we cover how the card works, who can apply, what it costs, and how it compares with the Funding Circle Cashback business credit card.
All Santander product details below are taken from Santander's own website and were correct as of 21/07/26. Rates, fees and terms can change and vary by circumstances, so it's worth confirming the latest details directly with Santander before applying.
What does Santander offer for businesses?
Santander is one of the UK's largest high street banks, offering current accounts, savings, lending and card payment services to businesses. Its business credit card range is straightforward: there's a single card available, aimed at smaller businesses that bank with Santander.
The Santander Business Cashback credit card
The Business Cashback Credit Card is Santander's only credit card for business customers.
It's a cashback card issued on the Mastercard network, with credit limits between £500 and £25,000 (subject to status). To apply, your business needs to hold a Santander Business Current Account, which is the card's most significant eligibility condition.
Key features of the Santander Business Cashback Credit Card
Cashback structure
The card pays 1% cashback on all business spend, with no cap (T&Cs apply). Cashback is calculated monthly, credited to your Business Cashback Credit Card account, and appears on your monthly statement. There's no separate rewards account to manage or points to convert, which can keep things simpler for bookkeeping.
As with any rewards product, the terms behind the headline rate can change, so check the current cashback terms and conditions with Santander before you apply.
Eligibility
Santander sets out the following requirements for applicants:
You're an existing Santander Business Current Account holder
Your business is based and registered in the UK
You're a sole trader, partnership, limited liability partnership or private limited company with no more than 2 partners or directors, who own the business entirely
You and any other partners, members, directors or shareholders are aged 18 or over and UK residents
You have a good credit history, haven't been declared bankrupt, and neither the business nor its owners have had an Individual Voluntary Arrangement in the last 6 years
That means if you bank elsewhere and don't plan to switch, the card isn't available to you. In addition businesses with more than 2 directors or partners can't apply, regardless of where they bank.
A full credit check is made on application. If your business is a limited company or LLP, all directors or members will need to provide a personal guarantee before the card is made available.
Fees and interest-free period
The card has a £30 annual fee, charged per business rather than per card, and added to your account as soon as you activate the card. It's charged each year even if you don't use the card. Additional cards come at no extra cost, up to a maximum of 4 cards per business.
You get up to 56 days interest-free on purchases when you pay your bill in full and on time each month. This is a grace period tied to clearing your balance, not a promotional 0% offer, so interest applies to any balance you carry over. The purchase rate is 18.9% per year (variable), with a representative 23.7% APR (variable) based on a £1,200 credit limit. Cash transactions are charged at 27.9% per year plus a 3% fee (minimum £3) per transaction.
There are no foreign transaction fees on purchases abroad when paying in the local currency, with conversion at the exchange rate set by Mastercard. Your rate and credit limit may vary depending on your circumstances, so it's sensible to review Santander's summary box and key facts documents before applying.
Who it suits, and the account requirement
The linked account requirement means this card is effectively an add-on to Santander business banking. That's a product design choice rather than a criticism, but it shapes who the card is for: businesses that already hold a Santander Business Current Account, or that are willing to move their banking to get one.
Within that group, it best suits smaller operations. The 2-director cap and 4-card maximum work fine for a sole trader or a two-person limited company, but growing teams will run up against both limits.
For comparison, the Funding Circle Cashback business credit card takes a different approach to eligibility. It's available to UK-incorporated limited companies, trading for 12+ months with at least: £30,000+ annual turnover, and there's no requirement to hold or switch to any particular business bank account. You can apply and keep your existing business banking exactly as it is.
How it compares to the Funding Circle Cashback Card
Here's how the two cards line up on the features covered above. Both providers' rates and credit limits are subject to status and can vary by circumstances, so treat the figures as a starting point for your own research.
| Feature | Santander Business Cashback Credit Card | Funding Circle Cashback business credit card |
|---|---|---|
| Cashback | 1% on all business spend, no cap (T&Cs apply) | 2% for the first 6 months or up to £2,000, whichever comes first, then 1% uncapped |
| Annual fee | £30 | No annual fee |
| Interest-free period | Up to 56 days on purchases, balance paid in full and on time | Up to 42 days, balance paid in full and on time |
| Foreign transaction fees | None when paying in local currency | None |
| Credit limit | £500 to £25,000 (subject to status) | Up to £250,000 (subject to status) |
| Additional cards | Up to 3 additional cardholders, maximum 4 cards, no extra cost | Free unlimited Company cards |
| Bank account requirement | Santander Business Current Account required | None, keep your existing business banking |
| Entity limits | Sole traders, partnerships, LLPs and private limited companies with no more than 2 partners or directors | UK-incorporated limited companies, 12+ months trading, £30,000+ turnover |
| Representative APR | 23.7% APR (variable) | 34.9% APR (variable) |
Santander's card is only open to its own business banking customers, while the Funding Circle card sits alongside whatever banking arrangement you already have.
The entity rules differ too: Santander's card is open to sole traders but capped at 2 directors, while Funding Circle's card serves limited companies without a director cap on cards.
Funding Circle as an alternative
If the Santander card's linked account requirement doesn't fit, the Funding Circle Cashback business credit card is built to slot into your business as it stands. There's no need to switch your business banking, no annual fee, and cashback on every purchase from day one, with 2% cashback for the first 6 months or up to £2,000, whichever comes first, then 1% uncapped after that.
Earn 2% cashback on all card purchases for the first 6 months, up to £2,000, then 1% uncapped
Up to 42 days interest-free when you pay your balance in full and on time
No annual fee and no foreign exchange fees
Credit limits up to £250,000, subject to status
Free unlimited Company cards for your whole team
Sync your card with Sage, Xero or FreeAgent
Applying takes minutes online and you can check your eligibility for the Funding Circle Cashback business credit card without affecting your business credit score.
FAQs
Do I need a Santander business account to get the card?
Yes. The Santander Business Cashback Credit Card requires an existing Santander Business Current Account, so if you bank elsewhere and don't plan to switch, this card isn't available to you. The Funding Circle Cashback business credit card has no linked account requirement.
What cashback does the Santander card offer?
The card pays 1% cashback on all business spend, with no cap, paid monthly onto your credit card account. Terms and conditions apply and can change, so confirm the current cashback terms directly with Santander before applying.
Who is eligible for the Santander business credit card?
The card is available to UK-based and registered sole traders, partnerships, LLPs and private limited companies with no more than 2 partners or directors, who own the business entirely and hold a Santander Business Current Account. Applicants need a good credit history, and limited companies and LLPs will need all directors or members to provide a personal guarantee.
What if I don't bank with Santander?
The card isn't available without a Santander Business Current Account, so you'd need to open one or switch your banking to apply. Funding Circle's Cashback business credit card has no linked account requirement, so you can apply without changing your business banking.
Is the Santander card fee-free?
No. There's a £30 annual fee, charged per business and added to your account when you activate the card, and it applies each year even if the card goes unused. Additional cards are included at no extra cost, up to a maximum of 4 cards.
Disclaimer
01/08/26 – While we want to help as much as we can, the information found here is provided solely for informational purposes and should not be considered financial or legal advice. To the extent permitted by law, Funding Circle does not accept any liability for any loss or damage which may arise directly or indirectly from the use of, or reliance on, the information contained here. All information is correct at time of publishing, and customers should do their own research before making financial decisions. If you have any questions, please speak to your professional adviser or seek independent legal advice.
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