2022 Current Accounts and Credit Cards Star Ratings revealed

Consumers looking for a new current account or credit card will be able to see what finance experts agree are the best deals with the announcement of the Moneyfacts 2022 personal current accounts and personal credit cards star ratings.

The announcement of the new personal current accounts star ratings has seen 52 accounts awarded a five-star rating, while a further 32 were awarded a four-star rating. The accounts given a five or four star rating can be found across standard, packaged, premium, youth, student and graduate account categories.

Within the personal credit and charge cards star ratings, 55 cards have been awarded a five-star rating and 31 a four star rating. Overall, the personal credit and charge cards market has remained competitive year-on-year, with just one less card being awarded a star rating in 2022 compared to 2021.

When choosing which deals should be awarded a five or four star rating, a team of independent experts at Moneyfacts will looks are a range of features on hundreds of products to decide which offer the best deal for consumers. As such, when looking at products awarded a star rating, consumers can be confident that they are the best deals on the market.

Commenting on the 2022 personal current account and personal credit card star rating announcement, Samantha Owens, Star Ratings and Personal Finance Analytics Manager at Moneyfacts, said: “After a year of changing personal circumstances, getting the foundations of personal finance can help ease some of the pressure.

“With providers both withdrawing from and launching into the current account market, customers need to be on the lookout for the best account available to them, that both meets their needs and offers them the most in return for their loyalty. The Moneyfacts Annual Star Ratings take away some of this hard work, allowing customers to focus their attention on the most complete products.

“In addition, with the added protection on spending available with a credit card, ensuring the card offers the most in return on the monthly spend or save the customer on long term costs will be a helping hand with the Moneyfacts Annual Star Ratings highlighting the products with the most benefits.”

Numerous features are considered when assessing the ratings, and some of these include:

Personal Current Accounts

Flexibility

• Account management
• Account opening
• Funding
• Card availability
• Credit interest
• Overdraft availability
• Introductory offers
• Direct debit, standing order and cheque book availability
• Penalty charges
• Foreign usage charges
• Text alerts

Benefits

• Switching incentives
• Cashback
• Travel Insurance
• Preferential deals on savings, mortgages, loans and credit card products
• Emergency cash services
• Vehicle breakdown
• Gadget and mobile phone insurance
• Personal concierge
• Discounts on restaurants and leisure attractions

Personal Credit and Charge Cards

• Flexibility
• Opening and operating options
• Payment options
• Balance transfer availability
• Money transfer availability
• Contactless

Charges

• Card fees
• Balance and money transfer fees
• Cash withdrawal fees
• Late payment charges
• Foreign usage charges
• Minimum interest charges

Benefits

• Airport lounge access
• Free emergency card
• Free emergency cash
• Interest-free days
• Loyalty schemes
• Luggage insurance
• Free text alerts
• Extended appliance warranty
• Cashback
• Travel accident insurance
• Flight cancellation/delay insurance
• Enhanced purchase protection