Understanding the RBS Corporate Credit Card: Features, Eligibility, and How to Apply

By Yuki Tanaka4 min read 151 views

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What Is the RBS Corporate Credit Card?

The RBS Corporate Credit Card is a business‑focused payment solution offered by Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) for companies operating in the United Kingdom. Designed to streamline expense management, it provides credit limits, reporting tools, and control features that help finance teams monitor spending, reduce administrative burden, and improve cash flow.

Table of Contents

What Is the RBS Corporate Credit Card?
Key Features and Benefits
Eligibility Requirements
Basic corporate criteria
Financial assessment
Fee Structure and Costs
How to Apply for an RBS Corporate Credit Card
Managing the Card: Controls and Reporting Tools
Spending controls
Reporting and reconciliation
Comparing RBS Corporate Card with Other UK Business Cards
Best Practices for Maximising Value
Common Questions and Answers

Key Features and Benefits

RBS structures its corporate card around four core pillars: control, visibility, flexibility, and cost efficiency.

Customisable spending limits per card, per merchant category, or per transaction.
Real‑time reporting via the RBS Business Online portal, with downloadable CSV and integration options for popular accounting software.
Travel and expense protections such as purchase insurance, fraud monitoring, and emergency card replacement.
Reward options including cashback on business‑related spend and points redeemable for travel or office supplies.

Eligibility Requirements

RBS evaluates corporate card applicants on several criteria to ensure the credit line aligns with the company's financial health.

Basic corporate criteria

UK‑registered limited company, partnership, or sole trader with a valid RBS business banking relationship.
Minimum annual turnover of £250,000 (varies by sector and risk profile).
Operating history of at least 12 months for newly incorporated entities.

Financial assessment

Positive credit history for the business and, where required, for the directors or guarantors.
Demonstrated ability to service the proposed credit limit, typically shown through recent profit‑and‑loss statements and bank statements.

Fee Structure and Costs

RBS charges a mix of fixed and variable fees. Exact amounts can differ based on the chosen card programme, but the typical cost framework is shown below.

Fee Type	Typical Range	Notes
Annual card fee	£30 – £150 per card	Depends on reward tier and credit limit.
Interest (APR)	13 % – 23 % variable	Applied to any balance carried beyond the grace period.
Foreign transaction fee	2.5 % of transaction amount	Applies to spend outside the UK.
Late payment fee	£25 – £40	Charged per missed payment.

How to Apply for an RBS Corporate Credit Card

The application process is straightforward for existing RBS business customers. Follow these steps to submit a request:

Navigate to "Products & Services" → "Corporate Credit Cards".

Complete the online form, providing company details, requested credit limit, and authorised signatories.

Upload supporting documents: latest accounts, management accounts, and identification for directors/guarantors.

Submit the application; an RBS relationship manager will contact you within 5‑10 business days for any follow‑up.

For businesses without an existing RBS relationship, a preliminary account opening is required before the card application can proceed.

Managing the Card: Controls and Reporting Tools

Effective card management hinges on leveraging RBS's digital tools.

Spending controls

Set per‑card or per‑merchant limits.
Enable/disable transaction types (e.g., cash advances, online purchases).
Apply real‑time alerts for transactions exceeding thresholds.

Reporting and reconciliation

Daily transaction feed exported to CSV, XML, or directly into accounting platforms like Xero, Sage, and QuickBooks.
Monthly spend summaries categorised by department or project.
Customisable dashboards for CFOs and finance teams.

Comparing RBS Corporate Card with Other UK Business Cards

Choosing the right card depends on fees, reward structures, and integration capabilities. Below is a quick comparison of three leading UK corporate cards.

Card Provider	Annual Fee (per card)	Reward Focus	Integration
RBS Corporate Credit Card	£30 – £150	Cashback / Travel points	RBS Business Online, Xero, Sage
Barclaycard Business	£0 – £120	Cashback only	QuickBooks, Xero, API
HSBC Business Credit Card	£45 – £180	Travel points	HSBC Connect, Sage

RBS stands out for its strong integration with existing RBS accounts and robust fraud protection, while Barclays offers a no‑fee entry tier and HSBC provides a richer travel‑point ecosystem.

Best Practices for Maximising Value

To get the most out of an RBS corporate card, businesses should:

Align card limits with departmental budgets to avoid overspend.
Regularly review transaction alerts and reconcile them against expense policies.
Leverage cashback or point rewards on high‑volume categories such as office supplies or travel.
Set up automatic payments to eliminate interest charges.

Common Questions and Answers

Can a sole trader obtain an RBS corporate card? Yes, provided the sole trader holds a registered business account with RBS and meets the turnover and credit criteria.

Is there a grace period for interest‑free purchases? RBS offers a standard 30‑day interest‑free period on fully paid monthly statements.

What happens if an employee loses the card? Cards can be frozen instantly via the online portal, and a replacement can be issued within 24‑48 hours.