NatWest Travel Reward Credit Card — Earn rewards on travel spending
The NatWest Travel Reward credit card is a bank‑issued Visa intended for customers who spend on travel and prefer a simple rewards model embedded in NatWest’s MyRewards programme.
The product carries no annual fee and is aimed at cardholders who plan to pay their balance in full each month to make the most of the card’s modest, travel‑focused Rewards and the absence of foreign transaction charges on purchases abroad.
Representative borrowing rates and certain fees are published by NatWest; other product details are provided via the MyRewards terms and the card summary materials.
This article explains the principal benefits and limitations of the Travel Reward card, who should consider applying, the issuer background, rewards mechanics, typical costs, and a step‑by‑step guide to applying.
All concrete facts in this article are drawn from NatWest product disclosures and MyRewards terms as recorded on 2025‑08‑18.
Benefits
The main benefits of the NatWest Travel Reward credit card focus on travel spending and ease of use within the NatWest ecosystem:
- No annual fee
- No foreign transaction fees on purchases abroad
- Rewards on travel and partner offers. Earn 1% back in Rewards on eligible travel spending and personalised partner offers that can deliver between 1% and up to 15% back.
- Baseline earning on other spend. Non‑travel qualifying purchases earn 0.1% in Rewards.
- Manageable redemption options. Rewards can be redeemed as statement credits or e‑gift codes through the MyRewards interface
- Mobile wallet and app management. Apple Pay and Google Pay are supported and the MyRewards scheme is accessible via the NatWest mobile app and online banking.
Prerequisites
NatWest sets basic eligibility criteria for applicants. Per the product page disclosures:
- Applicants must be UK residents
- Minimum age: 18 years
- Minimum income requirement: at least £ 10,000 per year
Any other credit score or affordability criteria used in the credit assessment are not disclosed in the product data beyond the bank’s standard credit assessment practices; specific lending decisions will depend on NatWest’s assessment of the applicant.
About NatWest
National Westminster Bank Plc, trading as NatWest, is a long‑established UK retail bank that offers a broad range of personal and business banking products, including current accounts, mortgages, loans, savings and credit cards.
The bank operates both a national branch network and digital channels; its mobile app and online banking include card management and access to the MyRewards programme. Historical and corporate detail beyond this product disclosure is not set out in the product materials used for this article.
Who is this card for?
The Travel Reward credit card is designed for customers who:
- Travel with some regularity and make travel purchases that qualify under the MyRewards merchant categories (airlines, trains, hotels, car rental and similar travel merchants).
- Prefer a straightforward bank‑run rewards programme rather than a co‑branded airline or hotel loyalty card.
- Manage their account responsibly and usually pay their statement balance in full each month to avoid interest charges.
The product is less suitable for customers seeking premium travel benefits such as airport lounge access, extensive transferable airline or hotel points, or substantial interest‑free balance transfer promotions; those features are not part of this product’s public disclosures.
What rewards and programmes does the card offer?
The Travel Reward card participates in NatWest’s MyRewards programme. Key, publisher‑disclosed mechanics are:
- Eligible travel spending: Earns 1% back in Rewards. Examples cited by NatWest include planes, trains, car rental, ferries, buses, hotel accommodation, travel agents, cruises and campsites.
- Selected partner retailers: Personalised partner offers appear through MyRewards and typically pay from 1% up to 15% back when the conditions of the partner promotion are met.
- Other spend: Qualifying purchases that are not travel or partner offer spend earn 0.1% in Rewards; this baseline is not paid on top of partner or travel rates.
- Redemption: Rewards may be redeemed as statement credits or for e‑gift codes. Conversion in MyRewards is that 5 Rewards are equivalent to £ 5 for redemption purposes.
Full exclusions and Merchant Category Code (MCC) rules are listed in the NatWest MyRewards terms and PDF terms and should be consulted to confirm which transactions qualify for travel earning rates.
Rates, fees and charges
All monetary figures below are taken from NatWest product disclosures:
- Representative APR (purchase): 27.9% p.a. (variable). The product materials also state you may receive a higher purchase and balance transfer rate on application — up to 29.9% p.a. (variable).
- Balance transfer rate: 27.9% p.a. (variable) is shown for balance transfers.
- Annual fee: £ 0 (no annual fee).
- Foreign transaction fee: 0% on purchases abroad (purchases only). Cash withdrawals may incur fees or different treatment.
- Late payment fee: £ 12.
- Over‑limit fee: £ 12
Always consult the NatWest summary box and the Reward Terms PDF for the complete fee schedule before applying.
Step by step to apply for the card
- Check eligibility
- Read the NatWest product page
- Prepare documentation you may need for a credit assessment
- Apply online via the NatWest product page
- NatWest will perform a credit assessment; your actual APR and credit limit will depend on that assessment.
- If approved you will receive the card and further instructions from NatWest regarding activation and card management in the app or by post.
Mobile apps
You can manage the card and access MyRewards through the NatWest mobile app:
Card’s pros and cons
Pros
- No annual fee, which keeps the product low cost for frequent travellers who want rewards without an ongoing charge.
- No foreign transaction fees on purchases abroad, removing a common surcharge for travel spending.
- Targeted 1% earning on eligible travel spend and partner offers that can pay up to 15%, useful for customers who can take advantage of partner promotions.
- Simple redemption options (statement credit / e‑gift codes) and in‑app management via NatWest’s mobile platforms.
Cons
- High representative APR (27.9% p.a. variable) means the card is not cost‑effective for those who carry a balance.
- No published balance transfer promotion or fee on the product page; transferred balances will incur interest, making balance transfers less attractive than cards with introductory offers.
- Rewards and eligibility for travel earning depend on merchant category codes and MyRewards exclusions — not all travel‑sounding transactions will qualify.
- No premium travel perks such as airport lounge access or transferable airline/hotel points are part of the public product disclosure.
Customer service and support
NatWest provides the following contact details:
- Phone: 03453 073 702
- Customer service hours: Monday – Friday 8am-8pm, Saturday 9am-3pm, Sunday closed; excluding public holidays.
- Card product page
- MyRewards terms and exclusions
- Fee summary box
Important disclaimers and final considerations
This article is for educational purposes and does not constitute personalised financial advice. Credit card terms and offers change; always check the latest NatWest product page, MyRewards terms and the published fee schedule before applying. Responsible card use — including paying balances in full where possible to avoid high interest charges — is recommended.
About the author
As a trained linguist, I produce content for various niches and target audiences. I'm communicative, inquisitive, and attentive to the fine details of language and communication. I take interest in all things expressive—be it texts, scripts, music, films or podcasts. I believe good ideas gain strength when they are well written and effectively directed.
