Elite Plus carries a monthly account fee. It is worth holding only if you use what it adds — the break-even guidance below is deliberately blunt about that.
Who Elite Plus is for
Elite Plus is built for people whose money moves: regular card spend, frequent travel, and enough activity for rewards and fee waivers to outweigh a monthly charge.
- You spend abroad several times a year, or shop with overseas merchants.
- A meaningful share of your everyday spending goes on a card rather than in cash.
- You use cash machines outside our network often enough for rebates to matter.
- You want a single account that covers travel and everyday banking without add-ons.
What Elite Plus adds
| Feature | Essential | Elite Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly account fee | None | Monthly fee applies |
| Debit card | Contactless | Premium metal card |
| Cashback on eligible spend | None | Up to 2.5% |
| Foreign transaction fee | Standard rate | None |
| Out-of-network ATM withdrawals | Operator charges apply | Rebated up to the monthly cap |
| Travel and purchase cover | Not included | Included, subject to the policy terms |
| Additional cardholder | Not available | One included |
| Support | 24/7 | 24/7, with priority routing |
Cashback is paid on eligible spend only. Cash withdrawals, transfers and certain categories are excluded — the product summary lists them.
Is it actually worth the fee?
The fee is fixed; the benefits scale with use. Work it out before you upgrade rather than after.
- 1Add up your card spend in a typical month and apply the cashback rate. That is your monthly rewards figure.
- 2Add what you paid last year in foreign transaction fees and out-of-network ATM charges, divided by twelve.
- 3If the total is comfortably above the monthly fee, Elite Plus pays for itself. If it is close, stay on Essential.
Do not upgrade for the card
A metal card is pleasant and financially irrelevant. Upgrade for the fee waivers and the cashback, or do not upgrade.
Travel and everyday use
- No foreign transaction fee
- Card purchases in any currency convert at the scheme rate with nothing added by us.
- ATM rebates
- Operator charges on out-of-network withdrawals are credited back up to the monthly cap, automatically.
- Travel cover
- Provided by an insurer under a group policy. Read the terms — cover has limits, exclusions and an age range.
- Purchase protection
- Eligible items bought on the card are covered against damage or theft for a limited period after purchase.
Always pay in the local currency
If a terminal offers to charge you in your home currency, decline. That rate is set by the merchant, and it is worse than the scheme rate you get by default.
Upgrading or changing your mind
- Upgrade from inside online banking. Your account number, direct debits and standing orders are unchanged.
- The metal card is ordered on upgrade; your existing card keeps working until the new one is activated.
- The fee is charged monthly. Move back down to Essential at any time, with no exit charge.
- Cashback earned before a downgrade is still paid.
Documents you may also need
Essential
The daily standard: no monthly fee, no minimum balance, a contactless debit card and full access to online banking.
Account TiersPrestige
A named relationship manager, personal concierge, dedicated wealth advice and zero foreign exchange fees worldwide.
Personal BankingDebit & Credit Cards
Contactless debit, a rewards credit card, and the controls that let you freeze, limit and replace a card yourself in seconds.
This document was last updated on 1 August 2026. We publish the current version here at all times; superseded versions are available on request.
If anything on this page is unclear, write to us and we will explain it.