Halifax is a well known high-street bank and is part of the Lloyds Banking Group. Halifax offers around four bank accounts and a number of credit cards to meet different needs including balance transfer, credit building and travel.
The Halifax Clarity Card is Halifax’s travel credit card. It has been designed to help cardholders manage their spend when abroad, so they avoid the need to purchase currency before they travel.
At the time of launch, October 2010, the Halifax Clarity card was a game changer for those looking for a cheaper alternative when spending abroad. Before Halifax launched the Clarity card, there weren’t many options when spending abroad with most credit cards charging around 3% on all foreign exchange transactions. These fees can quickly add up, so Halifax made their solution as simple as possible: they removed the foreign exchange fees and simply charge users the Mastercard rate on all purchases.
Credit cards are not a suitable option for everyone and you may prefer to stick with your debit card while benefiting from 0% on spending abroad. Currensea’s travel debit card will allow you to spend in all 180 currencies around the world, wherever you see the Mastercard logo.
It’s really simple, Currensea acts as the layer in front of your existing bank account, saving your money, giving you extra security and making your bank work that bit harder for you. Spend as seamlessly abroad as you do at home, without worrying about hidden fees.
Access the best live exchange rates at only 0.5% above the FX base rate on our Essential plan, saving you at least 85% on every transaction, or 0% on our Premium and Elite plans, saving you 100% in FX fees on every transaction.
Currensea's travel debit card offers a different solution if you aren't looking for a credit card.
To apply for a Halifax Clarity card you must be a UK resident, aged 18 or over.
Getting a Halifax Clarity Card is simple, to check that you’re eligible simply go online and follow the steps. Like all credit cards, Halifax will perform a soft check on your credit report to check your eligibility, but this shouldn’t affect your credit score. If you are accepted there’s no obligation to apply afterwards.
Applications for the card can also be made in branch, by phone, or over the phone. You will be required to provide details including address history, employment details and information about your financial circumstances.
If you are unsure whether you’ll be accepted, Halifax does offer an eligibility checker on it’s website, that will provide you with some guidance as to whether you’ll be accepted.
It’s worth mentioning that you won’t know your credit limit and rates until after you apply. Halifax takes personal circumstances into account when deciding what to offer a customer, they do state that at least 51% of successful applicants will receive the advertised interest rate, with the remainder receiving a higher rate.
You can use your Halifax Clarity Card online and instore - anywhere Mastercard is accepted. You can also make ATM withdrawals, but some ATM providers do apply charges.
You’ll receive your statement at the end of the billing period, it’s important to pay your bill off in full to avoid paying interest.
Halifax Clarity is a credit card rather than a debit card so you could face charges when trying to withdraw cash from an ATM. If the ATM charges a fee for withdrawal, that’s out of Halifax’s hands, but it’s important to recognised that if you do withdraw cash from an ATM you will start to accrue interest from the day the funds leave your account, unlike the grace period usually applied with normal purchase when you pay your balance in full. It’s also worth noting that making multiple cash advances on your credit card will be recorded in your credit file and could negatively impact your credit score.
