MoneyExpert.com: Barclaycard’s Breathe credit card

Sean Gardner, Chief Executive of MoneyExpert.com, said: “Barclaycard’s Breathe card is a genuine breath of fresh air in the credit card market which measures up to its claim to offer savings as well as helping worldwide and UK environment projects.

“There is some form of carrot instead of the stick which is too often used when it comes to trying to persuade people to change their behaviour on climate change.

“The 5.9 per cent rate for buying most public transport tickets is the lowest currently on the market. Only nine credit cards currently offer a rate below 10 per cent on purchases and the average across the market is 16.63 per cent. Incidentally the next lowest after Breathe is another Barclaycard with Simplicity at 6.8 per cent.

“Once you add in the discounts from other retailers, the donation of 50 per cent of profits to eco-friendly projects and the promise to give at least £1 million in the first year to environmental causes then this is an opportunity to do some good without doing yourself too much harm. If you’re paying for ferry trips or rail season tickets it’s definitely the best way to borrow.

“But that said while the 5.9 per cent rate is the lowest rate around it only applies if you borrow money on your card. And the 14.9 per cent rate applied to all other spending is not the best around.

“Anyone transferring debts to Breathe will only get a zero per cent offer for six months and will have to pay a fee of 2.5 per cent. There are plenty of better deals than that.”