What Are the Best Credit Card Issuers in Portugal? (2026)
Updated August 2026. The main credit card issuers in Portugal are high-street banks such as Millennium bcp, Caixa Geral de Depósitos, Novobanco, BPI, Santander, and ActivoBank; direct issuers such as WiZink and Unibanco; and partner issuers such as Cetelem and Banco CTT. Fintechs such as Revolut and N26 issue debit cards, not local revolving credit cards.
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Who Are the Main Credit Card Issuers?
Banks bundle credit cards with current accounts. Direct issuers specialise in cards without requiring a current account. Partner issuers often run store or brand programmes. Fintechs focus on debit and multi-currency accounts.
How to Choose an Issuer
If you already bank in Portugal, a bank card may offer fee waivers. If you want a free standalone card, look at direct issuers. If you shop heavily with a partner network, co-brand cards can maximise rewards.
Top Credit Card Issuers
Leading issuers from the August 2026 catalogue, ranked by product breadth, fee competitiveness, and accessibility.
Unicre
Cartão Unibanco Clássico
No availability fee, in year 1 or any year after
- You do not have to change bank
- 20 to 50 days of interest-free credit
- 18,9% TAEG if you pay in instalments
- Annual fee
- Free
- APR
APR
The yearly cost of carrying a balance, interest plus fees (TAEG). It only bites if you do not repay in full, and it compounds fast.
- TAEG 18,9% (TAN 18,400%)
- Network
Network
The card scheme that moves the payment: Visa, Mastercard, or American Express. It decides where the card is accepted, not who issues it.
- Visa
- Portuguese IBAN
Portuguese IBAN
Whether the product needs a bank account with a Portuguese (PT50) IBAN. Foreign-IBAN accounts are legal to use, but some billers still reject them.
- Required
More details
- FX fee
FX fee
What the issuer adds when you pay in a currency other than euro. Typically 1.75% to 2%, so 0% is a real saving abroad.
- an international fee per the Unicre price list
- Rewards
- Cashback tiers up to EUR 200 in the first 12 months (EUR 5/10/20 per month bands by monthly spend); Trividir 3x 0% instalments
- Billing
- 50 days interest-free at 100%; fixed/percentage instalments; Trividir splits purchases from EUR 150 into 3x without interest
- How to apply
- online / loja
- Card in
- about 5-10 business days
Prices as of August 2026, verify on the provider site.
WiZink Bank
WiZink Flex
No availability fee in any year
- Flexible repayment over 3 to 96 months
- Free travel insurance and purchase protection
- TAEG around 19%, at Banco de Portugal's ceiling
- Annual fee
- Free
- APR
APR
The yearly cost of carrying a balance, interest plus fees (TAEG). It only bites if you do not repay in full, and it compounds fast.
- TAEG ~19,0% (desde)
- Network
Network
The card scheme that moves the payment: Visa, Mastercard, or American Express. It decides where the card is accepted, not who issues it.
- Visa
- Portuguese IBAN
Portuguese IBAN
Whether the product needs a bank account with a Portuguese (PT50) IBAN. Foreign-IBAN accounts are legal to use, but some billers still reject them.
- Required
More details
- FX fee
FX fee
What the issuer adds when you pay in a currency other than euro. Typically 1.75% to 2%, so 0% is a real saving abroad.
- n/a
- Rewards
- None on Flex (rewards sit on the WiZink Rewards sibling)
- Billing
- Fim do Mês (pay in full, interest-free) or Fracionado instalments with interest
- How to apply
- online
- Card in
- about 5-10 business days
Prices as of August 2026, verify on the provider site.
Universo
Cartão Universo+
5% on Continente and Meu Super purchases, in end-of-month mode
- 1% in other shops, credited to your Cartão Continente
- No annual fee and no availability charge
- The 5% cashback is capped at EUR 10 a month in practice
- Annual fee
- Free
- APR
APR
The yearly cost of carrying a balance, interest plus fees (TAEG). It only bites if you do not repay in full, and it compounds fast.
- TAEG 18,5% (TAN 18,00%)
- Network
Network
The card scheme that moves the payment: Visa, Mastercard, or American Express. It decides where the card is accepted, not who issues it.
- Mastercard
- Portuguese IBAN
Portuguese IBAN
Whether the product needs a bank account with a Portuguese (PT50) IBAN. Foreign-IBAN accounts are legal to use, but some billers still reject them.
- Required
More details
- FX fee
FX fee
What the issuer adds when you pay in a currency other than euro. Typically 1.75% to 2%, so 0% is a real saving abroad.
- n/a
- Rewards
- In Fim do Mês mode: 5% in Cartão Continente balance at Continente/Meu Super/Wells/ZU and 1% everywhere else (1.5% on first EUR 250, 0.5% above EUR 750 per statement); Cartão Continente promotions and vouchers
- Billing
- Fim do Mês (interest-free), fixed monthly instalments, or split individual purchases 3-24x
- How to apply
- online / app
- Card in
- about 5-10 business days
Prices as of August 2026, verify on the provider site.
Cetelem
Cetelem Black Plus
3% em supermercados, restaurantes, gasolineiras, TVDE e streaming
- No annual fee and no availability fee
- Cashback of up to EUR 120 a year
- Cashback capped at EUR 10 a month
- Annual fee
- Free
- APR
APR
The yearly cost of carrying a balance, interest plus fees (TAEG). It only bites if you do not repay in full, and it compounds fast.
- TAEG ~19,0%
- Network
Network
The card scheme that moves the payment: Visa, Mastercard, or American Express. It decides where the card is accepted, not who issues it.
- Mastercard
- Portuguese IBAN
Portuguese IBAN
Whether the product needs a bank account with a Portuguese (PT50) IBAN. Foreign-IBAN accounts are legal to use, but some billers still reject them.
- Required
More details
- FX fee
FX fee
What the issuer adds when you pay in a currency other than euro. Typically 1.75% to 2%, so 0% is a real saving abroad.
- n/a
- Rewards
- 3% cashback in six chosen categories (supermarkets, restaurants, fuel, EV charging, TVDE, streaming); EUR 50 joining voucher (promo 16 Jun–30 Sep 2026, min EUR 300 spend in 45 days)
- Billing
- 50 days interest-free at 100%; Fim do Mês, Fracionado or Personalizado payment modes
- How to apply
- online
- Card in
- about 5-10 business days
Prices as of August 2026, verify on the provider site.
Bankinter
Bankintercard Gold
3% cashback for the first 12 months
- No annual fee and no availability fee
- Does not require opening a Bankinter account
- Cashback capped at EUR 5 a month (EUR 60 a year)
- Annual fee
- Free
- APR
APR
The yearly cost of carrying a balance, interest plus fees (TAEG). It only bites if you do not repay in full, and it compounds fast.
- TAEG ~19,0%
- Network
Network
The card scheme that moves the payment: Visa, Mastercard, or American Express. It decides where the card is accepted, not who issues it.
- Visa
- Portuguese IBAN
Portuguese IBAN
Whether the product needs a bank account with a Portuguese (PT50) IBAN. Foreign-IBAN accounts are legal to use, but some billers still reject them.
- Required
More details
- FX fee
FX fee
What the issuer adds when you pay in a currency other than euro. Typically 1.75% to 2%, so 0% is a real saving abroad.
- n/a
- Rewards
- 3% cashback on purchases during the first 12 months, capped EUR 5/month (EUR 60/year)
- Billing
- Fim do Mês (interest-free) or fixed monthly instalments; purchases splittable into 3-24 months
- How to apply
- online
- Card in
- about 5-10 business days
Prices as of August 2026, verify on the provider site.
Cofidis
Cartão de Crédito Cofidis (plano Standard)
1% cashback on all purchases, with no annual fee
- The Mais plan at EUR 2 a month raises cashback to 2%
- Sign-up and management 100% online
- Standard cashback capped at EUR 100 a year
- Annual fee
- Free
- APR
APR
The yearly cost of carrying a balance, interest plus fees (TAEG). It only bites if you do not repay in full, and it compounds fast.
- TAEG n/a (check the price list)
- Network
Network
The card scheme that moves the payment: Visa, Mastercard, or American Express. It decides where the card is accepted, not who issues it.
- Mastercard
- Portuguese IBAN
Portuguese IBAN
Whether the product needs a bank account with a Portuguese (PT50) IBAN. Foreign-IBAN accounts are legal to use, but some billers still reject them.
- Required
More details
- FX fee
FX fee
What the issuer adds when you pay in a currency other than euro. Typically 1.75% to 2%, so 0% is a real saving abroad.
- n/a
- Rewards
- Nenhum
- Billing
- 20 to 50 interest-free days when you repay 100% of the balance
- How to apply
- online
- Card in
- n/a
Prices as of August 2026, verify on the provider site.
Millennium bcp
Cartão Millennium TAP Classic
1 mile per euro spent
- 2.000 welcome miles on sign-up
- Travel insurance included
- An annual fee of 41,60 EUR every year
- Annual fee
- EUR 41,60
- APR
APR
The yearly cost of carrying a balance, interest plus fees (TAEG). It only bites if you do not repay in full, and it compounds fast.
- TAEG 18,5% (TAN 12,60%)
- Network
Network
The card scheme that moves the payment: Visa, Mastercard, or American Express. It decides where the card is accepted, not who issues it.
- Visa
- Portuguese IBAN
Portuguese IBAN
Whether the product needs a bank account with a Portuguese (PT50) IBAN. Foreign-IBAN accounts are legal to use, but some billers still reject them.
- Required
More details
- FX fee
FX fee
What the issuer adds when you pay in a currency other than euro. Typically 1.75% to 2%, so 0% is a real saving abroad.
- n/a
- Rewards
- 1 TAP Miles&Go mile per EUR 1 spent (cap 5,000 miles/month); miles never expire with one purchase per month
- Billing
- Fixed monthly amount, percentages, or pay in full
- How to apply
- online
- Card in
- about 7-10 business days
Prices as of August 2026, verify on the provider site.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is WiZink a bank?
WiZink is a specialised credit institution and direct issuer; it does not operate as a full-service retail bank.
Can I have cards from more than one issuer?
Yes. Many residents keep a local credit card for instalments and a fintech debit card for travel.
Do all banks issue credit cards?
Most Portuguese retail banks issue credit cards, but product range and perks vary.
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