The latest news to help you get the most from your credit card.

Here’s my monthly update sharing changes for leading UK credit cards, as well as some of the relevant articles you might have missed on the blog.

December’s credit card & BNPL update video

I go into more detail on some of this month’s updates in this video.

December’s credit card & BNPL news

Amex Shop Small is back

This now twice yearly offer from American Express returned on 3 December and runs until 12 December. You’ll earn £5 back when you spend £15 at participating small retailers. You can only use the offer five times per card and it’s limited to once per retailer.

However if you have multiple cards or supplementary cards these count as their own cards for the offer, so you’ll get up to another five uses per card. It also means you can repeat businesses.

I’ve written in more detail here about how Shop Small works and how to make the most of the offer.

Amex Platinum benefits reset 1 January

If you have the American Express Platinum card make sure you’ve activated and used your £50 Harvey Nicholls offer and £150 UK dining credit before the year end. If you don’t you’ll lose it as the offer resets on 1 January 2023. Here’s more on the Platinum card.

Santander offers £30 for new cardholders

Until 6 December 2022 anyone who successfully applies for a new Santander credit card will get a £30 e-voucher that can be spent at the likes of Amazon, John Lewis and Asda (full list here).

The cards included in the offer are:

• All in One
• Everyday Long Term Balance Transfer
• Everyday No Balance Transfer Fee
• World Elite™ Mastercard®

John Lewis card triple points offer ends

Until 31 December 2022 new John Lewis Partnership cardholders will get triple points on spending at John Lewis and Waitrose for 90 days – that works out as 3.75% back. Elsewhere you’ll only get the equivalent of 0.25% so there are better options for non-JL/Waitrose spending.

This month’s best credit cards

As always when talking about credit cards the best credit card for you will depend on your credit report and why you need one. Make sure you read my rules for having and applying for a credit card.

But assuming you’ve got a great credit report, don’t need one to clear existing debts and will clear the balance completely each month, these are my top picks: