Capital One
Capital One originated in the US and launched its first UK operation in 1996. It is one of the UK's top ten credit card companies and says "matching the right card to the right person is at the heart of responsible lending".
It was one of the first card providers to introduce the balance transfer concept, allowing cardholders to shift their balances onto other credit cards offering lower rates of interest or no interest.
Capital One offers several types of cards, each designed to meet particular needs. These include cashback cards, low rate cards and those designed for people who want to improve their credit ratings.
Among its achievements is getting the Highly Commended Award at the Moneyfacts Best UK Personal Finance Provider Awards 2010 for Best Innovation of the Year for its Progress Card.
It was also Highly Commended in the Moneywise Customer Service Awards 2010 for Best Credit Card for Online Services.