36 Month Interest-Free Credit Card on Purchases – UK 2025 Guide

If you have been searching for a 36-month interest-free credit card on purchases in the UK, you may have noticed that such offers are remarkably difficult to find. While 36-month 0% deals exist for balance transfers, the same length is virtually unavailable for new purchases from mainstream British banks in 2025. This guide examines what is actually on the market, explains why purchase offers are shorter, and helps you decide which card strategy works best for your spending needs.

What are the best 36-month interest-free credit cards on purchases in the UK?

As of early 2025, no major UK bank offers a standard 36-month 0% purchase credit card. The longest interest-free purchase period available is 26 months, offered by TSB on its Platinum Purchase Card. Cards that advertise a 36-month 0% period – such as those from Tesco Bank, HSBC, Virgin Money and Barclaycard – apply that term only to balance transfers, not to everyday spending.

Key insights at a glance

• True 36-month interest-free purchase cards are extremely rare; the longest purchase 0% tops out at 26 months.
• Tesco Bank offers 36 months 0% on balance transfers only – many people confuse this with a purchase offer.
• The longest purchase 0% available in early 2025 is 26 months (TSB Platinum), down from occasional 27- or 30-month offers in previous years.
• If you need more than 26 months interest-free on spending, consider using a 26-month purchase card and later moving the balance to a 0% balance transfer card.
• Eligibility for these cards typically requires a good credit score; meeting the criteria is not guaranteed.

Does Tesco or M&S offer a 36-month interest-free credit card on purchases?

Tesco Bank – The Tesco Bank Balance Transfer Card offers a guaranteed 36 months 0% interest on balance transfers from the date of account opening, with a transfer fee of 3.45%. However, this card does not offer 0% on purchases. If you use it for spending, you will pay the standard 23.9% representative APR from the first transaction.

M&S Bank – M&S Bank credit cards typically offer shorter purchase promotional periods. As of early 2025, no M&S card with a 36-month purchase 0% period has been identified in the available sources. Users searching for such a card are advised to check the current M&S product page or consider other providers.

How do 36-month purchase cards compare to 24-month and 26-month offers?

24-month purchase cards

Barclaycard offers a Platinum card with 24 months 0% on purchases. This is typical for mid-range 0% purchase deals. After the promotional period, the representative APR rises to 22.9%. The balance transfer fee is 3.45% if you later shift a balance – a useful feature if you want to extend interest-free borrowing.

26-month purchase card – the current longest

TSB’s Platinum Purchase Card provides 26 months 0% on purchases, making it the longest purchase deal available in early 2025. It also includes a 0% balance transfer fee for the first 18 months (then 3%). After the promotion ends, the APR is 24.9% variable. This card is the closest you can get to a “36-month purchase card” without switching to a balance transfer strategy.

Balance transfer-only 36-month cards

Cards such as the HSBC Balance Transfer Card and Virgin Money Balance Transfer Card offer a definite 36 months 0% on balance transfers, but they do not provide any 0% purchase period. If you need interest-free spending, these cards are not suitable unless you combine them with a separate purchase card.

What should you know about eligibility, fees, and APR before applying?

Eligibility for the longest purchase cards usually requires a good to excellent credit score. Lenders check your credit history, existing debt levels, and income. Applying for multiple cards in a short period can negatively affect your credit file, so it pays to use an eligibility checker before applying.

Most 0% purchase cards have no annual fee. However, there are costs to watch for:

• Balance transfer fees – typically 3%–4% of the amount transferred. Some cards offer a 0% fee for an introductory period.
• Cash advance fees – usually around 3% of the amount withdrawn.
• Foreign transaction fees – many standard cards charge 2.75%–3% for spending abroad.

After the promotional 0% period ends, the standard APR applies to any remaining balance. In the examples above, that APR ranges from 22.9% to 24.9% variable. If you do not clear the balance before the promotion expires, you will start accruing interest at that rate.

Can you get a 36-month interest-free credit card on balance transfers instead?

Yes. Several providers offer 36 months 0% on balance transfers. The table below summarises the key options based on available research.

MoneySavingExpert distinguishes between “definite 36 months” cards (where everyone accepted gets the full term) and “up to 36 months” offers, where the length can vary by applicant. The lowest transfer fee among these cards is 3.10% from NatWest, while guaranteed 36-month cards range from 3.15% to 3.45%.

For purchase-focused use, none of these cards provide a long 0% purchase period alongside the 36-month balance transfer term. The NatWest card includes 0% on purchases for only three months.

Timeline: how 0% purchase offers have changed in the UK

1. 2020–2021 – Several issuers offered 30-month 0% purchase deals (e.g., Virgin Money, Halifax).
2. 2022–2023 – Maximum purchase offers dropped to 27–28 months as the Bank of England raised interest rates.
3. 2024–2025 – The longest purchase 0% is now 26 months (TSB). 36-month purchase cards are not available in the standard market.
4. Future – Future availability may depend on changes in the base rate. Keep checking comparison sites and this guide for updates.

What is confirmed and what remains unclear about 36-month purchase cards?

Why are 36-month purchase cards so rare in the UK?

The Bank of England base rate remains higher than pre-2022 levels, making long 0% periods costly for banks. Purchase offers are particularly expensive to subsidise because there is no fee attached – unlike balance transfers, which come with a transfer fee. Banks prefer to offer longer 0% on balance transfers because those involve fees and are a way to attract customers with existing debt.

In the US, 0% purchase offers typically last 18–21 months. The UK historically had longer purchase promotions, but the trend has been towards shorter periods. If you genuinely need 36 months interest-free on spending, the best alternative is to use a 26-month purchase card and then move the balance to a 0% balance transfer card before the purchase promotion ends.

What do the experts and official sources say?

“Our Platinum purchase card has 0% interest on purchases for up to 26 months.”

– TSB UK, product page

“If you spend on cards but don’t repay in full, try a 0% credit card with up to 26 months’ interest-free spending.”

– MoneySavingExpert, 2025 Guide

“Guaranteed 36 months 0% interest from the date of account opening, with a 3.45% transfer fee – on balance transfers.”

– Tesco Bank, product page

Summary: what is the bottom line for buyers?

If you are looking for a 36-month interest-free credit card on purchases in the UK, you will not find one from a mainstream provider in 2025. The longest purchase 0% deal is 26 months from TSB. For a longer overall interest-free window, consider pairing a 26-month purchase card with a later 0% balance transfer card. Check the longest 0% balance transfer deals UK 2025 and longest interest-free balance transfer credit cards to plan your strategy.

Frequently asked questions