Cool credit cards ranked higher than cheap ones

Britons are picking their credit card base more on brand than on features.

That is according to new research from financial comparison website Fool.co.uk, which shows eight out of ten credit card think brand and reputation important when picking their plastic.

And when asked which card is their favourite, Britons seem to think the original is best. Nine out of ten customers of the UK's first credit card - Barclaycard - say they are satisfied. This puts it slightly ahead of Egg, MBNA, and Halifax as the nation's top credit card.

Overall, two people in five are happy with their credit card provider.

"Barclaycard is still on top some 41 years after launching the first credit card in the UK," said David Kuo, head of personal finance at Fool.co.uk.

"However, as one of the major credit card providers in the UK, Barclaycard must bear some responsibility for ensuring that the industry remains competitive by continually improving its offering to customers.

"It must stop talking of introducing annual fees for low-usage customers, which sends out the wrong message to sensible consumers. It should not frighten customers into using their credit cards to simply avoid paying annual fees.

"For now, Barclaycard can afford to feel smug. But it is only a whisker away from being overtaken by a chasing pack of cards with equally valuable brands given that we are never more than a mouse-click from switching."