Towards the end of 2015, Santander announced it would increase the monthly charge on its 123 credit card due to rising costs and low interest rates.

The move saw the fee increased from £2 a month (£24 a year) to £3 a month (£36) with effect from January 2016 for all customers.

It also said the cashback provisions would remain for a period of time for existing customers but would be capped for new users.

Customers who took out a Santander credit card before 16 September 2015 were entitled to 1% cashback on supermarket spends (no cashback limit), 2% in department stores (no cashback limit) and 3% on petrol, national rail and TfL spends (max. £9 per month).

For those who took out the product from 16 September 2015, the cashback was capped to £3/month for each of the supermarket, department store and travel spends.

But from 1 February 2017, existing Santander 123 credit card customers (pre-16 September 2015 sign-ups) will now see the cashback rates aligned with newer users.

This means the maximum cashback you’ll be able to earn across the range is £9 per month but as there’s a £3 per month fee, the real figure is £6 a month in cashback:

• 1% cashback at all major supermarkets (on spend of up to £300 per month)
• 2% cashback at all major department stores (on spend of up to £150 per month)
• 3% cashback at all major petrol stations and on National Rail and Transport for London (TfL) travel (on combined spend of up to £100 per month).

Is it still worth it?

Andrew Hagger of Moneycomms said the credit card rewards market is a shadow of its former self, with deals being watered down or axed completely following the introduction of the new EU interchange fee arrangements just over a year ago.

“I would say one of the best cards out there at the moment is the Cashback Plus Card from Asda Money – but you’d really need to be an Asda shopper for your food and or petrol to make it work.

“As with Santander it charges a £3 per month fee but it offers 2% cashback on Asda shopping and fuel plus a generous 1% elsewhere but unlike Santander the amount you can earn each month is not capped.”

Hagger explains that if you spend £400 per month on food and £100 on petrol both at Asda, plus £300 of purchases elsewhere you would earn £13, less the £3 fee so £10 per month net.

“It only really stacks up for Asda customers. It’s the same with M&S, John Lewis, Tesco and Sainsbury’s credit cards – the reward rates in store are good but away from the store, they’re very low,” he said.

Hannah Maundrell, editor in chief of money.co.uk, said if you’ve been using the Santander 123 card for all your day-to-day spending, it’s worth looking at switching to the Amex Platinum Everyday card or even getting a current account that pays cashback which might be a better option and earn you more money. See YourMoney.com’s Your savings game plan for 2017.

Away from the upcoming cashback changes, Maundrell warned that the Santander 123 credit card standard interest rate will also go up from 12.7% to 15.9%: “So if you don’t pay your credit card bill off in full every month this second sting in the tail means you’ll also pay more in interest on your outstanding credit card balance.

“The card is, by way of conciliation, extending its 0% foreign transaction fees indefinitely,” she added.