Behind the scenes at Capital On Tap
Capital On Tap is a great option for SMEs looking to collect Avios. It’s one of the cards in my arsenal, and I’ve been leaning on it more and more. The card has undergone some significant changes this year, so I spoke to their Product Director, Nik Haukohl.
Pointszilla: The Capital on Tap card tiers have undergone some major changes recently. How long were you working on that, and how has it gone so far?
Nik: We’ve been working on the new card tiers for well over a year. It’s been a real team effort, involving a lot of listening to our customers, analysing how they use their cards, and thinking about what would genuinely make their lives easier. The changes—especially launching the Pro tier and updating the Free and Business Rewards cards—were all about giving SMEs more choice and better value.
So far, the response has been really encouraging. More businesses than we expected have upgraded to Pro, and the new travel perks like unlimited lounge access and Radisson Rewards VIP status have been a big hit. We’re also proud of how smoothly we managed the transition, making sure everyone knew what was happening and why.
What’s the feedback been like from customers?
Honestly, the feedback has been great. We keep a close eye on reviews and customer messages, and people seem to love the flexibility we offer. The ability to convert points to Avios instantly, or switch to cashback or gift cards, gives our customers real control over their rewards. The instant Avios conversion, in particular, has been a game-changer for a lot of our users.
Of course, some customers were a bit unsure about the higher Pro tier fee at first, but most have come to see the value in the extra perks. And the fact that you can now earn Avios on the Free card, with no annual fee, has gone down really well, especially with smaller businesses.
What’s coming up for current cardholders and new customers in the future?
We’re really focused on making things as simple and seamless as possible for our customers. Recently, we launched a business instant access savings account, powered by ClearBank, which you can manage right alongside your credit card. It offers a competitive interest rate, with no fees or minimum balance, which we think is a real win for SMEs.
On the tech side, we’re constantly improving our app and website. We’ve added features like Preloading (so you can spend beyond your credit limit and earn even more rewards), weekly repayments, and better team management tools. We’ve also made it easier to connect with accounting software like Xero and QuickBooks. There’s a lot more to come—more automation, more insights, and more ways to help businesses manage their money.
It feels like Capital on Tap is discussed a lot around Avios collection. When you set out, did you expect it to be this popular and how critical is Avios to you as a company?
We always thought Avios would be popular with SMEs, but honestly, it’s taken off even more than we expected. When we first partnered with Avios back in 2018, we saw a gap in the market for a business card that turned everyday spending into meaningful travel rewards. Now, we’re the only UK Visa business credit card offering Avios, and the only one with no FX fees, so it’s become a real cornerstone of what we do.
For a lot of our customers, travel is part of running their business, and Avios helps them save money or upgrade their trips. It’s also something that sets us apart from other providers, which is really important in a crowded market.
How do you see the Avios-collection market? Are you expecting growth?
We see a lot of growth ahead. More and more SMEs are realising how much value they can get from collecting Avios, especially as the Avios ecosystem keeps expanding. Travel rewards aren’t just for big corporates anymore—small and medium businesses want those benefits too, and they deserve them. As business travel picks up again, we expect even more interest in Avios collection.
I'm a big fan of Capital On Tap, and not just because of points collection. It's very easy to create a secondary cards for employees, and virtual cards to isolate your spend into buckets. This is really valuable for us, and their Xero connector has worked seamlessly (where the Amex connector often hasn't). How important is Avios to the Capital on Tap offering? What’s the transfer volume like versus the other options like cashback and gift cards?
Avios is a huge part of our offering, especially for our most engaged customers. Cashback is still popular, but we see a lot of points being transferred to Avios – especially since we made it available on the Free card. The fact that you can transfer instantly, at a 1:1 rate, and switch between rewards whenever you want, is a big draw. We don’t share exact numbers, but Avios redemptions are right up there with cashback.
Are there any plans to allow points transfer to other airline partners?
Right now, our Avios partnership is exclusive to British Airways and partners. We’re always listening to what our customers want, and we’re open to new ideas, but for now, we’re focused on making the Avios experience on the cards as good as it can be. The good news is, Avios is pretty flexible already, with lots of options for flights across the extensive British Airways network and its airline partners.
What’s the feature of Capital on Tap that users find the most valuable?
One thing we hear time and again from our customers is just how easy it is to get started with Capital on Tap. The application process is quick and straightforward—you can apply online in minutes, get a decision almost instantly, and start using your card right away. There’s no mountain of paperwork or long waiting times, which is a huge relief for busy business owners.
But what really sets us apart is that we’re more than just a business credit card. With Capital on Tap, you can manage all your business finances from a single, easy-to-use platform. That means handling your card, tracking your spending, managing your team’s cards, and now even growing your savings—all in one place.
Another feature our customers love is Preloading. This lets you add extra funds to your account, so you can spend beyond your credit limit and earn even more rewards—up to 1.25% cashback if you’re on the Pro tier. It’s perfect for those times when you have a big purchase coming up or want to maximise your points.
In short, we’re making it as easy as possible for SMEs to manage their money, earn rewards, and grow—all from one simple, powerful platform.
You’re the only UK business card that allows SME’s to collect Avios without incurring an annual charge, do you see that changing at any point?
We’re really proud to offer free Avios earning to SMEs, and we don’t have any plans to introduce an annual fee for the Free tier. We believe rewards should be accessible, not just for big businesses with big budgets.
What’s your message to SME’s that want to dip into Avios collection and are looking for a credit card?
If you’re an SME looking to get more from your business spending, Capital on Tap is the only UK Visa business card that lets you earn Avios with no annual fee, instant transfers, and no FX fees. You can also choose cashback or gift cards if you prefer. Plus, with our new savings account, you can make your money work harder—all in one place. We’re built for SMEs: fast approvals, high credit limits, and a customer support team that’s always here to help.
What’s the future for Capital on Tap? How do you see the business changing over the next three years?
We’re on a mission to become the go-to financial partner for UK SMEs. Over the next few years, you’ll see us rolling out even more ways to help businesses manage their money, from deeper integrations with accounting and payments to smarter automation and more rewards options. We want to make it as easy as possible for SMEs to manage their finances, earn rewards, and grow.
Finally, is there anything you can tell us about the team behind Capital on Tap?
Our tech team is always pushing the envelope, building new features and making sure everything runs smoothly and securely. But our customer service team is just as important—they’re real people, based in the UK, who genuinely care about helping our customers. We get a lot of positive feedback about how friendly and responsive they are, and that’s something we’re really proud of.
Thanks to Nik at Capital On Tap for taking the time to speak with us and to Kamilla, who organised this interview.
Add a comment