Solo (debit card)

Solo was a debit card brand in the United Kingdom, launched by the NatWest Group (then National Westminster Bank) in July 1997. It was specifically targeted at people who were unlikely to qualify for a standard Visa or Mastercard debit card, such as young people, students, and those with poor credit histories.

Solo cards functioned like other debit cards, allowing cardholders to pay for goods and services electronically, and to withdraw cash from ATMs. Transactions were debited directly from the cardholder's bank account. The key difference was the lower eligibility requirements compared to mainstream debit card offerings.

The Solo card scheme was discontinued in 2011. NatWest cited increased acceptance of Visa Debit and Mastercard Debit cards, along with the shrinking market for cards specifically aimed at financially excluded individuals, as reasons for the closure. Existing Solo cards were replaced with Visa Debit cards. Other banks also issued Solo cards, but all were phased out by the termination date.