Appearance of the card: what the bank card looks like and what information is available on the bank card. Which bank card is best for travel
Most Russians receive plastic cards at work or when paying scholarships and pensions, so they are deprived of the opportunity to choose a card. But if you yourself determine the best option for yourself, you need to take into account a whole range of criteria. When choosing bank cards, you should pay attention to the following characteristics: type of card (debit), payment system (Visa and MasterCard), class of service and additional options.
Choice of card type: debit or credit card
Debit cards allow you to use only your own funds, while credit cards make it possible to borrow money from the bank and go into the red. Debit cards are more suitable for those who do not accept bank loans, have low financial discipline and are prone to spontaneous spending.
The most important criteria for choosing credit cards are the annual interest rate, the size of the credit limit, and the presence of a grace period during which you can use borrowed money for free.You should opt for a credit card if you periodically feel the need for borrowed funds.
Comparing various options for plastic cards, you should pay attention to additional advantages, including:
Availability of opportunities for remote account management - Internet banking and mobile banking, this will allow you to perform all operations without visiting a bank branch;
Accrual of interest on the balance or the ability to connect online deposits, which will allow not only spending, but also earning on the card;
Availability of cash-back - according to these cards, part of the purchases is returned back to the card account; for example, on a Master Card from Svyaznoy Bank, 10% is credited to the balance, 1% is returned as bonuses;
The presence of 3D-Secure technology, which makes card payments more secure.
Also today, everyone can choose a card with an additional set of benefits based on their needs - for example, a card with discounts and bonuses for travel enthusiasts, for motorists, for users of certain telecom operators, etc. With airline co-branded cards when paying for any goods and services to a client Miles are earned that can be redeemed for free airline tickets or upgrades.
Choice of payment system: Visa or MasterCard
The choice of a payment system is relevant only for actively traveling Russians and who intend to pay abroad using bank cards.
If you plan to use the card only on the territory of the Russian Federation, then there is no difference between Visa or MasterCard.
In this case, it should be borne in mind that the currency of the Visa payment system is the dollar, while MasterCard has the euro. Thus, it is more profitable to pay with a Visa card in the USA, MasterCard - in Europe. So, when paying with a Visa card in Europe, it initially converts rubles, and then into euros, which is rather unprofitable.
Selecting a bank card class
Finally, it is worth deciding on the class of service. There are three classes of bank cards: electronic, classic and premium.
Electronic cards (Visa Electron and MasterCard Maestro) are distinguished by a basic set of services, the minimum cost of annual maintenance (about 300 rubles per year). Such cards are suitable for those who use it to withdraw cash, as well as purchases at retail outlets. However, they cannot be paid online. Such cards are often issued as unnamed cards.
Classic cards (Visa Classic and MasterCard Standard) are the most common types of cards with a basic set of functions. They allow you to make payments and pay for purchases by bank transfer. This card is often issued with a chip, which allows it to be used for purchases abroad.
Gold and Premium premium cards are status cards with an additional set of privileges, such as discount programs. Among the disadvantages of such cards is the high cost of maintenance.
For those who often make purchases on the Internet, you can also order virtual cards without a physical medium.
Most people who decide to open a debit card for any specific purpose try to find exactly free debit cards so as not to pay the bank for servicing this seemingly simple and now available banking product.
Indeed, many banks now offer debit cards with free annual service. But at the same time, in most cases there are certain pitfalls that an ordinary client may not immediately know about.
That is why, in this review, we will consider the best free debit cards offered by domestic banks in 2019. Moreover, in the description for each card we will try to reveal all the nuances and features of the card, the pros and cons, and much more.
Best Free Debit Cards in 2019
So, below are the TOP-5 of the best and most profitable debit cards that are issued for free and do not have an annual service fee in their tariffs. The cards presented are those that are currently very popular among bank customers, have positive and numerous reviews on the Internet, as well as having favorable rates and conditions with completely zero or shareware service.
Best Free Debit Card of 2019
One of the most popular cards in Tinkoff Bank is black Tinkoff Black debit card. This card will be an excellent option to keep money on it for savings, as well as for everyday payments in stores.
The main advantages of the card:
- The card is issued in premium categories MasterCard, VISA or MIR Premium.
- You can issue a ruble or currency card (euro, dollar).
- Cash withdrawals from ATMs and transfers to other banks are free of charge.
- Free issue of additional cards up to 5 pieces for all family members or for yourself. Moreover, you can issue different payment systems to one account. For example, for payments within the country, you can issue a MIR premium card, and for payments abroad, MasterCard Platinum.
- Online registration and free delivery by a bank specialist.
- Interest on the balance of funds on the card up to 6 percent per annum.
- Cashback for purchases in certain categories up to 5%, as well as for purchases from partners of Tinkoff Bank up to 30%.
At first glance, a card of a prestigious category and with such advantages cannot be free. And to some extent this is true, since the card costs 99 rubles a month.
But there is ways and conditions how to use a debit card for free:
- The Tinkoff Black card will be free if you have a bank deposit (deposit) in the amount of 50 thousand rubles or a loan for the same amount in Tinkoff Bank.
- Another way to use it for free is to keep a minimum balance of 30 thousand rubles on the card for a month.
- Well, the most popular way - after receiving the card, just call or write to the bank with a request to transfer to non-public tariff 6.2 in which there is no card maintenance fee. Only existing bank customers are transferred to it. You can familiarize yourself with this tariff.
As you can see, making a card free is quite easy and simple, but you can start by simply opening the card. The card is perfect for payroll and other purposes.
Free universal debit card with interest and cashback
One of the most popular debit cards in Russia today is considered Rocketbank card. Its popularity is due to the fact that it is produced and maintained free of charge, delivered by courier also free of charge. By card it is possible to make transfers to other banks without commission. In addition, every month the bank offers to choose stores in your city where you can receive up to 10% cashback.
And of course, what kind of debit card without interest on the balance. It is 5.5 percent here.
A feature of this bank is that it serves customers only remotely through a mobile application for Android and IOS. For those who have not heard about the Rocketbank brand, I will say that it belongs to the QIWI financial group (Qiwi Bank). This testifies to the maximum reliability of Rocketbank. And do not forget that the bank is included in the DIA, and all funds on the card are insured by the state.
Income debit card with free issue and maintenance from Home Credit
Home Credit Bank in 2018 introduced a new debit card "Polza", which is currently one of the most interesting cards for storing your funds and making payments in stores.
For storing funds, the card is beneficial in that it accrues interest on the balance up to 7% per annum. And for payments in stores, the card is interesting because it has a bonus program "Benefit" that allows you to receive bonuses (cashback) in certain categories and partner stores up to 10%.
The card is issued absolutely free of charge. Also, now there is a promotion for which there is no annual service for the first year. From the second year, if you keep a minimum balance of 10 thousand rubles on the card, then the card will also be free, if less then 99 rubles.
The amount of 10 thousand rubles is not so big to keep it on the card at a high percentage and receive free card maintenance for this.
Free universal card "Halva" from Sovcombank
Another profitable debit card where you can profitably store your own funds and withdraw at any ATM in the world is the installment card from Sovcombank. The Halva card is a card with a credit limit that allows you to make purchases in installments up to 12 months.
But besides this function, it has a debit functionality that allows you to use the card as a debit card. 6% per annum is charged on the balance of own funds on the card, and under certain conditions, the interest rate can be increased to 7.5%. In addition, you can withdraw funds in the amount of up to 100 thousand per month at any ATM in the world without commission. The card definitely deserves to be issued, even because it is absolutely free. You can read more about the map in separate review in our blog.
Opencard debit card with no annual fee and free shipping
I must say right away that you can use the card for free, under certain conditions, which are also not difficult to fulfill. But more on that below.
Why is it worth issuing a debit Opencard at Otkritie Bank:
- Large reliable bank TOP-10.
- Cashback on everything up to 6%. No need to search for specific categories or stores. Pay with it everywhere and get a stable 6 percent cashback!
- Commission-free ATM withdrawals and transfers to other banks.
- Savings account-piggy bank, where you can store money at a favorable interest rate of up to 7% per annum.
- Possibility to issue a premium card with free service (when minimum requirements are met).
- Free delivery at any time and place convenient for you.
Where can I get a free debit card?
So, in this review, we tried to answer the question of many "Where to get a free debit card?" and reviewed the most profitable and interesting bank debit cards that should be issued this year. So, the choice is now yours, but I would recommend that you try several debits from this list at once in order to understand from your own experience which card will be most suitable for you. Moreover, they complement each other and allow you to earn a lot of rubles on cashbacks.
For each traveler, in the process of preparing for a trip, the question arises: how much money and in what form - on a card or cash - will he carry with him. And in this matter, I will be categorical: you need to take both cash and a bank card (or better, several) in order to save yourself from trouble.
Cash
- useful in places where it is not possible to pay with cards,
- they will fix the optimal course and will not allow you to significantly exceed the budget of the trip, because they are bought in advance, at the most convenient moment,
- help to avoid commissions when paying in a currency other than the currency of the card,
- help control costs (it's no secret that when paying only with cards, we spend more than cash, because we "do not see" the costs).
Bank cards
- first of all, they serve to fulfill the rule “do not put all your eggs in one basket” - that is, they keep our money from scammers and thieves,
- protect our capital: even if the card is stolen, it can be blocked and money saved,
- even on a trip they help to accumulate bonuses,
- increase our mobility: we buy tickets online, without wasting time on movement and standing in lines.
So, with the question, cash or card, sorted out. Now let's decide which cards and how to use on the trip.
I have a lot of cards: but three play a role in travel planning and use on a trip: Corn, Tinkoff black and Tinkoff ALL Airlines. The rest are only donors of these three. Let's take a look at the benefits and advantages of these cards.
Corn
Map Kukuruz is a map of the Euroset. Its only plus, which outweighs the rest of the minuses, is a very favorable exchange rate, only slightly different from the exchange rate. In this regard, Corn still holds the lead, its rate is ALWAYS better than the rate of all other banks. I have not bought currency personally for a long time - always through the Corn mobile application, without looking up from my chair, when it is convenient for me, and the exchange rate seems to be the most optimal.
You can withdraw currency - no commission, absolutely free - by sending yourself a Golden Crown transfer to the nearest bank. And then pick it up at any convenient time - at least in 10 minutes, at least in a week. Just VIP conditions, in my opinion.
Also, it is with this card that I make purchases in foreign currency, all for the same reason - the most favorable rate.
It is easy to replenish it - free of charge from any card linked to your personal account, the main thing is that the replenishment amount is from 3000 rubles.
In all other respects, the card is completely inconvenient and is not used by me, that is, I do not take it abroad (there were too many reviews that it was not recognized by either ATMs or terminals abroad).
Tinkoff Black
Tinkoff black is a card with a cashback and accrual of interest on the account balance, if you issue this card using my link, the bank will provide you with 3 months of free service as a welcome bonus. Now I’ll tell you why I and my family members like this card so much: it is very convenient to use (and now a convenient mobile application is an important fact for the bank), easy and profitable.
Interest on balance
Every month, 6% per annum is charged on the card balance, that is, the card acts in the same way as a bank account, only even more convenient: you can manage money without standing in line at the bank and without losing interest if you fulfill all the conditions on the card, which I will tell you below.
Cashback money
There are a lot of cards that accrue bonus points, which can then be used when paying in stores. Their drawback is obvious: you can spend bonuses not everywhere, but only with bank partners, who also change and tighten their conditions on the go. For example, I stopped using the “Thank you” bonuses from Sberbank and have already completely switched to Tinkoff. Previously, these bonuses helped a lot when buying medicines - they really saved the family budget in the autumn-winter period, when children started to get sick. But now the Rigla pharmacy, where you can pay with bonuses, has raised the barrier twice: before, the minimum purchase amount was 300 rubles, then it became 500, and now it’s 1000!!! Even buying at the same time an expensive antibiotic and an immunomodulatory drug, I did not reach this threshold. On this, this promotion ended for me, and I finally switched to settlements with a Tinkoff card.
Moreover, Tinkoff credits cashback not with points, but with money, and you don’t even think about where they can / can’t be spent - you just get extra money in circulation. Cashback is credited once a month, you can spend it immediately.
Transfers, deposits and withdrawals
Transfers to cards of other banks, replenishment of a card from a card of other banks, cash withdrawals - free of charge with a transaction amount of 3,000 rubles or more.
What conditions must be met in order not to pay for card maintenance
In order for the service on the card to be free, in order to accrue cashback and interest on the balance, a number of easy conditions must be met. In my opinion, these conditions are covered by the benefits of using the card:
- with a minimum balance of at least 30,000 rubles for the billing period, no monthly fee will be charged for servicing the card (if less - 99 rubles per month).
- for a balance of up to 300,000 rubles with a purchase transaction amount of 3,000 rubles or more for the billing period, a 1% cashback is accrued from the total amount of purchases, for certain selected categories - 5%.
Can do automatic transfer of salary from a salary card to a Tinkoff card- and not remembering to replenish the card at all, very convenient.
By the way, if needed visa certificate- in your personal account you can request a certificate for a visa, it can be received by mail with a “live” seal and signature, all this happens quite quickly and free of charge, the main thing is to take care of this problem in advance.
Tinkoff ALL Airlines
For those who want more bonuses, Tinkoff has developed the Tinkoff ALL Airlines card. This map was created specifically for independent travelers: using it, you can fly to anywhere in the world for free.
Bonus miles, cashback
Making purchases with the card, booking hotels and paying for air tickets (and so on and so forth), you get bonus miles to your account, with which you can then FULLY pay for the coveted air ticket.
Cashback up to 30% for purchases from bank partners.
Interest on balance
You receive 6% per annum in miles to your account when paying with a card for purchases from 20,000 ₽ per month
Free insurance
You get free travel insurance, which is valid in any country in the world, has insurance coverage up to $ 50,000, it includes outdoor activities, i.e. ball games, water activities, etc.
All operations on the card: transfers, withdrawals, replenishment are free.
Redeem miles for airline tickets
You can exchange miles for tickets in increments of 3,000 miles (that is, the cost of an air ticket must be a multiple of 3,000), the remainder is non-refundable.
Card service
Card service costs 299 ₽ per month, with a minimum account balance of at least 100,000 rubles, it will be free.
If you register using my referral links, you will be credited with welcome bonuses, which will be an additional bonus, right?
ALL Airlines- a bank credit card, when registering via the link, you are credited with a bonus of 1000 miles.
ALL Airlines— debit card of the bank, when registering via the link, you are credited with a bonus of 500 miles.
If your bank card was stolen/lost Don't rush to block it. Log in to the mobile app and transfer all funds to another card or account.
If you are planning withdraw money from a bank card abroad - it is better and more profitable to do this with a debit card.
credit card it’s more convenient to use it only when paying in stores, etc., but it’s not worth withdrawing money from it - it’s not profitable !!!
A lot has been said and written about bank cards, but we still see how customers confuse debit cards with credit cards, are prejudiced against prepaid “plastic” and have absolutely no idea why virtual cards are needed. Our today's material is addressed to those who want to sort through the types of bank cards once and for all and find out which one is intended for what.
In order to talk about the types of bank cards, we first define what they are. Many plastic holders mistakenly believe that a card and a bank account are the same thing. Many common misconceptions follow from this - for example, that the loss of a card also leads to the loss of funds on it. However, this is not at all the case.
In fact, a bank card is just a payment instrument. By itself, it is a piece of plastic, and only "binding" to the bank account that the client has makes it possible to manage his money using the card. Of course, the loss, blocking or damage of the card does not affect the state of the account in any way (of course, if it does not fall into the hands of scammers with other data, who can cash out your money).
Almost any of the existing types of cards can be linked to the same account - it all depends only on the tariffs and capabilities of the bank, as well as the desires of the client himself. Therefore, let's talk about what types of "plastic" can be produced today, and how they differ from each other.
Main types of bank cards
Despite the apparent variety of bank cards that financial institutions offer their customers today, they all have similar characteristics and varieties in the database. The difference is only in tariffs, commissions, additional services and bonuses offered - but before comparing financial benefits from cards of different banks, you need to decide on the type of "plastic" that suits you best. As a rule, the division of cards can be done according to several parameters:
- By the owner of the funds in the account– debit, credit, overdraft, prepaid;
- By territory of use– local, international, intrabank, virtual;
- By payment system– Visa, MasterCard, Golden Crown, American Express, etc.
- By the level of loyalty to the client and the volume of services– electronic, standard, gold, platinum, etc.
- By data storage method- chip, with magnetic tape, combined.
The combination of different parameters from this list gives that huge assortment of "plastic" that can be seen today in the advertising offers of banks. But it is this abundance that leads to confusion for future card owners - how to choose the right type and not make a mistake. Let's tell you more about the most popular categories of banking "plastic".
Debit cards
Debit cards are "plastic" tied to a deposit current account. This is the most common type of bank cards - all salary, "pension", settlement cards belong to this kind.
The main feature of debit cards is that the client has the right to dispose of only money, pre-placed to them in their bank account. If this amount has already been spent, it is impossible to withdraw funds from the card until the next replenishment. We list other characteristics of cards with a debit limit:
- Such a card can be "tied" to a salary account, a deposit account "on demand", a deposit account with the possibility of partial withdrawal of funds, an accrued interest account;
- You can issue a debit card for a teenager from 14 to 18 years old (with the consent of the parents); for children from 6 to 14 years old, it is possible to issue an additional card to the parent card with a restriction on transactions on it. Persons over 18 years of age are entitled to issue debit cards on their own.
- An application for issuing a debit card is considered as soon as possible (a few minutes), as it does not require additional permits and checks. The issuance of the card itself, depending on its type and region, can be instantaneous or take several weeks.
- To issue a debit card, only a passport and the personal presence of the client are needed, no additional documents are required;
- As a rule, there are no upper and lower balance limits for debit cards - the client can both reset the account and place unlimited amounts on it;
- Funds on card accounts are protected by the deposit insurance system (with a maximum reimbursement amount of 1.4 million rubles);
- A certain small percentage may be charged on the balance of funds (usually the average monthly amount on the account is considered);
- With a debit card, you can pay in cash and non-cash: make payments on the Internet and through an online account, withdraw money from ATMs, pay for goods and services at terminals.
Read also:
Control information on the Sberbank card
A debit card is a convenient payment instrument that is issued to a current bank account. With its help, you can have access to your funds around the clock and not depend on the work schedule of bank branches.
In addition, the functionality of debit cards can be expanded - for example, many banks offer to open a credit limit (overdraft) for them.
Overdraft cards
One of the most unclaimed products of banks - These are overdraft cards.. Many holders of "plastic" simply do not understand the mechanism of operation of such a credit limit, and therefore refrain from using it. Let's talk about these cards in more detail.
So, an overdraft is a credit to a debit account. In fact, a client who has concluded an overdraft agreement receives the right to pay with a card in excess of the balance on the account. Main characteristics of an open overdraft card:
- The credit limit is not open to everyone - banks have a certain list of requirements for the client (age, credit history, financial status, work experience, etc.);
- The main requirement when opening a limit is stable income to the card account. That is why overdrafts are most often offered on salary and pension cards. The fulfillment of this requirement “overrides” the violation of others - for example, the client may not have the required length of service, but the bank will offer him an overdraft.
- In order for the overdraft to be opened, the card must be valid for several months (usually from six months) - so the bank will be able to track the frequency of receipts;
- The overdraft limit varies depending on the bank and the type of card. It can be either 30-50% of the average monthly income, or 5-6 salaries;
- No documents are required to open an overdraft – all necessary documents are provided upon initial opening of an account. As a rule, it is enough to sign an overdraft agreement on the terms offered by the bank;
- Overdrafts can hardly be called profitable - banks open them at fairly high interest rates (25-30% per annum). In addition, in many cases there is a fee for using the overdraft facility;
- To use the limit, it is enough to withdraw an amount greater than the account balance - without additional requests to the bank;
- The repayment of the overdraft occurs automatically - when funds are credited to the account, the bank writes them off as a loan.
A debit card overdraft is a very convenient type of loan that allows you to get access to loans. However, it has several disadvantages - the most significant is that an overdraft is addictive to loans, and after a while the borrower cannot do without them.
Read also:
Shopping in foreign online stores in 2018. Will there be a tax?
Experts recommend not opening overdrafts for significant amounts - this can lead to the fact that your entire salary or pension will go to repayment, and you will use credit funds again and again. It is advisable to distinguish between a debit card and a loan account - for example, issue a separate credit card.
Credit cards
A credit card is a special type of consumer loan opened to individuals. A card with a credit limit is an opportunity to use the bank's funds at any time and in any place. Credit card characteristics:
- To issue plastic, it is necessary to open a loan account, which means obtaining a bank loan;
- The credit card limit is the amount of the loan granted by the bank;
- Issuing a card takes from several hours to a week, depending on the speed of consideration of a loan application and its limit;
- To issue a card, you need a client's passport, proof of income, place of work - that is, everything that is needed to issue a regular consumer loan;
- Credit cards are issued only to persons over 18 years of age with permanent employment;
- Rates on cards can be quite high - up to 40-50% per annum. This is a fee for the “revolvability” of plastic - that is, the ability to repeatedly use the limit;
- Many credit cards also have a debit limit - and in the absence of commissions for cash withdrawals, they can be very beneficial for the client. As a rule, banks charge interest on the balance of their own funds on credit cards by type of deposits, and the rate can be quite good.
A credit card is a payment instrument that provides a borrower with access to a loan account. It can only have a credit limit, but it can also perform the functions of a debit one - it all depends on the tariffs of a particular bank.
Prepaid cards
A fairly new type of plastic cards - prepaid. They appeared only a few years ago, and have not yet gained popularity. A prepaid card is a kind of analogue of a gift certificate for stores and beauty salons, but with a much wider range of applications. Main characteristics:
- They are issued as an unnamed debit card - that is, their issuance occurs instantly, at the time of the conclusion of the contract
- This is a bearer card, that is, any owner can pay with it, regardless of who purchased the card;
- Has a certain limited limit, does not involve opening an overdraft or replenishing an account (in the latter case, there are exceptions);
- As a rule, it is unsuitable for calculations on the Internet;
- You can withdraw cash from the card or pay with it at the terminals of stores.
Prepaid card - great replacement for a gift certificate, cash gifts or salary "in an envelope". Carrying such plastic is safer and more convenient than cash, but there are a number of restrictions compared to a debit card.
Division of maps by territory of use
So far, we have only talked about dividing cards by owners of funds, which can be the plastic holder himself, a bank or a third party who bought a prepaid card. However, the matter is not limited to the choice of a credit or debit card - you also need to determine in which territory the use of plastic is necessary. On this basis, the cards are divided into:
- Intrabank - that is, those that can be cashed only at the issuer's ATMs. Such, for example, are cards that some banks issue to cash out consumer loans.
- Local - cards that can be used only in a limited area (for example, in the country where it is issued). So, in Russia there are several local payment systems, with which only local banks cooperate.
- International cards belong to major payment systems and can be cashed in any country in the world. These cards will be useful for travelers - they can be linked to a multi-currency account and make payments in one of several currencies;
- Virtual cards are needed for payments in the Internet space. They do not exist in physical form, they cannot be used at an ATM or an offline store. At the same time, a virtual card is an excellent payment tool for cashless payments and online purchases.
Updated: 2019-3-13
Oleg Lazhechnikov
62You know that from time to time I am fond of bank cards, cashbacks and conversion rates. As a result of my research, I wrote a post in which I told what cards I myself have and which ones can be made. Of course, the list is incomplete, there are many more cards, but based on personal experience, besides, I update it, as I follow the rates.
Recently, questions about Alfabank cards have become more frequent, and the matter is muddy with them. Therefore, I asked Alfabank technical support about commissions, made myself Alfabank cards, and checked everything in practice. But in order not to write about only one Alfabank, I conducted an experiment with all my cards at once.
I recommend the AllAirlines card from Tinkoff with 10% cashback on hotels, 3-5% for tickets and 2% for all purchases. Read my post. I've been using it for over a year now, and it's very beneficial.
The fact is that when buying abroad with Alfabank cards, there is a commission of 2.5%, which is advertised in few places, and it does not always arise. They wrote to me several times in the comments that, they say, there are no commissions. But in order to say for sure, you need to know all the nuances. Before describing the results of my experiment, I offer you an answer from Alfabank technical support, where it says in black and white about a commission of 2.5%. I quote.
In accordance with the Bank's Tariffs, for cash withdrawal through third-party ATMs (except for partner banks), a commission of 1% of the amount, including the commission of a third-party bank, but not less than 180 rubles, is charged. for the Optimum Service Package. We recommend that you clarify the availability and size of the commission of a third-party bank in its support service.
We would like to note that when making a transaction in a currency other than the currency of the account to which the card was issued, with the use of which the corresponding transaction was made, the Bank converts it into the account currency in the manner and on the terms provided for in Appendix 4 - “General Conditions for Issuing, Servicing and use of cards” of the Agreement.
Three currencies are always involved in the conversion process: transaction currency, billing currency and card account currency.
Transaction currency- the currency in which the operation is performed using a bank card (cash withdrawal, payment at a point of sale or transfer from card to card).
Billing currency– the currency in which the international payment system calculates the amount to be debited from the cardholder's account. The billing currency for VISA and MasterCard payment system cards when making transactions in foreign currency abroad is US dollars.
Account currency- the currency in which the account is opened, to which the card is “linked”, with the use of which the operation is performed.
If the currency of the Client's account differs from the transaction currency and the billing currency, then the conversion will be carried out according to the rules and the rate of the payment system (IPS) from the transaction currency to the billing currency, and at the Bank's rate from the billing currency to the account currency. In accordance with the rules of the IGA, the Bank has the right to apply adjustment coefficients to the base rate of the IGA. For Alfa-Bank cards, the ratio is 2.5% (except for VISA Infinite and MasterCard World Signia / MasterCard World Elite cards, for which the conversion is carried out without applying a correction factor). This information is recorded in the documents regulating mutual settlements between the Ministry of Railways and the Bank and may be changed. Thus, the conversion from the transaction currency to the billing currency takes place at the rate set in accordance with the rules of the IPS, which allow adjustment factors to be applied to the base rate. The MPS course can be found on the MPS website. This rate is for informational purposes, since at the time of the operation, the rate can be one, and at the time of authorization of the operation - another. When converting from the billing currency to the account currency, the Alfa-Bank rate is applied, which the Bank has the right to set at its discretion.
At the same time, the following rule applies in Alfa-Bank: if the transaction currency matches the currency of the Client's account, then the amount debited from the Client's account will be equal to the amount of the transaction.
Just in case, I summarize the entire answer of technical support. If you withdraw dollars from a dollar card, or from a euro euro, there will be no 2.5% commission. If you withdraw baht, shekels, zloty and other tugriks from foreign currency cards, or withdraw something from ruble cards, then there will be a commission of 2.5%, except for VISA Infinite or MasterCard World Signia/Elite cardholders.
Which of the 6 bank cards is more profitable
As I said above, I decided to experiment immediately with all the cards that I have with me: Tinkoff ruble and dollar, Corn with a connected interest on the balance, Sberbank Mastercard, Alfa ruble and dollar. Withdrawn at the same ATM, the same amount 1000 shekels, at the same time April 10, 2017 with a difference of several minutes.
Let me remind you that there were 2 conversions for ruble cards (ILS=>USD=>RUB): the first (ILS=>USD) is carried out by the Mastercard or Visa payment system, the second (USD=>RUB) is carried out by a Russian bank. For dollar cards, there was only 1 conversion (ILS=>USD), which is carried out by the payment system, and the rate of the Russian bank is not involved in this case, but nevertheless it can charge its commission. For Thai baht, it would be exactly the same scheme.
You also need to understand that although the authorization of funds (withdrawal from an ATM) was at the same time, their actual debiting occurs after 2-5 days and at the rate on the day of debiting. Accordingly, the conversion rates and the final amounts (which we compare) differ, and because of this, too (the rates change at least once a day). Separately, I’ll say about dollar cards - it’s important at what rate dollars were bought, if you compare what is more profitable for ruble or dollar cards (I’ll talk about this somehow). For example, you can buy them in advance at one of the rate falls, in the Internet bank immediately before withdrawing from an ATM, or in an exchanger on any day.
Authorization | Write-off | Withdrawal fee | Total removed | Note | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Maize Mastercard World | 16381,29 | 15500,43 | 0 | 15500,43 | Write-off after 3.5 days. In IB, a bug is displayed and the commission is displayed. After decommissioning, this line should disappear, but so far the bug has not been fixed yet. With the connected service "Interest on the balance" up to 50 thousand rubles per month, withdrawal from ATMs without commission, then 1%. |
Tinkoff Black ruble | 15559,11 | 15801,15 | 0 | 15801,15 | Withdrawal after 3 days. There is no commission for withdrawing from ATMs within 150 thousand rubles / month. |
Sberbank Mastercard ruble | 16072,64 | 15839,48 | 158,39 | 15997,87 | Withdrawal after 3 days. ATM withdrawal fee (1%) is not displayed anywhere in IB, although it is charged immediately. You can see it only in a full statement in the IB, after about 5 days, not everyone knows this. |
Alfabank ruble | 16293,33 | 15899,47 | 180 | 16079,47 | |
Tinkoff Black dollar | $276,33 | $273,85 | 0 | $273,85 | Withdrawal after 3 days. No fee for ATM withdrawals up to $5,000/month. |
Alfabank dollar | $284,08 | $280,70 | 3,18 | $283,88 | Write-off after 4.5 days. ATM withdrawal fee (1%) is displayed in IB as a separate line. |
findings
On a banking forum, they most often advise for rubles, and for currency, if we are talking about travel. And this basically coincides with my advice, as well as with the results of the experiment. Although I am more for a currency card (more profitable) and for 2-10% cashback (free service via the link).
First of all, this experiment can be useful for those for whom the phrase “as much as 4% of the commission on the XXX card” means nothing, and who do not want to understand all these courses. Agree, when you give specific amounts, especially in comparison, it is clearer than any percentage there. After all, in fact, the difference between the cards when withdrawing is only a few hundred rubles. Not everyone wants to bother and make special slightly more profitable cards because of such a difference, especially if there are only one or two trips a year.
Another thing is those who like to count money, or who use cards abroad throughout the year. You see, it is much more pleasant not to give commissions to the bank, but to receive cashbacks from it back. And the more expenses per year, the greater the difference. For example, I save on annual maintenance, conversion fees, cashback, say, 15 thousand rubles a year. Is it a lot or a little? If you count it as work, then it’s not enough, if you count the money from nowhere that I get, poking around in the topic that I like, then a very nice bonus. It must be taken into account that I figured out the issue and made maps a couple of years ago, that is, I have not been sitting day and night reading forums for a long time, no. Also, if you take the amount not 15 thousand rubles, but for example 150 thousand rubles, 200 rubles of the difference already turns into 2000 rubles. Well, and so on, you yourself can multiply (for 1.5 million rubles there will be a difference of 20,000 rubles).
Therefore, I recommend everyone to approach the choice of bank cards with a head. If you don’t really need a bonus, then it’s easier not to bother yourself and make almost any card. If you want to get everything from the bank, you will have to read the tariffs and choose something specifically for yourself.
P.S. Questions? :)
Life hack 1 - how to buy good insurance
It is unrealistically difficult to choose insurance now, therefore, to help all travelers, I am compiling a rating. To do this, I constantly monitor forums, study insurance contracts and use insurance myself.
Life hack 2 - how to find a hotel for 20% cheaper
Thank you for reading
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