5 best credit cards

Best credit cards

We have prepared a list of the best credit cards with the most favorable terms. Below you will find a comparison table and a detailed description of each credit card.

Sberbank “SberKarta”

• credit limit up to 1,000,000 RUB;
• interest-free period up to 120 days;
• interest rate from 9.8% per annum.

By applying for a SberKarta credit card, you can count on a credit limit of up to 1 million RUB and a genuine interest-free period: from the first day of the billing cycle, you will have exactly 120 days to make purchases and pay off your debt to the bank.

The advantage of the SberKarta credit card lies in its bonus program—the credit institution awards up to 30% cashback on purchases at the bank's partner stores.

If you wish to withdraw cash or make transfers, this service will be free during the first 30 days; after that, you will need to pay a fee of 3% of the transaction amount, but not less than 390 RUB. Please note that the interest-free period does not apply to such types of transactions.

VTB “Karta Vozmozhnostey”

• credit limit up to 1,000,000 RUB;
• interest-free period up to 200 days;
• interest rate from 9.9% per annum.

At VTB, you can get cashback of up to 25% on purchases in selected categories, as well as up to 50% on purchases at partner stores. The lender awards bonuses in actual rubles, meaning you can spend them later at your discretion.

When withdrawing cash from the card, be prepared to pay a fee of 5.9% of the transaction plus 590 RUB, starting from the 31st day after card issuance.

Gazprombank “180 days interest-free”

• credit limit up to 1,000,000 RUB;
• interest-free period up to 180 days;
• interest rate: from 11.9% per annum.

The duration of the interest-free period depends on your spending. If your expenses for two billing cycles do not exceed 90,000 RUB, you can avoid paying interest for 90 days. If your spending exceeds 90,000 RUB, it is 180 days.

Gazprombank's terms do not provide for interest charges on purchases. Instead, the credit institution will return 1,000 RUB to your account when you issue a credit card.

For cash withdrawals and transfers, you will need to pay a fee of 5.9% of the transaction amount plus 590 RUB. 

Sovcombank “Halva”

• кредитный лимит — 500 000 рублей;
• interest-free period up to 300 days;
• interest rate from 15% per annum.

The advantage of the Halva credit card is the availability of installment plans. During the 1st month after card issuance¹ you can get 24 months of installment plan:

• on any purchases with Khalva partners.
• on refinancing credit card debt from any banks.

You can get up to 10% cash back on purchases.

Tinkoff Bank “Tinkoff Platinum”

• credit limit up to 1,000,000 RUB;
• interest-free period — up to one year;
• interest rate — from 12% per annum.

The duration of the interest-free period depends on how you manage your money. By paying for standard purchases with the card, you can avoid paying interest for up to 55 days. By paying off loans received from other banks — up to 120 days. By paying for purchases in installments at partner stores — up to one year.

By paying with a credit card, you can earn cash back on purchases. The bank awards 1% for paying for goods and services outside of categories, and from 3% to 30% for purchases made through special offers.

The fee for cash withdrawals and transfers is 2.9% of the transaction amount plus 290 RUB. 

How to apply for a credit card?

The procedure for applying for a credit card is similar regardless of which bank you apply to. In any case, you can submit an application on the credit institution's website or directly at a branch. To get a credit card, you will only need to provide a passport. When applying for a large credit limit, you may also be required to provide a certificate of income and an employment verification certificate.

Banks impose virtually identical requirements on borrowers:

• hold citizenship of the Russian Federation;
• having permanent registration within Russia;
• age from 18 to 75 years;
• having a regular source of income.

When using a credit card, try to avoid cash withdrawals and transfers — while banks do offer quite favorable terms for paying for goods and services, these rarely apply to other types of transactions.