Bank cards: how to make the right choice

Types of bank cards

All cards issued by Russian banks can be divided into groups.

By territory of use

• Intra-bank. Used only within the issuing bank's system. Maintenance of local cards by other financial institutions is impossible. Plastic allows you to make purchases in stores that have the bank's terminal installed, and this is a rare occurrence.
• International. Allow banking operations in any banks. The most popular systems are Visa and MasterCard.
• Virtual. A payment instrument that allows you to perform online banking operations. Since such plastic lacks a magnetic stripe and a chip, it cannot be used at ATMs.

Did you know? The first credit card issued in the USSR by one of the banks was presented as a gift to Mikhail Gorbachev.

Depending on the origin of the funds

• Debit

With its help, you can perform various operations, but within the limits of the amount available in the account. Many banks set a minimum balance requirement for this card. That is, if the amount reaches a certain limit, buying goods or paying for services will become impossible. Accrual of interest on the account balance is possible.

• Credit

A card containing the bank's money. They can be spent at your discretion. For using the bank's funds, the institution charges a certain fee. Many credit cards have a grace period of up to 60 days, but (!), for example, on the Alfa-Bank card, the interest-free period is 100 days.

• With authorized overdraft

An overdraft can be connected to a bank card upon the owner's application. The limit is set by the bank, and interest is charged for its use (each bank has its own rates). That is, if the funds on the card run out, the owner can use the "credit" money that automatically appears in the account.

• Prepaid

Externally resembles a credit or debit card, but has a number of differences:

• it is not linked to a bank account;
• no agreement is signed upon issuance;
• applying for a bank card online does not require a passport or other documents;
• the card is not personalized;
• it does not support overdrafts.

Please note! Prepaid cards are often offered as a gift product. Their advantage is that anyone can use them.

By purpose

• Salary cards. These are cards that organizations use to transfer wages to their employees. Depending on how the agreement was drawn up, you may need to return the payment instrument when leaving the company.
• Corporate cards. This is a type of business card used when you need to purchase goods for a company or pay for specific services, such as gas stations, restaurant meals, cafes, etc. Since all funds in the account belong to the company, any transactions made with the card must be supported by receipts.

By prestige level

• Standard

The most common payment instrument, allowing you to use various types of services:

•  pay for utilities and provided services;
• use bonuses and cashback;
• take advantage of partner programs and participate in various promotions;
• receive and transfer money.

Good to know! Mastercard Black Card is a card with a patented design. It is made of stainless steel and carbon, and the annual fee for the owner is 450 dollars.

• Premium cards

This category includes diamond, platinum, and gold payment instruments. They offer the owner more comfortable service conditions and various additional services.

How to order a bank card

The application process is simple, although it depends on the card type. For example, if you want to order a credit or debit card, just select the appropriate product and click the "order" button. After that, you will need to fill out an application form with the requested information.

To get a prepaid card, you just need to state your request and leave your contact details.

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How to choose a card

Since financial institutions offer many plastic cards, choosing the best bank card can be difficult. When trying to decide on a banking product, it is best to pay attention to the following factors:

• annual maintenance fee;
• grace period;
• limits on cash withdrawals at ATMs and bank branches;
• fee amount for withdrawals at third-party ATMs;
• availability of cashback and bonus programs;
• interest on the account balance.

Best cards from Russian banks

By comparing several options, you will be able to find a profitable solution.

• The best card from T-Bank is Platinum. This product has a limit of 300,000 RUB. If the borrowed funds are not repaid within the grace period (120 days), an interest rate of 12% will be charged. Cashback on purchases is up to 30%.
• Halva from Sovcombank offers up to 18 months of installment plans, up to 7.5% on the account balance, and 0% for using installments. There is also up to 6% cashback on any purchases, with no issuance or annual maintenance fees.
• The Polza debit card from Home Credit Bank offers 15% cashback at pharmacies and 10% at gas stations. Free maintenance is available with a daily balance from 10,000 RUB or transactions starting from 5,000 RUB, with savings of up to 7.0% on every purchase. You can make free cash withdrawals at ATMs 5 times a month.
• Cash Back from Alfa-Bank features a 60-day grace period and up to 10% cashback. The credit limit for this card product is up to 700,000 RUB.

Credit cards from Raiffeisenbank (#vse_srazu), Sberbank (Classic), and the Multicard from VTB are also worth paying special attention to.

By reviewing banking products in detail, you will be able to choose a card that fits your needs.