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AllEditorial auto-review: The virtual card from the Zaimer service is a convenient financial tool for online settlements. The product is aimed at users who value processing speed and digital accessibility without the need to obtain a plastic carrier. On the pages of the Sravnim24 financial portal, you can get acquainted in detail with the current terms of use, maintenance features, and the procedure for obtaining this card. The service allows you to quickly compare the product's parameters with other market offers before making a decision.
Editorial auto-review: The Privilegiya Credit Card of Opportunities from VTB Bank is a premium bank card with an extended grace period of up to 200 days. The credit limit for the product reaches 1,000,000 RUB, and the base interest rate is 24.9% per annum. The card maintenance cost is 2,990 RUB. Application is available to citizens aged 18 and older without income certificates, with cashback of up to 50% provided. Applications are reviewed starting from 5 minutes. The issuance and maintenance terms allow you to effectively manage personal finances within a premium service package.
Editorial auto-review: The 115 Days 0% Interest credit card from Ak Bars Bank is a classic offering featuring free maintenance and a grace period of up to 115 days. You can apply starting from age 18 without providing income certificates, and a decision is made starting from 15 minutes. Cardholders get access to up to 20% cashback and a credit limit of up to 300,000 RUB. This is a functional financial tool for everyday purchases with a long interest-free period.
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Almost all banks provide credit card holders with the opportunity to use money and not pay interest for it. This can be done during the grace period. For some credit cards, its duration is 60 days, for others — 120 days. Sometimes the interest-free period can even reach 24 months. We will explain what a grace period is, how it is calculated, and why banks need it.
What is a grace period?
A grace period is the time during which a credit card holder can use borrowed money without paying interest. Its duration depends on the credit institution and the terms of the specific card.
Initially, the interest-free period applied only to purchases paid for with a credit card. But now banks are trying to make products more profitable for their customers. For this reason, today for many credit cards the grace period also applies to:
- cash withdrawals;
- transfers of borrowed funds;
- payment for housing and communal services, mobile communications, and internet;
- repayment of debts on loans and credit cards issued by other banks, and much more.
Why does a bank need an interest-free period?
A credit card with a grace period is a profitable tool not only for the customer, but also for the bank. Here is why:
- To attract new customers. Reliable and large banks do not issue credit cards to just anyone — only reliable borrowers who take their obligations responsibly get approval. Newly opened companies, however, need customers and are therefore ready to issue credit cards to everyone, even people with a bad credit history. With high probability, a borrower with a negative credit history or a small income will not manage to close the debt before the end of the grace period, meaning they will have to pay interest for using the money.
- To generate income from maintenance fees. Banks usually do not charge an extra fee for issuing a credit card, though it does happen. However, credit card maintenance is usually subject to a fee. Some companies offer free card usage under certain conditions, such as meeting a minimum monthly purchase amount. Banks also charge fees for SMS notifications on deposits and withdrawals.
- To generate income from penalties. Not all customers treat their obligations responsibly — many borrowers not only fail to repay the debt by the end of the interest-free period, but also do not consider it necessary to make mandatory minimum payments. Therefore, they have to pay not only interest for using the money, but also a penalty for violating the terms of the agreement.
How is the grace period calculated?
There are three options for calculating the interest-free period:
- from the first day of the billing period;
- after the first transaction is made;
- after each new transaction.
From the first day of the billing period
For some credit cards, the first day of the grace period is considered the day the card is received and the first withdrawal transaction is made. For other cards, it is the first day of the month.
Let's look at a short example. The interest-free period is 60 days, and the first day of the billing cycle is November 1. In this case, if the cardholder makes their first purchase with the card on November 10, they will have to repay the debt in full by December 31.
After the first transaction
In this case, the first day of the interest-free period is the day the first card transaction is made. For example, the credit card holder paid for their first purchase on November 10. Then, if the grace period is 60 days, they will need to repay the debt in full by January 9.
After each new transaction
With this option, a new interest-free period will apply to each purchase. Here is an example. If the cardholder made a transaction on November 10, and the grace period is 60 days, they will have to repay the debt for it by January 9. Meanwhile, if they paid for another purchase on December 20, they will need to clear the debt for it by February 18.
Where to get a credit card with a grace period in 2024?
Almost all credit cards come with a grace period. But we have selected the three most profitable credit cards worth considering.
"SberCard Credit" from Sberbank
Issuance: free
Maintenance: free
Transaction alerts: free
Credit limit: from 10,000 to 1 million RUB
Grace period: up to 120 days
Interest rate: from 9.8% per annum
Cash withdrawal: free for the first 30 days after receiving the card, then subject to a 3% fee, but not less than 390 RUB
Transfers of borrowed funds: free for the first 30 days after receiving the card, then subject to a 3% fee, but not less than 390 RUB
Cashback: up to 30% for purchases at partner stores
Borrower requirements: Russian citizenship, permanent or temporary registration in Russia, age from 18 to 70 years
"Tinkoff Platinum" from T-Bank
Issuance: Free
Maintenance: 590 RUB per year or free with the "Tinkoff Pro" subscription
Transaction alerts: 59 RUB per month for "Tinkoff Mobile" numbers or 99 RUB per month for other numbers
Credit limit: from 15,000 to 1 million RUB
Grace period: up to 55 days for regular purchases, up to 120 days for repaying debts on credit cards issued by other banks, or up to 180 days with the "Tinkoff Pro" subscription, up to 12 months for purchases at partner stores
Interest rate: from 12% per annum
Cash withdrawal: with a 2.9% fee plus 290 RUB
Transfers of borrowed funds: free up to 50,000 RUB per month, then with a fee of 2.9% plus 290 RUB
Cashback: 1% for regular purchases, up to 30% for purchases at partner stores
Borrower requirements: Russian citizenship, permanent or temporary registration in Russia, age from 18 to 70 years
"365 days without %" from Alfa-Bank
Issuance: free
Maintenance: 990 RUB per year starting from the second year
Transaction alerts: 159 RUB per month starting from the second month
Credit limit: from 5 thousand to 1 million RUB
Grace period: up to 60 days for regular purchases starting from day 31, cash withdrawals, and borrowed funds transfers; up to 100 days for paying off credit card debts issued by other banks; up to 365 days for regular purchases in the first 30 days after receiving the card
Interest rate: from 11.99% per annum
Cash withdrawal: free up to 50 thousand RUB per month, then with a fee of 3.9% plus 390 RUB
Transfers of borrowed funds: with a fee of 5.9% plus 150 RUB
Cashback: up to 5% for purchases in categories, up to 50% for purchases at partner stores
Borrower requirements: Russian citizenship, permanent registration, place of residence and place of work in the region where the bank operates, age from 18 years, official income from 5 thousand RUB per month
Limit
period
SberCard credit card from Sberbank 
Alfa Travel Classic credit card from Alfa-Bank 
Virtual credit card from Kviku 
Double Cashback credit card from Promsvyazbank 
VezdeDohod credit card from Pochta Bank 
MTS Dengi Zero credit card from MTS Bank 
My Freedom credit card from UBRD 
Cashback credit card from Gazprombank Conclusion
To sum up. Almost all credit cards feature a grace period. In some banks, it is calculated from the first day of the billing cycle, in others from the first purchase made, and in others after each new transaction. You should choose a credit card with an interest-free period based on your needs and preferences. For example, if it is important for you to withdraw cash from the credit card or transfer borrowed funds, it is better to get a card where the grace period applies to these transactions.
