Co-badged card: what is it

What are co-badged cards?

Co-badged cards are also called joint cards because they are issued not by one payment system, but by two at once. For example, “MIR-Maestro”, “MIR-UnionPay”, “MIR-JCB”, and so on. 

These cards look just like the ones we are used to debit cards. On the front, you can see the number, expiration date, the holder's name and surname, as well as a contact chip and a contactless payment logo. On the back, there is a magnetic stripe, a signature field for the cardholder, and a security code.

Since co-badged cards are issued by two payment systems at once, you can see the logos of both PS on the front of the plastic. For example, “MIR” and “UnionPay”. 

The features of using such cards are as follows:

• a card of this type replaces two payment instruments at once — you can use it both in your own country and abroad;
• when attempting to pay for purchases or withdraw cash, the system automatically determines which payment system's service terms will be more profitable for the holder;
• such cards can be used to pay for goods and services, withdraw cash, make money transfers, and so on, provided that terminals and ATMs support at least one of the two connected payment systems;
• often such cards support modern technologies — they are equipped with an NFC module, a multi-level security system, and so on. 

What are these cards for?

If a person permanently resides in Russia, does not travel abroad, and does not make purchases in foreign online stores, they do not need a co-badged card. 

The opposite situation arises when a client of the bank often travels abroad and is forced to pay in foreign stores, withdraw cash from the card, or make money transfers. 

For such a case, you can have two debit cards. For example, payment systems Mir and UnionPay. The first one can be freely used in Russia, and the second one — in another 180 countries. But keeping two cards is not very convenient or profitable, since the maintenance of such payment instruments is often paid and quite expensive. 

An excellent payment instrument in this case is a co-badged card, as it can be used freely both within one's own country, and abroad. 

How do co-badged cards work?

As we mentioned above, co-badged cards operate on the basis of two payment systems. This means they are programmed to function according to the parameters of both payment systems. 

Despite the fact that co-badged cards are issued by two payment systems at once, they have a single account from which funds are debited. Just like with the cards we are familiar with.

Having such a card, its holder can:

• choose a payment system for paying for goods and services, withdrawing cash, and transferring money under the most favorable terms;
• withdraw cash at ATMs both in Russia and abroad;
• use terminals for money transfers both in Russia and abroad.

Moreover, to carry out all operations, the cardholder does not need to change accounts, convert currency, or look for suitable terminals and ATMs abroad.

Who should get a co-badged card?

It is worth getting a co-badged card:

1. If the cardholder frequently travels abroad for vacations or business trips and constantly needs to pay with the card in shops, cafes, and restaurants, as well as withdraw cash.
2. If the cardholder lives abroad but works for a Russian employer. 
3. If the cardholder frequently transfers money abroad.

The best co-badged cards in Russia in 2024

Today, the most popular co-badged cards in Russia are those featuring the UnionPay-MIR payment systems. Let's look at them in more detail.

Rosselkhozbank "Svoya Karta"

Issue fee card is free, as is the maintenance. You can additionally enable transaction alerts. The service costs 99 RUB per month. 

Free cash withdrawals are available at the bank's own ATMs. The commission for withdrawing cash at devices of third-party credit institutions within Russia is 1% of the transaction amount. The fee for cash withdrawals at foreign bank ATMs is 3%. 

VBRR "UnionPay – MIR Co-badged Card"

Its advantage is favorable cashback — up to 30% of the purchase price can be earned by participating in the MIR payment system loyalty program. 

In addition, VBRR awards 2% of the amount spent at Rosneft gas stations, 5% at Ryazan-nefteprodukt gas stations, and up to 30% for purchases at the bank's partner stores. 

Pros and cons of co-badged cards

To conclude the article, let us discuss the advantages and disadvantages of co-badged cards. Their pros:

• the ability to use a single card both in Russia and abroad;
• the system automatically selects the more profitable payment system for transactions;
• maintaining a co-badged card is cheaper than maintaining two cards from different payment systems.

The disadvantages of such cards are slightly more numerous:

• co-badged cards are nearly impossible to obtain in Russia due to the small number of offers from banks;
• such cards can only be used at terminals and ATMs that support the connected payment systems;
• expensive maintenance for this type of card.