Currency card of which bank is the best?

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

The popularity of cashless payments is increasing every day. With a plastic card, you can pay bills in a store, cafe, restaurant, gas station, medical center, etc. For settlements in Russia, an account in rubles is opened. A debit card is attached to it. But what if a person goes abroad? What is the best card to open? Currency. It does not “hit the wallet” so much during periods of crisis.

Cash or card

Several years ago, before going abroad, Russians bought dollars and euros at exchange offices. Many people still do this. But it is better to issue a bank card and keep funds on it. Then you don’t have to carry a wad of cash, and in case of loss of plastic, the funds can be blocked. In the most difficult situation, relatives will always be able to replenish your account in rubles.

Currency card in Russia is not yet as popular as a regular debit card. Users have a lot of questions. Can I pay with it in a European store? WhichCommission of the bank? Where is the best place to withdraw funds? How to protect yourself from scammers?

Types

The world's most widespread payment systems - Visa and MasterCard - issue plastic cards in any currency. You can pay with them in a store where there is an appropriate logo. But many regions have their own nuances. For example, most retail outlets in Europe do not accept plastics without a chip. In Germany, it is easier to pay with a Maestro card. Geopolitics also matter. A currency card issued by an Armenian bank will not operate in Azerbaijan. Central America does not accept US-issued loan documents, etc.

In countries with a tourism industry, there will be no problems with cashing out funds. If you are going to sparsely populated places, it is better to exchange money in Russia in advance. On the road, you should take not one, but at least three cards: salary, currency and credit cards. The main thing is that they be issued by VISA or MasterCard in different banks.

Expenses

For trips to Europe, it is worth opening a currency card in dollars or the United States. Ruble Visa Classic and MasterCard Standart will be accepted abroad. But the purchase will cost more due to the conversion rates. What it is? If the invoice is issued in international currency (dollar, euro), then the amount will be converted into rubles at the St. Petersburg exchange rate. If the goods are paid for in Swiss francs, then the resulting figure will be recalculated to the account currency. A fee is charged for each such operation.

Don't forget about the term paperdifference. At the time of purchase, the amount on the account is blocked. The write-off occurs when the bank receives confirmation of the transaction. The time difference takes several days, during which the rate changes.

For the withdrawal of foreign currency from the ruble account, the commission is charged by the issuing bank that issued the card, and the partner who serviced it. There are also limits on cashing out, which should be clarified before traveling abroad.

Safety

Cases of fraud with plastics occur, but are extremely rare. The service personnel does not have the opportunity to duplicate the data. All operations take place in front of the user. Priorbank currency card has an electronic chip, PIN and CVV code. Additionally, users can activate the service of SMS-informing about the movement of funds, impose restrictions on debiting amounts from the account during the day or in a certain country, etc. In theory, the bank is obliged to reimburse the stolen amount if the client notified about the theft of money within 24 hours after receive SMS.

Ruble VS currency card of Sberbank

At the end of 2014, many users complained that for purchases in foreign stores, a larger amount was debited from the account than in the invoice. On December 17, the ruble on the interbank market fell from 61.1 to 80. All write-offs for purchases in foreign stores are carried out at the new rate. As a result, the owners of ruble cards formed an overdraft. Many financial institutions have a rule that a customer's debtone account can be repaid at the expense of another. The same rule applies to online services and ATMs. When the terminal issues the requested amount in foreign currency, this does not mean that the money has actually been debited from the account. This situation describes the advantage of currency cards very well. They are not subject to exchange rate differences. How not to lose money during periods of ruble devaluation? Make a currency card and use it to pay for goods in foreign stores and services.

What to look out for

Before opening an account, you need to decide on the class and type of payment instrument. "Standard" and "premium" cards provide customers with more options. But their service will cost a pretty penny. Currency card MasterCard Standart or Visa Classic is issued for $/€10-15. With their help, you can withdraw cash, pay for goods, rent, hotel reservations, air tickets. Cards of a higher class perform the same functions, and also emphasize the financial status of the holder. Technobank offers its clients to issue Visa Gold or Visa Platinum for 10 and 50 USD. e. respectively. The first year the service will cost the holder $/€ - 30-50, the second - $/€ - 40-100. The commission for cashing out funds is set in a fixed (2-3 c.u.) and variable (2-3%) amount.

You should not choose payment methods of other systems. The same American Express is not yet accepted in all countries of the world. Currency card is opened in dollars or euros. Accounts in other monetary unitspaid at the cross rate. For tourists who travel a lot, it makes sense to open a multi-currency account. In this case, it will be possible to pay for goods in rubles, dollars or euros with one plastic. The cost of service during the entire period will be 10-55 dollars.

Type

The most common debit cards are used as an electronic wallet. A credit card in foreign currency can only be issued by clients with a high level of income. It is better to choose programs in which interest is charged on the funds actually used. The best option is savings cards. With their help, you can pay bills and increase capital. The average rate is 5% per annum. Here everything also depends on the bank and the terms of service.

When issuing a currency card, the client immediately opens an account in the corresponding currency. You can make purchase and sale transactions directly in Internet banking. But to transfer funds between individuals, you will have to open a transit account. Such a rule, in particular, operates in Sberbank. Tinkoff offers its customers to replenish their account directly through the CONTACT money transfer system online and without commission. To carry out the operation, it is enough to indicate the number of the payment instrument.

Terms of use

Which currency card is better - in each case, the person decides for himself. The most tempting for customers is a credit card in dollars or euros. Borrowed funds are provided at a lower interest rate, and you do not need to pay a commission forconversion. But if you use such a means of payment in Russia, the amount will automatically be converted into rubles at the current exchange rate. It is quite difficult to withdraw cash. And in order to replenish your account, you will have to exchange rubles for dollars or euros.

Advantages of currency credit cards:

• The interest rate for servicing is 2-8 points less compared to a ruble account. The commission is usually set for the entire validity period of the card.
• This means of payment can be used to pay for purchases in foreign online stores. The main thing is to remove the restriction on online transactions in the bank.
• When issuing a card, you need to pay attention to its capabilities. For people who travel often, it is better to choose plastics with the maximum range of services. In this case, holders will receive discounts from partners of the financial institution and payment systems.

Currency savings cards

Yield on payment instruments in foreign currency barely exceeds 5% per year. While the rates on deposits in rubles are almost 10 times higher. Is it worth the risk?

Cards are perfect for people who do not want to part with their savings for a long period, who want to always keep them at hand (and not in a glass jar at home) and receive a nice bonus. Rates on them are 1-2% lower than foreign currency deposits. In addition, you can always connect mobile and Internet banking to the card.

But there are a few downsides. The first -irreducible balance. Part of the funds on the account is "frozen" for the entire period of its validity. After the specified time, the money is returned to the owner. The second drawback is that a yield of 4.5-5% is provided only for amounts over several thousand dollars.