Multicurrency cards: banks, conditions, opportunities and reviews. Multicurrency card "Sberbank"

Before going abroad, you should purchase the currency in advance. What exactly to settle - a card or cash - is a private matter for everyone. The problem is that the commission for currency non-cash transactions is high, and it is inconvenient to run around buying dollars in exchangers. Especially for such cases, a new product is developed - multicurrency cards.

The Essence

Paying a ruble card abroad is unprofitable. Money is not debited from the account immediately, but after confirmation of the operation. During this time, the exchange rate may change dramatically. You can issue three cards - ruble, dollar and euros - and pay a commission for them on them. But in this case you will have to constantly carry them with you and remember all the PIN-codes. This is also uncomfortable.

A multi-currency debit card is attached to several (most often three) accounts. The choice of the monetary unit during the transaction occurs automatically. In the US, funds will be written off from the dollar account, in Europe, settlements will be made in euros, and in Russia - in rubles. If the account currency differs from the three available, then - depending on the bank rules - the funds from the main account will be written off taking into account the conversion fee.

Multicurrency cards are issued by international payment systems MasterCard and VISA. The class also has no problems. The client can arrange for himself Maestro, Classic, Platinum, Gold, etc.

For whom

Multicurrency cards are very popular among tourists and business people. But the average citizen such a plastic does not hurt. You can always use the account in rubles, and before going abroad to buy dollars or euros.

Benefits

• Versatility. Making a card for several currencies, it is enough to pay a commission for service once, to write an application for re-issue and remember the PIN-code.
• Convenience of calculations. If there is not enough money on the balance to pay the bill, another currency will be debited, taking into account the conversion. If you connect Internet banking, then you can conduct currency transactions online. For calculations on the Internet, you can also use multi-currency cards. Banks that provide this product, develop interesting proposals.

The mechanism of work

The multicurrency card is, on the one hand, a memory plastic with which you can perform all the standard operations and participate in loyalty programs. On the other hand, its maintenance has some features. In the implementation of international transactions, the concept of "base currency" emerges. It is forcibly established by the financial institution, depending on the country in which the payments are made. Most often, after rubles the next basic monetary unit is "appointed" by the dollar. Consider the standard situations in which a multi-currency card of the Savings Bank is used.

Small balance

The card charges service charges in the amount of 750 rubles. If there is this amount on the balance sheet, then there will be no problems. But if the balance on the accounts is, say, 1 ruble, 1 dollar and 200 euros, the amount will be converted. To the existing 1 ruble will be added the converted dollar at the rate of 1:32. The remaining 717 rubles. Will be debited from the account in euro at the rate of 43.95: 717 / 43.95 = 16.32. The balance after the transaction: rub. - 0, dollars - 0, euro - 183.68.

The invoice is in a currency other than the available

The cost of living in the hotel is 40 lats. On the balance sheet, the customer has 1,000 rubles, $ 100 and 150 euros. Dollars will be debited from the account.

Let's consider another example. The account is exposed on the same 40 латов. But on the map 0 rubles., 0 dollars, 100 euros. Exchange rate: 1 LVL = $ 2.05. The transaction will take place in dollars. The amount to write-off is $ 82. Dollars will be bought for the euro in the amount of 61.50. The balance on the accounts will be: 0 rubles., 0 dollars, 38.5 euros.

To avoid double conversion, you need to maintain the account balance with the base currency. In the example considered, this is the dollar.

Offers on the market

Not all banks issue such cards. Among the existing options, prices vary widely. Some organizations make out a card for free, but charge large commissions on transactions. Others charge for service charges and provide a wide range of services. Therefore, the choice of institution should be taken seriously. Moreover, there is no such product on the market as a multi-currency card of the Savings Bank. Among large financial institutions, Alfa-Bank has interesting offers. Customers can independently (via the Internet or by calling a hotline) link any debit card to foreign currency accounts. The service charge does not change. But this is a short-term solution to the problem.

VTB has a more interesting offer. A multi-currency card is issued within 5 days after the application is filed and valid for 2 years. You can replenish the balance through cash desks in branches, ATMs, transfers from other accounts, Telebank and even CONTACT. Multicurrency card "VTB 24" will cost the customer 750 rubles. (Visa Classic, MC Standard) or 3000 rubles. (Visa / Mastercard Gold) for 2 years. Re-issue costs 375 rubles. For withdrawing cash from partner banks, no additional commission is charged, and you will have to pay 15 rubles for viewing the balance. The maximum allowable amount of settlements per month is 1 million rubles. The cardholder automatically becomes a member of the discount programs.

"Bank Transport" accrues interest on the balance of funds at a rate of 10% per annum. All cardholders are automatically insured in AIG for 3 years. The cost of this service is included in the annual service (1200 rubles.). If the card is not used within 12 months, the commission is reduced to 150 rubles. For the cashing of funds the client will have to pay an additional 1.5% of the amount (minimum 5 euros).

Other options

CB "AgroPromCredit" opens such accounts free of charge. "Interregional Clearing Bank" for the relevant service charges from 250 (Maestro) to 3100 (Gold) rubles. If desired, you can apply for an overdraft card at a rate of 18% per annum. The cost of conventional means of payment in the same institution is: Maestro - 150 rubles., Standard - 700 rubles., Gold - 2,8 thousand rubles. In Citibank, the service for connecting the card to foreign currency accounts of CitiOne is free, and the overdraft is provided at a rate of 35% per annum. "Rosbank" made multicurrency only exclusive products: MasterCard World Signia and Visa Infinite. Their terms of service are considered individually for each client.

disadvantages

Multicurrency cards are not profitable for every client. For two years of service it is necessary to pay a minimum of 1000 rubles, which is 2-3 times higher than a similar tariff for conventional plastics. Currency exchange is carried out at a commercial rate of the bank, which is much lower than the market rate.

Reviews

On the forums you can meet a large number of reviews of users of multi-currency VTB cards. Most of them relate to the exchange rate when converting funds. Let's consider one example. The client wants to replenish his account with the euro. The bank sells currency for 60 rubles, and buys - for 59.5. In this case, when replenishing the balance with the ruble account, the amount recounted at the rate of 60 rubles will be written off. / Euro. If the client subsequently decides to pay by card on the account, the conversion of euro into rubles (base currency) will be made at the rate of 59.5. In the first case, the purchase operation is carried out, and in the second case, sales. For withdrawal of funds through ATMs of other financial institutions, an additional fee of 1% of the amount is charged.

Conclusion

The clients' testimonies say that the multicurrency card "VTB 24" is a useful tool for carrying out frequent operations with dollars and euros. One plastic, which is attached to three accounts at once, can be used for settlements in Russia and abroad. But in order not to overpay for the difference in rates and conversion, it is worth constantly monitoring the balance.