Non -playing cards

Alien money - the pleasure of an expensive banking plastic card in Russia has long ceased to be exotic. However, the most widespread in our country has so far been debit plastic cards. The credit cards are still a cautious attitude.

Debit and loan

Recall that plastic cards can be divided into two categories: debit and credit. For the most part, Russians who are not sophisticated in financial matters often confuse these two types of cards. The difference between them lies in the fact that, paying for a debit card, the borrower pays his money available in a bank account related to the card, and paying for a credit card, spends the bank’s money, which he provides the client in the form of a loan. Payment of goods and services using a debit card can be called one of the methods of ordinary cashless payments. Calculations using credit card belong to a kind of express credit. The loan amount is determined by personal credit history, income, debt obligations, as well as the solvency of the client.

Since the funds on the debit card belong to the owner of the account, when using them, he does not pay the bank any commissions. The exception is the cashing of money through the ATM of the Alien Bank and the annual account maintenance. The dimensions of these payments are set by the banks themselves. As a rule, the withdrawal of money at the “alien” ATM will cost from 2 to 4.5% of the amount removed. And the cost of annual service depends on the class class.

When using a credit card to these payments, a monthly account for accounting, monthly customer insurance is added and, most importantly, interest on borrowed funds. On average, they now range in the region of 20-25% per annum in rubles and 15% per annum in foreign currency. However, banks have the so -called grace period (up to two months). If you pay a loan within this period, interest is not charged. But fines for passing the deadline or for exceeding the limit can sometimes reach 60% per annum. Usually it is necessary to extinguish the debt on the card in the same way as on any other loan, once a month. All the rules for servicing a bank card are determined by the banks themselves. Therefore, when issuing a card, it is worthwhile to carefully approach the issue of choosing a bank, find out all the conditions for the registration of credit cards, as well as the interest rate.

Where to get it?

Of all the current credit banking cards existing in Russia, the most common are world leaders - cards of VISA International and MasterCard international payment systems. Inside Russia, the volumes of transactions on cards of these payment systems are increasing annually. So, for example, the volume of revolutions of transactions with VISA cards over the past year has increased by more than 40%. However, the most simple cards of these systems are in greatest demand among Russians - Visa Electron and Maestro. Moreover, they are most often used as debit cards to pay for goods and cashing funds. Without a credit history, you can get a loan without an initial contribution and a rushed balance with a limit of $ 500- $ 700 on such cards, and their maintenance costs about $ 10 per year. About 500 rubles will be required to pay for the opening of such a card.

By the way, calculations on cards of international systems are carried out in both dollars, and in euros, and in rubles.

The opening of cards for more experienced and wealthy borrowers, as a rule, is included in the cost of its annual service. The credit limit on cards that have become the “classic genre” - Mastercard Standard and Visa Classic - about $ 5 thousand, and $ 25 will have to pay for the annual service of such a card. With these cards, you can no longer pay for purchases, including deleted ones, but also become a member of the discount and bonus programs of the issuing bank, as well as issue an insurance policy. Even greater opportunities open to the owners of privileged cards Visa Gold and Mastercard Gold, as well as Visa Infinite and MasterCard World Signia. Limits for spending funds for them in the case of Gold series cards reach $ 15 thousand, and in the case of the most privileged - from $ 20 thousand. For servicing the card annually, it will be necessary to give about $ 200. But they bring many privileges to the owners: discounts and special offers in the most expensive hotels, restaurants and clubs, a multi -ore account, a package of exclusive services, round -the -hour support from a personal manager, maximum expenditure limit and insurance coating up to $ 1 million. The category of prestigious pluses includes and cards of international payment systems Dins Club and American Express. Diners Club card - club. Two types of Diners Club cards are adopted all over the world - silver and elitist black. To date, only traditional silver cards for a period of two years are available in Russia. All this time, the card holder uses the financial services of the bank that has issued the Diners Club card, as well as a comprehensive set of club services, which is provided by the Diners Club International payment system: insurance and assistance in Russia and abroad, access to Diners Club of the first and business centers, participation in Diners bonus programs Club. After two years, at the request of its holder, the card is re -released. The initial contribution for its design and the rushing balance is about $ 1 thousand. Plus, a club contribution is paid annually about $ 100 for service and a card protection program. However, due to their privileges, the American Express card experience difficulties with transaction volumes due to insufficient development of infrastructure, and holders accordingly feel less comfortable than in many other countries of the world. The resolution of these issues intends to deal with the “Russian Standard” in the near future. In the meantime, the network of Visa and MasterCard in Russia is much wider than the American Express network. And if you take into account the fact that they have been seriously promoting their Premium class cards, apparently, it is worth expecting a serious competition in this market. “From the point of view of qualitative growth indicators for the third year, we have been observing how a challenge of credit cards has been growing as a leading pace, which indicates that the Russian card market is becoming more and more diverse,” says Andrei Kovalev, head of the MasterCard Europe representation in Russia. “In addition, we noted last year an increase in interest in the premium segment, and now our efforts are largely concentrated in the field of clarification and alignment of the premium grocery series,” he continues.

While international payment systems are fighting for VIP -client wallets, the only national payment system of Russia - “Golden Crown” is trying to work “closer to the people”. For customers, it is positioned as a national payment system providing a package of convenient services for everyday payments. This system has achieved the greatest success in the regions, especially in Siberia and the Far East. According to the company's press services, almost all the Golden Crown cards issued as part of salary projects are with overdrafts. But the portrait of the owner of the “Golden Crown” credit card is not very different from the portrait of the owner, for example, MasterCard Maestro. These are people with medium and more often higher than average income, but taking into account the characteristics of each particular region. In Moscow and St. Petersburg, the activities of this payment system are now focused on the provision of acquiring services and the organization of the loyalty system of retail networks. The infrastructure of service on the Golden Crown cards in Moscow has about 70 points of ATMs and banking cash desks, mainly in the areas of stations and airports.

As for specific banks, almost all large banks operating in the retail market are now being issued by credit cards. Therefore, it is difficult to highlight the leader. One of the main criteria for choosing a card can only be considered the development of a network of ATMs. Therefore, the largest “card” representative office have the largest banks - Sberbank, VTB, Alfa -Bank and the Bank of Moscow.

Credit - the worst enemy of the credit card

According to the Bank of Russia, about 75 million cards were issued in Russia at the end of 2006. However, the leaders of the international card business say that the saturation of our market did not occur. In their opinion, it will become possible to talk about this if every Russian will have a credit card. Oddly enough, but this, according to payment systems, interferes with ... express credit in retail chains. Now Russians, in order to get a consumer loan, do not need to draw up a card at all: most of our fellow citizens make an express credit for the purchase of a particular thing right in the trading floor. In addition, shops regularly hold various advertising actions with special installment conditions, which often makes such purchases more profitable than a card loan.

07/02/2007 / Elena Melnikova Material published in the "newspaper" No. 118 dated 03.07.2007.