International bank cards: types, procedure for obtaining and using

Today, banks in Russia offer a large selection of plastic cards. Some of them can be used only within the country, while others can be used abroad. International bank cards are accepted for payment of services, are serviced in terminals and ATMs anywhere in the world.

A bit of history

For the first time analogues of bank cards appeared in 1914 in New York. Then cards from cardboard were issued and used to certify the client's solvency. After 14 years, metal was used for the same purposes, which made it possible to automate the processing of information. The first mass payment system appeared in 1949 under the direction of the company Diners Club. It was a club system with a limited number of participants, which worked according to the same scheme as modern Visa and MasterCard.

Cards began to be issued from the 50s of the last century in the US as a new tool for non-cash payments, replacing obsolete checkbooks. The discoverer in 1951 was the New York bank Long Island Bank. In Europe, the fashion for a new payment instrument was introduced by the British company Finders Services. Only 10 years later a magnetic strip appeared on the plastics, and in the 90s a chip.

Glossary

Before considering the procedure for performing transactions with international bank cards, it is necessary to study the main terms:

• Equiere is the bank that serves the card.
• The issuer is a credit institution that issued it.
• The processing center is a subdivision of banks, which interact between the participants of settlements with the purpose of collecting and processing transactions on cards.
• The correspondent account is opened by the bank in the Central Bank.

Algorithm for making calculations

Operations with international bank cards can be carried out at any retail outlet in the world equipped with a terminal. But in this case the work process differs from the standard one:

• At the time of payment, the terminal verifies the authenticity of the plastic and the availability of money on the account.
• The funds are written off, the terminal issues a check.
• The outlet sends it to the acquiring bank, which transfers the amount to the accounts of the enterprises. He also transfers information about transactions using foreign cards to the processing center.
• These data are collected, analyzed, after which the final information is communicated to the issuer, acquirer and payment system.
• The settlement bank debits the required amount from the issuer's account and transfers it to the acquirer.
• The issuing bank debits the debt from the cardholder, taking into account all commission expenses.

Statistics

Despite the peculiarities of the domestic market, carat calculations are increasing every year. Over the past five years, the amount issued was 230 million pieces, of which only 30 million - with a credit limit. Only in the Russian market the number of transactions with foreign currency increased by 6 times and amounted to 2,549 million units. At the same time, Russians were less likely to withdraw cash from their accounts (751 million transactions for a total of 5,317.4 billion rubles) and more to use the card to pay for goods (1,798 million transactions in the amount of 1,714 billion rubles). The reason is an increase in the number of outlets equipped with a terminal and an increase in the number of ATMs through which you can withdraw funds (224 thousand units) and pay for goods (133 thousand units).

Types of cards

In the world there are two international payment systems based on bank cards: Visa and MasterCard. More than half of the market is occupied by the Visa International system - 57%. MasterCard International accounts for 26% of the market. Also there are other participants: American Express (13%), DinersClub (4%) and JCB - (4%). The main task of payment systems is to ensure settlements between banks of all countries. MasterCard unites more than 20 thousand financial institutions in 220 countries, VISA - 21 thousand organizations. International VISA cards are used mainly for making payments in dollars. MasterCard is also focused on the euro. However, for the ordinary Russian client there is no difference between these systems.

Other criteria

Debit payment instruments are used to make settlements within the amount of funds on the customer's account. These plastics are most often used in salary and social projects. Credit cards allow you to pay for goods at the expense of the bank, and then return the accumulated debt with a small percentage. Such a revolving credit line for individuals.

There is also a division into classes: from Electron and Maestro to "platinum". The higher the category, the more opportunities are given to the holder, which affects the cost of plastic. International bank cards are issued in categories Classic, Gold, Platinum and Black Edition. With the increase in the class of service, the credit limit grows. For example, according to the classic credit card of Alfa-Bank, you can get up to 150 thousand rubles, and for the platinum credit - 750 thousand rubles.

Allocate a separate class of electronic cards that do not have a physical carrier. They are designed exclusively for shopping online.

International bank cards with a credit limit are focused primarily on customers who often travel. For them, another special product is developed - co-branding cards with airlines. On them, the holder receives bonuses for the use of partner services. For example, holders of the Visa card "Aeroflot" could have accumulated "miles" to buy tickets of the same company. Another option is Cash Back. For the purchases made paid by the card, the holder at the end of the month received a certain percentage of the amount spent back to the account. The rest of the plastic did not differ from the usual card.

Decor

Almost every working Russian has a debit card, on which the salary is charged. Most often these are Electron and Maestro plastics, but solid firms issue their international bank cards to their employees. You can order such a card by contacting the bank yourself.

The application procedure is simple. You need to apply to a bank employee, provide a passport, a second identity document (driver's license, passport, etc.) and write a statement. Another two weeks will have to wait until the plastic itself is made. The service fee is debited directly from the account. A plastic payment instrument is issued already with a minus balance.

To order a credit card, you need to additionally prepare a certificate of income and wait for the answer of the credit manager. The presence of a passport with fresh seals about going abroad or documents for real estate increases the chance to receive a credit card.

For whom?

Even if you do not use the services of the airline, you rarely leave the country, have an international card with a credit limit is not a problem. At any time there may be a need to make a purchase of goods in foreign currency through the Internet or simply there will be problems with a debit payment instrument.

Today international bank cards with a credit limit are a convenient means of payment, which are accepted for service in any world. If desired, you can even find a product with a long grace period and a minimum commission for withdrawals from ATMs.

Sberbank's offer

In the largest bank in Russia it is possible to issue international cards Maestro and Electron. They are very convenient to use and not expensive to maintain. The international bank card of Sberbank gives an opportunity to the holder to receive a salary, replenish an account, pay for goods at trade outlets in Russia and abroad. According to the classic cards, discounts for purchases in partner shops are also provided. The cost of their maintenance is 900 rubles and 30 (dollars, euros) in the first year and 600 rubles, 20 (dollars, euros) - in all subsequent years.

For the privileged customers, the best bank card of the Gold class is provided. The cost of its annual maintenance is 3000 rubles. For this money, the client receives not only a universal payment instrument connected to an account in rubles, dollars or euros, but also the opportunity to participate in the bank's shares and the payment system itself, withdraw funds without a card at the cash desk of any bank abroad. In addition, the Gold card confirms the good financial condition and the high social status of the owner.

Banking market sanctions

According to the Central Bank of Russia, over the past year, credit institutions issued 234 million cards, of which 87% - debit and 13% - credit. Under the influence of international sanctions, the number of banks engaged in acquiring decreased by 7.8% to 572. Most of the cards issued refer to local payment systems. This affected the growth of the share of holders of payment instruments: pensioners and unemployed people began to issue social cards for receiving benefits.