Always at hand, whether in your wallet or integrated into your smartphone, CB represents nearly 500 billion euros in payments, according to 2020 figures from the Groupement des Cartes Bancaires.
Are you about to take out one for the first time, or do you want to change your model?
Here are a few tips.
Pay in France and abroad
First of all, we must not mix things up.
In the large family of bank cards, we must distinguish payment cards from withdrawal cards, which are limited to the use of ATMs to obtain cash, and finally credit cards associated with revolving credit and sometimes also coupled with immediate flow operation.
Whenever you want to pay for your purchases in-store or on the Web by drawing the funds available directly from your current account, this is a payment card for you.
It can be used on national soil (CB logo on the card), but also internationally (Visa or Mastercard logo).
The type of flow in question
When choosing your new card, it is above all the type of debit that you should think about, because this feature will dictate your daily uses. With a tight budget, the best is to opt for an immediate debit card, each use of which will be directly reflected in your account balance (the next working day in the event of a weekend). But it is not always easy to stay the course. It is then more prudent that your immediate debit card incorporates a systematic or prior authorization. Thus, the payment but also the withdrawal of cash will only be possible if your bank account is sufficiently funded at the time of the transaction.
Another option: prefer deferred debit.
In this case, the amounts of your purchases (but not cash withdrawals, which are deducted directly) will be accumulated and debited on a monthly basis, generally at the end of the month.
This can be a good solution when you are struggling to make ends meet.
It is also necessary that the debit date falls after the payment of your salary.
In any case, a direct debit can always put you in the red.
So follow your accounts regularly.
Understanding your ceilings
Whatever your bank card, the number of operations is anyway limited for security reasons. Most credit cards are therefore subject to a ceiling of 7 sliding days for cash withdrawals from ATMs, against 30 sliding days for payments. If you reach the threshold, your card will therefore be temporarily blocked.
Please note, we are not referring to a calendar date here: it is the number of consecutive days between two uses of your card that counts.
In the case of a classic Visa or Mastercard for example, once you have reached the limit of 500 euros withdrawal, you will have to wait 7 days before being able to withdraw cash again, while you will have to wait 30 days if you have made more than 2,500 euros in purchases in less than a month.
Of course, the amount of the ceilings increases depending on the range of your credit card.
Lower thresholds may be set for use abroad.
So remember to check them before leaving on your trip and do not hesitate to ask for an exceptional increase if you are planning large expenses.
Beware of the cost
The price obviously comes into account when choosing a bank card. If the prices vary according to the establishment, know that it takes around 40 euros in annual contributions for a Visa Classic or a Mastercard with immediate debit (but many online banks offer it free), against 50 euros for a version with deferred debit. The bill can then exceed several hundred euros per year for high-end CBs.
To estimate the total cost of your bank card, you must add all the costs associated with its use, starting with those imposed on withdrawals and payments outside the Euro zone.
Also take a look at the card opposition and renewal fees for loss or theft, as well as the amount of any deductibles.
Certain options such as contactless technology or a dynamic visual cryptogram can further inflate the bill.
Advice
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