Comparison of the world and visa. Which payment system card should I choose – VISA, MasterCard or MIR? What is the role of the payment system

Which system card should I choose - Visa or MasterCard? What is the fundamental difference and is there any?

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Number of bank cards in use by citizens Russian Federation everything is increasing. Finally, we got used to paying not in cash, but with a plastic card. Salaries are transferred to cards, loans are obtained in the form of credit cards - this is both more convenient and safer.

In addition to the standard salary card, the average citizen now has 2-3 more cards from different banks. Why does a person need so many cards? The most common option is credit card. The second option is for savings. If a person opens a deposit in a bank, he will most likely be offered a plastic card to accompany the account. When issuing another plastic card, a bank client often faces a logical question - which payment system does he prefer?

There are several global payment systems in the world, but two have gained the greatest popularity in both Russia and Europe: Visa and MasterCard. So, the bank employee will ask you - which payment system do you choose - Visa or MasterCard?

And really, which payment system is better to choose? MasterCard or Visa? Which is more convenient and which is better? Let's try to figure it out.

At first glance, there is not much difference between Visa and MasterCard. Both systems are represented in the vast majority of countries in the world; more than 20,000 banks and other banks work with both financial organizations all over the world. In practice, this means that in order to find an establishment where you will not accept a Visa or Mastercard, you will have to try very hard.

If you look at the issue from a technical point of view, you won’t notice the difference either. The speed of payments, the level of card security and the level of service are almost the same. What's the difference? Visa and Mastercard differ in the following points:

1. Conversion of funds when paying in a currency other than the ruble;
2. Service level when using cards of different “levels”;
3. Availability of certain shares from partner banks of payment systems.

Using cards of different service levels

Both payment systems have different card levels:

1. Elementary: Visa – Visa Electron, Mastercard – Maestro;
2. Standard: Visa – Visa Classic, Mastercard – MasterCard Standard;
3. Premium: Visa – Visa Gold or Visa Platinum, Mastercard – MasterCard Gold or MasterCard Platinum;

Entry level cards- this is usually salary cards. The level of services here is comparable and the range of capabilities is quite narrow for both systems. For example, with an entry-level card, you will not be able to make payments online. True, for Visa Electron cards such an opportunity can be enabled by the issuing bank, but in practice this is rare.

Theoretically, there are some differences between them. It consists in the fact that for Maestro cards you need to enter a PIN code, while with Visa Electron cards it is not necessary to enter a PIN. But in practice, everything depends not only on the type of payment system, but also on the type of payment terminal installed at this particular point of sale.

Another significant difference is use of entry-level cards outside the Russian Federation. By default, this feature is disabled for Visa Electron and Maestro cards; you can activate it, but you will have to contact the bank. In most cases, connection is free. But for Maestro Momentum cards there is no such possibility in principle.

The advantage of entry-level cards is, first of all, low card service fee– usually up to 300 rubles per year. In a number of banks, this annual payment is completely absent.

It should be noted that in Russia it is Maestro cards that are most widespread. These are the ones that banks most often offer for salary projects, issuing a scholarship or pension.

If speak about plastic cards As for the “Standard” class, there are practically no differences. They can be used for online purchases, to pay for goods and services in stores, to withdraw cash from an ATM, etc. Visa Classic and MasterCard Standard cards also work without problems abroad.

In the premium segment there is a more pronounced difference between Visa and Maestro.

By cards Visa Gold The following services are offered to clients:

• medical support during travel;
• legal service;
• assistance in booking train and air tickets, ordering a restaurant, etc.;
• emergency assistance abroad (if the card was lost or stolen).

For cards Visa Platinum The following programs are additionally available:

• "Purchase Protection Program";
• "Warranty Extension Program";

Visa recently released an even “more premium” card - Visa Infinite. In addition to the services indicated above, this card also gives you the opportunity to receive bonuses such as discounts on insurance (including for members of the cardholder’s family), travel arrangements, detailed information about restaurants, delivery services and similar pleasant little things.

All these services are available to Premium segment cardholders by default. Moreover, if before it was not so easy to get a Premium card (at least you had to have a tidy sum in your account), now it is done easily and quickly. Even for clients with minimal account history, banks are ready to issue Visa Gold.

MasterCard premium cards also have several programs, but only two of them are enabled by default - a loyalty program from your bank’s partners and emergency assistance in case of a lost card. Other services are available for a separate fee. Therefore, when applying for a card, you need to clarify with the bank exactly what services will be connected to you.

It is obvious that with general equality in the “Standard” and “Beginner” segments, in the “Premium” segment Visa wins

Currency conversion

Currency conversion is perhaps the most significant difference between Visa and MasterCard payment systems. The main difference is the currency. For Visa, the main currency is the US dollar. Whereas for MasterCard it is euro. Each operation of converting the main currency of your account (rubles) into another currency implies a commission. It is logical that the smaller the number of conversions, the more profitable it is to use the card in certain conditions. As a rule, conversion occurs at the bank rate. For Visa cards, the conversion rate can be found out in advance - before the transaction is completed, whereas when paying with MasterCard, you will find out the rate only after the transaction is completed.

Obviously, if you pay in one of the European countries, then MasterCard cards will be more profitable. If you pay with Visa, it turns out that you will pay the conversion fee twice: the first time from rubles to dollars, the second time from dollars to euros.

In which countries is Visa more profitable?

Visa cards are more profitable to use in the USA, countries Latin America, Australia, Canada and Thailand.

Bank shares

Another parameter by which cards of different payment systems differ is bank shares. It just so happens that Visa cards are more popular in the world, so for Russian cardholders Visa also offers more profitable terms. We can participate in various promotions such as interest refunds, discounts and receive some other nice bonuses.

Conclusion: so which is more profitable?

Standard cards of both payment systems do not have any fundamental differences. The only thing really worth paying attention to is currency conversion. If you are going to use a plastic card when traveling around Europe, MasterCard will be a better option. Others significant advantages This payment system does not. Pay attention to the conditions for issuing the card by the issuing bank.

The best option is to own two cards with different payment systems - this way you will protect yourself from possible failures and be able to optimally use both payment systems.

Many users wonder which payment system card is best to issue? Nowadays there are many payment services operating in the world. The largest are Visa and Mastercard. They have long outgrown their attachment to one country and become international.

Their role in cashless in monetary terms very important: they process all card payment transactions. The plastic of these MPS is accepted in all countries of the world and in all retail outlets. They can pay for purchases online and withdraw cash from ATMs in any country. At first glance, the functionality of these payment systems is the same, but there are still differences. Let's take a closer look at what are the similarities between these systems and how do they differ from each other?

Similarities between Visa and Mastercard.

The history of both IPUs began in the USA, when American bank began issuing the first cards and issuing licenses to other banks to issue them, thus creating unified system calculations. When someone says that Visa is an American system and Mastercard is a European system, they are absolutely wrong. They are both American. However, attachment to America has long been absent, and the systems began to bear an international title.

The Visa brand appeared in 1976 after the creation of an association of banks issuing cards under one name. Now the system is represented in more than 200 countries, and its share in the world money turnover reaches 50%.

The Mastercard system dates back to 1966, when a group of banks created the ICA association, later renamed Mastercard Int. Today the system is represented in 210 countries around the world and allows for non-cash card transactions.

Thus, the similarities between Visa and Mastercard are that they:

• originated in America
• are now international payment systems,
• have a high speed of processing payment transactions and work without failures,
• provide high level security,
• offer high service and modern technologies,
• both systems issue cards of the same form and content (card number, first and last name of the owner, bank and MPS logos, magnetic stripe, signature stripe, Contact Information and etc.),
• starting from standard categories, cards are issued with chips,
• there are cards with the opportunity contactless payment: Visa calls this technology PayWave, and Mastercard calls it PayPass,
• there is protection technology for online purchases: Visa has VerifiedByVisa, Mastercard has SecureCode,
• there are virtual cards that do not have physical fitness, for payment on the Internet.

Differences between Visa and Mastercard.

Using Visa cards and Mastercard in Russia, the difference is practically invisible. But if you use them abroad, then some differences are noticeable, both in terms of comfort and financial terms.

Thus, to decide what to choose, you need to focus on your needs and wallet:

• When calculating in Russia, the differences are practically not noticeable, so there is no difference in what to use.
• If you go to European countries, then it is better to have a standard chipped Mastercard IPS card, and if to American countries, then a Visa to avoid double conversion. It is better not to take cards of lower categories abroad, as they may be refused.
• If abroad it is not possible to purchase currency at favorable rates to replenish a currency card, then it is better to issue a ruble card with favorable exchange rate conversion.
• When applying for elite cards (from gold and above), it is worth clarifying what privileges and services will be included in its service package, so that you not only get beautiful plastic, but also an even larger list of features. If when choosing simple or standard cards there is no big difference between Visa and Mastercard, then elite cards they are significant, and Visa is far ahead of its competitor Mastercard.
• Most best option issue two cards from both IPS at once. If you don’t want to pay separately for each, then you can issue a main Visa and an additional one (for a lower cost, and sometimes even free) - Mastercard. In this case, there will be one account, and if one card is blocked, the other will be valid.

Which bank card Should I choose Visa or MasterCard? What are their differences and which one is better and why? These questions have probably been asked more than once by every resident of our country, either who receives wages on a bank card, or who has issued or plans to issue one for use when traveling to other countries.

The question is very interesting, how interesting it is sometimes to listen or read and the answers to it, ranging from banal and amateurish reasoning to the political preferences of users. Conflicting recommendations on choosing a payment system can also be heard from employees of various banks (both from neutral recommendations and those “pushing” a card from one of the payment systems). Often the answers are not exhaustive in nature, since they do not explain the problem. And some advice is completely wrong.

So let's try to figure this issue out together! We won’t talk about the “level” of cards (Visa Electron/Maestro, Visa Classic/MasterCard Standard, Visa Gold/MasterCard Gold, etc.). Let's talk better about payment systems.

Payment systems

First of all, it should be noted that Visa and MasterCard have long been the two largest payment systems, the reliability of which no one has yet doubted. Comparing them by such indicators as market share, number of payment terminals, etc., you can find out that Visa is in the lead, but at the same time, you will not have problems with MasterCard abroad. I'm pretty sure you'll have a hard time finding an ATM or payment terminal, where Visa support will be declared, but MasterCard will not be, and vice versa. So in their basic consumer properties they are exactly the same!

It is better to find official information about these payment systems on their official websites www.visa.com, www.mastercard.com, or in some knowledge base (for example, wikipedia).

Practical differences between Visa and Mastercard

You can often hear the following statement: “Visa is an American payment system. MasterCard is European.” Although this is not entirely true (Mastercard was also American, but at one time absorbed the European Eurocard).

Both payment systems have long become international. Just look at the full name of the payment systems - VISA International Service Association and MasterCard Worldwide.

Something else is much more important.

For payment Visa systems the main currency is U.S. $. This means that transactions on cards of this payment system related to currency conversion will be carried out through the dollar. I will describe examples below.

For the MasterCard payment system, the main currency can be either U.S. $, so Euro. This is very important feature! That is, transactions can take place either through the Euro or through the dollar.

In fact, this is the whole difference, but this is also all the possible nuances.

Correspondent accounts

Banks different countries When concluding an agreement with a payment system and issuing cards under the Visa and MasterCard brands, they open one or more correspondent accounts with correspondent banks.

Most often in Russia, accounts in Euros are used for mutual settlements in the MasterCard system. For Visa, no options, in US dollars.

The bank, purely theoretically, can open accounts for MasterCard for both the Euro and the American dollar, in this case MasterCard becomes as convenient as possible for the traveler, but this rarely happens - this means additional expenses on the part of the bank and a decrease in profitability for some operations. I have not studied this issue thoroughly, but I do not know of a single Russian bank that has both accounts open for MasterCard.

Therefore, we believe that Visa works with the US dollar, and MasterCard with the Euro.

Conversion

Conversion, in general, occurs if the currency in which you make the payment is different from the currency of your card account (your card account may be in rubles, US dollars or Euros).

Some conversions when paying abroad are carried out at the rates of the payment system, and some at the rate of your bank.

Conversion rates for Visa and MasterCard differ from each other, but not significantly. Specific dates can be found here:
Conversion rate in the Visa payment system
Conversion rate in the MasterCard payment system

You can find out the conversion rate of your bank by contacting it. Your bank may impose on conversion operations of payment systems additional interest, the so-called “Enter Bank Fee”. The amount of this percentage is determined only by the bank and in practice ranges from 0 to 5%!

That is, any of your conversion operations is not only a certain loss due to the payment system, but, sometimes, also a “contribution” to the welfare of your bank. Most often, an “Enter Bank Fee” value of over 1% can already be considered arrogance!

For example, as Sberbank employees told me, when working with Visa from Sberbank, they earn more than if someone uses their MasterCard. Until recently, the “Enter Bank Fee” for Visa at Sberbank was 0.65%.

Now let's see how this happens in practice in real life situations.

Conversion Examples

Let's take several different options and see how many conversions we will have when making payments in different countries.

All options are conditional, but most likely, realities may differ depending on the bank (see above about correspondent accounts).

Option 1

Ruble account. Payment for a hotel in France.

Visa: RUB-USD-EUR
MasterCard: RUB-EUR

As you can see, MasterCard is more profitable - one conversion.

Option 2

Euro account. Paying the bill at a restaurant in Italy.

Visa: EUR-USD-EUR
MasterCard: EUR

MasterCard is clearly more profitable - there is no conversion. But with Visa you will lose significantly in this option. There will be a double conversion here. Moreover, one conversion will be made by the payment system, and the second by your bank.

Option 3

Dollar account. Paying a bill at a store in Chicago.

Visa: USD
MasterCard: USD-EUR-USD

The situation is the other way around: Visa has no conversion, but with MasterCard you will lose some Money due to double conversion.

Option 4

Ruble account. Payment for a hotel in Riga.

Visa: RUB-USD-EUR-LVL or RUB-USD-LVL
MasterCard: RUB-EUR-LVL

With MasterCard double conversion. But with Visa there may be two, but more likely three, conversions. The fact is that in Europe many transactions are carried out through the Euro, so triple conversion is possible.

Thus, if you plan to use a bank card only to credit your salary in rubles to it, withdraw cash from an ATM and non-cash payments within the country, don’t worry about choosing a payment system. Doesn't matter! Choose the BANK with the best rates for annual maintenance, fees for cash withdrawals, etc., overdraft options and other goodies!

If you plan most transactions that involve conversion in Europe, then you should use a MasterCard payment system card.

If you travel more to the Americas or Southeast Asian countries, then your choice is Visa.

Regional Advisor:

USA, Canada - Visa
Latin America - Visa
Australia - Visa
Thailand - Visa
Europe - MasterCard
Africa (not everywhere*) - MasterCard
Cuba** - MasterCard
* (from tourist reviews) - in Algeria there is not a single ATM that supports MasterCard!;
** (from tourist reviews) - when traveling to Cuba it is advisable to have a map European bank and MasterCard systems, card American bank They may simply not accept it, and the commission for converting dollars can reach 20%!

Be careful with your expenses. Don't forget about double and triple conversions. Your purchases may cost you much more than you planned.

Before traveling abroad, check with your bank about the availability and amount of the Enter Bank Fee. With a large Enter Bank Fee value, each conversion will cost you more. Plus, look at your bank's rate.

Recently, about 10 years ago, many hesitated, choosing between cash and by bank transfer. Now that all doubts have disappeared, many have questions regarding payment systems. Which card is better, Visa or MasterCard, and what is the difference between them? To understand the differences, you must first know the scope of each.

Visa company

Today, Visa is the leader in terms of the amount of plastic produced. More than 2 billion cards are used in 200 countries. Visa transactions are primarily carried out in dollars, which determines the degree of popularity among Americans. This is where the Visa is most used. It is least popular in Asia.

More than 20 million different organizations and institutions accept Visa for payment. The reasons for this popularity are the following advantages:

• • You can manage your account online, anywhere there is internet, and around the clock;
  • dollars are accepted in almost all civilized countries;
  • Money is written off without commission, regardless of location;
  • the largest number of countries accept Visa;
  • There are one million Visa payment system ATMs around the world.

The history of cooperation between the corporation and Russian banks goes back almost 30 years, when Sberbank became Visa's first partner bank in Russia. Over the years, the scope of its services has expanded significantly. Most debit and salary cards are issued by Visa. You can pay with them everywhere: from a small retail outlet to a large supermarket.

Note: At first, the word “American” was used during release, but due to the unpopularity of the United States, it was decided to abandon the name. This is how the word Visa appeared, which referred to both the emerging corporation and the payment system.

MasterCard Company

Today, the second most popular card in Russia is MasterCard. At the very beginning, it was created in America as an alternative to the corporation, which later became known as Visa. Despite the fact that the head office is also located in America, in its homeland Mastercard is inferior to Visa.

For half a century, Visa and MasterCard have been considered competitors, whose priorities were initially very different. Now the most noticeable difference is the territorial division, otherwise the difference is almost invisible.

MasterCard is a large corporation uniting about 20 thousand financial institutions, which are located in 210 countries. MasterCard is most popular in the region European countries, Brazil, China.

The main activities of this payment system are:

• opening accounts;
• card issue worldwide;
• online electronic payments;
• servicing accounts of individuals and organizations.

The annual number of banking transactions made through the MasterCard payment system is constantly growing. Already now the figure is quite large - 25 billion such operations annually. In Russia, the share of all transactions carried out through MasterCard is 38 percent.

This figure significantly shows the growth of the influence of the MasterCard system on the Russian market over the past few years. All reputable banks, for example, Sberbank, cooperate with the corporation.

What is the difference between Visa and MasterCard

The two payment systems have been competing since the days when Visa was called Bank of America. 8 years later, MasterCard Corporation was created. Each has its own region: Visa is predominantly distributed in America, while MasterCard is widespread in Europe. It is believed that the former works more with dollar accounts, and the latter with euro and national currencies.

Please note: The division by currency is very arbitrary. Employees of any bank will help you open a dollar account for MasterCard, euro for Visa.

Thanks to the fact that Visa appeared earlier, it held its leading position for a long time. 15 years ago the corporation had more than half of all payment cards, but now the situation has changed: the difference between Visa or MasterCard has almost leveled out, although not completely. In any case, MasterCard is rapidly catching up with Visa in terms of the amount of plastic and the turnover that is carried out through it.

Now, in fact, there are 2 leaders on the market. Therefore, the question: which card is better, Visa or MasterCard, is difficult to answer. Let's try to determine the differences and similarities between them:

Reliability

Both payment systems are secure enough for use by individuals, legal entities, federal structures.

Number of operations

Although Russian statistics on this indicator are kept irregularly, it can be roughly said that MasterCard is now slightly ahead of Visa.

Annual turnover

Visa Corporation has 4.8 trillion. American dollars Worldwide. In terms of the amount of money that passes through each corporation on the Russian market, Visa is also the leader. So far, MasterCard cannot come close to Visa in this indicator. Although, judging by the pace of development of MasterCard, this will become possible in the near future.

Payment instruments, their quantity and reliability. The visa was ahead for a long time, due to the fact that she is several years older. Now, with the help of intensive marketing efforts, MasterCard is almost equal to the leader in these parameters.

Owner reviews

Ordinary people who use both payment systems believe that there is no difference in the quality of service between them. According to statistics, there are more Visa terminals than MasterCard, but they serve not only their clients, but also MasterCard. Therefore, the consumer does not see the difference, as well as any additional inconveniences.

The functionality of the services is almost the same, so it is impossible to give clear preference to one. As mentioned above, the linking of payment systems to the dollar or euro is very conditional. Until recently, there was a common opinion that Visa was more reliable, so it was better to open deposits or receive salaries through it.

It is believed that after the release of co-branded cards World with MasterCard, the popularity of the latter began to grow. Several years ago, large Russian banks, which previously preferred to issue salary or debit plastic Visa have signed an agreement with MasterCard.

By the way: MasterCard has a more loyal attitude towards NSPK, which owns 100 percent of the shares Central Bank Russia.
NSPC is national system payment cards.

When traveling abroad, it is best to choose a payment system according to its geographical preference: Visa - for America, MasterCard - for Europe. This difference is not felt inside Russia.

How to determine “Visa” or “Mastercard”

The average person who has several cards at once often has a question regarding their affiliation with one or another payment system: how to determine whether you have Visa or MasterCard? The simplest way is to identify it by name. On the front side in the right (upper or lower) corner you can see the name of the payment system: Visa or MasterCard.

The second most difficult way: you can find out the affiliation by the card number. On the front side there are 16 or 18 digits that indicate the number. The first four indicate belonging to a particular payment system. An ordinary bank client just needs to look at the first number.

For Visa, the number begins with the number “4”, MasterCard - with the number “5”. The Maestro card number, a subsidiary of MasterCard, begins with the number “6”. Thus, MasterCard cards begin with “5” and “6”, and Visa cards begin with “four”.

Various levels

Visa and MasterCard bank cards have different levels, almost identical. Only the names and some functions of the plastic differ. Let's look at the features of each variety:

First level. It is usually used to obtain wages, scholarships, pensions, financial assistance. U MasterCard cards This level is called: Electronic, Maestro, Unembossed, Visa - Electron. The biggest advantage of such plastic: they are free of charge. There are cases when it is charged annual fee. Then it is minimal. There is one prohibition: you cannot purchase anything from online stores, there are several other restrictions.

Standard view

This debit cards, which are used to pay for online purchases. They make purchases when traveling abroad. Users of such cards have an account insurance feature. Visa issues Classic, MasterCard has a card of this level - MasterCard Standard. There is a service fee of about 500 rubles.

Elite

Premium cards (Mastercard Gold, Visa Gold, Platinum and Infinite) offer several convenient features. In addition, holders of such cards have additional bonuses in the form of favorable loans or discounts on goods. This level corresponds to the price you need to pay for service: 3-5 thousand rubles annually.

Interesting: Each of the payment systems has cards for young people, the elderly, and travel, but this is just a marketing ploy. In fact, they can fall into one of three main levels.

For Russia, you can issue any of the above cards, the difference is not noticeable. The level is selected according to capabilities and needs. When going abroad, you need to choose: for Europe MasterCard is more convenient, for America - Visa.

Electronic payment systems have long been firmly established in the everyday life of many Russians. We are no longer surprised by the Visa and MasterCard logos on the doors of shops, cafes, and supermarkets. Every second Russian citizen has a plastic payment card, and many of them are also available for children over 7 years old. Main turnover cash in the last five years it has been accounted for by transactions within banking payment systems.

Visa, MasterCard – these pieces of plastic with the logos of payment systems are in the wallet of almost every Russian. But what is the difference between Visa and MasterCard if both cards can be used for the same thing? And who should choose which one? We will talk about this in the article.

International payment systems: what is the difference between them

Initially, and Visa and MasterCard are not the names of the plastic cards themselves, but of payment systems to which they belong. Both are global, that is, cards can be used anywhere in the world where there is acquiring.

Moreover, even if money is stored in rubles in your account, payment abroad is made in national currency or euros or dollars - automatic conversion of funds between accounts occurs.

Visa originated in America, and was originally an internal payment system. IN this moment it is represented in more than 200 countries around the world and allows for stable non-cash transactions between system users.

The company was founded in 1970, and from that moment on it planned to conquer the European and then the international market.

MasterCard - international system . Currently, it geographically covers more than 210 countries, and its head office is located in the USA. With its help, most transactions are carried out on websites when paying for goods and services on the Internet.

Initially, the company relied specifically on payment security, committed on the Internet, since then expanding its powers and starting to produce plastic.

FOR REFERENCE: In the 90s on Russian market Visa came, followed by MasterCard, and only in 2014 the national payment system “MIR” began to be developed, which financial analysts predict will soon oust competitors from the domestic market.

On the pages of our website you will also learn how it differs, as well as the rules for using this debit card!

What categories and types of bank cards exist?

Issued within payment systems plastic cards, which are divided into three categories:

• initial;
• average;
• premium.

The first includes unnamed instant release plastic: Visa Electron, Instant Issue, MasterCard Unembossed and Maestro.

When using them, the user must enter a PIN code in devices and payment terminals; they do not support contactless technology making payments. Characterized by low annual maintenance costs.

With their help you can pay for goods and services at points retail sales , pay public utilities. Difficulties arise when making payments on the Internet, since not all sites work with the appropriate payment terminals. Cards in this category are most often suitable for use only in the country of issue and are not suitable for payments abroad.

Middle level – classic payment cards Visa and MasterCard Standard and Classic. Personalized debits and credit cards are most often issued as part of salary projects, and are the most common in Russia and abroad. The cost of annual service is higher than for instant cards, but all basic functions are available to the user: payment at retail outlets, on the Internet, payments abroad and cash withdrawal.

Accepted everywhere. Additionally, owners of “classics” can participate in loyalty programs from payment systems: accumulate bonuses, enjoy privileges and special discount programs.

Premium cards have expanded functionality compared to basic ones. This category includes cards Gold, Platinum, Worldwide and Infinity. The latter are the famous “black plastic” for truly wealthy people with an unlimited credit limit.

Status cards give their owner such privileges like: free insurance, access to VIP lounges at airports, discounted rates medical service, favorable conversion of funds and maximum security of money in the account. The cost of annual maintenance in this category ranges from 4,000 to 30,000 rubles.

All plastic cards are divided into three segments, depending on the type of use: credit, debit and prepaid. Separately, we can mention virtual cards - which do not have a physical medium and are intended exclusively for payments on the Internet. Prepaid or gift cards are still a fairly new phenomenon in Russia and not widely used.

Key Differences: Visa vs MasterCard

Now let's look at how the cards of the two popular cards differ from each other currency systems. At first glance, the cards are absolutely identical in functionality when used in Russia.

But there are still a number of minor differences:

• Visa. Does not require confirmation of transactions with a PIN code on small amounts; guarantees the owner legal and medical support abroad; code for confirming transactions – CVV2; account currency – dollars and rubles; supports the P2P (person to person) payment function, the share of the card market is 28%, and is present in 200 countries around the world.
• MasterCard. It is mandatory to confirm any card transactions using a PIN code, a “pioneer” in the non-cash payments market; confirmation code for settlement transactions – CVC2; account currency – euro and ruble; market share payment card- 20%; used in 210 countries; free medical and insurance assistance– only for owners of “privileged” plastic.

And the main point that forces Russians who often travel abroad or work for foreign exchange market, give preference to one or another payment system (Visa or MasterCard): differences in the exchange rate and principle of currency conversion.

If you are the owner of a “Visa”, payment abroad is possible with a minimum commission exclusively in USD. When paying for goods in euros, the conversion will occur according to the principle: from ruble to dollar, from dollar to euro, and in this case a considerable amount is lost. When paying in USD – from a ruble account to a foreign currency account with a minimum commission.

If you have a MasterCard and you want to pay for a purchase in USD, then the conversion will take place according to the following scheme: ruble to euro, euro to dollar. Since in most countries prices for foreigners are usually presented in USD, the commission for exchanging funds is considerable.

CONCLUSION: If you often travel abroad, where the main currency is the US dollar, you better get a “Visa”.

If the card is intended exclusively for payments and cash withdrawals in the Russian Federation, the difference is not fundamental. If you mainly vacation in countries that accept EUR for payment, you should choose MasterCard.

How to apply

It’s very easy to get a card from the required payment system. First, you need to select a bank.

If you plan to travel abroad frequently, the ideal choice for you will be plastic from Sberbank, Bank of Moscow, VTB24, Citibank.

The latter is the unspoken leader for international currency transactions.

Next, you can fill out an application for issuing a card on the website of the selected institution, or contact the nearest bank branch with your passport (a number of banks may also ask you to bring a certificate of income to issue a debit).

Non-registered cards are issued on the day of application; the issue of personalized plastic cards will have to wait from 3 to 10 days.

After this, you will receive a notification (if the card was sent by mail) or an SMS about the readiness of the plastic. You will need to go to the branch, sign a client agreement and pay for annual service, after which the card will be activated and it will be ready for use.

How to use

Before you start using it you must activate credit card Visa or Mastercard payment systems and receive a PIN code. In most banks they issue it in a separate envelope along with the plastic itself, in some they receive it when you call hotline institutions.

Some lenders offer to use an ATM to set a PIN code after receiving the card. After this, you can deposit cash into your account (by transfer from another bank, using terminals and ATMs or through a cash register), pay for purchases, withdraw cash and pay in online banking.

The card must be stored carefully without damaging the magnetic stripe.

REMEMBER! The PIN code is stored separately from the card and cannot be reissued.

Plastic is valid for 3 years, after which it must be reissued for further use.

How to close correctly

Sometimes the owner, for one reason or another, wants to give up his card, but does not know exactly how to close it correctly.

The procedure itself is not difficult, but has one important nuance: When refusing service, it is important to close not only the card, but also the account, otherwise the bank will continue to charge you for its service.

And this can lead to the accumulation of debt on the account, which appears in the credit history as overdue, and can be submitted to the court for collection.

Therefore, to close the card correctly, you need to:

• apply to the service application with a passport;
• withdraw remaining funds from the account;
• write an application to refuse bank services and close the loan account;
• receive a notification from the bank about its closure;
• hand over the card and wait for it to be destroyed in your presence.

What is better to choose: owner reviews

In this section, we have collected reviews from those who have been using plastic from both payment systems for a long time, and fully appreciated both their functionality and shortcomings.

Inna, 28 years old, Moscow

“I often go to Thailand for the whole winter, and therefore I got myself a Visa card. I like the fact that you don’t have to carry currency with you or worry about it at all; the exchange occurs automatically during settlement.”

Marat, 32 years old, Izhevsk

Natalya, 27 years old, Ramenskoye

“I have a simple MasterCard and black WolrdWide plastic for work. I use it in Russia, this payment system is familiar and convenient for me, I like the speed of transferring funds from electronic wallets and debits from other banks. And, of course, bonuses."

Diana, 24 years old, Rostov-on-Don

“I have a Visa Electron where I store extra money. Suitable for withdrawing cash, but that’s it. When I went to India, I had to take money with me, which I almost lost. I will open classic map so you don't have to worry about it next time."

We will discuss a few more differences between plastic cards of the world payment systems Visa and MasterCard with a specialist in the following video:

Now you know the differences between VISA and MasterCard payment system cards. All that remains is to analyze your own needs and choose the most suitable one for you: for payments on the Internet, for purchases abroad, for profitable withdrawal cash or for simple everyday use.

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