Sberbank is the largest commercial bank in Russia. Among the services for individuals are the issue and servicing of debit and credit cards, cash management services, lending and currency exchange. Among the debit cards of Sberbank for individuals, VISA, MasterCard, MIR are available. The only card the annual service of which will cost the bank client 0 rubles is the MIR card. It is about it that will be discussed below: features, advantages and disadvantages will be considered.
Pension card "MIR"
It was created for individuals to receive pensions or other social benefits. Sberbank debit card with free annual service. It is also worth noting that the balance of funds on the card accrues 3.5% per annum. The card is valid for 5 years. Neither an individual design nor the possibility of issuing an additional card is provided for a Sberbank debit card with free service.
The card supports the contactless form of payment, but it is not available for payment through the services of Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, Google Play. The card is opened only in a ruble account. There is no possibility to pay with a MIR debit card abroad.
Bonus program "THANKS"
For using the card - non-cash purchases - "THANKS" bonuses are calculated on the basis of 0.5% points of the purchase amount directly by Sberbank and up to 20% of the purchase amount by partners. Bonuses can be spent in more than 500 companies that are partners of Sberbank.
THANKS bonuses can be exchanged for various coupons and discounts in partner companies. The full list can be found on the official website of the bonus program. Partners include taxi services, flower shops, grocery stores, pharmacies, and medical centers.
Card withdrawal limits
Cash withdrawal from the card is limited by the limit: 50,000 rubles a day through an ATM and 50,000 rubles a day at a Sberbank branch. When withdrawing cash from a Sberbank debit card at an ATM of another bank, the commission will amount to 1% of the requested amount, but not less than 100 rubles. When withdrawing cash at the cash desks of branches of other banks, the commission will amount to 1% of the withdrawn amount, but not less than 150 rubles. When withdrawing an amount over the specified limit, a fee equal to 0.5% of the amount exceeding the limit is withdrawn at the Sberbank cash desk. The maximum amount of cash withdrawal per month from the MIR debit card is 500,000 rubles.
Card services: cost and features
Scheduled reissue is free. A reissue of a Sberbank debit card with free service in case of loss or change of data will cost the card holder 30 rubles. Getting an extract (information about the last 10 actions on the card) is free. You can also get a free report on write-offs and receipts by e-mail. However, when checking the balance of funds at ATMs of third-party banks, you will have to pay 15 rubles.
Connecting a package of SMS notifications without information about operations will be free, and connecting a full package of SMS notifications for a user will cost 30 rubles per month, starting from the 3rd month. The first 2 months will be free.
Registration and receipt of a card
It is worth paying attention to how to get a debit card of Sberbank. To do this, you must contact any branch of the bank serving individuals. To receive pension contributions to the card, you must write a statement at the bank and provide a passport and a pension certificate. After the debit card of Sberbank with a free service is issued, a pension will be transferred to it every month. You do not need to apply to a pension fund. Card issuance time varies by region and averages 7 business days.
Lock and Unlock Card
Sometimes situations arise where it is urgently required to block a card. For example, when it is lost or stolen. In this case, you must immediately call the bank and notify what happened, the bank will immediately block the card. You can also block the card in your Sberbank Online account or via the mobile application. To do this, opposite the card, click the "Block" button.
Also, the bank can block the card on its own without a client’s application if it detects fraudulent activities or suspicious transactions. In order to receive funds that remain on a blocked card, you must contact any branch of Sberbank. You need to have a passport with you.
You can also close the card at your own request in any branch of the bank, for this you need to write a special statement. Card account will be blocked after 30 calendar days. It is worth noting that after writing the application to unlock the account and the card will not work. The bank will transfer the remaining funds to the details specified in the application.
Sberbank debit card reviews with free service
More recently, all users of Maestro debit cards issued by Sberbank have been transferred to the cards of the Russian MIR system. Most of those who actively use the Sberbank debit card for individuals, were satisfied with the quality and convenience.
A significant drawback of the card, customers consider the inability to pay for purchases abroad, as well as the inability to make purchases in foreign online stores. For those who do not travel outside of Russia, this fact will not bring inconvenience. The disadvantages also include the inability to pay by card via phone, the inability to pay in foreign currency.
A major advantage of the card is free maintenance. Most senior citizens say that this is really a big plus card. The pluses include the possibility of contactless payment.
FAQ
Most owners of the MIR retirement debit card wonder why they received the national payment system card when replacing the Maestro card. On the territory of Russia, the law “On the National Payment System” is in force, according to which all banks in our country are required to credit pensions, scholarships and allowances only to cards of the MIR payment system. Therefore, upon re-issuance by validity period, instead of a Maestro pension card, individuals are issued a MIR card.
It is also very often possible to find the question of whether it is necessary to issue a card only in the region where the person is registered. Sberbank notes that a standard debit card of Sberbank can be ordered in any region of the country, however, a social or pension card can be obtained only in the region where an individual has a residence permit.
After analyzing how to get a debit card from Sberbank, we also examined the advantages and disadvantages of the cards of the MIR payment system. In addition, the Sberbank bonus system, which has the name "THANKS", was considered.