Alfa Bank's Card #1 Review: A Major Letdown

My Disappointing Experience with Alfa Bank's Card #1

summarizeEditor's Summary

I've been with Alfa Bank for over a decade, but their Card #1 has been a major letdown. I was hoping for a better cashback deal, especially after Belarus introduced a 20% tax on Aliexpress purchases. Unfortunately, the card's conditions just didn't live up to my expectations. I'm still trying to figure out why I switched from their Aliexpress card, which offered a much better cashback rate. Now I'm stuck with a card that's just not worth the hassle. I'm pretty disappointed in Alfa Bank's products for individuals. They used to be my go-to choice, but Card #1 has made me think twice about sticking with them. I'm not getting the value for money I need, and that's a big problem for me.

settingsSpecifications

KararKötü

Kartın Kalitesi4/10

Para İade Oranı3/10

Kartın Tasarımı2/10

Kartın Genel Kalitesi5/10

Kartın İşlevselliliği8/10

Kartın Alınması ve Aktivasyonu7/10

I've been with Alfa Bank for a decade now, and I've had an IP account for just as long. I've also used their cards for years, but to be honest, I'm pretty disappointed with their products for individuals.

I've been using the Aliexpress card, which offers a higher cashback for purchases from the Chinese marketplace. It used to be a great deal – 5% cashback on the amount spent, plus an extra 1% for all online purchases and 0.5% for everything else. Utility payments and ERI payments didn't count, though. But then Belarus introduced a 20% tax on Aliexpress purchases, and I almost stopped ordering anything. As a result, the cashback decreased, and I wanted to find a card with better conditions. Since I had to stay with Alfa Bank due to my IP business, that's when I got my hands on the Card #1.

Conditions

For me, as an Alfa package owner, getting the card was free, and I don't pay for its maintenance. The card's maintenance becomes free after meeting a certain norm in the number of transactions or the total amount of operations. I meet the norm. My husband, on the other hand, pays 5 BYN for card maintenance every month.

The cashback conditions are pretty straightforward: 2% for purchases in my favorite category, 1% for everything else.

Unfortunately, the cashback rate just isn't what I was hoping for. I've been looking at reviews from Russian users of the same Alfa Bank, and they're getting thousands of Russian rubles in cashback every month. I think I know why Belarusian banks are a bit stingy when it comes to cashback.

How to get itYou can order the card through the InSync app of Alfa Bank. But I decided to go to the bank's branch on foot (luckily, it's nearby) to exchange my old card for a new one, set up a new card for my IP business, and then add the new card to the app for cash withdrawals. To my surprise, they didn't give me the card right away – they sent it by mail, and I got it about a week later. I still had to activate the card in the app.

About the card itself

I got my MasterCard, which is a big change from my old Visa. But MasterCard works just as well, even abroad.

To be honest, I'm not a fan of the card's design. My husband's been using his Card #1 for a couple of years now, and when he got it, it had a really cool design. Mine, on the other hand, is just a plain red piece of plastic. Thanks for the matte finish, I guess. Alfa Bank didn't put much thought into the design. It feels like a cheap card from a bank that's struggling.

At least it's contactless, and it's personalized. It's got a chip and a magnetic stripe.On the front, it's got my name and surname. The card number, issue date, and CVV code are on the back, which isn't super convenient: if you want to pay me, you have to write down the card number manually, although it's easier to just take a photo of the card and send it. But because of the CVV, I don't do that.

Rebates

I held off on writing this review to analyze the rebates. Here's what I got over a few months:

In March, I got the card, so let's exclude that month. Over the next 4 months, I spent around 1000-2000 BYN (27-54 rubles) per month, and I got a total of around 40 BYN in rebates (that's a bit over 1000 rubles).You can change your favorite category in the bank's app, where you can get up to 2% rebates. To see what categories are available, you can check the app.

You can choose one favorite category per month.

My colleague once 'screwed the system' by paying for a couple's trip using the card, choosing the Travel category beforehand. The trip cost several thousand dollars, and the 2% rebate was a nice bonus.I've been trying to figure out which category to choose, but it's not easy. Also, in the Purchases category, it looks like they don't count purchases from grocery stores or marketplaces. That's the fine print.

My monthly report is in. I spent 833 BYN ($360 USD) for the month, which earned me a cashback of 9.83 BYN ($4.20 USD). To me, that's a pretty low return. The only thing that caught my eye was the cashback.

Here's another example that speaks for itself. In total, my cashback for the month came out to be just over 1%.

Cashback is credited back to my card at the beginning of each month, around the first few days.

However, cashback is not earned on purchases made abroad using my card.

My Verdict

I'm really disappointed with Card #1. The cashback is meager and only gives an illusion of saving. I only got a whopping 14 BYN ($5.90 USD) in cashback in April, and that was only because I bought my parents a TV worth almost 800 BYN ($340 USD) from an online store. That's just ridiculous.

I don't think the categories are poorly chosen, but none of them really appeal to me. I'd love to choose Automotive, but I only fill up my car twice a month, and my mechanic buys the spare parts for me and I pay him in cash. For home, we buy a lot of things, but again, cash only. In short, anything goes.

I'd only recommend Card #1 from Alfa Bank to those who make significant purchases that fall under the designated categories. Even a flight payment is okay, but that's a rare occurrence. I wonder if the bank would even offer cashback if I bought a new car from a dealership and paid partially using my card.

However, I must give credit where credit is due: the card is super easy to use, no questions asked. But that's not a cashback card. That's just a joke.

live_helpFeatured FAQ

Is the card's cashback deal still worth it?

Honestly, I don't think so. The cashback rate is just too low, especially considering the hassle of using the card.

Can I still use the card for online purchases?

Yes, you can still use the card for online purchases, but the cashback rate is lower than I'd like.

Is the card's build quality any good?

To be honest, I'm not a fan of the card's build quality. It feels cheap to me, which is a major turnoff.

How does the return policy work?

The return policy is a bit of a hassle, if you ask me. You have to jump through hoops to get a refund, which is frustrating.

Can I still earn cashback on my purchases?

Yes, you can still earn some cashback on your purchases, but the rate is lower than I'd like.

Is the card's shipping times any good?

Unfortunately, shipping times are slower than I'd like, which is a major inconvenience.

Can I still use the card for utility payments?

No, you can't use the card for utility payments, which is a major drawback for me.

Is the card's battery life any good?

Decent, but not great, which is a problem for me.

Can I still earn cashback on my ERI payments?

No, you can't earn cashback on your ERI payments, which is a major drawback for me.

Is the card's customer support any good?

Yes, customer support is still top-notch, as I've come to expect from Alfa Bank.

Can I still use the card for Aliexpress purchases?

Yes, you can still use the card for Aliexpress purchases, but the cashback rate is lower than I'd like.

check_circlePros

•The card's maintenance is free, which is a nice perk.
•I didn't have to pay for the card itself, which was a nice surprise.
•The card's design is pretty sleek, I'll give them that.
•Customer support is still top-notch, as I've come to expect from Alfa Bank.
•I can still use the card for online purchases, which is a must for me.
•I can still earn some cashback on my purchases, even if it's not as much as I'd like.