Maximizing the Benefits of Your Alfa Bank Credit Card: Tips for Getting the Most Out of Your Card

I've been using my Alfa Bank credit card with 0% interest for over a year now, and I've learned a thing or two that I'd like to share.

Recently, I got an offer to apply for a new credit card, and I jumped at the chance.

Credit card 100 days without % interest from Alfa-bank

FEE FOR MAINTENANCE The new credit card has some key differences from my first one. While my first card is completely free, this one has free maintenance for the first year, but from the second year, it'll cost 990 rubles per year.

I'm not usually one to sign up for paid products, but in this case, I'll still be in a significant plus, so I'll continue to use it even with the fee.

Credit card 100 days without % interest from Alfa-bank

APPLICATION FOR THE CARD I didn't apply directly on the website. Instead, I received an offer to apply for a new credit card through the Alfa-Bank mobile app, since I'm already a user.

However, you can also initiate the application process yourself by visiting the Alfa Bank website and leaving a request.

Credit Card 100 Days No Interest from Alfa Bank Accessible Credit Limit You get to choose your desired credit limit, ranging from 10,000 to 1 million rubles. However, the bank will ultimately decide on a specific amount for you. I always found out the approved amount right when I got the credit card, which isn't exactly convenient.

The credit limit on this card was set at 133,000 rubles. My first card had a limit of 30,000, which was later increased to 90,000.

I'm not sure if Alfa Bank is being cautious or greedy, but my credit limits are higher with other banks.

Credit Card 100 Days No Interest from Alfa Bank General Terms

Application and delivery are free of charge.

The annual fee is free for the first year (not always, conditions may change), and then it's 990 rubles per year.

Credit Card 100 Days No Interest from Alfa Bank The interest rate for late payments is enormous. Of course, I highly recommend sticking to the interest-free period at all costs.

Card Delivery

Shipping was super fast and free. I opted for the courier delivery, which was convenient. They brought it right to my doorstep, or I could have picked it up at the bank's office.

The delivery team worked with me to schedule a time that fit my schedule, and they even threw in a nice touch by wrapping the card in a plain cardboard envelope.

When I signed up, I had to show my passport and verbally agree to take a photo. After that, I just had to sign the contract.

Credit Card 100 Days No Interest from Alfa BankCard DesignThe Alfa card looks pretty basic at first glance, but the bright red color really makes it stand out. It's a bit cheap-looking, but I guess that's a small price to pay for its slim design and compact size.

Credit Card 100 Days No Interest from Alfa BankAvoiding Unnecessary Charges: What to Do After Receiving Your Card

I highly recommend taking a few minutes to review and disable any unwanted services. The insurance is automatically included, and the courier might even give you a heads-up about it.

❗️❗️ First things first, let's disable the insurance. You can do this by sending a request to the bank's support chat. The operator will take care of it for you.

❗️❗️ Next, let's turn off SMS notifications for transactions. They come with a fee, unless you're getting some kind of promotion.

Credit Card 100 Days No Interest from Alfa Bank You can also do this in a chat or manually in your card management.

Credit Card 100 Days No Interest from Alfa Bank ⚠️⚠️ Make sure to study the conditions carefully. Understand what the interest-free period is and what its terms are. xa0

HOW TO EARN MONEY WITH THE HELP OF A CREDIT CARD?

I withdraw 50,000 rubles each month and put them on a savings account or deposit. You can choose a deposit for any convenient term, depending on how much free money you have.

If you don't have any free money and don't expect to get any, you should calculate the deposit term taking into account the interest-free period. So, the deposit can be, for example, for 2 months.

I prefer a savings account at Tinkoff Bank. They have daily interest accrual, not just on the minimum balance at the end of the month. The rate is decent. Lower than on a deposit, but not negligible. Currently, it's 11%.

I also like making short-term deposits at Tinkoff Bank.

Sberbank often offers attractive conditions and often beats Tinkoff if the deposit is for 6 months or more. In 2024, I chose Sberbank for a deposit term of at least 6 months.

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WITHDRAWING MONEY

I've got to remember that there's a limit on withdrawals without commission - it's 50,000 rubles per calendar month.

Credit Card 100 Days Without % Interest from Alfa BankWhat's key to note is that a calendar month is from the first to the last day of the month, not from the date you withdrew.The interest-free period doesn't affect this.

Let me give you an example: I withdrew money on November 1, and by November 15, I'd paid off the entire debt on my credit card and a new interest-free period started. But here's the thing - you can keep making purchases as usual, but you can't withdraw without commission until December 1. The next withdrawal without commission is only from December 1.

I made the mistake of not paying attention once and ended up paying a hefty commission. Be careful!

There's no limit displayed in the app for how much you can withdraw without commission in a month. You need to keep track of this yourself by logging into your credit card operations and checking how much you've withdrawn and when.

Credit Card 100 Days Without % Interest from Alfa BankWHERE TO WITHDRAW CASH?Alfa Bank has a lot of partners with ATMs that don't charge commission for withdrawals. I still recommend withdrawing only from Alfa Bank ATMs. That way, the commission amount will be displayed immediately.

Other banks' ATMs don't show this information on the screen.

Credit Card 100 Days No % Interest from Alfa Bank Transfer MoneyForget about it if you don't want to pay huge interest rates. With this credit card, there's no commission for withdrawals and purchases.

Important Payments and Interest-Free Period

No notifications from Alfa about potential late payments. You need to keep an eye on it yourself in the bank's app.

You'll need to make the minimum required payment and settle your debt on time. Details about these parameters are on the screenshot below: Credit Card 100 Days No % Interest from Alfa Bank Cashback Will Help You Multiply Your Capital

You can return part of the purchase amount with the help of attractive offers.

Credit Card 100 Days No % Interest from Alfa Bank Cashback Offers Are PlentyThere are cashback offers from partners with a significant percentage.

Credit Card 100 Days No % Interest from Alfa Bank You Can Get Cashback in Selected CategoriesEach month, the categories change.

Alpha Bank Credit Card: 100 Days Interest-FreeOne thing I like about this credit card is the cashback wheel. You can spin it and win an extra rewards category - which is usually not that useful for me, but in October, it was books!

Alpha Bank Credit Card: 100 Days Interest-FreeThe cashback on Alfa Fridays is another perk. It's always changing, so you have to keep an eye on it.

Alpha Bank Credit Card: 100 Days Interest-FreeThe cashback is credited when you pay with any Alpha Bank card - that's either a debit or credit card. It's credited normally, according to the terms of the promotions. My earnings look like this:

Alpha Bank Credit Card: 100 Days Interest-FreeSUMMARY I'm generally happy with this credit card from Alpha Bank. I've never had any unexpected interest charges, but I do have to stay on top of my payments and follow the promotions closely. PROS

✅ Good cashback, plenty of promotions

✅ First year of service is free.

✅ Customer support is always responsive, even if they're not always quick to respond.

✅ I'm glad to say that I can withdraw up to 50,000 rubles per month without any fees.

✅ The long interest-free period for purchases and withdrawals is a major plus. This card can be a lifesaver when you're short on cash or serve as an additional savings tool.

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THE NOT-SO-GREAT ASPECTS

❌ One thing that's not ideal is that you're automatically signed up for paid services like insurance and SMS notifications.

❌ You'll have to pay for maintenance starting from the second year of using the card.

❌ There's no fee-free foreign exchange. You can only withdraw cash without fees.

❌ In the app, it's not clear how much you can withdraw without fees in a given month. You'll have to do the math yourself, which is something other bank apps make easier.

❌ The bank doesn't send you reminders to pay off your debt. You'll need to stay on top of it yourself – I've set up notifications on my phone.

❌ On iOS, you can't simply download the app. You'll need a bank representative to help you install it.

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I'd also recommend checking out the Platinum T-Bank credit card. It's free to maintain, has a high credit limit, and offers cashback on purchases.

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THANK YOU for taking the time to read my review. If it was helpful, please give it a heart ❤️. It would really make my day.