Uncomfortable gift card – not recommended
add_circle Pros
- It lights up right away – you can start spending the moment you get it.
- Works wherever the card number is accepted online.
- You can top it up, even though the reload steps aren’t crystal clear.
- No need to lug cash around for everyday shop‑to‑shop runs.
- The mobile app shows your balance in real time.
remove_circle Cons
- Cash outs bite you with a 2 % fee or a minimum 200 RUB, so pulling cash gets pricey fast.
- You can’t go to a teller – only ATMs, and they charge the same fees.
- Even the tiniest purchase often tacks on an extra surcharge, basically double‑charging you.
- The card has an expiration date; any leftover cash vanishes after that.
- Reloading is a headache – staff give mixed info and the app’s instructions are vague.
- Not accepted everywhere; some merchants treat it like a voucher and turn you away.
- Customer support is vague and throws contradictory answers.
- The app sometimes syncs wrong, showing outdated balances.
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Editor's Summary
I was handed a Vishnya gift card from Russian Standard Bank and quickly found out it’s more hassle than help. Pulling cash costs a 2 % fee or at least 200 RUB, you can’t even go to a teller, the app adds extra fees on tiny buys, and the card expires, so you’re forced to spend the balance right away. In short, it feels like a store voucher with hidden costs, not a real payment tool.
Specifications
My office handed me a "Vishnya" gift card from Russian Standard Bank. I'm not a fan of gift cards, but I had to deal with it, so I swung by the branch to figure it out. The staff were vague, and the consultant kept beating around the bush with a handful of questions. I eventually learned that pulling cash costs 2 % or at least 200 RUB – even at a Russian Standard ATM – and you can’t get cash at the teller window. That makes the card feel more like a store voucher than a real payment method. Bottom line: you’re better off spending the balance straight away, because trying to get cash just nibbles away at what’s left.
They do have an app that syncs with the card, but I wouldn’t count on it for paying anything. Even the smallest purchase seems to snag an extra fee, so you end up paying twice. And the card has an expiration date – if you don’t use the money before that, poof, it’s gone. Supposedly it’s a reloadable card – the teller first told me you couldn’t top it up, yet a few days later I spotted extra cash appearing on the Vishnya balance, which left me scratching my head.
I only found out about the app from a coworker, even after two trips to the branch. The app isn’t exactly user‑friendly – my phone kept running out of space, so I had to clear some junk before it would even launch, which was a pain. The next time I needed a detailed breakdown of my spending and income, I had to ask the bank for a statement. They don’t hand them out right away; once it’s ready they shoot you an SMS with a link, and you wait for the notification. I gave the hotline a ring to double‑check the numbers so I wouldn’t have to swing by again for a paper copy. Bottom line: the card feels clunky, the fees are high, and the expiration rule turns it into a total disappointment.