My Cautionary Tale: Why I'm Letting Go of the YuMoney Card

I'll be the first to admit it - I was once head over heels for the YuMoney plastic card. I got it a few years ago, back when I was heavily invested in Yandex Money (that's what it was called back then). Online shopping, transfers, movie rentals, subscriptions, discounts - it all seemed so convenient and modern that ordering the card was a no-brainer. I decided to get one to have a full-fledged tool for everyday transactions, but after a few years of using it, I came to the conclusion that I wouldn't be renewing it. And below, I'll explain why.

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How I Got the Card.

The process of applying was pretty straightforward. In my YuMoney account, I saw a section for bank cards, chose the named plastic card, and submitted the application. No need to go to the office, stand in line, or collect a bunch of documents. All I had to do was fill out the questionnaire and pay for the card's issuance - it cost 300 rubles. The card arrived at my address via Russian Post about 10 days later. It came in a branded envelope with a protective sticker and an activation guide. At first glance, it looked pretty decent: a sleek design, a chip, a magnetic stripe, a number, and an expiration date - just like any bank card.

Activation was done through the mobile app: I just had to enter the last digits of the card and the code sent via SMS. After that, the card became a full-fledged payment tool - both online and in stores.

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First Impressions.

When I first used it to pay in a cafe, I felt like a total tech-savvy person. At the time, I only had a salary card from my bank and a regular debit card that wasn't always suitable for online payments. Plus, electronic wallets were gaining huge popularity. The YuMoney card worked almost everywhere:

on websites for buying tickets,

in online stores,

for music and movie subscriptions,

I loved that I could use it in foreign services, which was super convenient.

It was also super easy to use: just top up and pay. In my case, it was even easier - the money from my side hustles would just get deposited into my e-wallet and I could use it to pay for everything without any fees.

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The Benefits of the Card.

After using it for a while, I've come to appreciate a few things:

Easy Application Process. No need to go to a branch, wait, or sign a bunch of papers. Everything's online and quick.

Convenient Top-ups. I could transfer money from another card, use a terminal, or link my salary card for regular transfers.

Working with Foreign Services. Back then, this was one of the few ways to pay for purchases abroad without any hassle.

Bonuses and Cashback. Initially, the card had some nice perks: cashback for purchases in specific categories or discounts from partners. Of course, the amounts were small, but it felt like I was getting something extra.

Linking to My Yandex Money Wallet. This was probably the biggest plus: my wallet and card balance were linked. I could instantly transfer money to a friend or pay the bills, and then head to the store and pay with the card. And my earnings would just get deposited into my wallet.

Universality. I could use the card anywhere, and it worked in most terminals.

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The Downsides of the Card.

Over time, some downsides started to show up, making it less comfortable to use the card.

Fees. The biggest downside was the fee. It was almost impossible to withdraw cash without being charged extra. Even for top-ups, I'd sometimes get charged a percentage, especially through third-party services.

Service Fees Were a Bummer. Over time, the annual maintenance started to cost an arm and a leg (the first three years were free, though). For a card that was basically an extra, the fees seemed overpriced.

Customer Support Left Much to Be Desired. When I had questions (like about a blocked payment), the responses took forever. Sometimes I got generic 'template' answers instead of actual help.

Identity Verification Was a Hassle. To increase my limits, I had to go through identity verification, which wasn't exactly convenient: I had to either visit an office or find someone to vouch for me.

The Card's Perks Started to Dwindle. Slowly but surely, they phased out many of the benefits that made the card appealing in the first place. Cashback rewards were reduced, and promotions became scarce.

Restrictions Piled Up Over the Years. As time went on, the terms of use got stricter and stricter. Not all services accepted the card, and sometimes I had to find workarounds.

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Why I Decided Not to Renew the Card.

I realized at some point that the card was no longer worth it for me. In the early years, it was great for online purchases and subscriptions, but then other alternatives came along:

my primary bank made it easier to pay foreign services (sadly, that's no longer the case, but we're talking about the time I used the card),

YuMoney's fees remained high,

and the annual maintenance started to seem unnecessary.

On top of that, I got really frustrated with the card's cash-withdrawal policy. Even when I found an ATM without fees, the conditions were always changing, and I couldn't be sure I wouldn't get charged next time.

Image of a person holding a card and looking frustratedI calculated how much money I was losing to fees each year, and decided it was better to just ditch the card.

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Lasting Impression.

I've got to say, the YuMoney plastic card left me with mixed feelings. On the one hand, it really made life easier back in the early days when online payments were just starting to take off and there weren't many convenient tools around. It helped me buy tickets, pay for subscriptions, and gave me a sense of freedom and modernity.

On the other hand, over time the card started to lose its appeal. High commissions, paid maintenance, and reduced bonuses made it inconvenient and unprofitable. Now, there are many bank cards with free maintenance and cashback that are way more appealing, and compared to YuMoney, it looks outdated.

Who Might Still Find This Card Useful Today:

People who actively use the YuMoney wallet and want their balance to be directly linked.Those who need a backup payment instrument.Individuals who aren't bothered by commissions and don't plan on withdrawing cash frequently.&xa0;

Comparing YuMoney to Other Cards.

To make my review as honest and helpful as possible, I'll draw some parallels with cards I've used simultaneously or later on. This will help you understand where exactly YuMoney falls short.

YuMoney vs Tinkoff Black (now T-bank)

Maintenance. With Tinkoff Black, you can get free maintenance by meeting simple conditions (a certain balance or spending threshold; essentially, sign up with a referral link and you'll get lifetime free maintenance). YuMoney charges a fixed annual fee, and there's no way to avoid it.

Cashback. Tinkoff's cashback is higher, more straightforward, and more stable (1% on all purchases + enhanced categories). YuMoney's bonuses have become rare and minimal.

Management. The Tinkoff app is more user-friendly: transaction analysis, budget planning, and push notifications. YuMoney's interface is pretty basic.

Verdict: YuMoney significantly lags behind in everyday use.

YuMoney vs Sbercard

ATM Network. Sberbank has an enormous network, and you can withdraw cash almost anywhere. YuMoney's always got issues: either a fee or finding a suitable ATM.

Customer Support. In Sberbank, you can resolve an issue both in the office and through the app. YuMoney's only got online support, and the answers aren't always helpful.

Verdict: for cash and quick decisions, the YuMoney card is inconvenient. But I'll be honest – I closed my Sbercard too.

YuMoney vs Alfa-Bank (Alfa-Card)

Cashback and Promotions. Alfa-Card had a 2% cashback on everything and separate promotions with stores. YuMoney's bonuses have dwindled to almost nothing. Alfa's got a 1% cashback, but there's a lottery for bigger cashbacks, where sometimes you can get 20% on a great category (I got lucky once – got a cashback on Marketplaces on the weekends).

Maintenance. Alfa's also got frequent promotions for free maintenance (remember that link from a friend to get lifetime free maintenance). YuMoney's always got a fixed fee.

Verdict: even with 'second-tier' cards, competitors offer more benefits.

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Comparison Summary.

The YuMoney card was a good tool at first, when the options were limited. But now, with banks actively competing, most have:

free maintenance,

a clear cashback,

normal cash withdrawal conditions,

user-friendly apps.

Against this backdrop, the YuMoney card looks outdated. It only makes sense as an 'extension' of the YuMoney wallet, but as a standalone banking product, it loses almost everywhere.

I've been using this card for years, but now it's lost its appeal. I decided not to renew it because I found better alternatives that offer more value for money. Although I have fond memories of using it in the early days, I'd say think twice before signing up for a YuMoney credit card today.

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