Credit

A credit card is a means of payment issued by a banking institution to a natural or legal person who is a customer of that institution, allowing the customer to enter into credit transactions under the contractually agreed terms and conditions.

The conditions of issue and use are set by each banking institution. Three modes of payment are allowed, which the customer agrees directly with the issuing bank, without the intermediation of Sistema 4B:

Immediate: As purchases are made, without any surcharge.
Monthly: Making just one payment a month, for all the purchases made the previous month, also without any surcharge.
Deferred: By means of monthly payments, set in advance according to the interest rate or a fixed instalment (revolving credit), with settlement of the interest due and updating of the balance or available limit.

Depending on the credit limit and the associated services:

Visa 4B Classic/Gold/Platinum.
Visa 4B Affinity.
Mastercard 4B.
Mastercard 4B Affinity.

Visa 4B Classic/Gold/Platinum

VISA 4B credit cards offer cardholders the option of managing their purchases up to the credit limit assigned by the bank, and agreeing with the bank the mode of payment that best meets their needs. The VISA brand is accepted as a universal means of payment worldwide.

The difference between the types of card (classic, gold and platinum) lies in the value of the limit the bank authorises based on the customer's ability to pay and on the additional facilities, which although negotiated separately with the issuing bank, are higher the further up the ranking the card type is.

Services:

Cash withdrawals at over 1 million cash dispensers around the world (a secret personal identification number associated with the card has to be entered to withdraw cash) and from bank branches.

Purchases of goods and services at over 24 million retail establishments displaying the VISA sign worldwide.

Insurance:

Holders of VISA Classic cards have free travel insurance of up to twenty million pesetas (€120,202) provided their ticket was paid for using the card. The customer will also be compensated with a sum equal to the total charges for goods and services paid for using his or her card during the 12 months preceding the date of the accident, even if these charges were incurred in the course of business or daily life.

In the case of VISA GOLD cardholders the accident insurance is increased to 100 million pesetas (€601,012) and also includes Europ Assistance cover worldwide.

If you require more information, please contact any bank belonging to Sistema 4B.

Visa 4B Affinity

These are VISA cards issued specially for a particular group, and offer cardholders added value in relation to normal cards as well as including the distinctive image of the brand of the group for which they are issued. At present 4B issuer banks have 153 affinity card programmes in effect, relating to sporting bodies, humanitarian and environmental organisations, and cultural and professional associations.

Services, Insurance and Applications:

These are the same as those listed for VISA cards. The fundamental difference lies in the fact that a percentage of the commission received by the banks, for the transactions carried out and/or the card issue fees, is passed on to the collective issuer for which they have been issued. In many cases added value and advantages such as special discounts, additional services and promotions are included.

If you require more information, please contact any bank belonging to Sistema 4B.

Mastercard 4B

These are co-branded credit cards issued in conjunction with Mastercard, which means they can be accepted worldwide at establishments displaying the Mastercard logo.

Mastercard 4B credit cards offer cardholders the option of managing their purchases up to the credit limit assigned by the bank, and agreeing with the bank the mode of payment that best meets their needs.

Services:

Cash withdrawals from bank branches and cash dispensers worldwide which display the Mastercard logo. To withdraw cash from cash dispensers it is necessary to type in the secret personal identification number assigned to the card.

Purchases of goods and services at retail establishments displaying the MASTERCARD logo worldwide.

Insurance:

Holders of MASTERCARD Classic cards have free travel insurance of up to twenty million pesetas (€120,202) provided their ticket was paid for using the card. The customer will also be compensated with a sum equal to the total charges for goods and services paid for using his or her card during the 12 months preceding the date of the accident, even if these charges were incurred in the course of business or daily life.

In the case of MASTERCARD GOLD cardholders the accident insurance is increased to 100 million pesetas (€601,012) and also includes Europe Assistance cover worldwide.

If you require more information, please contact any bank belonging to Sistema 4B.

Mastercard 4B Affinity

These are MASTERCARD cards issued specially for a particular group, and offer holders added value over normal cards as well as including the distinctive image of the brand of the group for which they are issued. There are currently 138 different programmes being run by 4B issuer banks, relating to sporting bodies, humanitarian and environmental organisations, and cultural and professional associations.

Services, Insurance and Applications:

These are basically the same as for other MASTERCARD cards. The fundamental difference lies in the fact that a percentage of the commission received by the banks, for the transactions carried out and/or the card issue fees, is passed on to the collective issuer for which they have been issued. In many cases added value and advantages such as special discounts, additional services and promotions are included.

If you require more information, please contact any bank belonging to Sistema 4B.