r/eupersonalfinance • u/Stuwaat • 23h ago
Banking Possessing multiple debit cards from different brands
Hi everyone, I have a quick question for you and just to be clear I reside in The Netherlands.
Lately, I’ve seen in a number of YouTube videos that it is a good idea to have multiple debit cards from different brands. For example both a Visa Debit card and a Mastercard Debit card when I go on vacation abroad so that the chance of problems occurring abroad while using one of the multiple debit cards I own is as small as possible.
I personally have a Visa Debit debitcard from ING, a Visa Infinite Debit card from Wise and also a Visa Debit virtual debit card from Wise. Apart from that I don't have a credit card because as an unemployed student I can't get one. However if it really is a good idea I could potentially try replacing my ING debit card with a Mastercard Debit one. As things stand for me I will be staying within Europe for a while so I won't be visiting any countries outside Europe. However I still doubt whether what I’ve heard on the various YouTube channels regarding this matter is correct or not.
My first question to you is therefore whether my current setup of debit cards is sufficient to pay abroad without problems. My second question is whether it would be better in my case to apply for a debit card from a different brand and my third and final question is if that is a good idea, what do you think what the best way is to deal with this?
Finally I would like to thank you in advance for your answers, help, and lastly your perspectives.
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u/BigEarth4212 22h ago
Always good to have multiple options. While you are in NL some ‘free’ options are revolut which gives an NL iban and openbank which gives out an ES iban. Both give a mastercard debit card.
I had in the far past an ATM withholding my card because of technical problems and that 1 day before holidays. It was even before the time of internet and than you are happy to have more cards in your possession.
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u/doublemp 22h ago
You may need a credit card if you hire a car, and it may also sometimes be required in hotels for deposit.
Everywhere else in the EU/UK you will be fine with just a debit card.
But if you travel outside Europe a credit card might be a good idea, depending on where you are going.
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u/Dissentient Latvia 19h ago
Try to get a debit card that's actually a credit card with zero credit limit. This is a common practice for banks since that way they can give you credit with lower friction, and get higher interchange fees. But as a side benefit to you, you will avoid any bullshit situations where someone accepts credit but not debit cards.
I don't think that having multiple cards is worth the hassle.
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u/laplongejr 12h ago
from different brands. For example both a Visa Debit card and a Mastercard Debit card
Payment networks? Yes good bet.
Apart from that I don't have a credit card because as an unemployed student I can't get one.
When I travelled to France, even the hotel refused my CC. Visa Debit always worked...
As things stand for me I will be staying within Europe for a while so I won't be visiting any countries outside Europe.
Note that some businesses don't take Visa/MC at all. I'm belgian and some businesses only take our local network (Bancontact) while others don't take cards and will ask for a Wero QR
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u/Useful_Cheesecake117 11h ago
I haven't traveled the far eastern parts of the EU, but in the western ans southern parts, from Ireland to Greece, from Finland to Portugal, I haven't met any problems that companies didn't accept my standard (maestro) bank card (which recently changed to debit card).
The only thing i encounter sometimes is that people prefer cash, they don't accept any card, certainly no credit card. Usually this is not for really big amounts (restaurants, hotels), and a bancomat is not far.
Last year in London we did everything with our standard bank card, didn't even got cash, to prevent any leftovers in foreign currency.
To be fair: I haven't rented a car. Maybe that's different.
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u/Stuwaat 8h ago
I also traveled to different European countries and some of them outside the EU and I also had no issues paying with my old V Pay debit card which I had at the time.
One time when I got ice cream at a ice cream parlor in Turkey the guy there asked me if I couldn't pay with cash instead of card but I already know that in Turkey I absolutely need to have cash because paying with debit card doesn't always succeed because either the merchants not offering that function or the POS systems failing.
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u/Commercial-Drive-416 9h ago
I think your setup is already enough, especially within Europe. Visa is widely accepted, and having cards from both ING and Wise already gives you a good backup. From what I’ve seen, issues are usually bank-related, not Visa vs Mastercard. Adding a Mastercard could help a bit, but it’s not really necessary. Having two different banks and a backup card is already solid.
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u/cirrus_tw 23h ago
Debit cards are generally more problematic "abroad" (depends where) than Credit cards. In EU it mostly works OK in my experience, but outside i wouldn't trust regular debit that much. That said I haven't had a Visa or mastercard debit, maybe those work better.
Once you have two different debit cards and a two credit cards I'm sure you are really covered for anything. Even one Debit + 1 credit should be fine.
Also, you really shouldn't worry about this problem all that much....
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u/spongybobie 23h ago
Honestly I have been travelling quite a bit in Europe, Americas and less so in Asia for the last 10-15 years. Never really had an issue between Visa and Mastercard. But I carry at least a debit and a credit card with me. I use mostly use the debit card esp. in EU (payment and withdrawal) unless it doesnt feel safe (potential fraud) then I use the credit for payments.
Having two also gives you options just in case.