Top 10 Banks for Debit Cards in 2025

One in five Russians owns three or more bank cards. Most of them sit idle, and owners lose money on maintenance. According to the Central Bank, more than 50 million new cards were issued in 2024, but less than half are actively used.

Let's figure out which bank to open a card with to earn money on everyday purchases.

_{What has changed in the market?}

Competition has reached its peak. Cashback of up to 30% in rubles, interest on balances up to 17% per annum, and free service have all become the norm.

The main trend is personalization. Customers themselves choose the categories for increased cashback: groceries, gas stations, or restaurants. The categories are updated monthly.

The second trend is welcome bonuses. New customers are offered 25-100% cashback in the first month.

_{Rating of the best debit cards}

_{More about the leaders}

T-Bank Black is the market leader. Cashback in rubles is limited to 3,000 rubles per month, up to 5,000 rubles with a Pro subscription. Categories can be changed monthly.

Alfa-Card is a free card with no strings attached. A rarity in the market. Cashback of up to 100% is available through "supercashback"—a random category is determined by a wheel in the app.

The VTB Multicard is ideal for salary clients. Transferring your salary unlocks a fourth category. Note: Multi-bonuses are converted at a rate of 1 to 0,85.

Gazprombank is offering a special offer for new customers: 100% cashback on supermarket purchases in the first month, up to a maximum of 1,000 points. Valid until March 31, 2026.

_{What to look for}

• SMS notifications cost 99 rubles per month—almost 1,200 rubles per year. Free push notifications are an alternative.
• Cashback comes in different forms. Rubles are more beneficial than bonuses: they can be spent without restrictions or conversion.
• SBP limits. The standard free limit is 100,000 rubles per month. Some banks offer extended limits.
• Cash withdrawals. UBRR cards allow free cash withdrawals from Alfa-Bank, VTB, Raiffeisenbank, and PSB ATMs.

_{How to maximize your benefits}

Use multiple cards for different purposes. Keep an eye out for promotions: double bonuses on weekends, affiliate programs with marketplaces. Choose categories wisely – analyze your spending before the start of the month.

_Сonclusion

For everyday purchases, consider T-Bank and Alfa-Bank with their flexible categories. For salary clients, VTB and Gazprombank are more advantageous. If you pay a lot for utilities, consider UBRR, which offers a rare 5% cashback on utilities.

Close unused cards. Even free service won't save you from SMS fees and accidental charges for forgotten subscriptions.