Debit card or credit card? Regular card or personalized card? Which credit card has the best benefits?… If you’ve asked yourself at least one of these questions, we’d like to help you choose what fits you best.

Here’s what to look at below:

1. If you use your card mainly to withdraw cash from an ATM (pension, salary, etc.), a debit card such as Visa Classic or MasterCard is all you need. We do, however, encourage you to use your card to pay utility bills and everyday shopping as well, because a bank card is safer, more convenient and more practical than paying in cash — and on top of that there’s no fee for paying by card. If you’re a student, we recommend the BT-Omnipass debit card which, together with the STAR Student package, can help you manage your money better, shop, travel and celebrate with friends. You’ll enjoy fast, contactless payments and free travel insurance. If you like earning a bonus on every card payment, see question 5 below.

2. Where do you make most of your card payments?

If you shop online, make sure that whatever card you use (Visa or MasterCard, debit or credit) is protected against fraud — in other words, it’s 3D Secure-enabled. If you want tighter control over your spending, SMS Alert is a good choice. You’ll receive text messages on your mobile phone about your card transactions and incoming funds, adding an extra layer of security.

If you want to pay by card when you travel abroad, any Visa or MasterCard is a good option, as they’re widely accepted by merchants worldwide. Premium cards, both debit and credit, come with additional perks such as free travel insurance and access to airport lounges in Bucharest and Cluj.

3. Do you buy appliances or tech gadgets fairly often?

If yes, an instalment shopping card is a good fit. Its big advantage is buying on credit: get it now, pay later. What’s more, most BT credit cards let you split the cost of the products you want — gadgets, electronics, appliances, clothes, shoes, fragrances and more — into instalments.

Do keep in mind the maximum daily transaction limits, as each card type has preset limits you can later change on request. For example, the STAR Forte card allows an aggregate cap of 10 payments per day, totalling no more than 20,000 lei. If you use BT24 Internet Banking, it’s a quick way to adjust those limits.

4. Do you fly often?

Then a card that lets you earn air miles on every card payment and every flight is ideal for you. Once you’ve collected enough miles, you can use them to buy flight tickets or any of the 5,000+ products available in the online shop.

If you travel abroad frequently, a premium credit card can also be useful, as benefits typically include free travel insurance.

5. Do you like getting rewards in the form of cashback (points or money in your account)?

If so, you’ll want a STAR Forte credit card, which earns points on every card payment (1 point = 1 leu). You can choose from over 8,000 partner stores in Banca Transilvania’s STAR loyalty program. The points you collect can be used for future purchases across the STAR partner network. In addition to earning points, any purchase with this card can be split into multiple instalments.

6. Do you like to feel unique, different?

Then a personalized card is the best choice, whether it’s Visa Classic or MasterCard Mondo. You can personalize your card with a photo of your choice — either one from BT’s online gallery or one you’ve taken yourself (family, your dog, your cat, or your crew at this summer’s festival).

In conclusion, a debit card is the right choice for you if:

• you have recurring income (salary, pension, scholarship, etc.) you want paid onto a card
• you’re a student, on a limited budget, or your work does not generate recurring income
• you don’t want to pay maintenance fees (as a rule, debit cards have zero or very low fees)
• you want an easy-to-use payment tool that lets you pay for everyday purchases or withdraw cash from ATMs

Keep in mind that the account linked to your debit card will only ever hold the money you receive from your own income.

A credit card, increasingly popular here as an instalment shopping card, is the right choice for you if:

• you make large purchases (electronics, appliances) that are easier to pay off in several instalments
• you want to receive rewards for your purchases
• you repay at least the minimum amount due on time every month

With a credit card you can pay not only from your own funds but also by drawing on the attached credit line. As an additional advantage, you benefit from a grace period during which you don’t have to repay the amount used from the credit line.