Curve is a Mastercard debit card that allows users to link all their debit and credit cards to it. It's not very clear? Tell yourself that with the curve card, you can decide which bank card you want to use which will be associated with your Curve account. This innovation is convenient for making payments, without having to carry several cards with you.
Curve is a solution that has generated a lot of interest in the financial services industry. Many people have several crypto bank cards (or not) which they use for particular purposes and whose management quickly becomes problematic. With Curve, everything is done in one place for greater efficiency.
In this article, we will explore the world of the Curve card. We will highlight its key features, potential benefits, and possible limitations.
Who is the Curve card for?
The Curve card is a good option for people who want:
- Reduce the number of cards they have to carry;
- Earn cashback on their expenses;
- Use their credit card abroad without exchange fees;
- Using their credit card in places that don't accept them;
- Personalize their transactions with intelligent rules.
However, the Curve card is not an ideal option for people who:
- Travel a lot and make numerous cash withdrawals abroad;
- Prefer to have their cards available according to location and circumstances;
- Don't want to pay a monthly subscription for unlimited withdrawals.
How to use the Curve card?
To use the Curve card, you must first download the Curve app on your smartphone. Once you've created an account and added your credit cards, you can start paying with your Curve card. As simple as that.
When you make a payment with your Curve card, you choose which bank card you want to use. The Curve card then makes the payment with the chosen bank card and you receive a notification on your phone. You can change your card at any time as you wish.
What is Curve’s cashback?
One of the main benefits of the Curve card is its 1% cashback. This means that you will receive 1% reimbursement on all your expenses, up to €300 per month. Cashback is credited to your Curve account and can be used to make purchases or withdrawn.
What are the Curve card subscriptions?
The Curve card is available in three offers:
- Curve Blue : free, with no withdrawal fees in euros in the euro zone. You can use the card for free for as long as you want.
- Curve Black : €9,99 per month, with unlimited euro withdrawals in the euro zone and unlimited foreign currency withdrawals of up to €400 per month.
- Curve Metal : €14,99 per month, with unlimited euro withdrawals in the euro zone and unlimited foreign currency withdrawals. Best of all, premium tiers offer a range of benefits such as insurance coverage and airport lounge access.
What are the benefits of the Curve card?
- Currency exchange without fees: Another great feature of the Curve card is the ability to use the card abroad without incurring exchange fees. When you use the Curve card abroad, it uses the Mastercard exchange rate, which is known to be competitive.
- Curve Rewards: Curve offers a rewards program called Curve Rewards. This program allows you to earn cashback on certain purchases made with your Curve card or Samsung Pay+. To participate in Curve Rewards, you must first select the offers you wish to participate in via the Curve app. These offers may be limited in time and may be modified or withdrawn at any time without notice.
- Curve GBIT (Go Back in Time) : With the “Go Back in Time” feature, you can easily transfer transactions made with your Curve card to another payment card in your app. This allows you to change the card used for a transaction after the fact. For example, you can use it if you used the wrong card or if you want to benefit from points or discounts from another card.
- Payment card method: If a payment fails, your designated backup card will automatically be used. This saves you the embarrassment of having to explain your declined payment to the cashier.
- Automate expenses: You can automate your expenses with Curve. Simply choose a card to use for a specific category or amount. Then your payments will automatically be routed to that card.
- Curve fronted : This is a feature that allows you to pay for certain types of expenses using your credit card. This is even if the merchant does not directly accept credit card payments. This feature can be useful for paying bills or debts that cannot be charged to a credit card through traditional means.
Disadvantages of the Curve Payment Card
The Curve payment card also has some disadvantages.
- Customer service is not always responsive : It can be frustrating if you have a problem and can't get a quick response from customer service.
- The free tier was recently limited: Some users may feel that the free tier of the service has become less useful or valuable due to recent changes.
- Only accessible on mobile : This can be disabling for some users. Especially those who prefer to use a native application on their computer rather than access the service via a web browser.
The Curve partnership and the Plutus card
Plutus is a company that offers a card and mobile application that allows users to earn and spend cryptocurrency. Curve has partnered with Plutus to offer users a number of crypto-related benefits. In particular, you can earn PLUs by subscribing to Curve Black or Curve Metal.
When users pay for their Curve Black subscription with a Plutus card, they will receive the monthly value of the subscription in PLU. With Curve Black, users can also earn 1% cashback at select retailers. They can also access fair exchange rates, make fee-free cash withdrawals abroad and benefit from travel insurance.
Users who select the Curve Metal plan can also enjoy the same benefits as Curve Black. They also have access to additional benefits and a reduced price when paying with a Plutus card.
-> Read our review of the Plutus card.
Customer reviews on Curve
Public chat Trustpilot, Curve has an average rating of 3,9 stars out of 5 based on customer reviews. Many reviewers cite issues with customer service quality and speed as their main concern.
Indeed, it appears that some users experienced delays or lack of support when contacting the customer support team. It should be noted that individual user experiences may vary. Therefore, it is always a good idea to do your own research before signing up for a new service.
Final opinion on the Curve card
Curve is a financial service that offers a card and app that allows users to consolidate all of their debit and credit cards into one physical card. It is available in three tiers: Free, Black and Metal.
This is a valuable tool for people who have more credit cards but is not an ideal solution for everyone.
Otherwise, it is good to consult our comparison of best crypto bank cards before making a choice or consulting our reviews for the cards that interest you.
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