21.08.2020

Apple Card: Pros and Cons

The Apple card has been available since August 2019, currently in the testing phase only in the United States. It is a credit card in partnership with Goldman Sachs and whose arrival on the market is causing some small emulation in the financial sector.

 

Intuitive and customizable application: 

Firstly, the Apple Card is available in physical form but also in digital version. A very well thought out and very readable application is linked to it and allows you to track all your expenses.  It is a direct competitor to Revolut, another very interesting card, especially for purchases in foreign currencies.  

The latter are sorted by colors according to what they concern (entertainment, food, bills etc...) and you can see where you made these purchases thanks to Maps.  

Thanks to its MasterCard chip, it is possible to make payments where ApplePay is not available. 

Everything is secured by fingerprint and facial identification. You will also need to enter a one-time code for each purchase made on the internet.  

Of course, the system is designed for an Apple environment and it is impossible to use the card without an iPhone running iOS 12.4 or higher.

 

Interesting advantages: 

First, there are no activation or usage fees. If you exceed your limit (on credit) and are unable to repay on time, you will not be charged any late fees. 

Be careful, this does not mean that you will not have interest on this late amount.

It simply means that you won't have to pay any additional fees when you pay off your overdraft.

 

Attractive Cash-Back: 

Cash-back has been around for a while now. However, it is not yet very common around the globe. The Cash-back method consists of receiving an amount of money back in your account for each purchase made using the Apple Card. 

With this card, you will receive back 1% of the amount spent when you make a purchase with the physical card, 2% when you make a purchase with the virtual card and 3% when making purchases on Apple platforms (iTunes, AppStore, Apple Store etc...). There is no daily CashBack limit. 

However, cash-back is likely to be an unavailable feature for many countries if the Apple Card is launched internationally. 

Indeed, it seems that Apple is dipping into the interchange fee reserves to pay out the Cash-back to its users.

As a reminder, the interchange rate is a kind of "commission" that the merchant's bank (the one selling a product or service) must pay to the customer's bank (the one buying) when a card purchase is made.

The problem is that in Switzerland, for example, the rate has been capped at 0.44% since 2017.

In reality, most European countries have a more or less low interchange rate of between 0.2% and 0.5%. 

 

The bad sides of the card: 

As for the card itself, it is made entirely of titanium and only the Apple and MasterCard logos and the name and surname of the cardholder are visible. 

The Apple Card is a very sober and uncluttered card, as the chewy fruit brand wants. 

However, according to testimonies, the fact that the card is made entirely of titanium leads to rather rapid discoloration when in contact with jeans or in a leather purse (soon an  "Apple Card protection case" for $150?). 

Choosing the Apple Card is like marrying Apple.

To give a concrete example, Apple is your wife and the card is your child, if you divorce and you go back to the side of Samsung or Huawei, Apple will keep the card (fortunately you won't pay alimony) and you won't be able to use it anymore. 

 

How can I benefit from it?

Currently the card is only available in the US, but Goldman Sachs CEO Richard Gnodde announced: "The next step will be Europe. Germany first, then we plan for the UK after that."

Apple expected to make $50 billion in revenue for this service for the period 2020 (without anticipating the coronavirus pandemic which will probably affect consumption and the test phase of the card). 

However, if the actual results are still up to par, we may see the map arrive in our regions sooner than expected.

In the meantime, the Revolut solution,  which also offers cash-back, is available, free of charge when changing currencies and shopping abroad, and is available on all platforms.

If neither of these two options convinces you, or if you prefer to learn about more basic credit cards and payment methods at the top of technology, don't hesitate to check out this article.

 

 

 



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When you want to finance a project, there are various solutions available to you. Credit is a relatively simple financing tool, quick to execute and with a light administrative burden.

For further clarification, a credit is also called consumer credit, personal loan, loan, private loan, etc. This is a loan of a sum of money by a creditor to you, the debtor. The amount in question must be reimbursed within a time limit agreed between the parties. An interest rate is calculated in addition to the principal to be repaid in order to remunerate the services of the creditor, a bank in most cases.

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Before you compare, ask yourself two questions.

Is credit the right solution for my project?

Am I eligible?

The first question has the merit of judging the relevance and usefulness of your approach. As a responsible service provider, we put your interests at the heart of our attention. Over-indebtedness must be avoided at all costs and your loan must bring real added value and not represent a debt that is difficult to overcome.

Can your project be scaled back? Does your cash flow simply allow you to avoid taking out a loan? Is it the right time?

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Am I domiciled in Switzerland? If not, you will not be eligible.

Am I of legal age? If not, you will not be eligible.

Am I involved in an action filed in the debt collection? If this is the case, you will not be eligible.

 

One egg, one basket.

If you want to continue with a credit application, don't rush!

Above all, do not file multiple applications with different providers or banks.

Each request is logged and will block your access to a favorable response.

Compare, choose your financial partner wisely and, if the conditions are met, draw up your file with them.

To make a fair choice, take advantage of the service offered by a financing platform. It's online and it's easy.

 

Compare what, exactly?

The quality, the network, the accessibility and, of course, the conditions.

By quality, we mean the clarity of the information provided and the transparency of the platform. 

Are there testimonials from satisfied customers? Is there an independent quality body involved, such as Proven Expert? Is the team running the company clearly displayed? Is the company based in Switzerland?

As far as  the network is concerned, the quality and scope of the network will determine the quality of the offers offered to you. Check the partners page or search for published articles or the platform's blog if it exists. 

It is preferable to do business with a major player in the market that has serious, even exclusive, partnerships with recognized banks.

Accessibility. An online solution is often less time-consuming and just as relevant as if you went to an agency. However, it will be necessary to speak with an expert, go through your file in person and have live advice. 

Be sure that you will be able to access this service.

Lately, the conditions. The rates displayed on the various platforms are often similar. There are criteria to be met, however, and these often make the difference.

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Secondly, do not sign anything when you are in a comparative or information-seeking process. Your file must first be well completed and analysed and it is only when you make a credit proposal following the acceptance of your application that you will have the opportunity to sign or not.

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