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Compass review

Updated September 28, 2026 · DebitCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 26, 2026

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Our verdict

Compass is a cashback credit card from an Italian bank, and it suits you if you want cash back on everyday spending while paying no yearly charge. With an annual fee of €0, the interest rate is the number that should decide whether you take it.

Key facts

Best for
Cash back on everyday spending with no annual fee.
Annual fee
€0 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
APR
24.54% (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Rewards type
Cashback (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Rewards rate
Cashback Base on spending above a minimum threshold (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Perks
No annual fee, Stamp duty paid by Compass, Paper and digital statement at EUR 0, Initial credit line of EUR 1,500, Issued and activated directly in branch, Visa circuit with contactless and 3D Secure, Apple Pay and Google Pay, Free SMS transaction alerts, Free 24/7 card blocking number (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Card kind
Credit (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Legal entity
Compass Banca S.p.A. (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Headquarters
Italy (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Founded
1960 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Support channels
Phone, Email, Help-centre (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Pricing model
No annual fee
Features
Rewards
Official website
compass.it

Apps and profiles

Get the app
App StoreGoogle Play
Elsewhere
WikidataXLinkedInyoutube.com

Pros and cons

Pros

  • The annual fee is €0, so holding the card year on year costs nothing.
  • Rewards come as cash back, and cash back applies to spending above a minimum threshold (Cashback Base on spending above a minimum threshold).
  • Extras include branch issue and activation, contactless payments, verified online payments, and Apple Pay and Google Pay (No annual fee, Stamp duty paid by Compass and Paper and digital statement at EUR 0).

Cons

  • The APR of 24.54% is high for a card that pays cash back, so a carried balance can cost more than the reward.
  • Cash back starts only above a minimum spending threshold, so a light month of card use earns little (Cashback Base on spending above a minimum threshold).
  • The card is issued and activated directly in branch, so you cannot open it and start spending straight away (No annual fee, Stamp duty paid by Compass and Paper and digital statement at EUR 0).
Compass

Ready to try Compass?

Scored 9.4 / 10 by DebitCue.

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Who it suits

  • You spend on a card every month and want cash back for that spending.
  • You are based in Italy and can visit a branch to have the card issued and activated.
  • You clear the balance each month and can live with a high interest rate on anything left over.

Who should look elsewhere

  • Varo Believe Secured Credit Card, if you would rather hold a secured card than a revolving credit line.
  • Chime Card, if you want a secured Visa credit card instead of a Compass card carrying an APR of 24.54%.
  • Upgrade OneCard, if you prefer a flat card over one you have to collect in branch.

Where it sits among rivals

On annual fee, Compass ranks 1 of 301 brands in the comparison, putting it in the group that charges nothing to hold a card. On APR it ranks 91 of 133, so the interest rate is the weaker side of the cost picture and worth checking against your own spending.

Fees and currency costs

The annual fee on this Compass card is €0, so there is no yearly charge to budget for. The APR is 24.54%, and that is the figure to watch: it applies to a balance you revolve or a purchase you do not clear in full. Cash back suits spending you would have done anyway.

How Compass compares

Where Compass is available

Available
Italy
Licence in Italy
Banca d'Italia (8045), checked September 26, 2026

Countries from the brand (Source, checked September 26, 2026)

Frequently asked questions

Does the Compass card charge an annual fee?+

The annual fee is €0, stamp duty is paid by Compass and a paper or digital statement costs nothing (No annual fee, Stamp duty paid by Compass and Paper and digital statement at EUR 0). The running cost to watch is the APR of 24.54% on a balance you carry.

What interest rate applies if I carry a balance?+

The APR is 24.54%, and it applies to a balance you revolve or a purchase you do not clear in full. The cash back does not offset it, so treat the card as paid in full each month or as an expensive way to borrow.

How does the Compass cashback work?+

Rewards are paid as cash back rather than points, and the rewards type shown is cashback (cashback). Cash back applies to spending above a minimum threshold, so a light month of card use can earn little or nothing.

Can I apply for the card online?+

The card is issued and activated directly in branch, so you collect it in person rather than signing up online (No annual fee, Stamp duty paid by Compass and Paper and digital statement at EUR 0). Support runs on phone, email and help centre once you hold it, and the legal entity behind the card is Compass Banca S.p.A.

Is Compass a regulated bank?+

The card comes from Compass Banca S.p.A., licensed by Banca d'Italia, with licence number 8045. The company was founded in 1960 and is based in Italy, so it is a long established Italian bank rather than an overseas issuer.

How do I reach support or block the card?+

Support runs on phone, email and help centre, so phone, email and a help centre are the listed routes. The card also sends free SMS transaction alerts and has a free card blocking line that runs around the clock (No annual fee, Stamp duty paid by Compass and Paper and digital statement at EUR 0).

What kind of card is it and what can I pay with?+

It is a credit card (credit), not a debit or prepaid one. The listed extras cover a Visa circuit with contactless payments and verified online payments, Apple Pay and Google Pay, and an initial credit line for new customers (No annual fee, Stamp duty paid by Compass and Paper and digital statement at EUR 0).

Sources

  • compass.it/carte-di-credito.html checked September 26, 2026

    Backs: Annual fee, APR, Card kind, Pricing model, Perks, Support channels

    “Compass offers exclusively credit cards repaid in instalments”

  • compass.it/cashback-carta-di-credito.html checked September 26, 2026

    Backs: Features, Rewards rate, Rewards type

    “CASH IS BACK is the Compass cashback programme that rewards purchases made with Compass credit cards”

  • compass.it/dati-societari-compass-spa.html checked September 26, 2026

    Backs: Founded, Headquarters, Legal entity, Licences

    “Since 1960 we are close to our customers”

Compiled from 3 source pages, checked September 26, 2026. We did not open an account.

Not confirmed yet: Currency conversion fee.

Compass

Compass

Cash back on everyday spending with no annual fee.

9.4/10Visit