Paynet review

Paynet's monthly fee is MDL 0, and the site median across the cards listed is €0, so this sits at the cheaper end. Nothing is charged to hold the account, and top-ups are free too. Costs appear only if you spend abroad or draw cash.

Loading the card comes at free top-up, so there is no charge for putting money in. Alongside the MDL 0 monthly fee, that makes the day to day cost of the account nil. The costs to watch sit outside the account, on spending abroad and cash withdrawals.

Yes. Paynet Services S.R.L. appears in the Banca Nationala a Moldovei register under licence 000586. That register is where the licence details can be checked, and Banca Nationala a Moldovei is the regulator for this market.

Paynet issues a debit card and also lists a virtual card and a travel card, virtual card and travel. Debit cards account for 74.3% of the site's cards, while virtual cards sit at 39.2%, so the virtual option is the less common shape here.

Paynet is listed for travel, a feature on 51.4% of the site's cards, and the virtual card suits a trip. For context, the median conversion fee across the debit listings is 1% and the median free withdrawal allowance €0, so check both before spending abroad.

Support runs on email, phone and help centre, so phone, email and the help centre are the routes to Paynet. Across the site a help centre is listed on 75.6% of cards and phone on 67.3%, so Paynet's mix is in line with the norm.

Paynet is based in Moldova, Moldova, and its licence comes from Banca Nationala a Moldovei, the country's central bank. It is a local operation rather than a global one, so the account, the card and support all sit in that single market.

Monthly fees line up: MDL 0 for Paynet, £0 at Wise, $0 at Varo Believe Secured Credit Card and $0 at Chime Card (Secured Visa Credit Card). The decision comes down to card model and market, not upkeep cost.