A metal debit card is a type of premium payment card.

Premium bank cards are a high-end option for card payments offered by banks to their preferred clients. They distinguish themselves from typical cards by their unique color or material: gold, grey, black or metal.

These premium cards can be broken down into three distinct categories:

1. Premium bank cards such as the Visa Premier or Gold Mastercard;
2. The Super Premium cards, which serve as a more medium range product, like the Visa Platinum or Mastercard Platinum;
3. The Hyperpremium card, like the Visa Infinite or Mastercard World Elite.

All of these options have one thing in common: all purchases made on these premium cards are debited directly from their associated bank account. Each purchase is systematically checked and authorized, to make sure the bank account balance is able to cover said purchase. This prevents you from spending beyond what’s in your account.

This distinction sets them apart from credit cards, where purchases made with the card are applied to a line of credit extended to the cardholder by the bank. Instead of being immediately debited from a bank account, this balance can be paid over time, but this option comes with a price: any balance carried over 30 calendar days is subject to interest. Another important detail to note is that credit cards are generally only reserved for clients with a well-established credit history.

Apart from their designer look, your metal debit cards also get you access to special perks like insurance and additional assistance with business travel.

Most banking institutions that emit debit cards have a premium, metal card option. That said, some banks might require you to go through the same process as if you were a first-time client just to upgrade your card.

Depending on your Qonto subscription, your account has a set number of One Cards included with your membership. But it doesn’t have to end there. You can upgrade to a premium X Card whenever you want in just a few clicks. It’s easy: select the desired account you want linked to your metal debit card, select your card options and have it sent to the address of your choice.

The process for applying for a metal debit card is very similar to how you would go about ordering a traditional debit card, with one notable exception: generally at traditional banks you are expected to submit an application when you ask for a metal card. This often requires that you go to a brick-and-mortar bank and meet with a representative to complete the process.

The reason why banks ask this of you is that metal debit cards generally mean higher value purchases. There’s an element of vetting the prospective card owner to check that their profile matches the bank’s requirements for a premium client, which could include:

• a minimum yearly income;
• being a client with the bank in question
• committing to a minimum amount of purchases per month.

Whether or not you’re already a client with us here at Qonto, there’s no need to jump through all the administrative hoops to get your metal card. Simply sign up for an X Card on your account, fill out the details, and have it sent to you quickly and easily.

The price of a premium bank card varies from one bank to another. It’s a good idea to compare the yearly membership fee of each card to get a good grasp of the offers out there.

Some banks offer a free premium card. However, in exchange for a no-cost subscription, it generally means that you must:

1. Meet the base income requirement;
2. Hold your primary account with said bank;
3. Make a minimum amount of purchases every month on your card.

Other banks more geared towards personal banking, like Orange Bank or Hello Bank, don’t have a base income requirement for their premium cards. On the other hand, they do charge an annual subscription. Keep in mind that the rates of these subscriptions also vary from bank to bank.

Metal debit card annual fees can go beyond €300.

With Qonto, you also don’t have to worry about income requirements in order to get a premium card for your business. You can sign up for our X Card in just a few clicks for as little as €20 per month (pre-tax) and start making purchases online and in-store straight away.

Choosing the metal X Card comes with several advantages that help energize your business:

1. A €200,000 per calendar month spending limit;
2. Unlimited, free withdrawals both in France and abroad;
3. A €3,000 withdrawal limit per calendar month;
4. No foreign exchange commissions on purchases made outside the eurozone;
5. A real exchange rate, whether your purchases are made in France or abroad;
6. Business Exclusive travel insurance and assistance from Mastercard;
7. Exclusive services from partners (e.g. Concierge services)
8. Access to VIP airport lounges around the world so you can fly easy.

Still not convinced that the X Card is the right fit? Use this comparator to see which of our card options works best for your business, whether it’s the One Card, the Plus Card, or the X Card.

If your work requires you to travel often, it’s well worth considering a premium card. It’s the perfect travel companion.

Even higher spend and withdrawal limits

Opting for a premium bank card for your business account allows you to spend and withdraw up to three to four times more than you would be able to with a traditional bank card.
Note that these limits vary from bank to bank. For example, our premium card allows you to spend up to €200,000 and withdraw up to €3,000 cash per 30 calendar days.
For this reason alone you should consider doing a side-by-side comparison of card offers by banks to choose the right fit for your company’s needs.

Fewer foreign transaction fees

Depending on which bank you get your premium card from, you usually benefit from lower transaction rates for purchases and withdrawals made outside of France.
Some online banks, like Orange Bank or Fortuneo, have completely done away with foreign transaction fees.
We want to make sure your card works hard for you, so we’ve taken this a step further. On top of having no transaction fees for purchases and withdrawals made abroad, our cards will also not charge you commission. You get a real exchange rate, no matter where you use your card.

Top-notch travel insurance

A premium bank card like the Visa Premier or the Gold Mastercard gives you coverage in the event your business trip encounters some unexpected trouble. They also reimburse you more than regular bank cards would.

To this effect, our premium X Card protects you up to:

1. €5,000 in case of trip cancelation and up to 800€ in case of delay;
2. €1,000 in case of theft, loss, damage to luggage and personal belongings.

Insurance guarantees

On top of the previously mentioned coverage, your premium card also provides you with special emergency assistance. For example, our premium card takes care of:

1. Repatriation to France in the event of an accident or severe illness;
2. Up to €155,000 of medical costs incurred abroad;

Special offers from card partners

Premium bank card owners also benefit from special offers by their bank’s commercial partners. This could be anything from a reduced rate on a rental car, to a dinner reservation at a restaurant.

Some online banks have opted for a cashback system as an alternative. This method allows you to claim a reimbursement of a percentage of your monthly purchases that you made with your card.