Rebellion Pay: the no-fee card for your travel needs

Are you tired of paying hidden fees every time you withdraw cash abroad? The good news is that you don't have to! With the rise of digital banking, there are now several innovative options available, such as Rebellion Pay, which promise to save you money during your travels. In this article, we delve into everything you need to know about Rebellion Pay, its features, and how it can transform the way you manage your finances while globetrotting.

Important Update: As of 2023, Rebellion Pay has ceased operations, leaving travelers in search of alternatives. However, options like Revolut and N26 remain solid choices for cost-effective travel finance solutions. The information in this article reflects the functionality of Rebellion Pay prior to its closure.

Understanding Commissions on Travel

Before diving into the benefits of Rebellion Pay, it's essential to understand the impact of traditional banking fees on your travel budget. Knowing how these fees can affect your finances is crucial for any savvy traveler.

How to Access Money While Traveling?

One of the biggest challenges while traveling is determining the best way to access money. Here are the primary options:

1. Bring Cash from Home: You can exchange your currency at your destination, but be wary of inflated rates at airports.
2. Change Currency at Your Bank: This option allows you to obtain your desired currency before departure, but often comes with high fees.
3. Withdraw Cash from ATMs: Withdrawing money as needed is usually the most flexible approach, but it can also incur significant fees.

After careful consideration, we opted to avoid the first two options due to their high costs and the risk of carrying too much cash. Instead, we explored ways to withdraw money from foreign ATMs without incurring excessive fees.

Common Fees That Affect Travelers

Understanding the fees associated with foreign ATM withdrawals is key:

• ATM Withdrawal Fees: Many banks charge a flat fee (around €3 to €5) or a percentage of the withdrawal (typically 4% to 5%).
• Exchange Rates: While official exchange rates are often used, some banks impose additional fees that can significantly affect the amount you receive.
• Foreign Transaction Fees: Additional charges may apply when making purchases in a foreign currency.

Keep in mind that in certain countries, local banks may impose their own fees, which can complicate matters further. If you choose to withdraw cash from an ATM, you might see an option to accept local currency or euros—always select the local currency for better rates!

Example of Fees in Action

Let’s illustrate the fees with a hypothetical scenario where you withdraw $500 and make a $100 purchase in the United States:

* The exchange rate at the time of writing was $500 = €468.05 / $100 = €93.62.

How to Avoid Commissions Abroad?

Rebellion Pay offers a Spanish account, an APP, and a free Mastercard that allows you to withdraw cash from ATMs worldwide without incurring fees, subject to certain limits. The exchange rate applied is the official Mastercard rate, updated regularly, which can be checked here.

This means you can make cash withdrawals and payments in shops or online without facing additional commissions.

Exploring Rebellion Pay: Account and Card

Since we first started using Rebellion Pay in 2020, it quickly became an essential part of our travel toolkit. However, it’s wise to carry multiple cards while traveling, as unforeseen issues can arise. Here’s a closer look at Rebellion Pay:

What is Rebellion Pay?

As a Spanish neobank established in 2017, Rebellion Pay aims to provide financial services without the traditional fees that banks typically charge. Open to the public since 2019, it operates as an Electronic Bank.

Rebellion has gained traction among users who appreciate its straightforward operations and innovative, cost-free products.

How Does Rebellion Work?

In a world where banking is evolving, Rebellion Pay allows users to manage their finances entirely through an app. You can open an account, check transactions, and even top up funds through a seamless interface.

With Rebellion, you receive an account with a Spanish IBAN and can easily add funds to your card as needed. You can also set up automatic top-ups to ensure your account is always sufficient for your travel needs.

Conditions, Costs, and Limits

Diving into the specifics, registering for Rebellion Pay is free. You can withdraw cash without fees four times a month from both national and foreign ATMs, and there are no maintenance costs associated with the account. Here are some key details:

Pricing:

* A €2 monthly fee applies for accounts inactive for over six months, and €4.50 after a year without transactions. To prevent this, consider setting up regular payments or making occasional purchases.

Limits on the Card/Account:

Monthly limits are imposed for security reasons to mitigate fraud risk. These reset on the first of each month. Note that Rebellion cards are blocked in specific countries, including Nigeria, Benin, Ivory Coast, Togo, Ghana, Senegal, and Colombia.

Advantages and Disadvantages

Here are additional considerations to keep in mind when using Rebellion:

• You can block and unblock your card anytime via the app.
• Instant money transfers between Rebellion users are available through Flash Transfers.
• As a nominative card, you can perform cash advances at bank branches.
• It’s a prepaid card, not a credit card, so manage your spending accordingly.
• Maintenance and card delivery are free.
• Available only to residents of Spain with a valid ID.
• Transactions are geolocalized for precise tracking.
• Referrals can earn you both and your invitee €5 for each of the first three purchases over €10.
• For crypto enthusiasts, Rebellion offers investment opportunities in cryptocurrencies.
• Enjoy various promotions and cashback offers at pharmacies, supermarkets, and streaming platforms through the Rebel+ section of the app.

How to Sign Up + Promotions

Signing up for Rebellion Pay is a straightforward process that takes just a few minutes. Additionally, you can take advantage of a welcome promotion exclusive to our readers (currently NOT AVAILABLE).

Steps to Sign Up for Rebellion

Follow these simple steps to become a part of the Rebellion community:

1. Step 1: Click the link to open the download page. If you're on a computer, a QR code will appear for you to scan with your phone to download the Rebellion app. A direct URL is also available if the QR code doesn't work.
2. Step 2: Complete the registration process. You'll need your phone number, a security code for app access, and to verify your identity through photo submissions of your ID.
3. Step 3: Once verified, you’ll gain access to the app with the chosen code. Don’t forget to confirm your email address as part of the final verification steps.

Welcome to the world of Rebellion! Be sure to check the notifications in the app for special offers and bonus opportunities.

Top Up and Request Your Physical Card

To finalize your setup, complete the following:

1. Select "add money" in the app.
2. Enter your desired amount and method (credit card, Google Pay, or bank transfer).
3. If using a credit card, follow your bank's verification process.
4. Your top-up will be processed immediately, increasing your account balance.

At this stage, you will receive a virtual card for online and mobile payments. To get your physical Mastercard, navigate to the "cards" section in the app and request it.

Your card will arrive within approximately two weeks, and both the request and maintenance are free! Remember to activate it in the app to start enjoying its benefits.

Personal Experience

Throughout our travels, we’ve used Rebellion Pay alongside our Revolut card, and it has worked seamlessly for us. We faced no issues while making payments or withdrawing cash. To avoid commission fees, we each carried our own cards.

However, it’s essential to note that some users have reported accounts being closed unexpectedly due to technical errors. Thus, it’s crucial to have backup cards on hand in case of such issues, whether they arise from loss, theft, or lack of internet access during your travels.

We hope you now have a clearer understanding of how Rebellion Pay works. It presents a compelling option for avoiding ATM fees while traveling and can also be useful in everyday finance. If you’ve used it, we’d love to hear about your experience!

Is it safe to travel to Colombia? Our experience and tips

Things to see and do in Mumbai, India's British capital