BBVA Tarjeta Oro (Mexico) review

The annual fee is MXN 748, and a further fee of 7% is listed with it. That is a genuine running cost: bunq charges an annual fee of €0 and Wise £0. Here the fee buys a points scheme and the insurance cover listed with the card.

The card's APR is 89.4%, high next to the credit-card median of 16%. The card also sets out interest-free monthly instalment options in short and longer terms, so a planned purchase can be spread without interest. Anything left revolving is where the rate bites.

Rewards come as points rather than spend: points. Single-payment purchases earn Puntos BBVA at the stated rate, while instalment purchases sit outside the scheme. Points are redeemable across a wide store network, so the scheme favours paying in full each statement rather than stretching a purchase.

The perk list is where the value sits: Puntos BBVA rewards redeemable in thousands of stores, Efectivo Inmediato cash advance from the card credit line and Free purchase protection insurance for durable goods. It covers purchase protection on durable goods, lost and delayed baggage cover, a cash advance from the card credit line, contactless payments, a dynamic code for online buys, and instant card blocking with notifications.

Support runs on phone, email and help centre, so a card query can be handled by phone, by email or through the help centre. The card also offers emergency replacement in the US or Canada, which matters when you are away and need a working card quickly.

It is issued by BBVA Mexico, a Mexican multiple-purpose banking institution, and the card is offered in Mexico. As a revolving credit card (credit) rather than a fixed loan, clearing the balance each month keeps interest off the account.

It is a credit card: credit, so balances can revolve and interest applies at 89.4% on anything not cleared in full. The rewards are points (points), which shapes who gets real value from the annual fee.

It sits at 286 of 312 on the annual fee ranking and 133 of 138 on APR, with a cost score of 0.4 against an overall 0.4. Those readings underline the trade-off: perks and points in exchange for a heavier running cost.