Capitec Global One Credit Card: Honest Review After 6 Months

We've been using the Capitec Global One credit card for six months to test its real-world performance, fees, and rewards program. Here's our honest assessment.

What is the Global One Credit Card?

Capitec's Global One is positioned as their premium credit card offering, targeting customers who want international acceptance, rewards, and additional benefits beyond basic credit facilities.

Key Card Features:

• Mastercard network with global acceptance
• Rewards program with cashback options
• Travel insurance and purchase protection
• Contactless payments and mobile wallet compatibility
• No annual fee for the first year

Rewards Program Analysis

The Global One offers a tiered rewards system:

• Standard purchases: 0.5% cashback
• Fuel purchases: 1% cashback
• Online shopping: 1.5% cashback (selected retailers)
• International transactions: 0.25% cashback

While these rates aren't industry-leading, they're competitive for a South African credit card. The fuel rewards are particularly valuable given current petrol prices.

International Usage Experience

We tested the card extensively during international travel:

The Good:

• Widely accepted at international merchants
• Reasonable foreign exchange rates
• Contactless payments work seamlessly
• Real-time SMS notifications for all transactions

The Not-So-Good:

• 2.75% foreign transaction fee is higher than some competitors
• ATM withdrawal fees abroad are substantial
• Travel notifications required to prevent card blocking

Fees and Charges Deep Dive

Here's where things get complicated. While Capitec markets "no annual fee for the first year," there are numerous other charges:

Fee Type	Amount	When Applied
Annual Fee (Year 1)	R0	Waived
Annual Fee (Year 2+)	R199	Annually
Foreign Transaction	2.75%	Per international transaction
Cash Advance	R55 + 3%	Per cash withdrawal

Customer Service Experience

Capitec's customer service is generally excellent, but credit card support has some gaps:

"Call center agents are friendly and helpful, but don't always have detailed knowledge of credit card features and rewards." - Our testing experience

Mobile App Integration

The Global One integrates well with Capitec's banking app, offering:

• Real-time transaction notifications
• Spending category breakdowns
• Payment reminders and automatic payments
• Temporary card blocking/unblocking

Who Should Consider This Card?

Based on our testing, the Global One works best for:

• Existing Capitec customers who want a simple credit card
• Occasional international travelers
• People who primarily shop at fuel stations
• Those who value Capitec's customer service

Better Alternatives to Consider

If rewards are your priority, consider Discovery Bank's credit cards or ABSA's rewards offerings. For international travel, Standard Bank's Platinum cards offer better foreign transaction rates.