frequent questions
glossary
What is a basic bank account?
Access to the credit intermediary activity
List of authorised credit intermediaries
How to protect yourself from online fraud?
Know your rights when making payments in Europe.
Do you know what the gross domestic product is? What about inflation? (only in Portuguese)
Key tips to protect yourself when choosing online or mobile banking services.
The use of a payment card requires the conclusion of a framework contract between the payment service provider issuing the card and the cardholder.
The framework contract is a contract for the provision of payment services which governs the future implementation of individual and successive payment transactions. This agreement contains all the information and regulatory conditions governing the relationship between the cardholder and the card issuer. Given its content, the contract is commonly referred to as the “general terms and conditions of card use” (these conditions correspond to the rights, obligations and procedures which both the issuer and the holder must observe in order to ensure adequate use of the card).
The issuer is obliged to communicate to the cardholder all the information and conditions which must be contained in the contract before the holder is bound by a framework contract or a framework contract proposal.
The use of a payment card may involve the payment of a fee – usually called an annuity. The amount of the annuity varies according to the category of the card and the issuing payment service provider.
The costs associated with the payment card (annuity, interest and other fees) must be identified in the contract of use of each card and in the price list of the issuing institution.
Payment service providers are not obliged to grant cards to their customers and are free to set the criteria for attribution of a given card as requested by the customer. However, in cases where customers hold a basic bank account, payment service providers must provide them with a debit card to operate that account.
Banco de Portugal’s website – Cards
Legal System of Payment Services and Electronic Money (only in Portuguese)
Cards – What they are and types of cards
Cards – Contactless cards
Cards – Co-branded cards
Cards – Rights and duties
Services – Price lists