Trade Republic Card Review 2026: Fees & Saveback

Trade Republic Card Review 2026: Fees, Rewards, and How It Compares

The Trade Republic card is a genuinely fee-free Visa debit card that earns 1% Saveback, automatically invested into your chosen savings plan, and pays interest on your uninvested cash (2.25% p.a. for existing users, 3% for new users outside Germany). It charges no annual fee, no issuance fee for the virtual card, and 0% foreign exchange fees on card payments. The physical card has a one-time cost of €5 for the Classic version or €50 for the Mirror version. That said, Trade Republic is currently available in 18 European countries and is not available in the UK, which limits its appeal for British residents.

MyCardCompare compared the Trade Republic card against 200+ cards across fees, rewards, interest, and security to produce this independent review, updated this month.

See how the Trade Republic card stacks up against its closest competitors on fees, rewards, and interest. View card →

1. Trade Republic Card Overview: What Is It and How Does It Work?

The Trade Republic Card is a Visa debit card that integrates spending with investing. Trade Republic is a German bank based in Berlin, founded in 2015 by Christian Hecker, Thomas Pischke, and Marco Cancellieri. It has grown into one of Europe's largest fintechs, with around 8 million users and approximately €100 billion in customer assets.

The card is linked directly to the Trade Republic brokerage and savings account, one account, one IBAN, one card. The virtual card is free and available immediately after account opening, while the physical Classic card costs €5 and the Mirror card costs €50 as a one-time issuance fee.

Apple Pay and Google Pay are both accepted. Trade Republic operates in 18 European countries: Germany, France, Austria, Belgium, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Spain. It remains unavailable in the UK, Switzerland, Canada, the US, and several other markets, with no public timeline for entering them.

2. Trade Republic Card Fees and Costs

Annual and Monthly Fees

The Trade Republic Card has an issuance fee of Free and an annual fee of Free. There are no monthly subscription charges to hold or use the card. There are no account, inactivity, or withdrawal fees on the broader Trade Republic account either.

Foreign Exchange (FX) Fees

The FX fee for foreign-currency transactions is 0%. Card payments abroad use the Visa exchange rate with no additional markup from Trade Republic. This makes the card competitive with the best travel-oriented neobanks, for weekday transactions, at least.

One caveat: Trade Republic's official terms reference exchange rates "based on external reference rates, with a premium or discount applied according to bid-ask spreads." In practice, users report minimal deviation from the mid-market rate, but the exact spread is not published.

ATM Withdrawal Fees

ATM withdrawals are free worldwide for amounts above €100; withdrawals below €100 incur a €1 fee. ATM withdrawals are unlimited, there is no monthly cap on the number of free withdrawals, provided each exceeds the €100 threshold. The daily ATM withdrawal limit is €1,500.

By comparison, Revolut's Standard plan in the EU offers free withdrawals up to 5 withdrawals or €200 per rolling month, after which a 2% fee applies (minimum €1).

Other Potential Costs

• Card replacement: Trade Republic charges the same issuance fee (€5 Classic, €50 Mirror) for replacement physical cards.
• There is no inactivity fee even if you leave the account idle.
• Subsequent deposits via credit card or digital wallet carry a fee of 0.7%. Bank transfers (SEPA) are free.

3. Saveback Programme: How Trade Republic's Cashback Really Works

What Is Saveback?

Saveback is Trade Republic's signature rewards programme. It offers 1% Saveback on cash spending and 2% Saveback on crypto spending, with rewards automatically invested into a Savings Plan. This is not traditional cashback credited to a card balance, the reward goes into your chosen ETF, stock, or crypto savings plan.

How Saveback Is Calculated and Credited

In order for Saveback to activate, you must invest at least €50 per month into savings plans on Trade Republic. You can earn 1% Saveback on eligible card spending up to €1,500 per month, meaning the maximum monthly Saveback from cash spending is €15. The maximum Saveback bonus overall is €30, achievable only if all payments use a crypto balance (at the 2% rate).

The Saveback amount is invested on the 2nd of the following month, or the next business day. Certain transactions are excluded, including ATM withdrawals, peer-to-peer payments, account top-ups, gambling, and transfers.

Round-Up Feature

Trade Republic also offers a Round Up feature that automatically invests spare change from card purchases. You set a multiplier (e.g. 3x), and the rounded-up difference is invested into your savings plan. This is an additional investing mechanism on top of Saveback.

Real-World Value of Saveback

With €1,500 of monthly card spending and a 1% rate, the Saveback generates €180 per year of automatic investment. If that €180/year were invested in a broad market ETF returning an average 7% annually, it could grow to approximately €2,500 over 10 years. The compounding effect is where Saveback's value lies, it is designed for long-term investors, not those seeking immediate cash rewards.

4. Interest on Cash Balance: The Trade Republic Savings Rate

Current Interest Rate

Interest rates on Trade Republic vary by country and by customer status. New users earn a promotional 3.00% per annum for a limited period after account opening; existing users earn 2.25% per annum on EUR cash balances, aligned with the current ECB deposit facility rate. Different terms apply to German users; Germany currently pays 2.00% p.a. on all uninvested cash with no cap or time limit.

Interest is accrued daily, paid every month, and you can withdraw your cash at any time.

How It Compares to the Market

Trade Republic's cash interest rate significantly exceeds N26's free-tier offering. N26 Standard pays just 0.25% p.a. on its Instant Savings account, while even N26 Metal (at €16.90/month) pays 1.50% p.a., still below Trade Republic's free-tier rate.

Cash interest rates are variable and tied to ECB monetary policy, so they can change with central bank rate movements. If the ECB cuts rates further, Trade Republic's yield will drop in step.

Tax Considerations

Interest earned may be taxable in your country of residence. In Germany, Trade Republic automatically deducts 25% capital gains tax plus 5.5% solidarity surcharge (total: 26.375%) and forwards it to the Finanzamt. In other EU countries, you may need to declare interest income on your annual tax return. Trade Republic provides annual tax statements to assist with this. Consult a tax professional for your specific circumstances.

5. Safety and Regulation: Is Your Money Protected?

Regulatory Status

Trade Republic Bank GmbH is regulated by BaFin (Federal Financial Supervisory Authority) and the German Federal Bank (Bundesbank). Trade Republic obtained its full banking license from the European Central Bank (ECB) in December 2023. This is a full banking licence, not a lighter e-money or broker licence.

Trade Republic is not regulated by the FCA and doesn't accept clients from the United Kingdom.

Deposit Protection

Securities are held in segregated accounts in your name, covered by the German Investor Compensation Scheme up to €20,000 in cases of fraud or broker insolvency. Cash deposits are separately protected up to €100,000 under the German statutory deposit guarantee.

For balances above €100,000, the excess is typically allocated to liquidity (money market) funds, which are not covered by deposit insurance but are held in segregated custody accounts.

Card Security Features

Through the app, you can deactivate and activate your card, control payments online and abroad. The card supports 3D Secure authentication, and every transaction triggers an immediate push notification. An instant virtual card is available from sign-up for secure online purchases.

6. How to Get the Trade Republic Card: Eligibility and Onboarding

Eligibility Requirements

• Age: 18+
• Residency: available in 18 EU countries (see full list above)
• ID verification: valid passport, national ID, or residence card required
• No credit check, this is a debit card, not a credit product

Account Opening Process

1. Download the Trade Republic app (iOS or Android)
2. Enter personal details and verify identity via document upload
3. Receive instant digital card issuance
4. Physical card delivery typically takes 5–10 business days
5. No minimum deposit is required to open the account

Onboarding Experience

The app-based sign-up process is straightforward and broadly similar to other neobanks. Common friction points flagged in user reviews include ID verification delays and address mismatches. Once verified, your IBAN and virtual card are available immediately.

The Trade Republic card combines zero fees with automatic investing. See the full fee breakdown and independent rating on MyCardCompare. View card →

7. Investing and Savings Plan Integration

The All-in-One Account Model

Trade Republic unifies your debit card, cash account, and investment account under one IBAN. The combination of IBAN, debit card, and interest-bearing cash balance means some investors can consolidate their savings and investment in one place. There is no need to transfer between separate accounts to invest.

Savings Plans (Sparpläne)

Recurring investments in stocks, ETFs, and crypto carry zero transaction fee, regardless of amount or frequency. Trade Republic offers 9,000+ stocks, 2,000+ ETFs, bonds, and 50+ cryptocurrencies for savings plans, starting from just €1 per month.

Saveback rewards and Round-Up spare change both feed directly into these plans, creating an automated investing loop from everyday spending.

Why the Integration Matters for Cardholders

Every card purchase can trigger 2 streams of micro-investment: Saveback (1% of the purchase) and Round-Up (spare change from rounding). Over time, this means your everyday spending is building a compounding investment portfolio without any manual action. This integrated model is Trade Republic's core differentiator versus traditional neobank cards.

Note: crypto values fluctuate, so any Saveback invested into crypto-denominated plans carries additional volatility risk compared to stock or ETF plans.

8. Trade Republic Card vs. Competitors

Trade Republic vs. Revolut

Both offer free-tier accounts with no annual fees. Revolut Standard has an FX exchange limit of €1,000 per month, with a 1% fair usage fee on any amount above that, plus a 1% weekend markup. Trade Republic charges 0% FX on all card payments with no monthly cap.

Revolut offers broader lifestyle features, budgeting tools, Spaces, subscription management, and instant cashback on paid plans. Trade Republic wins on investing integration, offering seamless brokerage access with commission-free savings plans and the Saveback programme. Trade Republic's interest rate (3.00% for new users, 2.25% for existing users) also generally exceeds Revolut's savings vault rates for comparable access.

Trade Republic vs. N26

N26 Standard has no account management fee, while paid plans range from €4.90/month (Smart) to €16.90/month (Metal). Trade Republic's free tier offers meaningfully higher cash interest: N26 Standard pays just 0.25% p.a. versus Trade Republic's 2.25%. N26 has no equivalent to Saveback on its free plan, and its investment features are more limited than Trade Republic's full brokerage offering.

Comparison Table

Figures verified July 2026. Interest rates are variable and subject to change. Revolut EU figures shown; UK terms may differ.

9. Customer Support: What to Expect

Trade Republic holds a 3.5/5 on Trustpilot based on over 34,000 reviews. The distribution is polarized: two thirds of users rate the experience five stars, but one in five gives the lowest possible score.

Support is available via in-app chat and email. There is no phone support, with response times of 10 to 15 business days during testing. Customer support runs almost entirely on automated responses, and multiple users report being stuck in bot loops with no way to reach a human.

Common complaints in user reviews include: bank transfers getting rejected or hanging for days, and account restrictions or verification issues that block trading with no clear resolution path. On the positive side, the app itself receives strong praise for its clean, intuitive design and low fees.

The pattern is consistent: Trade Republic works well when everything runs smoothly. The problems start when something goes wrong and you need a human to fix it.

10. Trade Republic Card Pros and Cons

Pros

• No annual, monthly, or card maintenance fee
• Competitive interest rate on cash balance, among the highest available on a free debit card in Europe
• 1% Saveback programme automatically invests rewards into savings plans
• 0% FX markup on card payments
• Free ATM withdrawals worldwide (over €100 per transaction)
• Licensed bank regulated by BaFin with €100,000 deposit protection
• Seamless integration with a full-service brokerage (9,000+ stocks, 2,000+ ETFs)
• Instant virtual card on sign-up
• Round-Up feature for spare-change investing

Cons

• Saveback is invested, not returned as cash, less flexible than traditional cashback
• Monthly Saveback cap (€15 from cash, €30 from crypto) limits rewards for high spenders
• No phone customer support, chat-only, with slow response times reported
• Not available in the UK, Switzerland, or outside Europe
• Interest rate is variable and linked to ECB policy, will decline if rates are cut
• Limited budgeting and analytics tools compared to Revolut or Monzo
• No joint accounts or family plans
• Physical card issuance is not free (€5 or €50)

11. Who Is the Trade Republic Card Best For?

Best for: - Beginner to intermediate investors who want everyday spending to build long-term wealth passively - EU residents seeking a high interest rate on idle cash with zero account fees - ETF investors already using Trade Republic as their broker, the card is a natural extension - Frequent travellers within the EU who want fee-free FX spending

Not ideal for: - Users who want instant cash cashback credited to their balance - People who need robust budgeting tools, joint accounts, or family features - Those who require telephone customer support - UK residents, the card is not currently available in the UK

12. Trade Republic Card Verdict

The Trade Republic card occupies a unique position: it is one of the few debit cards that automatically converts spending rewards into investments at zero ongoing cost. With no annual fee, 0% FX fees, and free ATM withdrawals on transactions over €100, the fee structure is among the cleanest in the market.

The combination of 1% Saveback invested into savings plans and interest of up to 3.00% p.a. on cash makes it a compelling option for anyone who thinks of their debit card as part of a broader investing strategy. The absence of phone support and the monthly Saveback cap are genuine limitations, and UK residents cannot access the card at all.

For EU residents who value investing integration over lifestyle features, the Trade Republic card, rated on MyCardCompare as part of our independent editorial review process, is a strong contender. For those prioritising budgeting tools and instant cashback, Revolut or similar neobanks may be more appropriate.

If you want your debit card to quietly build your investment portfolio while you spend, Trade Republic is hard to match at zero cost.

Compare the Trade Republic card against other options in the category. See how it ranks on fees, rewards, and interest. Compare cards →

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Is the Trade Republic card free?

Yes, the Trade Republic Card has an issuance fee of Free and an annual fee of Free for the virtual card. The physical card has a one-time cost: €5 for the Classic card or €50 for the Mirror card. There are no monthly subscription or maintenance charges. ATM withdrawals below €100 incur a €1 fee.

How does the Trade Republic Saveback programme work?

You earn up to 1% on card payments, capped at €15/month, if you invest at least €50/month via savings plans. The 1% is not paid as cash, it is automatically invested into the ETF, stock, or crypto savings plan you select. The amount is invested on the 2nd of the following month. A 2% rate (up to €30/month) applies if payments are made from a crypto balance.

What is the current Trade Republic interest rate on cash?

New users currently earn a promotional 3.00% p.a. for a limited period after account opening, while existing users earn 2.25% p.a. on EUR cash balances, aligned with the current ECB deposit facility rate. In Germany, the rate is 2.00% p.a. The rate is variable and will adjust if the ECB changes its policy.

Is Trade Republic available in the UK and is my money protected?

If you want to open a Trade Republic account from the UK, it is not possible. Trade Republic is not regulated by the FCA. For EU users, Trade Republic holds a German banking licence regulated by BaFin, with securities covered up to €20,000 and cash deposits protected up to €100,000 under the German statutory deposit guarantee.

How does Trade Republic compare to Revolut?

Revolut offers more lifestyle features, budgeting tools, Spaces, subscription tracking, and instant cashback on paid plans. Trade Republic wins on investing integration, with commission-free savings plans and 1% Saveback automatically invested. Trade Republic typically offers a higher cash interest rate than Revolut's savings vaults. The choice depends on whether you prioritise spending perks or long-term wealth building through automatic investment.

Are there ATM withdrawal fees with the Trade Republic card?

ATM withdrawals are free worldwide for amounts above €100. Withdrawals under €100 cost €1. ATM withdrawals are unlimited, with a daily withdrawal limit of €1,500.

Conclusion: Should You Get the Trade Republic Card?

The Trade Republic card delivers a genuinely free debit card experience with competitive cash interest and an automatic investment mechanism that has no direct equivalent among major neobanks. For EU residents who want their spending to contribute to long-term wealth building, without paying a subscription or worrying about FX fees, it is a compelling choice.

It is not a perfect fit for every user. The Saveback cap limits rewards for high spenders, the lack of phone support can be frustrating during account issues, and the variable interest rate will decline if the ECB cuts further. UK residents cannot use the card at all.

The strongest use case is for EU-based investors already on, or considering, the Trade Republic platform. For them, the card is a natural extension of an investing routine. For everyone else, it is worth comparing against alternatives on MyCardCompare to find the right balance of features, fees, and rewards for your situation.

This article is comparative information only. MyCardCompare is not a financial advisor. Card terms may change, always verify current rates and availability on the issuer's website before applying.