The Card Relay feature lets you link your personal bank card to your Swile card (not to be confused with the personal account). This feature allows you to:
- Pay more than €25 in a single transaction using your meal vouchers
- Top up your transport subscription if you have mobility vouchers
Two versions available
Depending on your account, two versions of the Card Relay feature may be available. We explain everything below.
From your Swile account:
- Go to "Menu" > "Cards"
- Click on the relevant card
- Click on "Card Relay" then "Set my card"
- Select an existing bank card or add a new one
- Activate the feature
This new version is being gradually rolled out to Swile users.
What does this mean in practice?
- You link your bank card to your Swile card.
- If you make a payment that exceeds your available balance, the extra amount is debited in real time from your bank account.
- The extra amount is limited to €60 maximum per transaction.
📌 Example: you have €18 in meal vouchers and make a payment of €32. Swile will debit:
- €18 from your meal voucher balance
- €14 directly from your bank account
The benefits of this new version:
- No more bank holds
- Only the actual amount used is debited
- Simpler activation
- Smoother payment experience
If the extra debit fails
In rare cases, the extra bank debit may fail. If this happens:
- Swile will still guarantee the payment to the merchant
- The Card Relay feature is temporarily suspended
- Swile will automatically try to debit the amount again, and a process to resolve the issue will be offered in the app
Some users still have the old version of the Card Relay feature.
What does this mean in practice?
When activating:
- You choose a maximum overdraft amount (from €0 to €250)
- A bank hold is placed on your bank account
A €1 authorisation may be requested when linking your card to check that your bank card is valid. This hold is released within 7 days.
All about bank holds
- The funds are simply reserved temporarily on your bank account in case they're needed, it's not a debit.
- The hold is automatically renewed after using the option for a payment, or after 7 days. If you deactivate the option, the hold disappears within 7 days.
- If you register a bank card from a neobank (Revolut, N26, etc.), you'll receive a notification each time a hold is placed. Don't worry: it's not a debit.
Be careful with the amount you choose
- Avoid selecting too high an amount: the hold can temporarily reduce your available bank limit.
- The option may automatically deactivate if the hold amount is too high. If this happens, we recommend lowering the amount set for Card Relay.
🍕 For meal voucher payments
Pay the bill with your Swile card, even if the amount is above the legal daily limit (€25). The meal voucher part is automatically debited from your Swile account, and the rest is taken from the bank card registered to your Swile account.
Remember, your personal bank card is just a top-up to your daily meal voucher balance: it only kicks in if you have an insufficient balance or have reached the legal limit.
📌 Example: you need to pay €27 at a restaurant. Instead of making two payments, link your bank card. In one go, €25 is debited from your Swile account and €2 from your bank account.
🎁 For gift voucher and Holiday Benefits payments
👉 With the Swile card: the Card Relay feature doesn't work for gift vouchers or Holiday Benefits. You can use your card up to your available balance. If your purchase is more than your Swile balance, pay part with your Swile card and the rest with another payment method.
👉 On the Swile shop: if your purchase is more than your gift voucher or Holiday Benefits balance, you can pay the difference with your personal bank card.
🚴 For commuting payments
The Card Relay feature is available for commuting. At a shop specialising in sustainable transport (like a bike shop) or at a transport terminal, pay with your Swile card. The maximum amount is taken from your mobility vouchers, and the rest is automatically debited from your bank card. To find out more, see our FAQ here.
The new Card Relay feature is currently being rolled out gradually to Swile users, to ensure the best possible experience. So it's normal that some accounts still have the old version during this transition phase.
👀 Which bank cards are accepted?
All cards are accepted (Visa, Mastercard, AMEX and CB) as long as they were issued within the European Union.
Comments
0 comments