Atome Card Review Philippines: Guide on eligibility, benefits, and more

If you’re looking for convenient ways to pay for things at home and abroad, you may be wondering: what is an Atome Card¹ and what can I do with it?

This guide covers that and more including whether the Atome Card is a credit card or a debit card, how to apply and what requirements are there. We’ll also talk about the Wise card, a handy way to maximise your overseas spending in over 150+ countries.

What is the Atome Card?

The Atome Card is a Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) card which lets you spend up to 200,000 PHP, and split the repayments into installments of up to 6 months².

You get up to 40 days of interest-free repayment, so there’s no cost to you if you’ve settled your bill in this time. However, if you choose to spread the costs over more than 40 days, there are fees to pay.

The Atome Card is issued on the Mastercard network and can be used to spend with local and international merchants, both online and offline.

And - if you’re wondering - Atome is to be pronounced A-to-me, and stands for "Available to Me".

Atome Card benefits

The Atome Card offers customers the option to spend up to 200,000 PHP and then choose how to repay over a period of time. You can pay everything back within 40 days to avoid any extra costs, or split the cost of your spending into installments over up to 6 months. This gives you much more time to settle the bill - but does cost you money.

Atome offers broad global acceptance so you can spend with your card more or less anywhere Mastercard is available. Plus you can apply and get approved in just a couple of minutes, with no minimum income required.

Is Atome Card a credit card?

If you’ve come to read an Atome credit card review you’re in the right place. But the Atome Card isn’t quite the same as a credit card you may order from your bank.

Instead, the Atome Card is a Buy Now Pay Later Card. This allows you to spend first and repay later, over your chosen repayment period, up to 6 months.

In many ways your Atome Card will function very similarly to a credit card. However, you won’t need a minimum income check to order your card. Like a credit card though, there are fees if you choose to spread the costs of your card bill over a few months - make sure you’re clear on the terms you’re offered by Atome so you don't run into high or unexpected costs.

Is the Atome Card legit?

The Atome Card is legit, and operates as a prepaid card backed by Asia United Bank.

As a brand, Atome is headquartered in Singapore and launched in December 2019, with services offered across various different markets across Southeast Asia and Greater China.

It’s important you read through the Atome Card terms and conditions document, - including the applicable fees - before you start to use the services.

Atome Card interest rate

If you don’t repay your full bill to Atome within the 40 day interest free period, you’ll pay an interest fee which is set out in your bill³. Check your bill carefully before you decide to take advantage of the installment plan so you’ll know exactly what it’ll cost you in the end.

When you get your Atome Card you’ll need to bind one or more other credit or debit cards to your account. If you need to repay your Atome Card bill outside of the interest free period, Atome can then deduct the amounts you owe from these cards.

On top of interest, you’ll pay a repayment processing fee of up to 2.24%. Then, if there are any issues with the bill being paid on time, there could also be a late fee applied, which would be 5% of the outstanding amount, calculated on a monthly basis.

Atome Card annual fees

There’s no Atome Card annual fee - however, aside from the interest and foreign transaction fees which we outline elsewhere, there are also another couple of common fees to look out for:

• Card Replacement Fee - 400 PHP per card.
• Transaction Processing Fee - up to 2.24% of the transaction amount

Read through your card agreement before you transact so you know what to expect.

Can I use the Atome Card abroad?

You can use your Atome Card overseas to spend anywhere Mastercard is supported.

It’s important to be aware that overseas spending costs more than spending in the Philippines, because of the foreign transaction fee which is applied on all foreign currency spent.

The Atome foreign transaction fee adds 3.10% of the transaction amount to all foreign currency purchases, including spending when you travel and when you’re shopping with foreign retailers online.

If you’re looking for ways to get cash while you’re abroad it’s also good to know that Atome Cards can not be used for ATM withdrawals⁴.

How to get an Atome Card: Step-by-Step

You can register an account with Atome in the Atome app, and order your card to be sent right to your doorstep for convenience.

To get your Atome Card you’ll need to:

1. Download the Atome app
2. Click the option to register an account
3. Follow the onscreen instructions to enter your personal information
4. Upload your ID, following the prompts
5. Your physical card will be sent to your registered address and you can start to use the virtual card once your account is verified

Atome Card requirements

To apply for an Atome Card you must fulfil the following requirements:

• You must be at least 18 years old
• You must hold a valid Philippines ID document

The ID you can use includes⁵:

• National ID
• Social Security System (SSS)
• Unified Multi-purpose ID (UMID)
• Driver's License
• Passport

Unlike with most credit cards, there’s no minimum income requirement to apply for your Atome Card.

How to activate an Atome Card?

Your Atome physical card should arrive at your registered address about 10 working days after you place your order. Once you have your card in your hand you’ll need to log into the Atome app to activate your card by entering the last four digits of the card and setting a new 4-digit PIN⁶.

Can I withdraw cash using the Atome Card?

No. At the point of research you cannot make cash withdrawals at any ATM with the Atome Card. The Atome Card can only be used to make card payments both in person and online.

Stretch your pesos when you spend in foreign currency with the Wise card

The Wise card is the perfect partner for overseas travel, offering simple spending and withdrawals which use the mid-market exchange rate and low, transparent fees.

Create your free Wise account and order your Wise card for a one time fee, with no ongoing costs or minimum balance needed. Then add money in PHP conveniently from your bank, to spend in 150+ countries when you travel, or when you shop online and in apps with overseas retailers.

You can also make ATM withdrawals to get cash when you need it, with 2 withdrawals of up to 12,000 PHP a month for free before any ATM fees apply. Wise currency conversion uses the rate you see on Google with no foreign transaction fee or hidden fees. You can top-up pesos and then either convert to the currency you need in the app, or just let the card convert for you when you tap to pay.

Enjoy seamless overseas spending and save as you spend with the Wise card.

🚀 Get started with Wise

Sources:

1. Atome Card
2. Atome Help - What is the Atome Card?
3. Atome Help - fees
4. Atome Help - ATM
5. Atome Help - documents needed
6. Atome Help - activate card