The deferred debit card is Qonto's innovative solution designed specifically for your business cash flow challenges. When you use your deferred debit card, you can spend now and pay later, giving you up to 30 days to settle your purchases without any interest charges.
The key benefits include:
- Cash flow preservation: Keep your working capital for payroll and taxes while deferring non-urgent expenses
- Growth investment: Invest in opportunities without disrupting immediate cash flow
- Operational flexibility: No more depleting savings or negotiating with suppliers during tight periods
How does the payment system work with my deferred debit card?
When you make a purchase with your deferred debit card, the transaction works just like a regular debit card payment from the merchant's perspective, but your Qonto account balance isn't immediately affected.
All your deferred debit card transactions accumulate throughout the month, and then on the 1st of the following month, the total amount is automatically debited from your account in one single payment – installment payments are not available with this card.
Example timeline:
- September 5th: Office supplies purchase
- September 15th: Business dinner payment
- September 25th: Software subscription
- October 1st: All transactions settled together in one debit
The only exception is ATM withdrawals, which are immediately debited from your account balance just like with a regular debit card.
Want to make a regular debit card payment with your deferred debit card? Just open the Qonto app, select your deferred debit card, and turn on Debit mode before paying. To switch back to credit mode, turn Debit mode off.
Am I eligible for a deferred debit card, and how much credit can I access?
To check if you're eligible for a deferred debit card, head to the Cards section and start creating a new card. You'll see the deferred debit card option if your account qualifies.
If it's grayed out, a helpful tooltip will explain why it's not available.
If you're not eligible and your business is older than 6 months, you can potentially become eligible by connecting your external accounts to Qonto.
- Card level: Plus or X only
- Business role: Corporate officers only
- Limit per account: One deferred debit card per company
Your credit limit is determined based on your credit score and business profile, with a maximum of €15,000 per month available.
This substantial credit access provides you with the short-term liquidity needed to power your business operations. The approval process is streamlined, if you're eligible, you can set up your deferred debit card, add it to your digital wallet, and start spending immediately.
Want to know more about deferred debit card eligibility criteria? You can find everything you need in this article: How do I know if I am eligible for deferred debit card payments?
How does the deferred debit card interact with other Qonto credit products?
Qonto offers several credit products, Pay later, Overdraft, and deferred debit card, and activating one may affect your available credit for the others:
- There is no dependency between your deferred debit card limit and your Overdraft limit, activating one does not affect the other.
- If you have not yet signed a Pay later contract but are eligible, and you create a deferred debit card: your Pay later available credit will adapt accordingly when you proceed to activate Pay later.
For more information on how Qonto's financing products interact, see How do I use Qonto's Overdraft feature?
What will the deferred debit card cost me and are there any hidden fees?
The deferred debit card follows a transparent pricing structure with no hidden costs:
Monthly subscription:
- Same price as your current card level
- No additional fees for accessing deferred payment features
Interest and charges:
- 0% interest when you repay on time
- Daily interest charges apply only if payment is late
- 1% foreign exchange fee on international transactions - Plus card
- Free foreign exchange fee on international transactions - X card
- Free ATM withdrawals included (number varies by card level)
The interest-free period is one of the key benefits that sets the deferred debit card apart from traditional credit solutions, allowing you to manage cash flow without additional financial burden when used responsibly.
☝️Good to know: in the event that you are unable to repay a payment on time (1st day of the following month), a fee (APR) of 18.88% will be applied.
How can I monitor and control my spending ?
You have complete visibility and control through a dedicated dashboard in your Qonto interface.
Dashboard features:
- Current credit limit usage and remaining available credit
- All deferred debit card transactions with clear categorization
- Next payment due date and amount
- Spending trends and analytics
Smart notifications:
- Pre-payment alerts before automatic debit
- Low balance warnings to ensure sufficient funds
- Payment reminders to maintain good financial habits
- Spending limit notifications
Security controls:
- Freeze/unfreeze card instantly
- Set custom spending limits
- Block card if needed
- Restricted merchant categories for protection
Can I use my deferred debit card everywhere, and how do I add it to my digital wallet?
Your deferred debit card is accepted everywhere traditional deferred debit cards are welcomed, solving the common problem of services that specifically require a “credit card” rather than a debit card.
Accepted for:
- Hotel bookings and business travel
- Car rentals and transportation services
- Online software and tool subscriptions
- Supplier payments and business purchases
- International transactions with competitive FX rates
Digital wallet integration: The card integrates seamlessly with Apple Pay and Google Pay, allowing immediate activation and use. You can add it to your digital wallet upon setup and start making secure contactless payments right away, whether online or in physical stores.
Which merchant sectors aren't supported?
Your deferred debit card may get declined if you try to pay on the following merchant sectors:
Financial institutions and money movement:
- Financial Institutions (manual cash disbursements / merchandise and services)
- Money orders and wire transfers
- Foreign cash, money orders, and travel checks
- POI funding transactions
- Security brokers/dealers.
Gambling / betting:
- Betting
- Lottery tickets
- Casino gaming chips
- Off-track betting
- Wagers.
Government-related payments:
- Tax payments
- Fines
- Intra-government transactions
- Government-owned lottery
- Postal services (government only)
- Other government services.
Some healthcare segments:
- Hospitals
- Dental/medical practitioners
- Labs
- Opticians
Insurance
What happens if I need to dispute a transaction or get a refund?
If you encounter issues with deferred debit card transactions, Qonto has dedicated processes to protect you and resolve your concerns.
Dispute process:
- Attach deferred debit card transactions to claims like any other transaction
- Manual review by customer support for thorough validation
- Dedicated attention to each case to ensure fair resolution
Fraud protection:
- Specific smart action for refunding fraudulent transactions
- Enhanced security monitoring for deferred debit card usage
- Full refund process
These processes ensure you're fully protected and supported throughout your deferred debit card experience.
Learn more about deferred debit card refunds and chargebacks here: How do refunds or approved chargebacks work on my deferred debit card?
How will the deferred debit card help me manage my business cash flow better?
The deferred debit card addresses the reality that over 50% of eligible SME customers face regular short-term cash flow gaps due to payment delays and unexpected expenses. Rather than forcing you into suboptimal solutions, it provides a strategic financial tool.
Cash flow optimization:
- Align expenses with your income cycle, especially valuable for project-based work
- Maintain steady operations during client payment delays
- Handle seasonal fluctuations without operational disruption
Financial habit building:
- Transparent spending tracking and clear repayment schedules
- Smart reminders and notifications to avoid late fees
- Real-time dashboard promoting financial awareness and control
Business growth support:
- Confidence to accept new projects and opportunities
- Ability to invest in tools and resources before client payments arrive
- Reduced stress around daily cash position management
My card may be declined at certain merchants
On certain websites, payments may not go through with the deferred debit card. Here is a non-exhaustive list of the websites concerned :
- SAGRADA FAMILIA WEB B2
- LA BANQUE POSTALE
- WESTERN UNION
- Doctolib
- WINAMAX FR
- DIRECT ASSURANCES
- WESTERN UNION
- BINANCE
- PARK GUELL
- EA ELECTRONIC ARTS
- Trade Republic
- EURO DISNEY ASSOCIES
- MGPLeetchi SA
- CROUS
- FITNESS PARK
- EUROFINS
- Etc…