Expenses in accounting: Categories and examples
Understanding expenses goes beyond simply recording costs. How expenses are categorised directly affects financial statements,…
Best business debit card providers in Europe combine centralised control with local flexibility. Companies operating across multiple countries face a unique challenge: instead of fragmented banking solutions, they need a unified system to manage cards, payments, and budgets seamlessly across borders — without limiting the operational autonomy of their international teams.
amnis addresses exactly this challenge and is setting new standards in the European market.
Key criteria for choosing a business debit card
When selecting the right business debit card, several factors play a decisive role. Companies should look beyond pricing alone. Important criteria include card types, payment capabilities, fee structures, integrations with existing systems, as well as security and compliance standards.
| Card types | Physical and virtual cards for different use cases |
|---|---|
| Payment functions | Foreign currencies, international payments, and third-party integrations |
| Cost structure | Transparent fees without hidden additional charges |
| Integrations | Connectivity with accounting, expense management, and ERP systems |
| Security & compliance | Regulatory standards and fraud protection |
Card types
Debit cards include physical cards for traditional on-site use as well as virtual cards specifically designed for online expenses, subscriptions, international payments, or one-time transactions. This allows companies to respond flexibly to the different needs of individual departments while managing limits, spending profiles, and approval processes centrally.
amnis enables centralised management of all physical and virtual cards, ensuring that accounting retains full oversight while local teams can continue to operate independently.
Thanks to auto-accounting and AI-supported expense management, card transactions are automatically categorised, receipts are assigned, and bookings are prepared in advance — significantly reducing manual accounting effort.
Payment functions
Through a centralised multi-currency account, multiple foreign currencies can be managed in parallel, allowing payments to be executed without unnecessary conversion fees. Companies gain full transparency, individually definable spending limits, and centralised approval workflows.
amnis complements these functions by integrating third-party services such as Apple Pay and Google Pay.
Cost structure
A transparent cost structure is essential for reliably managing budgets and avoiding unexpected expenses. Relevant cost factors include monthly base fees as well as charges for international transfers and currency conversions.
Fragmented card and banking solutions can quickly become cost-intensive, as fees and administrative effort multiply across multiple subsidiaries. A centralised solution significantly reduces this complexity, since costs and processes are bundled only once.
With amnis, companies maintain full visibility over all expenses and can flexibly adapt their plans to individual requirements.
Integrations
Integrating business debit cards into existing finance, accounting, and ERP systems saves time and reduces errors. Companies can automatically categorise transactions, simplify reconciliations, and connect interfaces to accounting, ERP, expense management, or reporting tools.
amnis provides a comprehensive API and numerous integrations, enabling finance teams to maintain full data visibility and customise the platform according to their needs.
Security and compliance
Common security and compliance standards include two-factor authentication, real-time notifications, individual card limits, and compliance with European regulatory requirements.
As a Switzerland-based company, amnis ensures that all payments are continuously monitored, fraud risks are minimised, and all regulatory requirements are met. In the unlikely event of insolvency, customer funds are protected by the Austrian deposit guarantee scheme up to EUR 100,000.
Further FMA-related information and EU requirements can be found in the security and regulatory overview.
The best business debit card providers in Europe at a glance
In the European market, innovative fintechs compete with established large banks. While traditional banks score points for stability, modern providers such as amnis stand out through flexibility and digital processes.
The following comparison highlights the key differences between leading providers.
| amnis | Deutsche Bank | N26 | ING | HSBC | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Provider | FinTech | Bank | Direct Bank | Direct Bank | Bank |
| Account type | Multi-currency account | Bank account | Bank account | Bank account | Bank account |
| Multi-currency | 20+ | No | No | No | No |
| Number of free debit cards | Up to 250 physical + 1,250 virtual debit cards | Up to 2 debit cards | 1 debit card (physical or virtual) | 1 physical debit card | 1 physical debit card |
| Monthly fees | From EUR 19 / month | From EUR 14.90 / month + EUR 24 / year | From EUR 0 + EUR 10 one-time fee | From EUR 0 | From GBP 0 |
| International payments | 0% FX and processing fees on card payments | Depending on currency pair | Mastercard exchange rates | 2.20% | 2.75% |
amnis
amnis is a Switzerland-based international payment platform offering a multi-currency account with more than 20 currencies — eliminating the need for separate foreign currency accounts at traditional banks.
Companies can issue virtual cards within seconds for teams, projects, or departments, while defining individual limits and permissions. The cards are directly linked to the multi-currency account — including 0% conversion fees on international payments.
A centralised expense overview, automated booking categories, and integrations into existing accounting or ERP systems significantly simplify expense management. At the same time, finance teams can reduce up to 70% of manual work through automated approval workflows, receipt capture, and reporting.
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Deutsche Bank
Deutsche Bank is one of the largest traditional banks in Germany and offers business customers a debit card as part of its business account packages.
The cards operate globally via the Mastercard network and are compatible with Apple Pay and Google Pay. Pricing typically includes monthly account fees, while international payments incur additional transaction costs and foreign exchange markups.
N26
N26 is a digital bank offering mobile business accounts with Mastercard debit cards, particularly targeting freelancers and smaller businesses.
The cards support worldwide payments without foreign currency fees. Depending on the plan, customers receive cashback on card payments, and expenses are categorised in real time via the app, simplifying budgeting.
N26 focuses strongly on digital user experience and fast account opening, but is generally more suitable for smaller teams.
ING
ING is one of the largest universal banks in the Netherlands and ranks among Europe’s established major banks. In Germany, ING operates as a direct bank and primarily targets freelancers and smaller businesses with its business account offering.
The associated debit card enables worldwide payments; however, foreign currency transactions incur fees of 2.20%. Currently, ING does not provide additional debit cards for employees or teams, which significantly limits scalability for growing companies.
HSBC
HSBC is an internationally active major bank headquartered in London. Through its Small Business Banking account, companies receive a business account with no monthly account maintenance fee, including a business debit card.
The debit card is directly linked to the business account and can be used for domestic and international payments as well as cash withdrawals. It can also be managed via the mobile app, including PIN adjustments, card blocking, and transaction overviews.
In addition to debit cards, HSBC offers Commercial Cards specifically designed for employees. However, with international transaction fees of 2.75%, HSBC is the most expensive option in this comparison — a disadvantage particularly for cross-border businesses.
amnis – Flexible debit cards for start-ups to enterprises
Among the best business debit card providers in Europe, amnis stands out with a flexible debit card solution designed for companies of all sizes. It offers both physical and virtual cards for the entire workforce. Start-ups benefit from simple scalability, while large enterprises with multiple subsidiaries can centrally manage and coordinate their card programs and expenses.
The business account supports IBANs and accounts in more than 20 currencies, enabling companies to handle international payments and expenses efficiently. This simplifies cross-border business operations and allows centralised currency management.
Automated expense and accounting processes, auto-accounting for recurring card transactions, AI-supported expense management, and automated expense reporting help reduce manual work and increase the efficiency of financial processes.
Thanks to numerous integrations for accounting, ERP, expense management, and other financial systems, existing processes can be seamlessly connected. All features are available 24/7 via a single centralised self-service dashboard.
In the following video, you will see how the amnis multi-currency debit card simplifies daily expense management, project allocation, and accounting — helping companies manage their spending transparently and efficiently.
FAQs – Business debit cards
The best business debit card provider depends on your company’s specific requirements. For internationally active businesses in particular, amnis significantly reduces administrative workload: card payments are automatically booked, receipts are captured directly, and foreign currency payments are processed without additional conversion fees.
