Soon, you won’t be able to pay with this SZÉP card anywhere

By: Trademagazin Date: 2022. 08. 26. 10:06

For eleven years now, since the summer of 2011, the Széchenyi Pihenő card, commonly known as the SZÉP card, has been a part of our lives.

Even the fact that two years ago the hotels were closed for months due to the covid epidemic did not hinder its popularity

This form of fringe benefit unified the benefit packages that could be spent on leisure activities, which until then were largely fragmented: anyone who has such a card courtesy of their employer and requests and receives the fringe benefit can use it to go to restaurants, spend it on cultural services, or pay for accommodation with it . It’s no wonder that it emerged as the favorite benefit of Hungarians in 2022: even the fact that two years ago the hotels were closed for months due to the covid epidemic did not hinder its popularity.

Due to the deterioration of the economic situation, and precisely for the purpose of boosting the economy, this year the Hungarian government came up with the idea that the accounts can be passed through until the end of the year, that is, we spend the amount left in all three pockets on what we want, until December 31. Between February and July, there was also an extremely successful promotion: with the SZÉP card, you could also pay in grocery stores, except when you wanted to buy alcohol, and the purchase of tobacco products was also not allowed. Because of these measures, the number of payments made with SZÉP cards has risen sharply, and today it has arguably become the most popular benefit for those who receive one at work. In light of the changes, we also asked the three issuing banks (MKB, K&H and OTP), what are the most important things to know about this card, what can and cannot be done with it?