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Compare Fees on Prepaid Cards
All UK Prepaid Cards
Last Updated: 27th June 2010
The following table compares all of the UK’s top prepaid cards. It's ordered by product type - full MasterCard or Visa CHIP first, Maestro/Electron Mag only last, and then by aprox usage cost. This estimated cost may be higher or lower based on your intended use and selected prepaid product type. It is just a guide to enable a more informed selection.
All Prepaid Cards | Cards for under 18's | Prepaid Gold Cards | Prepaid Business Cards | Prepaid Travel Cards | Pay As You Go Prepaid Cards
Prepaid Card Issuer |
Card Type |
Card Issue Fee (inc. Postage) |
Reload Fees |
Monthly Fees |
Max Balance Allowed in Account |
Other Fees |
Key Benefits |
Approximate monthly fees, based on one £250 reload per month and 3 purchase's each week |
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 Chip and Pin |
(50% off) |
Free |
£4.95 |
£5,000 |
ATM Fee = 99p (uk) Foreign Transaction Fee = 2.99% |
-FREE UK ATM Cash Advances -Purchase Protection Included -Can add Creditbuilder and improve your credit score -Top-up at the Post Office and epay |
£4.95 |
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Chip and Pin |
£9.95 |
Post Office = Free Debit Card = Free BACS Payment = Free PayPoint = 2.75% |
£4.75 |
£3,500 |
ATM Fee = £1.50 (uk/Int) Foreign Exchange rate Fee = 2.95% |
-Accepted at 28 Million Locations -Top-up at the Post Office, PayPoint and by Debit/credit card - Access to the Virgin Discount Network |
£4.75 |
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Chip and Pin |
£7.50 |
Post Office = Free PayPoint = 3% (max reload £500) Standing Order/Payroll BACS = Free (max reload £3,500) Debit card or SMS needed to apply |
Free |
£3,500 |
UK Purchase per use fee = 2% UK ATM Fee = £1.50 Foreign Transaction Fee = 2.75% |
-Very low reload fees -Low cost ATM Withdrawal fees -Accepted at over 28 Million Locations |
Free (if loaded by BACS) |
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Chip and Pin |
£29.99 |
Post Office – Free Bank & Wage Payments – Free Authorised Retail Network – Free E-pay = £2.00 |
FREE |
£5,000 |
UK ATM Fee = £2.00 Foreign Transaction Fee = 2.99% Per Use Fee = FREE |
-Free Purchase Protection -No purchase Transaction Fees -No Monthly Fees |
£0 |
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Chip and Pin |
£4.50 (£5 via SMS) |
Post Office = Free BACS Payment = Free PayPoint = 3.00% |
Free |
£5,000 |
ATM Fee = 75p (UK) ATM Fee = 1.50p +2.75% (non UK) Foreign Transaction Fee = 2.75% |
-Full online bill payment facility -Purchase Protection, Price Protection and Extended Warranty package -Access to superb Budgeting Tools -Standing orders and bank transfers available |
£6.25 (Based on a spend of £250 per month) |
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Chip and Pin |
£9.95 |
Post Office = Free Debit Card = Free BACS Payment = Free PayPoint = 3% |
£4.95 |
£5,000 |
ATM Fee = £1.50 (2% surcharge over £50) (uk) Foreign Transaction Fee = 2.95% Online gambling and betting transactions Fee = 3% |
-Pay for your card via SMS Top-up at the Post Office and PayPoint |
£4.95 |
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Chip and Pin |
£9.95 |
- Cash reloads at bank branch = Free using Paying-in Book - Cash loads at PayPoint = 3% - Top-up at PostOffice = 99p - Bank transfer = Free - BACS / Wages online = Free |
£4.99 |
£3,000 |
UK ATM Fee = 50p Foreign Exchange rate Fee = 0% |
-Accepted at 28 Million Locations -Lowest ATM cash withdrawal fee, compared to all other prepaid MasterCard branded cards -Fixed monthly fee with no hidden usage Fees |
£4.99 (If loaded via bank branch) |
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Chip and Pin |
FREE |
BACS/Wage Payment = Free Barclays Bank = 3% (£3 min) Debit/Credit Card = 2% (£2 min) |
£3.25 |
£5,000 |
ATM Fee = £1.25 (uk) £1.75 (Abroad) Foreign Transaction Fee = 0% Point of sale transaction fee = £0.40 (UK and Abroad) Card to card share using Money in Minutes Facility = 2.5% |
-100% acceptance guaranteed, -You don’t need a bank account -You can share cash instantly using your mobile phone -You can pay your wages directly onto your card |
£8.15 (if loaded via wage payment. |
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Chip and Pin |
£8.95 |
Free |
£5.95 |
£5,000 |
UK ATM Fee = £2.50 Foreign Transaction Fee = 2.75% |
-Accepted at 28 Million Locations -Purchase Protection Included -Low cost for Medium / frequent users -Top-up at the Post Office and epay |
£5.95 |
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Chip and Pin |
£6.49 |
- Cash reloads at bank branch = Free using Paying-in Book - Cash loads at PayPoint = Free until 1 May 2008 - Top-up via Credit/Debit card = 1.95% (min 50p) - Bank transfer = Free - BACS / Wages online = Free |
Free |
£3,000 |
UK ATM Fee = 1.5% (99pmin/ £1.50max) Foreign Exchange rate Fee = 0% Per Use Fee (Uk/Intnl purchases) = 2.95% of transaction value (min 50p max £1.50) |
-Accepted at 28 Million Locations -No Monthly Fees -Pay as you go |
£7.37 (2.95% purchase per use fee) |
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Chip and Pin |
£9.95 |
- Cash reloads at bank branch = Free using Paying-in Book - Cash loads at PayPoint = Free until 1 May 2008 - Top-up via Credit/Debit card = 1.95% (min 50p) - Bank transfer = Free - BACS / Wages online = Free |
Free |
£3,000 |
UK ATM Fee = 1.5% (99pmin/ £1.50max) Foreign Exchange rate Fee = 0% Per Use Fee (Uk/Intnl purchases) = 2.95% of transaction value (min 50p max £1.50) |
-Accepted at 28 Million Locations -No Monthly Fees -Pay as you go |
£7.37 (2.95% purchase per use fee) |
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Chip and Pin |
£4.95 |
Post Office – Free Bank & Wage Payments – Free Authorised Retail Network – Free E-pay = £2.00 |
£9.95 |
£5,000 |
UK ATM Fee = FREE Foreign Transaction Fee = 2.99% Bill Payments = FREE Adnl Cards=FREE |
-Free Purchase Protection -Add Cashplus Creditbuilder for free to improve your credit score -Cashplus Pay Day Loan available up to £200 per month |
£9.95 (but you earn cashback) |
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Chip and Pin |
£8.95 |
Post Office = Free Debit Card = 75p BACS Payment = Free PayPoint = 2.95% |
£4.45 |
£3,500 |
ATM Fee = £1.50 (uk) Foreign Transaction Fee = 1.5% |
-100% acceptance guaranteed, -Can add Credit Repair and improve your credit score -Top-up at the Post Office for free -Complete control of your money 24/7 via website or SMS |
£4.45 |
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|
£5.00 |
£0 - £100 =£3.95 £101 - £350 =£6.95 (max single reload = £350) |
Free |
Upto £10,000 |
Per use fee = Free ATM Fee = £1.50 (uk) Foreign Transaction Fee = 3% |
-Free to use in shops and online -No Monthly Account Fee -All Tops-ups are loaded onto the MasterCard instantly -Load up to £10,000 or £1,700 per year without sending ID |
£6.95 |
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Chip and Pin |
£10.00 pack inc. 2 cards |
- Cash reloads at bank branch = Free - Cash loads at Payzone = 3% - Top-up via Debit card = £0.70 - BACS / Wages online = £0.70 |
£0.50 |
£3,000 |
ATM Fee = £1.25 (uk/int) Foreign Exchange rate Fee = 3% |
-low UK ATM fees -low monthly Fee -Money Share via SMS |
£0.50 (if loaded at bank branch |
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Chip and Pin |
£9.95 |
Free |
Free |
£5,000 |
UK ATM Fee = 99p Foreign Transaction Fee = 2.99% Per Use Fee (purchases) = £1.00 |
-Accepted at 28 Million Locations -Purchase Protection Included -Low cost for occasional users |
£12 (£1 per transaction) |
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Chip and Pin |
£9.99 |
Post Office = 2% Paypoint load fee = 3% Payroll load (BACS) = Free |
Free |
£650.00 (non verified product). £3000 (verified customer with personalised card.) |
ATM Fee = 1.50% Min: £0.99, Max: £1.50 (uk) £2.25 (non uk) Per Use Fee (purchases) = 2.75% Min: £0.50, Max: £1.25 (uk) / 2.75% Min: £0.50, Max: £1.50 (non uk) Foreign exchange Fee = 2.75% |
-Accepted at 28 Million Locations |
£14.37 (Assuming £250 spend per month and load at Post Office)
|  Chip and Pin Card issue Fee: Paypoint load fee = 3% Payroll load (BACS) = £1 per load £3.95 £5000 ATM Fee = £0.95 (uk) / 1.5% (Min £2.00 - non uk) Foreign exchange Fee = 0% -Accepted at 9 Million Locations -Available in Sterling and Euro £4.95 (Assuming £250 spend per month and 1 Wage Payment Load)
| Chip and Pin £5 Bank Transfers/Wage Payments = Free Post Office/Paypoint = £0.30 per £10 loaded Credit/Debit Card = 2.5% - min. £1.50 Free £3500 Per Use Fee (purchases) = £2.5% Annual Fee = £4.95 (payable on first reload) UK ATM Fee = £1.50 (+ 2% for withdrawals above £50) Foreign Transaction Fee = Additional 1.00% Gambling or betting transactions = Additional 1.00% -Accepted on gambling sites -Pay By Text Message -Great for under 18's, and available to persons aged 10 and over. -Accepted at 9 Million Locations -Choice of plastic design £6.25 (if reloaded by bank trfr/wages)
| Chip and Pin £8.98 Online Reloads = 50p Post Office Reloads = 50p Free £3,000 Per Use Fee (uk purchases) = 50p ATM Fee = £2.00 (uk) Foreign Transaction Fee/ATM = 2.75% -Low cost for low users -Top-up at the Post Office -Pay as you go Prepaid card £6.50
| £5.00 Post Office = Free PayPoint = 3% Credit/Debit Card = 1.95% - min. £1.00 Free £3500 Per Use Fee (purchases) = £2.95% UK ATM Fee = £1.50 +2% if over £50 Foreign Transaction Fee = 0.55% Annual Fee = £4.95 -Accepted at 9 Million Locations -Top-up at paypoint and post office £7.37 (based on 2.95% fees on all UK transactions)
|  Free (min load amt £50) 1.5% of re-load -min £3 max £20 (fee does not apply to €/$ card) Free £5000 UK ATM Fee = £1.50 Non UK ATM Fee = £2.00 Foreign Transaction Fee = 2.75% -Low cost Travel Card for occasional user -Also available in EUR and $ (no 2.75% foreign mark-up fee applies if used in country matching same currency as card.) £3.75 |
