What It Is
What is a prepaid card?
A prepaid card is a card you can use to pay for things. You buy a card with money loaded on it. Then you can use the card to spend up to that amount.
A prepaid card is also called a prepaid debit card, or a stored-value card. You can buy prepaid cards at many stores and online.
Many prepaid cards come with the Visa or MasterCard logo. These prepaid cards look just like a credit card.
Why would I use a prepaid card?
- Prepaid cards are a convenient way to pay for things if you are not carrying cash.
- You do not owe a bill since you are using money you already have.
- You do not need a bank account to use a prepaid card.
- You do not need a good credit history to use a prepaid card.
Learn more about your credit history.
Why would I not use a prepaid card?
Many prepaid cards have extremely high fees. You might pay fees when you:
- activate your card
- add money to the card
- use the card to buy something
- find out what your balance is, or how much money you have left
- use an ATM
You might find many other options with lower fees.
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What To Know
How do prepaid cards work?
Prepaid cards work like debit cards. But you do not need a bank account to get a prepaid card. Here is how a prepaid card works:
- You get a card from a store or company.
- Sometimes, you buy a card in a certain amount. You might pay $50.00 for a card. That means you can use that card to spend $50.00.
- Sometimes, you buy a card and then add money to it.
- You can use the card to buy things in stores. You also can get cash from an ATM.
- Your card stops working when you spend all the money you added.
- You can add more money.
Unlike most debit cards, many prepaid cards charge very high fees.
What kind of fees do prepaid cards charge?
You might have to pay fees to:
- buy a card
- add more money to a card
- buy something with the card
- find out what your balance is, or how much money you have left on the card
- use an ATM with your card
Sometimes there is a fee every month just to have the card.
- I put $200 on my card.
- I paid these fees:
$10 to activate the card
$12 for monthly maintenance
$3 every time I bought something
$6 to check my balance
$3 to get cash from an ATM
$4 to get my statement in the mail
$2 to talk to customer support
$3 to reload the card - I paid $43 in fees. Now I have $157 to buy things with.
Why are prepaid cards popular?
Prepaid cards can be convenient for people who do not carry cash. Prepaid cards also are easy to get.
The businesses that sell prepaid cards advertise them. That means you might hear about them.
Some businesses use celebrities to advertise their cards. Some businesses also say that prepaid cards are good for people who do not have a bank account. The businesses might say prepaid cards are a good way to manage your money.
Do prepaid cards help my credit history?
Most prepaid cards do not help you build a credit history. Your credit history describes how you use money. Businesses look at your credit history before they give you a loan, a credit card, or sometimes a job.
Learn more about your credit history.
What is the difference between a prepaid card and a secured credit card?
With a prepaid card:
- I can just buy one
- I pay very high fees
- My money earns no interest
- It does not help my credit history
With a secured credit card:
- I have to apply for one
- I pay some fees, usually lower
- My money might earn interest
- It can help my credit history
Learn more about secured credit cards.
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What To Do
Prepaid cards are another way to pay for things. You add money to a prepaid card and use it like a debit card. But you pay very high fees to use a prepaid card.
How do I choose a prepaid card?
If you decide to use a prepaid card:
- find out what fees you will have to pay
- see which card has lower fees
- do not buy a card because you like the celebrity who talks about it. It may have higher fees than other prepaid cards
How do I compare prepaid cards to other choices?
Prepaid cards can cost a lot to use. You might want to compare other ways to spend your money.
Choose at least two of each to compare:
- prepaid cards
- secured credit cards
- checking accounts in a bank or credit union
For each type of card or account, answer these questions:
- What are the fees? Look for:
- low activation fees
- low annual fees
- low ATM fees
- Will the card help your credit history? Some cards send information to the three credit reporting companies. That might help you build a credit history.
- Does your deposit earn interest? Sometimes you can earn interest on the money you put on a card or in a bank account.
Compare the answers. You might find ways to spend your money that are cheaper than a prepaid card.
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