Prepaid cards Sterling prepaid cards reviewed

Best sterling prepaid cards

If you're travelling abroad to a country that doesn't use the Euro or US Dollar as its main currency, or if you're travelling to more than one country, a Sterling prepaid card could offer great value.

If you're heading to the Eurozone or the USA, a Euro- or Dollar-denominated prepaid card may offer better value.

Sterling prepaid cards
Card nameForeign exchange mark upForeign ATM feeTop-up fee  Reload optionsScenario 1 - eurosScenario 2 - dollarsFind out more
ICE Travellers Cashcard £a0%FreeDC - 1.85%bInternet£438£334Visit site
Travelex Cash Passport Globec2.49%FreeFreeInternet/Phone/Branch£441£336Apply now
CaxtonFx Global Travellerd2.5%FreeFreeInternet/Phone/SMS£441e£337eApply now
FairFx Anywhere cardc1.4%£1Free - DCfInternet/Phone/SMS£441£338Visit site
My Travel Cash Multi-Currency Cardg2.99%FreeFree - DCInternet/Phone£443£338Apply now
Monarch Worldwide GB £ Cardh2.5%£1Free - DCgInternet£446£342Visit site
Post Office Sterling Prepaid card3%£1.501.5% (£3 min, £50 max)Internet/Post Office/Phone£457£351Visit site
First Choice Sterling Prepaid card3%i£1.502% (£5 min)Internet/Branch£460£350Visit site
Thomson Sterling Prepaid card3%i£1.502% (£5 min)Internet/Branch£460£350Visit site
Travelex Cash Passport (GB£)j5.75%Free2% (£3 min)Internet/Phone/SMS£464£354Visit site
Endsleigh Prepaid MasterCardkn/ae

 

£2.252.25% - DCInternet/Cheque/Selected Branches£467£359Visit site

Table notes

Scenario 1: Total cost of making five €50 purchases and five €50 cash withdrawals from an ATM abroad, based on average exchange rates offered over 6 separate days between February and March 2013. We also factor in load and cash withdrawal fees.

Scenario 2: As scenario 1, but making five $50 purchases and five $50 cash withdrawals (provider's fees included)

DC - Debit Card

  1. Amount includes 1% cashback, offered between 1 December 2012 and 31 December 2013
  2. Minimum load is £50. Load fee for credit card is 2%.
  3. £9.95 purchase fee
  4. Minimum load is £100, limit of 2 withdrawals per day and 4 withdrawals over 5 days. £4.50 charge to remove unused money from the card.  
  5. Based on CaxtonFx's Global Traveller MasterCard. The Visa card version would cost £446 for scenario 1 and £339 for scenario 2. 
  6. £9.95 purchase and annual fee. Minimum load is £50. Load fee for credit card is 2.5%
  7. 1% cashback can be earned on purchases. Load fee fir credit card is 2.5%. £2 inactivity fee if the card is not used for 12 consecutive months. £5 fee to cancel the card.
  8. Minimum load is £10. Load fee for credit cards is 2.5% and there is £5 fee to cancel the card.
  9. There is an additional 50p charge for each point of sale transaction abroad
  10. £2 inactivity fee if the card is not used for 12 consecutive months. Minimum load is £50. £4 over counter fee to retrieve unused money, £10 negative balance charge
  11. £9.95 purchase fee, £4.95 annual fee thereafter. 3.99% load for credit cards

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