Prepaid Credit Card Fees

When it comes to rating a prepaid credit card, we view fees as the single most important factor. Unfortunately, understanding the fees charged by some prepaid cards can be extremely difficult. To help, we’ve put together three tables (see below) that compare the fees charged by the most popular prepaid card issuers. We’ve divided fees into three categories:

1. Core Fees: These are the fees that are unavoidable–activation fees, monthly fees, fees to load the card, and fees to use the card.
2. ATM Fees: ATM fees can be avoided by getting cash back at certain retailers like grocery stores. But if you plan to use an ATM for cash withdrawals, make sure you understand the ATM fees you’ll incur.
3. Other Fees: These are fees that generally are easy to avoid (e.g., a fee for a paper statement or to call customer service), but should still be considered when you are selecting a card.

Following the fee tables, you’ll find links to helpful articles about prepaid credit card fees and how to avoid them.

Core Fees

ATM Fees

Other Fees

• Ten Common Fees Prepaid Cards Charge
• Prepaid Cards with No Activation Fee