Get a prepaid debit card from Monese

A prepaid debit card is an alternative payment card that you top up with money to use in stores and online. You can only spend the balance you have available on the card, then add more money when it runs out.

Unlike a regular debit or credit card, a prepaid debit card doesn’t need to be linked to a bank account. Your card funds can be linked to an online money account like Monese’s instead. There’s no credit check required either, so these cards are easier to get if you have a poor or non-existent credit history.

These reasons make prepaid payment cards popular among ‘unbanked’ people who can’t access traditional banking services or don’t want to. People also use them for budgeting because you can’t overspend or run up debts like you might with a credit card.

Prepaid cards are safer than carrying cash around too. You can still use a Monese card to get cash out from an ATM whenever you need to, just like you would with a regular debit card.

You can use a prepaid debit card to buy things and withdraw cash in much the same way as regular payment cards. But there are lots of reasons why one could be the better option for you.

Easy to get

A prepaid debit card account is an easy alternative to traditional banking for foreign nationals as there’s no credit check or bank account required. With a Monese account, you can then receive your salary, pay bills and much more.

Easy to manage

Prepaid debit cards are useful for avoiding debt as you’ll never be able to spend more than the balance you add. A Monese card also makes it easy to transfer and receive money, track spending and create savings pots, right from your phone.

Great for travelling

Prepaid cards are a great travel companion whether you’re holidaying abroad, visiting family or travelling for work. With Monese, you can spend abroad at low-cost exchange rates and withdraw money at ATMs worldwide, with no hidden fees.

Monese cards make your money as flexible as you are. We use the Mastercard network, which means that you can use yours at most places where Mastercard is accepted. That’s a lot of places and includes physical shops and online stores, as well as ATMs worldwide.

You can also use your prepaid Mastercard for quick and secure contactless mobile payments by linking it to Apple Pay or Google Pay.

Online debit cards can come with different fees, depending on the provider. They could include monthly or pay-as-you-go fees, plus activation, transaction, withdrawal, top-up and inactivity charges, so it’s best to read the terms.

We’re honest about our fees so you’ll always know how much your Monese card costs. Below is how our Simple plan works. Our Classic and Premium plans come with small monthly fees for higher withdrawal, cash top-up and foreign currency card spending allowances.

• Free prepaid debit card account opening with no monthly fee
• Free card, £4.95 delivery
• Free cash withdrawals up to £200 per month, 2% fee above this, £2 minimum
• Free cash top-ups up to £200 per month, 2% fee above this, £2 minimum
• Free foreign currency card spending up to £2,000 per month, 2% fee above this
• Free transfers to other Monese accounts, 2% fee when sending to non-Monese accounts, £2 minimum

Our flexible plans allow you to get a little or a lot every month to suit how you plan to use your card. It’s free to upgrade or downgrade plans whenever you need to.

With our prepaid Mastercard, you can add money in lots of different ways. Many of them are quick and easy to do from your Monese app.

• Make instant top-ups from another debit card
• Receive bank transfers
• Transfer money between your Monese currency accounts for free
• Request payments from friends
• Get paid by your employer
• Top up with cash at more than 84,000 payment point locations across the UK and Europe with the Post Office, PayPoint or Paysafecash.

Prepaid debit cards are a safer and more convenient option than carrying cash. But there are lots of other ways that we keep your Monese card, money and identity safe too.

• Use a virtual card with a unique card number for secure online shopping
• Lock your prepaid Mastercard instantly in-app if you lose it
• Make secure contactless payments with Apple Pay’s Touch ID and Face ID recognition, or Google Pay’s multi-layered security

Your prepaid debit card account is protected too with single-phone access and much more. Read about security with Monese.

We’ve made it as simple as possible to open a Monese account and get a prepaid Mastercard. You could sign up if you’re aged 18 or over and living in one of the 31 countries in the European Economic Area.

1. Download our free mobile app from the App Store or Google Play store.
2. Sign up with your email address, phone number and an ID document like your passport. We’ll also ask for a video selfie to confirm your identity.
3. Pick a Monese plan and tell us where to send your Monese card.

You can use a virtual Monese card as soon as you open an account and verify your address. Once your physical card arrives, activate it by entering the last four digits of your card number in the Card menu option in your app.

Millions of people use Monese to manage their money because we’re:

• Flexible – Get a Monese card that suits you and use it in-store, online and at ATMs worldwide
• Fast – Open an account quickly with no credit check or existing bank account
• Great value – See our card fees upfront and spend abroad with great exchange rates
• Safe – Use a virtual card online and block your card instantly if you lose it
• Mobile – Pay with your phone and manage your money with the Monese app

Our prepaid debit card gives you the financial freedom you need to thrive anywhere. Read more about us.