Obtaining a bank card does not necessarily accompany the opening of an account. The prepaid bank card, offered by other providers than traditional banks, allows you to make purchases with a controlled budget, to make anonymous transactions or to obtain cash more easily, without justification of income. But beware of the conditions applied by the providers! Read this guide to make the right choice and avoid the pitfalls.
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Our selection
"No need to have a bank account to benefit from the advantages of the Smartpay prepaid bank card from Sogexia. It allows you to make…"
"This card, which is valid for 1 year, can be linked to a Skrill bank account. Payments made via this tool are free in physical…"
"This is a prepaid bank card suitable for professionals and not only for individuals. In any case, it offers flexible use both nationally and internationally.…"
"Available at a tobacconist's or on the organization's online platform, the Nickel card is perfect for users with low incomes. It is also valued for…"
No need to have a bank account to benefit from the advantages of the Smartpay prepaid bank card from Sogexia. It allows you to make purchases and withdrawals. However, if you don't have a bank account, you can't use it for direct debit transactions.
See the priceOffering a top-up in cash or by transfer from another bank account, Smartpay charges an estimated 2 to 2.5% of the amount paid. It also applies a withdrawal fee of just 1 euro per ATM transaction. The user does not incur any costs for a transfer between 2 cards of the brand.
Nevertheless, other charges related to the use of the card must be taken into account: refused transaction, balance consultation, code renewal, inactivity fees. You can have an anonymous or nominative card according to your needs. In the first case, the reload limit is 250 euros/month. It goes up to 20 000 euros if you give your identity. These options are accessible to all and their use is facilitated by the online application of Sogexia.
This card, which is valid for 1 year, can be linked to a Skrill bank account. Payments made via this tool are free in physical and online stores. On the other hand, a cost of 5.50 euros per use is required for withdrawals.
See the offerIn case you open an account, the bank does not require a minimum income. However, it does charge an account maintenance fee of 10 euros per year. For money transfers, the account is debited with an amount equivalent to 1.45% of the amount. The top-up by transfer is not subject to any charge, very convenient for all types of users.
Available in 3 levels, Skrill adapts to all needs and profiles. In fact, the reload limit offered differs for the 3 types of subscriptions, whose respective value reaches 2,500 euros/year, 15,000 euros/year and unlimited. This card is also suitable for online betting. It uses an efficient, fast and secure system for this.
This is a prepaid bank card suitable for professionals and not only for individuals. In any case, it offers flexible use both nationally and internationally. And you don't need an account to use it.
See the offerViabuy offers 3 card levels. For the first level, there are no conditions for access to payment services. With IDV 2, proof of identity and residence is required and proof of income for IDV 3. The reloading limit is also different and goes from 200 euros to an unlimited deposit per month.
This card is quite expensive to buy. The organization charges you 69.90 euros when the card is issued. Nevertheless, this cost corresponds to a use of 3 years. The annual administration fee is 19.90 euros. All users can attach a second card to the same account, with more profitable tariff conditions. In addition to the usual top-up methods, Viabuy can be funded via BitPay and bitcoins!
Available at a tobacconist's or on the organization's online platform, the Nickel card is perfect for users with low incomes. It is also valued for its flexibility in relation to remote payments.
See the offerUsed by students, foreigners, the unemployed, people who are not allowed to bank and employees, the Nickel card offers attractive services. Moreover, various types of accounts are offered for all profiles: Nickel Jeune, Nickel Classique, Nickel Chrome. The latter is recommended if you travel often. Take advantage of lower rates and conditions even outside the euro zone!
For the reloading, 3 options are available to you. Either you make a transfer, recommended for large amounts; or you look for a tobacconist for the card subject to the 750 euro/month limit. The last method is to use another bank card. Reloading by bank transfer is free of charge, whereas a 2% commission is charged at a tobacconist's and via the bank card.
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The best prepaid bank card in 2021
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| TOP OF THE LINE | CHEAP | TOP OF THE LINE | EXCELLENT | |
In accordance with our commitment, this buying guide does not contain any sponsored products. |
9/10 |
8/10 |
9/10 |
8/10 |
| OUR SELECTION |
Smartpay
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Skrill
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Viabuy
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Nickel
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No need to have a bank account to benefit from the advantages of the Smartpay prepaid bank card from Sogexia. It allows you to make purchases and withdrawals. However, if you don't have a bank account, you can't use it for direct debit transactions.
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This card, which is valid for 1 year, can be linked to a Skrill bank account. Payments made via this tool are free in physical and online stores. On the other hand, a cost of 5.50 euros per use is required for withdrawals.
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This is a prepaid bank card suitable for professionals and not only for individuals. In any case, it offers flexible use both nationally and internationally. And you don't need an account to use it.
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Available at a tobacconist's or on the organization's online platform, the Nickel card is perfect for users with low incomes. It is also valued for its flexibility in relation to remote payments.
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Reloading methods
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Purchase price
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9,9
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0
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69,9
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0
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Capping fee
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20,000 €/month
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From €2,500 /year
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From €200
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950 €/month
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Management fee
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0
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10 €/year
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19,90 €/year
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20 €/year
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Maximum withdrawal
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650 €/day
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250 €/day
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100 to €800/day
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300 €/week
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There is a prepaid bank card for every profile. There are even cards for minors and children. The special feature of these cards is that there is no overdraft. The security of use is therefore guaranteed. Users who are subject to a banking ban or who simply cannot have an account in the UK have their own type of card. They benefit from the withdrawal and payment services without having to make any commitment. The prepaid bank card for abroad facilitates transactions while traveling while enjoying some advantages, especially on currency fluctuation. And then there is a card specifically used for money transfers, domestic or international.
The choice of card is governed by the intended use. If it's to make online purchases, make sure the system and technology used by the card is consistent with the policy of the merchants you're shopping with. Online players are indeed more cautious, as they are often affected by fraud with this payment method. Be aware that most French retailers only accept French cards. When abroad, it is better to use one whose nationality is consistent with the country of the IP address. Then, a card with an EMV standard is required to make payments in TPE, i.e. at physical stores. Of course, the magnetic stripe is still a must if you go to a place where chip readers are not used much. The last use is ATM withdrawals. So you should opt for a card with this possibility.
Prepaid cards are reloadable. This means that you have to make a deposit of money to use them. You can do this by bank transfer if the amount is high enough. The disadvantage of this method is that you have to wait between 2 and 7 days before the card is reloaded. Then, the fees are less exorbitant here. This operation can also be done with a credit card. In this case, it must be linked with the prepaid bank card. The costs are higher, but the amounts are available immediately. Alternatively, you can opt for cash top-up, which is the most expensive method, but is one of the fastest. You should also go to a suitable local business.
The
service provided matters a lot when you need assistance. So find out beforehand so you are not caught short when the time comes. It is essential that the supplier has a French-speaking customer service that is available at all times. Then, you must make sure that the general conditions are compatible with French law. You will need them in case of a dispute. Still in the same principle, it is better to do business with a company residing in the UK to facilitate all procedures when the time comes. Apart from that, some cards support digital money payment for online transactions. Organizations offering this service are more reliable in terms of security. Of course, you need to have funds on the money in question. It is still a niche market at this time.
The costs of using a prepaid bank card are not defined in the same way and take into account various transaction fees. Nevertheless, there are free ones for some users. The worst part is that the providers take a considerable commission at the time of reloading to make up for this freebie. The cost of this can be as much as 7% of the amount paid. On top of that, there are account management fees and the cost of purchasing the card, which can quickly skyrocket if the choice is not well made. It is also possible that the providers make a lot of money on international transfers or simply outside the euro zone. Basically, the organizations providing a prepaid card adopt 2 different systems: pay-as-you-go consists of paying fees only for each transaction made (with very high fees), monthly fees offer attractive rates.
Subscribers can choose between a nominative and anonymous card with the prepaid option.
Anonymous prepaid cards are often available in tobacco shops and convenience stores. The problem with this option is that the limit of the amount reloaded is very limited, as all transactions are made anonymously. This is a measure taken by the state to combat money laundering. In addition, you will not be able to enjoy all the privileges of a prepaid card. For example, some organizations prohibit online payments. In fact, there are no longer a few institutions that offer this option because of these drawbacks.
If
the subscription is made with a bank, there is no other choice than the name card. This is also valid with neobanks. The owner's profile is therefore requested. Supporting documents are even required at the time of subscription. If the conditions of membership are somewhat restrictive compared to the anonymous prepaid card, the transactions are secure and you are not limited by restrictive ceilings. However, the fees are almost the same. The nominative bank card is therefore advantageous on several lines.
The prepaid bank card can be linked to your bank account. It is therefore provided by a traditional bank. The tariffs here are very varied, because the principle of the tariff policy is the same as for the other services of a traditional bank. Then, the ceiling is considerable and goes up to 1 500 euros. The use of the card is therefore more flexible.
The card not associated with a bank account offers more autonomy. No commitment is required. This makes it much more affordable in terms of rates and conditions in general.
If you have a problem with a bank ban, a no-account card is more appropriate. But with a card that is linked to your usual bank account, you can easily receive your wages. This allows for centralized management and is therefore easier. So choose according to your situation.
The prepaid bank card is used mainly for payments and withdrawals. It makes life easier if chosen carefully. In addition, its operation favours a controlled budget, because you only pay out the amount you really need. The risk of overdraft is also minimal. All cash outflows are blocked when the card is empty. But, the method of reloading is quite simple.
Apart from people with a bank ban and those who do not have access to banking services in a foreign country, the use of a prepaid card is interesting for users who want to improve their management, especially if the income is not very high.
Minors and children also use this card to manage their pocket money. A very popular method for parents to introduce them to the banking system, as there is no minimum age requirement. Regardless of the profile, this type of card is more secure and the corresponding services are advantageous for the privacy of users.
Be careful with free prepaid bank cards
Some cards are free to purchase, but don't fall into the trap of paying fees. They are very exorbitant in this case. Always ask for clear explanations about the fee policy to avoid unpleasant surprises.
Get an update on the current law
The
Tracfin decree has given rise to some restrictions on the use of a prepaid card. This is why some providers limit the use of their card nationwide. Under this piece of legislation, anonymous card owners cannot exceed the monthly recharge limit of 250 euros.
There are no major differences between Visa and MasterCard
The
most popular systems are Visa and MasterCard. They are almost the same in terms of usage conditions. Whether you choose one or the other, your benefits and uses are the same. Only the banks' terms and conditions need to be considered when choosing.
Be sure to check all costs
Prepaid cards are more expensive than regular cards. Then, the costs are very different from one organization to another. So you have to be careful when choosing so that you don't incur fees that are out of your budget.
Not all cards can be used internationally
If
you buy a prepaid bank card to make international transactions, choose the right offer, because not all organizations offer this operation
.
The best prepaid bank card depends on your needs and budget. Read our buying guide to find out which products are best.
The prepaid bank card is easily accessible for purchase. Once you have it in your possession, you simply top it up according to the amount you need. Then, you can use it while respecting the limit.
The prepaid bank card has the same appearance as the classic bank card. Your personal details are therefore recorded on it. The same goes for the information about the card: number and expiry date among others. What are the differences with a simple bank card?
Firstly, no overdraft is allowed with a prepaid bank card. This is not the case with the classic option. In addition, the latter always requires an account to be opened. Apart from that, the conditions of access to services are more flexible and much more convenient with a prepaid card.
The prepaid bank card is offered by a traditional bank, in a convenience store, in a coffee shop or at a neobank.
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