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The Brinks Prepaid Mastercard gives you cash back on select purchases and early access to direct deposits and government benefits. But as with most prepaid cards, you’ll need to watch out for a lengthy list of potential fees.
Up to $9.95
Monthly maintenance fee
From $0
Signature transaction fee
From $0
PIN transaction fee
Card type | Debit |
---|---|
Card network | Mastercard |
Monthly fee | $9.95 |
Monthly fee (pay-as-you-go plan) | $0 |
Monthly fee with a direct deposit | $5 |
Signature transaction fee | $0 |
Signature transaction fee (pay-as-you-go plan) | $1.50 |
PIN transaction fee | $0 |
PIN transaction fee (pay-as-you-go plan) | $1.50 |
Additional Cardholder Fee | $9.95 |
Review by
Kevin Joey Chen is a credit cards, banking and investments writer whose work and analysis have appeared on CNN, U.S. News & World Report, Business.com, Lifehacker and CreditCards.com. He's passionate about helping you get your finances in order by expertly navigating cutting-edge financial tools — including credit cards, apps and budgeting software.
The Brinks Mastercard is a prepaid card designed for day-to-day purchases. It’s ideal for those who want early access to paychecks or government benefits or the ability to load funds in-person at more than 130,000 Netspend Reload Network locations in the US.
Unfortunately, the card comes with a rather long fee table. If you choose the entry-level Pay-As-You-Go plan, you’ll encounter a fee each time you use your card. If you choose the higher-tier plans, you’ll pay a monthly fee. Regardless, you’ll pay $2.50 each time you withdraw cash from a domestic ATM. Given this card’s many fees, you may be better off with a debit card.
Pay-As-You-Go | Monthly Fee | Preferred Fee | |
---|---|---|---|
Account opening fee | None | None | None |
Plan fee | None | $9.95 a month | $5 a month |
Signature purchase transaction fee | $1.50 | Included in plan | Included in plan |
PIN purchase transaction fee | $1.50 | Included in plan | Included in plan |
Balance inquiry fee | $0 by text message or Online Account Center; $0.50 by phone or ATM | $0 by text message or Online Account Center; $0.50 by phone or ATM | $0 by text message or Online Account Center; $0.50 by phone or ATM |
Account inactivity fee | $5.95 a month | $5.95 a month (replaces plan fee) | $5.95 a month (replaces plan fee) |
Foreign transaction fee | 4% | 4% | 4% |
View a full list of fees in the Brinks Prepaid Mastercard’s terms and conditions.
If you want a prepaid card that had zero to minimal fees, you’ll want to keep looking. As always, compare your options when considering a prepaid card.
Sign up online using these steps:
You’ll typically receive a decision on your application right away. If approved, you’ll receive your card within 10 business days.
This card is open to anyone in the US except for Vermont residents. You must be at least 18 years old and have a valid Social Security to apply.
The Brinks Prepaid Mastercard has a free mobile app that lets you check your account balance, transfer funds and find reload locations. It also requires no credit check and offers the following benefits:
The Brinks Prepaid Mastercard has these drawbacks:
There are several ways to add or reload money to your Brinks Prepaid Mastercard. You can add money through a tax refund, mobile check upload, a wire transfer and more:
Direct deposit fee | None |
---|---|
Adding money at NetSpend Reload Network location | Varies by location |
Bank transfer fee | Varies by bank |
Account-to-account transfer fee (website) | None |
Account-to-Account transfer fee (through customer service agent) | $4.95 |
Over-the-counter cash withdrawal fee (financial institution) | $3 |
---|---|
Over-the-counter cash withdrawal fee (NetSpend Reload Network) | Varies by location |
ATM cash withdrawal fee (domestic) | $2.50 |
ATM cash withdrawal fee (international) | $0 |
ATM transaction decline fee (domestic and international) | $1 |
Once you get your card in the mail, here’s how to make the most of it: