Prepaid cards can be useful for travel, because you can only spend the money you load on the card. If they’re lost or stolen, the rest of your finances back home won’t be in danger. They can also be cheaper in terms of fees, as they’re specialist products. <\/p>
We’ve looked at the FairFX card to see how it stands up among other prepaid cards and debit cards alike.<\/p>
The FairFX multi-currency card is a prepaid Mastercard that can hold over 20 major currencies and can be used to spend in over 190 countries.<\/p>
You’re able to earn up to 3.5% cashback at some of the UK’s biggest retailers.<\/p>
You can only order one physical card, but you can order up to 10 virtual cards to use for online payments. <\/p>
It’s free to order your first card and the first replacement is free, too. If you need another replacement after that it’ll cost you \u00a36 each time. ATM withdrawals cost \u00a31 anywhere in the world and if you spend in a currency that isn’t loaded on your card, there’s a 2.25% transaction fee. If you spend in 1 of the 21 supported currencies on your card then there’s no fee. <\/p>
This card could be useful for someone who travels frequently and needs to spend in multiple different currencies, but likes to have their money in one place.<\/p>
With FairFX accounts, money is protected via safeguarding. Funds are held in specially designated, safeguarded bank accounts. FairFX is a trading style of Equals Money PLC, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.<\/p>
If you misplace your card, you’re able to freeze it with the FairFX app or website, which will stop any transactions taking place on it. You can also unfreeze your card if you find it.<\/p>
The FairFX multi-currency account doesn’t really stand out in a competitive field. While it doesn’t charge to load money on your card or have any monthly fees, there are plenty of competitors that offer the same. The \u00a31 ATM withdrawal fee is also beaten elsewhere.<\/p>
There are no fees to spend if you’re spending in 1 of the 21 currencies you’re able to load on the card, but outside of that there’s a transaction fee. <\/p>
Many banks have debit cards that come with no fees for overseas spending and generous allowances to withdraw cash for free, so the FairFX card isn’t competing with them. There are also other prepaid currency cards with lower fees.<\/p>
The cashback could be useful for some people, but there are a range of debit cards that offer cashback and have a better range of features than a prepaid card. <\/p>