Credit Building Prepaid Cards

If you are struggling to get a standard credit card, or assess a bank account with a debit card, due to a poor credit history (CCJ’s etc) then a credit building prepaid card could be right for you. Credit building prepaid cards offer users many of the advantages available to credit and debit card holders, but they can be easier to get because the issuers never offer any credit to card holders (in the form of a credit limit or an overdraft). If used well they can also help you re-establish your credit profile, making it easier to assess credit products (like loans, credit cards & mortgages) in the future.

• Cashplus Fee Free Offer

• £4.95

• £0.00

• £0.00

• UK: £0
  Abroad: £0

• Free on cash withdrawals for first 3 mths - normally £0.99
• No monthly fees for first 3 mths - normally £4.95
• Credit builder option
• Instant approval if you are over 18 and a UK resident

• ClearCash PAYG

• £4.95

• £0.00

• £0.00

• UK: 0.75p
  Abroad: £1.50

• Standing Order, Direct Debit & Bill Payment facility
• Creditbuilder provided by Advanced Payment Solutions
• Embossed cards with your own account number and sort code
• Instant approval if you are over 18 and a UK resident

• ClearCash Monthly

• £4.95

• £9.95

• £0.00

• UK: £0.50
  Abroad: £1.50

• Standing Order, Direct Debit & Bill Payment facility
• Creditbuilder provided by Advanced Payment Solutions
• Embossed cards with your own account number and sort code
• Fantastic cashback site to benefit from
• Instant approval if you are over 18 and a UK resident

Who can get a credit building prepaid card?

Unlike traditional credit cards which require users to be ‘credit scored ‘ before a credit limit is decided and a card issued, prepaid credit card issuers never take a ‘risk’ on a consumer - Individuals using prepaid cards can only ever spend to the value of the balance they have loaded. Because prepaid card issuers minimise their risk of exposure they are able to offer cards to a broader range of people than traditional issuers might. This means that practically anyone over the age of 18, who has not been convicted of a serious crime, can access the products and enjoy the benefits that an improving credit score offers.

What is the best credit building prepaid card?

Although the UK prepaid card market is alive with competition and diversity, relatively few prepaid issuers offer “credit building” functionality. There are an increasing number, but choice is limited so you won’t be able to shop around too much. That said, the limited product choice means you can easily focus on specifics and decide which is the best for your personal circumstances.

Be sure to have a good understanding of monthly fees, transition and ATM fees, but also what happens if you can't afford the monthly fee.

Remember if you are looking to get a prepaid product for foreign currency for a trip abroad then a prepaid credit building card might not be right for you. Equally if you have no need to improve your credit report then you might find that other prepaid debit card products without monthly fees are better suited to your needs.