Card One Money Prepaid Card Review

Fees and FX
ATM and Cash
Topups
Overall

Card One Money combines a prepaid Mastercard with a UK current account that supports Direct Debits and standing orders. The personal account costs £12.50 per month. UK ATM withdrawals are £1.50 from Card One Money’s side. Purchases in foreign currency include a 2.75% fee, and overseas ATM withdrawals are £3.00 plus 2.75%. You can order an additional card for a family member, with a minimum age of 13. Funds are safeguarded rather than FSCS protected.

Fees and FX
ATM and Cash
Topups
Overall

Initial Viewpoint

Best for customers who want a simple UK account with Direct Debits and a prepaid card, clear published fees, and the option to add a second card with a set allowance. Not ideal for frequent overseas cash use or heavy foreign currency spending due to the out of currency fees.

Highlights

  • UK current account features with Direct Debits, standing orders and Faster Payments
  • Clear pricing page with fee table
  • Additional card option with minimum age 13

Cautions

  • £12.50 monthly account fee
  • UK ATM £1.50 and overseas ATM £3.00 plus 2.75%
  • Foreign currency purchases attract a 2.75% fee

Overview

What it is

A prepaid Mastercard linked to a UK personal account that lets you set up Direct Debits, pay bills and create standing orders.

Who it's for

People who need straightforward UK account features with a prepaid card, want published fees upfront, and do not need multi currency balances.

Key Facts

Issuer and scheme:

Prepaid Mastercard program of Card One Money. Card One Money is a trading style of Equals Money UK Limited. The card is issued by Fair Payments Limited pursuant to licence by Mastercard.

Account features:

UK sort code and account number, Direct Debits, standing orders and Faster Payments.

Fees headline:

Personal account £12.50 per month. UK ATM £1.50. Foreign currency purchases 2.75%. Overseas ATM £3.00 plus 2.75%.

Additional card:

Optional second card available. Minimum age 13 for the secondary card. £5.00 per month for an additional card.

Safeguarding vs FSCS:

Funds are safeguarded, not protected by FSCS.

Max card balance:

£5,000.

Pricing & Fees

Fee Type Amount Notes

Monthly account fee

£12.50

Personal account fee.

First card

Free

Included with account.

Additional card

£5.00 per month

Secondary card. Minimum age 13.

Replacement card

£3.95

Per replacement.

UK ATM withdrawal

£1.50

Issuer side fee. ATM owner may surcharge.

Overseas ATM withdrawal

£3.00 + 2.75%

Per withdrawal.

Purchases in foreign currency

2.75%

Applied to the transaction value.

Transfer card balance back to account

£5.00 per transaction

When moving funds from card to account.

Giro paying in book

£3.50

If you use a giro credit.

Maximum card balance

£5,000

Card purse cap.

Fee Type

Monthly account fee

First card

Additional card

Replacement card

UK ATM withdrawal

Overseas ATM withdrawal

Purchases in foreign currency

Transfer card balance back to account

Giro paying in book

Maximum card balance

Amount

£12.50

Free

£5.00 per month

£3.95

£1.50

£3.00 + 2.75%

2.75%

£5.00 per transaction

£3.50

£5,000

Notes

Personal account fee.

Included with account.

Secondary card. Minimum age 13.

Per replacement.

Issuer side fee. ATM owner may surcharge.

Per withdrawal.

Applied to the transaction value.

When moving funds from card to account.

If you use a giro credit.

Card purse cap.

Additional Details

FX conversion

Spending in a non GBP currency attracts a 2.75% fee on the purchase value from Card One Money’s side. Always choose to pay in the local currency at terminals and ATMs to avoid dynamic currency conversion by the merchant or ATM operator.

Free ATM allowance

– UK cash: £1.50 per withdrawal from Card One Money’s side.
– Abroad: £3.00 plus 2.75% per withdrawal from Card One Money’s side. ATM owners may add their own fee.

Topups & Payments

Method Fee or Limit Notes

Faster Payments in and out

Usually free from Card One Money’s side

Bank charges may apply at your bank. Site emphasises Faster Payments.

Direct Debits and standing orders

Included

Set up in the account.

Move money from card to account

£5.00 per transaction

By request to support.

Method

Faster Payments in and out

Direct Debits and standing orders

Move money from card to account

Fee or Limit

Usually free from Card One Money’s side

Included

£5.00 per transaction

Notes

Bank charges may apply at your bank. Site emphasises Faster Payments.

Set up in the account.

By request to support.

Applying for the Card One Money Account

Apply online: no credit check; only identity & residence verification. Once approved, you receive your account number and sort code. Card typically arrives within days. You may load funds and use for spending and bills.

Limits & KYC

Topic Detail

Maximum card balance

£5,000

Secondary card minimum age

13

Verification

Standard ID and residency checks per terms

Topic

Maximum card balance

Secondary card minimum age

Verification

Detail

£5,000

13

Standard ID and residency checks per terms

App & Features

Feature Detail

Mobile apps

iOS and Android apps for balance, payments, Direct Debits, statements and notifications.

Controls

Report lost or stolen cards and manage essentials in app.

Alerts

Payment and income notifications available.

Feature

Mobile apps

Controls

Alerts

Detail

iOS and Android apps for balance, payments, Direct Debits, statements and notifications.

Report lost or stolen cards and manage essentials in app.

Payment and income notifications available.

Who It's For

Best for

People who want a UK account with Direct Debits and a prepaid card, simple published fees, and the option to provide a managed allowance card to a family member.

Not ideal for

Frequent foreign currency spenders or heavy overseas ATM users, since non GBP purchases and overseas cash draw fees apply. Users who need FSCS protection should note that this is an e money account with safeguarding, not FSCS cover.

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • UK account with Direct Debits and standing orders

  • Clear fee table and fixed monthly pricing

  • Optional additional card for a family member from age 13

Cons

  • Monthly account fee of £12.50

  • Overseas ATM and foreign currency purchase fees can add cost

  • Funds are safeguarded and not FSCS protected

Awards and Recognition

Card One Money is part of the Equals Group (which includes FairFX). While major industry awards for this specific product aren’t prominent publicly, “everyday prepaid accounts” are increasingly covered in consumer comparison reviews. Treat any historic recognition as context only, not current endorsement.

Awards and Recognition

Card One Money is part of the Equals Group (which includes FairFX). While major industry awards for this specific product aren’t prominent publicly, “everyday prepaid accounts” are increasingly covered in consumer comparison reviews. Treat any historic recognition as context only, not current endorsement.

How It Compares

At a glance: Card One Money is focused on UK account functionality with a prepaid card. Multi currency travel cards emphasise FX and ATM abroad. Standard bank accounts may offer fee free FX but require credit checks or different eligibility.

Feature Card One Money Multi currency travel card UK bank debit card
Annual or monthly fee £12.50 Often tiered or free Usually £0
Card purchases Often free Usually free
ATM fee £1.50 Often free with caps Varies by bank
FX fee £3.00 + 2.75% Often free or capped Varies by bank
Feature
Annual or monthly fee
Card purchases
ATM fee
FX fee
Card One Money
£12.50
£1.50
£3.00 + 2.75%
Multi currency travel card
Often tiered or free
Often free
Often free with caps
Often free or capped
UK bank debit card
Usually £0
Usually free
Varies by bank
Varies by bank

Alternatives to Consider

Wise multi currency card

Hold many currencies with competitive FX and global acceptance. Check ATM caps.

Revolut travel card

Multi currency wallets with plan tiers and smart app controls. Review weekend FX markup and fair use policies.

Starling Bank debit card

UK current account with strong travel acceptance and simple FX policy. Check ATM and card replacement policies.

Ratings

Category Score 1 to 5 Weight Notes
Fees and FX

£12.50 monthly fee, 2.75% out of currency, overseas ATM £3.00 plus 2.75%.

ATM and cash

UK ATM £1.50, owner fees may apply.

Topups and payments

Faster Payments, Direct Debits and standing orders supported.

Features and app

iOS and Android apps with alerts and controls.

Support and trust

Safeguarded funds, not FSCS. Equals Money UK Limited trading style.

Category
Fees and FX
ATM and cash
Topups and payments
Features and app
Support and trust
Score 1 to 5
Weight
Notes

£12.50 monthly fee, 2.75% out of currency, overseas ATM £3.00 plus 2.75%.

UK ATM £1.50, owner fees may apply.

Faster Payments, Direct Debits and standing orders supported.

iOS and Android apps with alerts and controls.

Safeguarded funds, not FSCS. Equals Money UK Limited trading style.

Compliance & Methodology

Regulatory

Card One Money is a trading style of Equals Money UK Limited, an FCA authorised payment institution. The card is issued by Fair Payments Limited. Funds are safeguarded and not FSCS protected.

Data sources

Personal account pages, pricing and summary box, FAQs and support articles. Verified on 17 Oct 2025.

Editorial policy

Independent, fact‑checked comparison. Click here for editorial guidelines.

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