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Western Union® MoneyWise™ Reloadable Prepaid MasterCard®

Snapshot of Card Features:

  • FREE: $10 With Your First Qualifying Direct Deposit.
  • FREE: Monthly Maintenance, Online Activation and Statements
  • FOUR Convenient Ways to Add Money to Your Account.
  • Protected Funds through MasterCard's Zero Liability Policy.
Intro AprBalance TransferOngoing APRAnnual FeeCredit Needed
N/AN/AN/AN/AExcellent - Bad
No Credit
 

Our Expert Review

Rates & Term Details

Complete Card Details
For the complete terms and conditions, view this card's Schumer Box

What is a Schumer Box?
A Schumer Box includes the following rate and term information for all credit cards:

  • Annual Percentage Rate (APR) for purchases (or interest rate)
  • Other APRs - interest rates for balance transfers, cash advances, default, etc.
  • Variable rate information (if applicable)
  • Grace Period
  • Finance calculation method
  • Finance Charges
  • Annual Fee (if applicable)
  • Other fees - transaction fees, balance transfers, cash advances, late payments, over-limit, etc.

Important
Always read the terms and fees disclosure provided by the credit card issuer on their site before applying. The issuing bank's terms may include more detailed or updated information than presented here.

Notes
*View Western Union® MoneyWise™ Reloadable Prepaid MasterCard® card rates, fees, rewards and other important information.


Beverly Harzog - October, 2011

If you don't have a bank account or a credit card, the Western Union® MoneyWise™ Reloadable Prepaid MasterCard® is an option to consider. You can add funds to this card via direct deposit, a Western union money transfer transaction, a transfer from a bank account, or cash at an agent location.

Benefits

Since this is a prepaid card and not a credit card, there are no credit history checks to worry about. You can get texts and emails to keep track of your spending activity. It has relatively few fees compared to other prepaid cards.

Rewards

Rewards do not apply.

Balance Transfers

Balance Transfers do not apply.

Rates

No annual percentage rate applies. What I like about this card is that there's no charge for the following: activation, monthly maintenance, direct deposit, and signature purchase and PIN purchase transactions. But like most prepaid cards, there are other fees you need to know about. For instance, there's a $1.95 transaction fee for ATM withdrawals, a $0.45 balance inquiry fee, a $25 "cash withdrawal at bank counter fee," a $2.50 inactivity fee starting in the 13th month of inactivity and more. Be sure to read the cardholder agreement carefully so you're aware of all the fees.

Who Should Apply

Consumers who don't have a bank account or a credit card. This card is a good match for those who want the convenience of using plastic to pay for purchases. But this card is not for consumers who want to pay bills online.

Credit Standing

All consumers, regardless of credit score, can apply for this card.

Author

Beverly Harzog

About Credit.com's Credit Cards and Prepaid Cards:

You may be able to build, rebuild, or reestablish your credit history by making on time monthly payments to all creditors and by maintaining all your balances under the credit limits. From premium reward cards to accounts that help you rebuild your credit, we have the credit card for you! If your future goals include owning a home, buying a car, owning your own business, or traveling, having a credit card can be an excellent first step. With credit card services from leading issuers like American Express, Bank of America, Capital One, Chase, Citibank, Discover, First PREMIER® Bank, HSBC Bank, IBERIABANK, MasterCard, Simmons First and Visa, you can find the best credit card for you at Credit.com.

The key to success with credit cards is to know how to use them to your advantage and not to get caught up in the traps that lurk behind the benefits. Credit.com offers many kinds of credit card benefits, from airline and gas rewards to cashback cards, and the first step is filling out a credit card application online. You can also apply for specialty credit cards, such as student credit cards or business credit cards. Credit.com also offers credit cards for the United Kingdom and Canada.

In addition to credit cards, Credit.com offers three other card options that can provide excellent choices for people with less-than-perfect credit: Prepaid cards from Mastercard and Visa allow you to load money onto the card and then use it like any other major credit card. They require no credit approval and carry the same fraud protection as the regular cards. But fees can be high, so be sure to shop carefully for a prepaid card.

Secured cards require you to open a bank account and deposit funds in a bank account (security deposit) in case you can't pay the bills. You'll get a major credit card you can use anywhere those types of cards are accepted. Shop carefully for a secured card to avoid costly fees.

Debit Cards issued under the Visa card or Mastercard name can be widely used and carry fraud protection. But if your card number is stolen and used, you'd want to find out immediately. Otherwise, you could bounce checks. One strategy: Have two checking accounts and associate your debit card with the one with the small balance. Just transfer the purchase amount into the account before you buy something with the card.

  

*For complete information, see the terms and conditions on the credit card issuer's web site. Once you click to apply for this card, you will be directed to the issuer's website where you may review the terms and conditions of the card before applying. While Credit.com always strives to present the most accurate information, we show a summary to help you choose a product, not the full legal terms - and before applying you should understand the full terms of products as stated by the issuer itself.

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The Pros and Cons of Prepaid Cards

Prepaid cards offer the convenience of a credit card without the difficult approval process or risk of getting into debt. These cards work a lot like a gift card, you will have to load the account with cash (direct deposit is usually available) before you can use it for a purchase

Prepaid cards are not credit cards; you cannot spend more than the balance you have deposited and you will not be charged interest for your spending. The prepaid account will not be reported to the credit bureaus as a credit card.

Pros:
Cons:

Fees and charges can vary significantly between different prepaid credit card offers. Be sure to read the fee schedule for the prepaid credit card before you apply.


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