PBG Prepaid MasterCard® Card

Cash at Over 860,000 ATMs Purchase Over the Phone or Internet Safer than Cash Family Health and Benefit Options

Review: The PBG Prepaid MasterCard® Card, issued by BANKFIRST, is a stored value card designed for those who may have difficulty in obtaining a standard unsecured credit card and would like to take advantage of the health benefit group options or have access to a unique family legal plan. When applying online, a bank account is required to fund the card. Subsequent advance payments can be funded directly from the cardholder's paycheck and automatically loaded to the card every pay period. The card can also be loaded with another credit card, by sending a cashier's check or money order via mail, or by making a cash deposit using the approved deposit slip. Each time the card is loaded, a fee is applied to the account. These advance payments are then used to offset future purchases made with the card. It is important to note that there are some fees associated with this card that include an application fee of $139.95 and a monthly participation fee of $12.95, which amounts to $155.40 annually. Taking into account that the participation fee is waived for the first month of membership, a cardholder can expect to pay a total of $282.40 in fees in the first year alone. There are fewer qualifications required compared to other unsecured credit cards. There are no credit checks, no security deposits, and no employment requirements. The only requirement is a verifiable address in the United States. This card does not report cardholder transactions to the credit bureaus, which may be considered a major drawback for those who are trying to establish credit. Nevertheless, some benefits of this card include access to roadside assistance services, prescription and dental discounts, a registered nurse hotline, and a family legal plan. Therefore, those who are looking for a stored value card with which they can pay in advance for purchases and do not mind paying upfront fees may find the PBG Prepaid MasterCard® Card to be a beneficial option.

Date of Review: 2006-04-06 00:00:00

Notes: **The $12.95 monthly participation fee will be waived the first month of membership. ***After the thirty-day Private Voicemail trial, an additional $9.95 per month will be charged to the account unless the service is canceled. There is a $0.25 transaction processing fee. There is a $1.50 fee for ATM balance inquiries, and failed or declined transactions. Must be a U.S. citizen and have a social security number to get approved. See website for complete terms and conditions of card usage and application disclosure.

Additional Perks: Various Internet account related services. Roadside assistance. Prescription discounts. Dental plan discounts. Free access to the Registered Nurse Hotline. Free access to Family Legal Plan. Free Private Voicemail service for thirty days.*** See website for additional benefits.