Account Now™ Vantage Debit MasterCard®

Free Direct Deposit Keep Track of Monthly Spending Free Pay Anyone Bill Pay Make Purchases Online and Offline

Review: The Account Now™ Vantage Debit MasterCard®, issued by MetaBank, is a stored value card designed for those who may have difficulty in obtaining a standard unsecured credit card. Although the card does not require a banking account to be opened, it does require payments in advance, which are then used to offset future purchases made with the card. 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 by wiring money from an established bank account or through MoneyGram® ExpressPayment®. It is important to note that there are some fees associated with this card that include a processing fee of $19.95 and a monthly participation fee of $4.95, which amounts to $59.40 annually. It should also be noted that there is a $0.50 transaction fee that is charged for each purchase made with the card. So, in the first year alone, a cardholder can expect to pay a minimum total of $79.35 in fees. It is common for stored value cards to lack benefits; however, this card does offer a free bill pay service (for the first seven transactions each month) and access to a free credit builder service, which reports bill payment information to a national credit reporting agency. Therefore, those who are looking for a stored value card with flexibility to pay in advance for purchases, do not mind paying upfront fees, and would like the opportunity to participate in the credit builder service will find the Account Now™ Vantage Debit MasterCard® to be a beneficial option.

Date of Review: 2006-04-12 00:00:00

Notes: $0.50 fee for U.S. purchases. $1 fee for ATM balance inquiries. $1 fee for international purchases. No credit checks or turndowns. No employment verifications. Must be at least 18 and a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. See website for complete terms and conditions of card usage and application disclosure.

Additional Perks: Access to free credit builder program. Free bill pay service for the first 7 transactions per month. No liability for unauthorized transactions. See website for additional benefits.