Prepaid cards commonly stack several separate fee types that a standard checking account often doesn’t charge at all.
How it works
The monthly maintenance fee (annualized), plus reload fees times reloads per year, plus ATM fees times withdrawals per year, sum to the total annual cost of carrying the card.
What this does not include
Fee structures vary significantly between prepaid card issuers — some waive the monthly fee with direct deposit, others charge for balance inquiries or inactivity — this calculator totals whichever specific fees are entered.
How to use this calculator
- Enter the monthly fee, reload fee and frequency, and ATM fee and frequency.
Frequently asked questions
Are prepaid cards generally more expensive than a checking account?
Often yes, if fees stack up — many standard checking accounts (especially with direct deposit) charge no monthly fee at all, unlike many prepaid cards.
Can prepaid card fees be avoided?
Some issuers waive certain fees under specific conditions (like meeting a minimum direct deposit amount) — checking a specific card’s fee schedule for waiver conditions can reduce this calculator’s total.
Why do reload fees exist?
They cover the cost of adding funds through certain channels (like retail cash reload networks) — reloading via direct deposit is often free even when retail cash reloads carry a fee.
