An Post Money currency card: All you need to know

The An Post Money currency card - also known as An Post prepaid card or the An Post FX card - is a prepaid debit card aimed at travellers.¹

You can top up any of 16 currencies on the card, and lock in the exchange rate on the day of purchase, before spending your money wherever you see the Mastercard logo. That means you can use your An Post card online, in stores or to make ATM withdrawals. There are fees for some services, which we’ll cover later.

This guide walks through the key facts about the An Post prepaid card, and introduces another option as a comparison - the Wise debit card. With Wise you can open an online account for free, and get a linked card to hold, send and spend 40+ currencies easily and cheaply.

Read more about the Wise card

What currencies can you hold on the An Post Money currency card?

You can add the following currencies on the An Post Money currency card.² You’ll then be able to spend and withdraw your balance anywhere that Mastercard is accepted.

• Australian dollars (AUD)
• British pounds (GBP)
• Canadian dollars (CAD)
• Croatian kuna (HRK)
• Czech koruna (CZK)
• Euro (EUR)
• Japanese yen (JPY)
• Mexican peso (MXN)
• New Zealand dollars (NZD)
• Polish zloty (PLN)
• South African rand (ZAR)
• Swedish krona (SEK)
• Swiss francs (CHF)
• Turkish lira (TRY)
• United Arab Emirates dirhams (AED)
• US dollars (USD)

What are the fees for using the An Post Money currency card abroad?

You can use your An Post card to spend any currency you hold for free in stores when you travel. Don’t forget though, that you may have paid a fee in the form of an exchange rate markup at the point you added that currency to your balance.

If you’re spending a currency you don’t have on your card, or one which isn’t supported by the card, you’ll pay a fee. The payment will be taken from the balance you hold, and converted to the currency you need at an exchange rate which includes a 5.75% markup.³

Adding a markup to the exchange rate used isn’t unusual, but there are providers which don’t do this. If you have a Wise debit card and need to spend in a currency you don’t hold on your card, you’ll still get the real exchange rate when your balance is converted to the currency you need. All you pay is a low, transparent conversion fee which can work out much cheaper.

Here’s an example of how it works if you were to spend £1,000 with a UK retailer, but only hold euros on your card:

Charge	An Post Currency card⁴	Wise card⁵
Conversion fee	No upfront fee	€4.68
Exchange rate used	Mastercard rate + 5.75%	Mid-market rate with no markup
Overall cost	€1,207.05	€1,145.19

*Fees and rates correct for February 9, 2021

As you can see, even though there’s no listed conversion fee for the An Post card, the markup on the exchange rate can work out to be quite costly. In this case, you’d get a better deal if you use the Wise card instead.

What about the ATM fees?

You’ll have to pay a flat fee when you use the An Post Currency card to withdraw from an ATM. The exact cost varies by currency - let’s look at how a few examples measure up:

	An Post card⁶	Wise card⁷
ATM fee	Varies by currency - for example: €2/withdrawal £1.50/withdrawal $2.50/withdrawal	2 free withdrawals per month, to a value of €200 1.75% fee after that

What are the fees for using the An Post Money currency card in Ireland?

If you want to use your An Post card in Ireland or within the euro area you may find you pay additional fees. These include a 1.25% fee to top up or spend in euros, or to make a withdrawal at a post office. Withdrawal fees are capped at €8.

You’ll also have to pay the Irish government stamp duty if you make ATM withdrawals in Ireland - this is capped at €5/year.

Are there any limits for the An Post Money currency card?

With the An Post Money currency card there’s a minimum top up amount of €50. There are then some maximum limits and caps you may need to know about - here are the key facts, with the Wise debit card as a comparison:

Transaction type	An Post limit⁷	Wise limit⁸
ATM withdrawals - maximum withdrawal amount in 24 hours	€750	£1,500 or currency equivalent
Card spending - maximum spend amount in 24 hours	€2,000	£1,000 in contactless payments, £1,200 in magnetic stripe payments, and up to £10,000 online Default card limits may be set lower and can be adjusted in the app
Maximum balance at any one time	€5,000	No limit
Maximum total topped up in a year	€30,000	No limit, except for USD balance - $1 million per year

How do you get the An Post Money currency card?

To get your An Post card you’ll need to visit a participating Post Office branch. You’ll have to complete an application form which you can download or pick up on arrival at the Post Office.⁹

Take along a photo ID document, like a passport or driving license, and a proof of address. This can be a utility bill or credit card statement for example, which is in your name, and issued within the last 6 months. As long as all your paperwork is in order, you can pick up, and top up, your currency card right away. You’ll need euro cash or a debit card to top up the card.

Find your local participating Post Office online before you head off.¹⁰

An Post currency card top up: How to do it?

To top up your An Post card you can register your account online, and top up using the An Post app with your debit card. Or you can call in to your local Post Office to pay for your top up in cash or by card. In this case you’ll need to take photo ID along - and only the named card holder can top up to comply with money laundering regulations.

Having a prepaid debit card can be a simple way to manage your spending at home and abroad. However it’s important to check out the costs before you select a card product. Fees vary, so shopping around can mean you save.

Wise card as an alternative

Compare the An Post card alongside the Wise account and debit card to get your research started.

With Wise you can hold 40+ currencies, get paid for free in major world currencies, and access the mid-market exchange rate every time you want to switch currencies.

Apply online and have your card sent to your door - no need to queue up, or even leave your living room. You’ll have all the convenience of a debit card you can use around the world - with lower costs, and no additional fees when you use it at home here in Ireland.

Open your Wise Account now

Sources:

1. An Post Money Currency Card website
2. An Post Money Currency Card - supported currencies
3. An Post Money Currency Card - terms and conditions
4. Mastercard currency conversion calculator
5. Wise - pricing page
6. An Post Money Currency Card - charges and limits
7. Wise debit card - ATM fees
8. Wise debit card - spending limits
9. An Post Money - apply for a currency card
10. An Post - store locator
    All sources last checked on February 9, 2021