Review

The Baby Phat Prepaid Visa® RushCard™, issued by Manufacturers and Traders Trust Company, is a stored value card designed for those who may have difficulty in obtaining a standard unsecured credit card.

The card does offer shopping discounts at participating retailers, which is rare for a stored value card, as this type of card usually does not offer any extraordinary benefits or services to cardholders.

There is no interest applied on the account or other similar charges found with most unsecured cards. Although there is a one-time activation fee of $19.95, there is no monthly participation fee. It is important to note that the card does require payment in advance, which is then used to offset future purchases made with the card.

There is a $1 transaction fee that is charged for each purchase made with the card (capped at $10 per month - additional purchases are free). The issuer charges no reload fees. Direct deposits, pay pal transfers and mailing in a check or money order are free. However, affiliated merchants do charge a flat fee for retail reloads.

One of the most unique features of the Baby Phat Prepaid Visa® RushCard™ is the refer-a-friend program. The card offers cardholders the chance to earn money by referring friends and family to the program. Cardholders will receive $5 on their card for every referred applicant who becomes an active RushCard™ member.

Another unique feature of the Baby Phat Prepaid Visa® RushCard™ is the Cash Back Rewards program. Transaction fees that are incurred past the $10 cap per month are deposited back onto the cardholder's Baby Phat Prepaid Visa® RushCard™ on the 15th of every month.

Unfortunately, this card does not report cardholder transactions to the credit bureaus, which is not ideal for those who are trying to establish credit.

Therefore, those who are looking for a low cost stored value card, would like to earn cash back rewards, and would like to receive shopping discounts at participating retailers will benefit most from what the Baby Phat Prepaid Visa® RushCard™ has to offer.