01
  1. Prepaid Cards
    2. 02
  2. Prepaid MasterCard FAQs
    3. 03
  3. Prepaid MasterCard Benefits
    4. 04
  4. Fees & Authorisation Holds

Prepaid MasterCard FAQs

Effective Thursday 23rd April 2020 the issuance of First Citizens Prepaid MasterCards has been discontinued.

What are the fees on a Prepaid Card?
  • One time card fee of TT$180, card is valid for 2 years
  • Replacement card fee – TT$70 per card
  • Replacement Card delivery fee via TTPOST $30
  • Load/reload fee of 1.15% of the load/ reload dollar value
  • Local purchases: Free
  • Local ATM withdrawals at First Citizens and non-First Citizens ATMs: TT$7
  • International & Online purchases: international processing fee of 2% of the transaction value
  • International ATM withdrawal: (i) TT$15, (ii) any charge by the Bank whose ATM is being used and (iii) international processing fee of 2% of the withdrawal amount.
  • Refund or Cash Out fee of TT$20
How can I load /reload my First Citizens Prepaid MasterCard or additional cards on my Prepaid MasterCard account or even a Prepaid MasterCard belonging to a 3rd party?

First Citizens has made this process quite simple through:

  • First Citizens Online Banking

You can load/ reload your card or any other First Citizens Prepaid MasterCard through the Bill Payments option on the Online Banking Service. When adding your prepaid card as a payee on the First Citizens Online Banking service, you are required to choose “Prepaid MasterCard” under the “First Citizens Prepaid Card” heading.
Your Online Banking Transfer to the Prepaid MasterCard will update within 24 hours. Unlike credit card transfers, this transfer is not real-time.

  • First Citizens Telebanking or
  • At First Citizens branches

It is the customer’s responsibility to load/reload the accurate account, on any of the channels noted above.

How will the reload fee be charged?

The load/ reload fee will be deducted from the load/reload amount.

When can I access funds loaded onto the First Citizens Prepaid MasterCard?

Prepaid loads/ reloads made at branches, via Online Banking and via Telebanking are updated in the same timeline that applies to credit card payments made at branches, as seen below.

  • Monday to Thursday: loads/ reloads made by 3pm will be updated on the same night. If your load/reload is made after 3pm, then that payment will be updated on the night of the next working day
  • Friday: loads/reloads made by 4.15pm will be updated on the same night. If your load/reload is made after 4.15pm, then that load/reload will be updated on the night of the next working day
  • Weekends and Public Holidays: loads/reloads will be updated on the night of the next working day


Other local banks cheques will be placed on hold in accordance with normal banking practices.
Immediate access is not applicable to funds loaded onto the First Citizens Prepaid MasterCard.

Is there a limit in terms of how much I can load/ reload?

The Prepaid Card Account can be Loaded or Reloaded up to a maximum of TT$30,000 per day, with a maximum of two (2) reloads per day.

Is there a limit in terms of how much I can use per day?

Yes, the conditions below consider all cards on the account, and is not applicable per card.

  • The maximum amount that can be accessed per day is TT$6,800 (approx.USD$1,000).
  • The maximum number of purchases per day is 10, up to a maximum value of TT$6,800 (approx.USD$1,000). This amount is inclusive of ATM withdrawals with a maximum value of USD $300.
  • The maximum number of ATM cash advances per day is 3, up to a maximum of TT$6,800 (approx.USD$1,000)
  • Any applicable fees are included in the maximum withdrawal amounts.
Is there a minimum balance to be left on the First Citizens Prepaid MasterCard?

No, there is no minimum balance to be left on the card.

How can I obtain information on transactions done on my First Citizens Prepaid MasterCard?

Customers can obtain transaction history, for posted transactions, via:

  • First Citizens Online Banking Service
  • First Citizens Telebanking Service
  • First Citizens Mobile Banking Service
How long is a First Citizens Prepaid MasterCard valid for?

This card is valid for 2 years.

If my First Citizens Prepaid MasterCard is lost or stolen what do I do?

Immediately report the incident to the MasterCard Global Service (MGS) if you are abroad or call 62-FIRST Options 2 & 3 if in Trinidad and Tobago. The MGS and 62-FIRST Option 2 services are available 24/7. 62-FIRST Option 3 is available Mon to Thur 6am to 10pm excluding public holidays.


When in the USA and Canada contact the MasterCard Global Service by calling toll free – 1-800-307-7309 and when in other countries call collect at 1 636 722 7111.


You are advised to store these numbers safely e.g. on your mobile phone so that in the event you lost your card, the customer service support numbers are easily at your reach.

Are there any other benefits on the First Citizens Prepaid MasterCard?

Yes. The Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) benefit provides a maximum benefit amount of USD $500, in the event the cardholder suffers from loss of life, limb(s), or paralysis as a result of a covered accident.


Cardholder coverage is automatic and provided 24/7 anywhere in the world, as long as the eligible cardholder has an active account and a minimum of two point-of-sale (POS) transactions (excluding ATM) 30 days prior to the event which results in the loss.

Prepaid MasterCard Benefits

MasterCard Global Service

Effective Thursday 23rd April 2020 the issuance of First Citizens Prepaid MasterCards has been discontinued.

The MasterCard Global Service program extends the issuer’s customer service infrastructure around the world. Available to all MasterCard cardholders who are travelling outside their home countries, MasterCard Global Service provides unprecedented emergency customer service—any time, anywhere, and in any language.

MasterCard Global Service gives cardholders access to the following services provided by their issuers, MasterCard, and third-party service providers.

Lost/Stolen Card Report (LSR): Cardholders can file lost or stolen card reports and initiate the process to have their cards cancelled and replaced.

Emergency Card Replacement (ECR): Cardholders can have their lost or stolen cards replaced quickly—anywhere in the world—at a convenient location. ECRs are delivered in the United States by the next day and within two business days almost everywhere else.

Emergency Cash Advance (ECA): Cardholders whose cards have been lost or stolen can request an emergency cash advance and make any necessary pickup/delivery arrangements. Through the MasterCard relationship with Western Union, your cardholders can access cash at 233,000 locations worldwide.

ATM Locations: Cardholders can call to find the location of a nearby ATM in the MasterCard ATM Network and cardholders can obtain cash at more than one million ATMs worldwide.
 

Accidental Death & Dismemberment

Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) provides a maximum benefit amount of USD$500, in the event the cardholder suffers from loss of life, limb(s), or paralysis as a result of a covered accident.

Cardholder coverage is automatic and provided 24/7 anywhere in the world, as long as the eligible cardholder has an active account and a minimum of two point-of-sale (POS) transactions (excluding ATM) 30 days prior to the event which results in the loss.

click here for card safety tips

Fees & Authorisation Holds

Fees:

  • One-time card fee of TT$180, the card is valid for 2 years
  • Additional card fee, replacement card fee – TT$70 per card
  • Load/reload fee of 1.15% of the load/ reload dollar value
  • Local purchases: Free
  • Local ATM withdrawals at First Citizens and non First Citizens ATMs: TT$7
  • International purchases & international online purchases: an international processing fee of 2% of the transaction value
  • International ATM withdrawals: (i) TT$15, (ii) any charge by the Bank whose ATM is being used and (iii) processing fee of 2% of the withdrawal amount.
  • Refund or Cash Out fee of TT$20

Authorisation Holds:

Authorisation holds is the practice within the banking industry of authorising electronic transactions done with a prepaid, debit or credit card and holding the funds until the transaction is posted to the account.

  • Please note the following which applies to authorisation holds on the First Citizens Prepaid MasterCard:
  • Authorisation holds apply to local, international and online transactions.
  • Foreign purchases and international online transactions attract a 2% processing charge.
  • The conversion of foreign currency to TT$ for authorisation hold purposes is calculated using the Bank’s US$ rate of the day. All fees and mark ups are then calculated on the resultant TT$ value. 

Pay at the Pump Gas Station transactions:

Three hundred and six dollars (TT$306) must be available on the account for the transaction to be authorised by First Citizens.

For e.g.
If the customer wishes to purchase TT$100 in gas, TT$306 must be available on the account before the TT$100 request is authorised by the Bank.

Only TT$100 will be deducted from the account when the transaction is posted.
 

Travel & Entertainment transactions e.g. hotels, restaurants, car rentals, airlines:

Local:
The following must be available on the account for the transaction to be authorised by First Citizens: the value of the transaction plus 20% of the value of the transaction.

For e.g.
If the customer wishes to swipe at a local hotel for TT$1,000, then TT$1,200 must be available on the account for authorisation to occur, i.e. TT$1,000 plus 20% of TT$1,000 = TT$200.

When the transaction is posted, only $1,000 will be deducted from the account.


International Purchases & International Online Purchases:
The following must be available on the account for the transaction to be authorised by First Citizens: the value of the transaction plus 22% of the value of the transaction.

For e.g.
If the customer wishes to swipe at a hotel abroad for the equivalent of TT$1,000, then TT$1,220.00 must be available on the account for authorisation to occur, i.e.TT$1,000 plus 22% of TT$1,000 = TT$220.00.

When the transaction is posted, $1,020.00 will be deducted from the account, i.e. the transaction amount of TT$1,000 plus the international processing fee of 2% or $20.00.

All other purchase transactions (i.e. non “pay at the pump” gas station and non travel and entertainment):

Local:
The following must be available on the account for the transaction to be authorised by First Citizens: the value of the transaction plus 5% of the value of the transaction.

For e.g.
If the customer wishes to swipe at a local clothing store for TT$1,000, then TT$1,050 must be available on the account for authorisation to occur, i.e. TT$1,000 plus 5% of TT$1,000 = TT$50.

When the transaction is posted, only TT$1,000 will be deducted from the account.

International Purchases & International Online Purchases:
The following must be available on the account for the transaction to be authorised by First Citizens: the value of the transaction plus 6% of the value of the transaction.

For e.g.
If the customer wishes to swipe at a clothing store abroad for the equivalent of TT$1,000, then TT$1,060 must be available on the account for authorisation to occur, i.e. TT$1,000 plus 6% of TT$1,000 = TT$60.

When the transaction is posted, only $1,020.00 will be deducted from the account, i.e. the transaction amount of TT$1,000 plus the international processing fee of 2% or $20.00.
 

International Cash Advances:

The following must be available on the account for the transaction to be authorised by First Citizens: the value of the transaction plus 6% of the value of the transaction, TT$15 plus any charge by the Bank acquiring the transaction.

For e.g.
Assuming that the Bank which is acquiring the withdrawal charges the customer TT$10 to use its ATM, the following will apply.

If the customer wishes to withdraw the equivalent of TT$1,000 at an international ATM, then TT$1,085 must be available on the account for authorisation to occur, i.e. (i) TT$1,000 plus (ii) 6% of TT$1,000 = TT$60 plus (iii) TT$15 plus (iv) TT$10, totalling TT$1,085.

When the transaction is posted, $1,045.00 will be deducted from the account, i.e. (i) the transaction amount of TT$1,000 plus (ii) the international processing fee of 2% or $20.00, (iii) the TT$15 fee from First Citizens and (iv) the TT$10 fee from the acquiring bank.

Chat Here!
Trinidad and Tobago

Search