Travelex Reports Surge in Prepaid Travel Card Popularity

Prepaid travel money solutions are rapidly reshaping the way people spend abroad. With growing demand for financial flexibility and real-time control over exchange rates, leading providers are seeing a sharp rise in adoption. A recent report by Travelex sheds light on this global trend, highlighting the increasing popularity of digital-first prepaid alternatives.

Leading foreign exchange brand Travelex has seen major year-on-year growth of its prepaid Travelex Money Card, outpacing industry forecasts of prepaid travel card market growth.

Travelex has seen a 49% increase in Travelex Money Card reload transactions (customers adding currency to their card) between January and May compared to the same period last year, alongside a 50% increase in card reload penetration (the proportion of Travelex Money Card reloads vs purchases of cash).

The surge in customers choosing Travelex’s prepaid card product outpaces Allied Market Research data, which forecasted a 15.3% CAGR in the prepaid travel money card market between 2023 and 2032. The appeal of prepaid travel money solutions lies in their convenience, security, and ability to lock in exchange rates. For frequent travellers and holidaymakers alike, these tools offer peace of mind while budgeting overseas expenses.

“Travellers want to access, top-up and manage travel money in a secure and reliable way. Our prepaid Travelex Money Card enables customers to easily budget, get competitive Travelex rates and spend whenever and wherever” said Simon Jackson, Chief Customer Officer at Travelex.

Travelex has also seen a 10% year-on-year increase in conversion rate in its TMC app, as more customers who began a card reload finalised the purchase.

The increase in conversion rate is attributed to Travelex relaunching its Travelex Money Card app last year, with the new app offering customers an improved user experience. The UK app allows customers to add up to 22 different currencies, check their balance and transactions, view their card details, and freeze and unfreeze their card for instant protection. As global tourism rebounds, experts expect the demand for prepaid travel money solutions to continue growing, especially among digital-savvy consumers.

“We’re delighted that our new Travelex Money Card app has been a major driver of Travelex Money Card growth. The app offers customers a fast and seamless top-up experience, making it even easier to spend safely abroad,” added Jackson.