BaBee Prepaid MasterCard Launches in UK, Links to Mobile

Introduced by Blueberry Card Services Ltd, the BaBeeCard is a product designed specifically for mothers. It costs just GBP14.95 a year yet gives mums access to hundreds of discounts, from baby-related items to everyday essentials like groceries and petrol plus big ticket items like holidays. Just using the grocery and petrol vouchers alone could cover the cost of the card within a month.

It's also one of a new generation of prepaid cards that can conveniently be managed by sending text messages from a registered mobile phone. Cardholders can obtain their balance, top up their card or lock/unlock their card for added security, from anywhere, 24 hours a day.

The BaBeeCard has the option of letting friends, family and partners add funds to the card from any location in the UK, via online bank transfer or via SMS if using the BaBee Top-Up Card. This is a basic version of the BaBeeCard with limited functionality that can be used to make purchases and transfer funds. It's ideal for grandparents who want to help out financially, friends who want to give money instead of a gift for a new baby, or partners who want an easy way to transfer housekeeping funds to stay-at-home mums.

Unlike a credit card, the BaBeeCard doesn't require credit checks and doesn't offer credit so helps mums to budget as they can only spend what has been loaded onto the card. It has the convenience of being accepted everywhere displaying the MasterCard(R) acceptance mark, currently 25.9 million locations worldwide.

Mums can also earn money by referring friends with the BaBeeCard 'mummy-get-mummy' plan. For every friend signed up, a mother will receive GBP5 credited directly onto her card.

The BaBeeCard was the brainchild of Gemma Johnson who, during her pregnancy, felt overwhelmed with the cost of preparing for her new arrival and the financial vulnerability changing from a salaried position to maternity pay.

"I wanted to create a payment solution that would let all mums take control of their finances and maximise the discounts available in the marketplace," explains Gemma. "Aimed at mums, mums-to-be and women with families, the BaBeeCard lets them redeem against promotions to get more for their money and enable them to live within their means without fear of overspending - all with a seriously cute piece of plastic!

"It's a great way for friends and family to help out a new mum and is an ideal baby shower gift from a group of friends who can all contribute, giving the mum the flexibility to buy what she needs at a time when she's likely to be most cash strapped," she continues.

Chris Reddish, Global Product Head of Prepaid Europe, MasterCard, said: "The BaBeeCard MasterCard is another great example of how prepaid programmes can be tailored to offer different benefits for different groups of consumers. The facility to manage spend by ring-fencing budget, combined with the security and convenience of prepaid cards, offer mums valuable peace of mind."

For every BaBeeCard sold, the company will donate GBP1 to BLISS, a UK registered charity dedicated to working for special care babies and their families. A survey conducted by BLISS late last year found that having a premature or sick baby can put families under crippling financial strain, with an average extra weekly spend of GBP189, and potential long-term implications for a family's finances.

Detailed questions and answers can be found on http://www.babeecard.com as well as scenarios outlining how the card can be used. The card is backed by Altair Financial Services International Plc and Newcastle Building Society.