• What are prepaid cards?
• How do prepaid cards work ?
• What is a prepaid card programme ?
• What will having my own card programme mean to my business ?

A prepaid card programme is a managed service delivered by a programme manager for a client. The programme manager coordinates the arrangement of services, networks and card parameters to build a programme to meet the client's specific business needs.

TransSend, as a programme manager, has developed a number of programmes tailored to differing business needs and as the programmes vary, the business partners we work with have differing levels of involvement. We integrate the elements of a programme into a framework of supporting services to meet the specific requirements for a strong, secure, and successful programme.

There are three key partners that we consistently work with who are at the core of all our programmes; Conister Trust, MasterCard® and Metavante. They each play an important role as the issuer, the payment scheme and the processor respectively:

• The Issuer issues the cards, controls the balance of money within a prepaid solution, and is responsible for the movement of funds with the payment Scheme.
• The Scheme provides the payments network whereby cards are accepted as a payment mechanism worldwide.
• The Processor is responsible for the logistical set of networks, computer programs and systems that allow a prepaid solution to function.
  

Supporting elements

In addition to the three key elements, TransSend integrates other services and networks into a programme as required. This provides a programme with the range of additional services needed to provide the optimum prepaid solution in the most cost-effective way.

Account reconciliation, cardholder management systems, reporting, card security and customer support provide the backbone to any prepaid card programme. TransSend programmes offer a range of additional services, including white-labelling, packaging, card loading facilities, choice of currencies and payment systems.

The diagram "The integrated prepaid solution"" shows some of the supporting elements around the Issuer, Scheme and Processor that TransSend integrates into a prepaid programme.