Caixa Económica review
Updated September 28, 2026 · DebitCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 26, 2026
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Our verdict
Caixa Económica is a prepaid Visa from a Cape Verde savings bank, aimed at students who want everyday spending without a credit check. The catch is the charge on every load, 400 CVE per load, on top of a monthly fee of CVE 1,500 to hold the account.
Key facts
- Best for
- Students in Cape Verde who spend from a prepaid balance rather than a credit line.
- Monthly fee
- CVE 1,500 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Card type
- Prepaid (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Top-up fee
- 400 CVE per load (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Card network
- Visa (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Legal entity
- Caixa Economica de Cabo Verde (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Founded
- 1928 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Support channels
- Email, Phone (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Audience
- Students
- Official website
- caixa.cv
Credit cards
Pros and cons
Pros
- Prepaid card type, so there is no credit line to be approved for or repaid
- Visa network, the choice of 51.4% across prepaid cards listed here
- Support runs by phone and email through email and phone
- A savings bank behind it, Caixa Economica de Cabo Verde, working since 1928
Cons
- Every load costs 400 CVE per load, which adds up on small top-ups
- A monthly fee of CVE 1,500 applies to keep the account open
- Support is limited to email and phone, with no in-app chat listed
Who it suits
- Students in Cape Verde who want a prepaid card tied to a savings bank
- Anyone keeping spending separate from a credit line
- People who already hold an account at Caixa Economica de Cabo Verde
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone after a card with no monthly charge, since the fee is CVE 1,500
- Frequent travellers who need multi-currency features
- People who want live chat support, as channels are limited to email and phone
Fees and currency costs
Two charges matter here. Holding the account costs CVE 1,500 each month, and topping up costs 400 CVE per load every time you add money. Neither is a percentage, so the total bill depends on how often you load rather than how much you spend. For comparison, a median prepaid card on DebitCue charges €0 a month, and the highest in that set is €31.38. Plan loads so each one earns its cost.
Who runs it
The card comes from Caixa Economica de Cabo Verde, a savings bank that has been working since 1928. That is a named institution rather than a new payment app, which matters for a prepaid card because the money in the balance sits with the bank. Customer service is reached by email and phone, so help is by written message or by phone. No regulator or deposit protection scheme is listed for the account, so treat the balance as held with the bank itself.
How Caixa Económica compares
9.5 vs 9.4
9.5 vs 9.0
9.5 vs 8.9
9.5 vs 9.2
9.5 vs 8.8
9.5 vs 8.5
9.5 vs 8.5
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9.5 vs 9.2
9.5 vs 9.0
9.5 vs 8.9
9.5 vs 8.8
9.5 vs 9.6
9.5 vs 9.4
9.5 vs 9.4
9.5 vs 9.2
9.5 vs 9.1
9.5 vs 9.1
9.5 vs 9.1
9.5 vs 9.1
9.5 vs 8.8
9.5 vs 8.8- 9.5 vs 8.8
- 9.5 vs 8.8
9.5 vs 8.8- 9.5 vs 8.8
9.5 vs 8.5
9.5 vs 8.5
9.5 vs 8.5
9.5 vs 8.3
9.5 vs 8.2
9.5 vs 8.0
9.5 vs 8.0
Where Caixa Económica is available
- Available
- Cabo Verde
Countries from the brand (Source, checked September 29, 2026)
Frequently asked questions
What does Caixa past a monthly fee?+
Keeping the account open costs CVE 1,500 a month. That sits well above the €0 charged at the median prepaid card on DebitCue, so the fee only makes sense if you use the card regularly.
What does it cost to top up the card?+
Each load costs 400 CVE per load. Because the charge sits on the load rather than the spend, small frequent top-ups cost proportionally more than occasional larger ones. Batch your loads where you can.
Is this a debit card, prepaid card or credit card?+
It is a prepaid card, so you spend from money already loaded onto the balance rather than borrowing. There is no credit line to qualify for and nothing to repay, which suits people avoiding credit checks.
Which network does the card run on?+
The card runs on the visa network. That is the most common choice among prepaid cards in this comparison, appearing in 51.4% of them, against 43.8% for its main rival.
Who can open the account?+
The card is listed for a student audience, so it is aimed at students rather than general banking customers. Anyone else wanting a prepaid card may find the CVE 1,500 monthly charge harder to justify.
How do I get in touch if something goes wrong?+
Support runs on email and phone, so you can email or call. There is no in-app chat listed, which is a narrower set of channels than the 26.9% share of prepaid cards here.
Is the money behind the card protected?+
No regulator or protection scheme is listed for this account, so the loaded balance is held with the bank, Caixa Economica de Cabo Verde, rather than under a named scheme. Keep the balance small if you are uneasy about that.
Sources
- directus-cms-uploads.s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/productio... checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Top-up fee, Monthly fee
“Cartoes Visa Pre-Pago Plus - Anuidade n/a 1500,00”
- caixa.cv/contacts checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Legal entity, Support channels
“E-mail: caixa@caixa.cv - Telefone: (+238) 260 3600”
- caixa.cv/financial-education/32 checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Audience, Card type, Card network
“benefits of Caixa's VISA Plus Prepaid Card - students can make purchases”
- caixa.cv/institution checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Founded
Compiled from 4 source pages, checked September 26, 2026. We did not open an account.
Not confirmed yet: Currency conversion fee, Free ATM withdrawals, Protection.
Related by the facts
Caixa Económica
Students in Cape Verde who spend from a prepaid balance rather than a credit line.