CIBC FirstCaribbean Mastercard Prepaid review
Updated September 28, 2026 · DebitCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 26, 2026
We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings.
Our verdict
CIBC FirstCaribbean Mastercard Prepaid suits students who want a prepaid card that handles multi-currency spending. Monthly fees run CAD 0 to CAD 100, currency conversion 0.2% to 1.6%, and support runs on phone, chat and email. The card comes from CIBC Bank USA, licensed as FDIC cert 33306.
Key facts
- Best for
- Students who want a prepaid card covering 2 currencies and paying a low monthly fee.
- Monthly fee
- CA$0 to CA$100 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Currency conversion fee
- 0.2% to 1.6% (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Currencies
- 2 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Legal entity
- CIBC Bank USA (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Headquarters
- United States (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Founded
- 1867 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Support channels
- Phone, Chat, Email (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Features
- Multi-currency
- Audience
- Students
- Official website
- cibc.com
Pros and cons
Pros
- Monthly fees run CAD 0 to CAD 100 against a site median of €0
- Multi-currency spending across 2 currencies
- Support runs on phone, chat and email
- Issued by CIBC Bank USA under licence FDIC cert 33306
Cons
- Currency conversion fees of 0.2% to 1.6% sit above the student median of 1.85%
- Only 2 currencies are covered by the multi-currency feature
- Support is limited to phone, chat and email
Who it suits
- Students, the listed audience for this card
- Travellers who need a prepaid card holding 2 currencies
- Readers who want to reach support on phone, chat and email
Who should look elsewhere
- bunq, for readers who want a monthly fee of €0 and no recurring charge
- bunq Spain, whose monthly fee is €0 on the same low cost basis
- HSBC Classic Credit Card, which brings a monthly fee of £0 and a credit card rather than a prepaid balance
How CIBC FirstCaribbean Mastercard Prepaid compares
9.4 vs 9.4
9.4 vs 9.0
9.4 vs 8.9
9.4 vs 9.2
9.4 vs 8.8
9.4 vs 8.5
9.4 vs 8.5
9.4 vs 9.0Its monthly fee of €0 makes it the straightforward low cost comparison here.
9.4 vs 8.8A monthly fee of €0 puts it on the same low cost footing.
9.4 vs 8.8
9.4 vs 8.7
9.4 vs 9.2
9.4 vs 9.0
9.4 vs 8.9
9.4 vs 8.8
9.4 vs 9.6
9.4 vs 9.2
9.4 vs 9.1
9.4 vs 9.1
9.4 vs 9.1
9.4 vs 8.9
9.4 vs 8.8
9.4 vs 8.8- 9.4 vs 8.8
- 9.4 vs 8.8
9.4 vs 8.8
9.4 vs 8.5
9.4 vs 8.5
9.4 vs 8.5
9.4 vs 8.3
9.4 vs 8.2
9.4 vs 8.0
9.4 vs 8.0
Where CIBC FirstCaribbean Mastercard Prepaid is available
- Available
- Canada, United States
- Licence in Canada
- Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO), checked September 26, 2026
- Licence in United States
- FDIC (FDIC cert 33306), checked September 26, 2026
Countries from the brand (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Frequently asked questions
What does this prepaid card cost each month?+
The monthly fee is CAD 0 to CAD 100 and is quoted in CAD. The site median monthly fee is €0, and on this measure the card ranks 1 of 419 brands covered. Students comparing cheap cards can start here, then check the conversion fee.
How much does it cost to convert currency?+
Currency conversion is charged at 0.2% to 1.6%. For comparison, the median conversion fee across the student set is 1.85% and the site median is 1%. Spend in the card's own currencies where you can, since conversion is the costliest part of using the card abroad.
Is the money behind the card protected?+
The account is held by CIBC Bank USA, which holds FDIC cert 33306. The FDIC is listed as the US regulator, and the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization is named as a Canadian regulator. Money on a prepaid card sits on the card rather than in a deposit account.
Who is this card aimed at?+
The listed audience is students, so the card is aimed at people in education rather than business users. In the student set, 96.7% of cards target students, and 20.3% are prepaid. It suits readers new to banking who want a small fee.
Which currencies does the card cover?+
The card covers 2 currencies through its multi-currency feature. Across the student ranking, multi-currency appears on 43.6% of cards, so it is common rather than unusual. For a trip needing a wider set of currencies, a different card would suit better.
How do you reach support?+
Support runs on phone, chat and email, so help is available by phone, by chat and by email. Phone is the channel used most often across the site at 67.3%, while community forums sit at 5.4%. Expect to reach support directly on those channels.
Sources
- banks.data.fdic.gov/bankfind-suite/bankfind/details/33306 checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Headquarters, Legal entity, Licences
“CERT=33306; NAME=CIBC Bank USA; WEBADDR=us.cibc.com; ACTIVE=1”
- cibc.com/en/about-cibc/corporate-profile.html checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Founded
“CIBC's history begins with the founding of the Canadian Bank of Commerce on May 15, 1867.”
- investorsedge.cibc.com/en/contact-us.html checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Support channels
“Call us ... Message our chat agents ... Email us”
- investorsedge.cibc.com/en/faq.html checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Currencies, Features
“all accounts except RESPs automatically come with a Canadian dollar side and a U.S. dollar side at no additional cost”
- investorsedge.cibc.com/en/pricing.html checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Audience, Currency conversion fee, Monthly fee
“Student investor: You're over 25 and have a chequing account with CIBC Smart for Students, $5.95 per online stock or ETF trade”
Compiled from 6 source pages, checked September 26, 2026. We did not open an account.
Not confirmed yet: Free ATM withdrawals, Card type, Protection.
CIBC FirstCaribbean Mastercard Prepaid
Students who want a prepaid card covering 2 currencies and paying a low monthly fee.