SBM Smile Prepaid Card review
Updated September 28, 2026 · DebitCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 26, 2026
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Our verdict
SBM Smile Prepaid Card is a plain debit card for people banking in Mauritius, with a monthly fee of MUR 0 and a visa network. It suits everyday spending and travel rather than anyone shopping mainly on rewards or extra perks.
Key facts
- Best for
- A card with a monthly fee of MUR 0 for everyday spending in Mauritius.
- Monthly fee
- MUR 0 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Card type
- Debit (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Card network
- Visa (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Legal entity
- SBM Bank (Mauritius) Ltd (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Headquarters
- Mauritius (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Founded
- 1973 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Support channels
- Phone, Email, Help-centre (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Features
- Travel
- Official website
- sbmgroup.mu
Credit cards
Apps and profiles
- Elsewhere
- LinkedInXyoutube.com
Pros and cons
Pros
- A monthly fee of MUR 0, the same as the €0 median across the site.
- It runs on visa, the scheme behind 58.6% of the cards on the site, so acceptance is broad.
- The card is listed for travel, a focus shared by 90.7% of the travel cards on the site.
- Support runs on phone, email and help centre, so a phone call and an email are both open to cardholders.
Cons
- Support runs on phone, email and help centre only, so there is no live chat for quick questions.
- The provider is a single market bank, SBM Bank (Mauritius) Ltd in Mauritius, so the card is built around Mauritius banking rather than a global account.
- It runs on visa alone, with no second network to fall back on.
Ready to try SBM Smile Prepaid Card?
Scored 9.6 / 10 by DebitCue.
Who it suits
- People banking in MU who want a debit card with a monthly fee of MUR 0 for everyday spend.
- Travellers leaving Mauritius who want a visa card that works abroad.
- Cardholders who would rather phone or email than chat, since support runs on phone, email and help centre.
Who should look elsewhere
- Wise, if you want a travel money account rather than a card from a bank based in Mauritius.
- Varo Believe Secured Credit Card, if you want credit building rather than a debit card spending your own balance.
- Chime Card, which also has a monthly fee of $0, if a secured credit card fits your spending better.
The company behind it
SBM Smile comes from SBM Bank (Mauritius) Ltd, founded in 1973 and based in Mauritius. Support runs on phone, email and help centre, which puts a phone line, an email address and a help centre within reach for anything the card does day to day. A provider of that age suits readers who weigh the safety of the money behind a card as much as its fees.
How SBM Smile Prepaid Card compares
9.6 vs 9.4
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Where SBM Smile Prepaid Card is available
- Available
- Mauritius
Countries from the brand (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Frequently asked questions
What does the SBM Smile Prepaid Card cost each month?+
The monthly fee is MUR 0, so there is no monthly charge for holding the card. That matches the €0 median on the site, where the highest monthly fee listed is €99. Costs at the point of use are the thing to check before travelling.
Is this a debit card or a prepaid card?+
The card type is listed as debit, so the money comes from your balance rather than a credit line. It is issued by SBM Bank (Mauritius) Ltd, a bank based in Mauritius. Debit cards make up 74.3% of the cards on the site, with prepaid cards at 20.4%.
Which network does the card use, and will it work abroad?+
The card runs on visa, the scheme behind 58.6% of the cards on the site, with the remainder split across other networks. It is the most common one listed here, which is why it is accepted widely abroad. Check the bank's currency conversion terms before a long trip.
Is it a good card for travel?+
The card is listed for travel, and 90.7% of the travel cards on the site share that focus. A debit card on visa keeps the monthly fee at MUR 0 while you are away. Ask the bank about conversion and ATM terms before a long trip.
Who is behind the card?+
It comes from SBM Bank (Mauritius) Ltd, a bank founded in 1973 and based in Mauritius. A provider of that age has a settled retail base, which matters if you weigh the safety of the money behind the card as much as its fees.
How do I get help with the card?+
Support runs on phone, email and help centre, so a phone call, an email or the help centre will do. Phone is the most common channel on the site at 67.3%, with the help centre at 75.6% and live chat at 35.1%.
How do the fees compare with Wise, Varo and Chime?+
Monthly costs are close: MUR 0 here, £0 at Wise, $0 at Varo Believe and $0 at Chime. The real difference is the product, since this is a debit card from a bank in MU and the others are secured credit cards.
Sources
- banking.sbmgroup.mu/individual/about-us checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Founded, Legal entity
“Since its creation in 1973, the Bank has paved its way to become one of the leading financial institutions in Mauritius”
- banking.sbmgroup.mu/individual/cards/debit-cards checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Card type, Features, Headquarters, Monthly fee, Card network, Support channels
“your VISA Classic Debit Card, UnionPay and MasterCard allow you to access your funds”
Compiled from 2 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
SBM Smile Prepaid Card
A card with a monthly fee of MUR 0 for everyday spending in Mauritius.