What is Pockit?
Pockit believes “that accounts should be available to all, regardless of income or credit status.” Seeing high-street bank accounts as unreachable for many of the most vulnerable, Pockit provides accessible and affordable prepaid card accounts to anyone regardless of credit history or income. Pockit uses smartphone technology and the best of traditional bank accounts to deliver a service which it hopes will work for everyone.
How does Pockit work?
Apart from the online registration process and the physical card you are sent in the post, Pockit provides all its services directly from your smartphone. The app is simple and functional, streamlining the necessary processes rather than relying on gimmicks, bells and whistles.
The home screen displays your balance, account number and sort code, as well as your most recent transactions. In the app you will be able to:
- Transfer money: Select whether you want to send money to someone or pay money into your account.
- View your PIN: Answer your security question and view your pin number one digit at a time.
- See your statements: A live e-statement which records all payments in and out of your account.
- Freeze your cards: Block and unblock your cards, especially helpful if you misplace them. You can also replace them if needed.
- Edit your profile: Amend personal details as necessary.
- Get support: A collection of FAQs for if you ever get stuck.
You will also be able to earn cashback with Pockit. If you pay with your Pockit card online or instore, you can earn up to 8% cashback at selected retailers. If you upgrade to Pockit Extra, you’ll also earn 1% cashback on your everyday purchases and direct debits (up to £250 spend), while the Pockit Fast Track to Credit plan offers an additional 2.5% cashback. These 2 plans also offer purchase insurance cover up to £1,000.
Pockit bank transfers
There are 4 ways you can put money into your account.
- Get your wages or benefits paid straight in by your employer or benefits provider– simply give them your account details. You can even get your wages or benefits paid a day early for free.
- By bank transfer. Just share your account number and sort code with whoever is transferring the money.
- By using a debit card. Simply enter your card details and how much money you want to load into your account.
- Pay in with cash at one of over 28,000 PayPoint locations across the UK.
If you’re depositing cash, your funds will transfer into your Pockit account instantly. It can take up to 30 minutes for this to show on your balance and statement. Bank transfers are usually quick, but can take up to 2 hours.
In terms of transferring money to someone, it should take around 2 hours for your money to reach the person you’re paying. This is as long as you transfer during normal working hours.
Can Pockit be used abroad?
Travelling with Pockit’s prepaid card is possible, but it wasn’t intended for use abroad. Pockit’s cards are accepted around the world, wherever you see the Mastercard sign. However, unlike some other prepaid cards on the market, Pockit’s come with a hefty charge of 4% when used overseas. If you are looking for a card to travel with it might be better to look elsewhere.
Pockit fees and limits
Pockit offers 4 different plans. The Everyday plan costs £2.49 a month, the Extra plan costs £6.99 a month, and the Fast Track to Credit plan (designed to help you build credit) is £9.99 a month. There’s also a pay as you go plan with no monthly fee, but you won’t get cashback and other charges apply. This makes it best for occasional use.
Depending on the account you choose, different fees will apply for certain transactions.
The fees below are for an Everyday plan as a full account holder (you’ll be a full account holder once you’ve verified your ID):
Actions | Fees and Limits |
---|---|
Your contactless Pockit Mastercard | 99p to £19.99, depending on your chosen delivery method |
Paying in with cash | 1.99 |
UK national transfers | £1.29 |
UK ATM withdrawals | 1.99 |
Monthly membership fee | £2.49 |
International ATM fee | £2.25 |
Foreign Exchange fee | 4% |
Direct debits | 99p |
Top ups via bank transfer | £10,000 per month |
Cash deposits | £249 at a time |
Adding money via debit card | £3,000 a month |
Withdrawals | £250 a time and £5,000 a month |
Pockit’s fees are reasonable given its accessibility, but you may be able to find an account with another challenger bank that relies less on fees.
Is Pockit safe?
Security is very important to Pockit, and as such a number of measures are in place to keep your money safe. Registration requires little personal information, making it more difficult to have your identity compromised.
Your account is kept behind a password and a security question must be answered to access your pin and some of the app’s money-handling functions.
However, as Pockit is not a bank your money won’t be protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS). Instead, Pockit is an agent of PayrNet Ltd which is an electronic money institution authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). This means your money must be held in segregated accounts to keep it safe.
Pros and cons of Pockit
Pros
- Registration takes minutes, can be done on your work break.
- Contactless Mastercard.
- Accessible to anyone regardless of income or credit status.
- Streamlined app.
- Safe and secure.
- Option to build credit.
- Earn cashback on your spending.
- Choice of plans.
Cons
- Small charges on many basic card functions.
- Not registered with the Financial Services Compensation Scheme.
- Not officially a bank, so you will still need traditional banks for all other financial needs.
- High fees for using the card abroad.
- Lack of face-to-face communication may put some people off using Pockit’s services.
Customer service information for Pockit
Email support | |
---|---|
Telephone support | |
In-app or live chat | |
Contact form | |
Branch support |
Our verdict
Pockit can be an alternative to a traditional current account if you want something more techy or are having a hard time qualifying for one because of a not-so-perfect credit score. It also wins points for offering a credit builder feature on one of its plans.
However, Pockit’s fees aren’t especially competitive. Even if you’re having trouble getting a traditional account, you could still qualify for a basic current account (which has all the features of a current account except for overdrafts) or for a current account with a digital bank like Monzo or Starling (they only check your credit score when you apply for an overdraft). All of these charge no monthly fees and offer free ATM withdrawals, transfers and payments in the UK.
All in all, you could still consider Pockit for its slick app and ease of use (and we love the bright yellow branding!), just keep in mind that it isn’t the cheapest kid in town.
Frequently asked questions
More guides on Finder
-
Best money saving apps in the UK 2025: Build a savings pot
There are times when we could all do with a hand to save money, and we’ve assembled some of the best apps to help you do it.
-
Top 10 best banking apps in the UK 2025
Keen to manage all your money directly from your smartphone? We’ve put together a list of the best banking apps available in the UK.
-
Monzo statistics: Revenue, number of customers and market share
Valued at around £3.7 billion, and having 7.5 million customers, Monzo is a British startup success story.
-
Revolut statistics: Revenue, number of customers and market share
With 30 million customers worldwide and 38.2 million app downloads, Revolut is one of the most successful online banks.
-
Opening a bank account in the UK without proof of address
Just got a job in the UK and need a bank account to have your salary paid into, but have no proof of address? Here’s what you can do.
-
Soldo review
Soldo promises to revolutionise the way your business manages its expenses. Our review analyses its features and fees to see if it’s worth it.
-
How to send money with a smartphone by text
Want to send money to a phone without visiting a bank branch? Learn more about mobile payments, mobile banking and how to transfer money through a mobile phone.
-
A list of challenger, fintech & digital banks in the UK 2025
Compare the UK’s new challenger banks by using our table of features and fees, or by browsing our A-Z list or customer satisfaction rankings.
-
Curve review: An app to combine all your cards
Fed up with the hassle of using multiple bank cards? Curve helps you connect all your accounts to a single app and payment card.
-
Chip savings app review
The Chip savings app will connect to your current account and stash money away automatically. We cover all you need to know about the innovative app in this review.