The bank says it will offer its Visa pre-paid debit card in association with MoneyCard Limited. The pre-paid card holds a specific pre-set value and can be used in the same way as a standard payment card.

Organisations who issue the cards will be able to brand the pre-paid cards with their own logo.

Geoff Kontzle, head of public sector, Alliance & Leicester Commercial Bank, says: "Pre-paid cards provide a number of benefits to organisations from reducing the amount paper required to making it easier to manage and control payments made to customers and staff."

Initially the bank will be launching a non-reloadable pre-paid card that will be followed in the coming months with a reloadable card which will have additional functionality including PIN and access to ATMs.