A system for loading a prepaid card using a mobile device, the mobile device comprising a unique identifier stored in a data memory device of the mobile device, a card reader coupled to the mobile device, the card reader configured to read data from a data memory device of the prepaid card, a remote card loading system operating on the mobile device and configured to receive the prepaid card data from the card reader and to transmit the unique identifier, prepaid card value data and prepaid card activation data to a prepaid card management system and a loader authorization system operating on a processor and configured to receive the mobile device identification data, the prepaid card value data and the prepaid card activation data and to activate the prepaid card for use with a financial transaction processing system.