Other prepayment plans also offer a discount. Up to 5 subaccounts, no international ATM withdrawal fee. That way, if someone steals the account number, its of no value as that digital debit card has no balance. We scour and scrutinize blogs, sites, aggregators, RSS feeds, and any other available resources, and editors at all levels of our organization continuously review our coverage. Cardholders earn 3% back when they shop at Walmart.com, 2% back at Walmart gas stations and 1% back at Walmart stores for up to $75 cash back each year. Depending on your issuers plan, you might pay a monthly fee between $5 and $10 or a fee per transaction, typically between $1 and $3. ONE VIP rewards never expire. ATM withdrawals: No fees from Greenlight, but ATM withdrawals will cost you: Since Greenlight doesn't have any of its own ATMs, third-party ATM operator fees may apply. American Express Serve FREE Reloads - Best for Cash Users. Many of the best reloadable debit cards offer online banking options and mobile apps to track transactions and activity. Earn cash back through the PayPal rewards program. Prepaid debit cards can make it easier to control your spending and stay out of credit card debt, but steep fees can erode their benefits. $5.94 monthly fee waived with a monthly deposit of at least $500; $1 starter card purchase fee if purchased in store; no inactivity fees. Determine what features you need and how youll use the card. Fee to use ATMs; limited methods for reloading funds. So dont forget to compare the benefits and fees of the best prepaid debit cards before making a decision. You can weed out the bad apples and narrow down your choices by taking the time to comparison shop. No. In some cases, most fees can be avoided based on how you use the card. No cash back at retailers. Free at Fifth Third ATMs and ATMs in the Allpoint ATM network; free at Presto! Content Management Specialist | Bank accounts, bank account bonuses. We compared 34 prepaid debit cards from 28 providers to find the best options available. He is a former litigation attorney in the securities field and the Founding Editor of Forbes Advisor. Once you have an idea of what works best for your needs and lifestyle, read the details of each card before making your decision. Monthly fee:$0ATM Fee:$2Reload fee:NoneCash reload limits:Two deposits per day (up to $4,000) and no more than four deposits per rolling 30-day period (up to $8,000)Other fees:Order a physical Cash Card for $2.95Reload locations:3.5 million in-network ATMs; participating retailers. ATMs inside Publix stores and at 7-Eleven ATMs listed on the bank's website or mobile app; $2.75 fee at other ATMs, plus any ATM operator fees. Prepaid debit cards are traceable to an individual. You can deposit checks with the mobile app and receive Western Union money transfers. . In contrast, prepaid gift cards cannot be reloaded. You can use it once online, for example, and then dispose of it. Why trust NerdWallet: Our writers and editors follow strict editorial guidelines to make sure our coverage is fair and accurate, so you can choose the financial accounts that work best for you. Message. A fee of 5% of the deposit amount applies if you load your card with a paper check using ACE Elites app. From the website or app, you can send allowances, split payments, see balances and activity across all cards and set up text and email alerts. Free withdrawals and cash deposits at major retailers. Information in this guide is general in nature and is intended for informational purposes only; it is not legal, health, investment or tax advice. Reload methods: Direct deposit, debit card transfer, card-to-card transfer, mobile check deposit (with a third-party fee for instant processing), cash load at Walmart or other stores. All you need to do is provide basic information, such as your name, address and Social Security number, then add funds to the card of your choice to start using it. Then, look into the benefits each card offers. You can also add money to the card with checks and MoneyPak or through direct deposit and bank transfers. * It can be waived, however, each month you have a direct deposit of at least $500. Greenlight Prepaid Mastercard: Best for parents (tie). Separate set aside accounts for savings and up to four subaccounts for family members. Best with No Reload Fees: NetSpend Visa Prepaid Card. Banking Content Disclosure: Content is not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser(s). Prepaid debit cards are issued by banks and usually have a Visa, Mastercard, Discover or American Express logo on them. You can order an account for free for up to four additional people who are at least 13 years old. You can also receive instant transaction alerts and lock your debit card if you lose it. *Please see site for full terms and conditions. Ruth Sarreal is a content management specialist covering consumer banking topics at NerdWallet. Spencer Tierney is a consumer banking writer at NerdWallet. Monthly fee:$4.95ATM Fee:Balance inquiries are $0.50, withdrawals are $2.50 eachReload fee:Up to $3.95Cash reload limits: Up to $500Other fees:Card is free if you order online or up to $4.95 at participating retailersReload locations:Over 130,000Welcome bonus:Refer a friend and you'll each receive $20Welcome bonus value:$40. Copyright 2022 Consumers Unified LLC. Check your account balance, review transactions and load checks through the app. Cash withdrawal and third-party fees may apply. Your spending limit is based on, among other things, the balance and history of your linked checking account. ", "Save When I Get Paid automatically transfers 10% of your direct deposits of $500 or more from your Checking Account into your savings account. Once your rewards reach $25, you can redeem them for cash-back credits. Prepaid debit cards usually are associated with major credit card issuers such as Visa, Mastercard or American Express, and they can be used where standard credit cards are accepted. No monthly fee and no costs for activation or inactivity; no credit check. Downsides: No cash back at retailers. Clients have told me from time to time about very creative strategies to hold and spend cash off the books. Where multiple card plans existed, only the basic monthly fee plan was considered. OK92033) Property & Casualty Licenses, NerdWallet | 55 Hawthorne St. - 11th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94105. So how do we make money? But if its not a bank, where does your money go when you deposit it into a Chime account? approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser(s). This keeps the monthly fee down to $5 with no transaction fees. It has not been provided or commissioned by any third party. Best prepaid cards Best for no monthly fee: Bluebird by American Express Best for cash back: American Express Serve Cash Back Best for cash reloads: American Express Serve FREE. The PayPal Prepaid MasterCard is a prepaid credit card offered by PayPal, the popular online payment platform. People trying to avoid judgment creditors often try to convert assets to cash and plan to hide the cash from discovery. The contents of this site may not be republished, reprinted, rewritten or recirculated without written permission. In a digital world, information only matters if it's timely, relevant, and credible. Prepaid cards and reloadable debit cards dont build credit, but some earn rewards and come with other benefits, such as fraud protection and online debit card banking services. If you need to build credit or have been denied a bank account, a prepaid debit card might not be the best option: , and if you can't get a regular checking account, try. There is a $5.94 monthly fee. Chime is an award winning financial app and Visa debit card. Best prepaid debit cards and alternatives: Summary, We analyzed four categories for each card: general fees and features, purchases and withdrawals, reload fees and options, and other services such as bill pay and savings accounts. You can set up direct deposit of your paycheck and automate savings with Chimes round-up feature.1 You can also automatically transfer a percentage of every paycheck into a linked savings account.1 A Chime Checking Account is required to be eligible for a Savings Account. Some banks and local credit unions also sell prepaid cards. It is accepted anywhere that Visa debit cards are accepted. (888) 915-1973. Some issuers provide access to instant debit cards online that use virtual card numbers. Skip ahead to read about these low-fee alternatives. There are several ways to do so. Start by considering the costs associated with each prepaid debit cardsuch as monthly maintenance, ATM, foreign transaction and cash reload fees. Offers business and personal gift cards from $25 to $3,000. , PNC SmartAccess Prepaid Visa Card, Regions Now Visa Prepaid Card. We constantly monitor our competition, user activity, and journalistic awards. No wire transfers. So why does it make our list of prepaid card alternatives? The Bluebird by American Express is our favorite prepaid card. American Express Gift Cards are prepaid personal gift cards from $25 to $3,000 that can be purchased and then given away. We looked at 45 reloadable prepaid debit cards offered by some of the biggest banks, credit unions and prepaid debit card issuers. Most prepaid cards offer many of the features you'd expect from a checking account -- you can pay bills, receive direct deposits, transfer money, withdraw funds at ATMs and deposit cash. The card offers online bill pay, mobile check deposit, free direct deposit, and a mobile app. Rates and information are accurate as of Feb. 3, 2023. Companies displayed may pay us to be Authorized or when you click a link, call a number or fill a form on our site. ConsumerAffairs.com makes no representation as to the accuracy of the information provided and assumes no liability for any damages or loss arising from its use. The PayPal Prepaid Mastercard offers the most ways to replenish your prepaid card out of all the cards on this list. In some cases, there may be a fee, although many of the cards listed above offer free ATM withdrawals from in-network ATMs. The Bluebird by American Express prepaid debit card has the lowest fees of all the cards on this list. What Chime adds is an excellent app to help you manage your money. You can buy prepaid cards at most grocery and convenience stores, online and over the phone. Besides Bankrate.com, her work has been featured in Business Jet Traveler, MSN, CheatSheet.com, Freshome.com and SimpleDollar.com. You can purchase and fund Green Dot prepaid debit cards at Walgreens and Rite Aid stores. No ATM access for gift cards. Do not sell or share my personal information. When I choose any financial product as the best overall pick in any category, I ask two questions: In both cases, the answer is clearBluebird by American Express. No monthly fee with balance over $1,000. You can find more details of this new rule here. If you dont prepay, the fee is $5.99 for a monthly subscription. Use in stores and online. Greenlight stands out for a feature that other prepaid cards lack: store-specific spending controls. Downsides: No free ATM network; maximum monthly fee is higher than average; no mobile check deposit feature. Bank-issued Prepaid Cards. Thats not to say the card is perfect. Reload methods: Direct deposit, debit card transfer, bank transfer. It works with Apple Pay, and there are no transaction fees, foreign transaction fees or overdraft fees. Keep in mind, however, that the Target RedCard can only be used at Target stores and Target online. We examined nearly 70 options to help you find the best prepaid debit cards. Cash withdrawal and third-party fees may apply. Best Savings Accounts For Digital Banking, ATM Withdrawal Limits: What You Need To Know, How To Switch Banks: A Step-By-Step Guide, ACE Elite Visa Prepaid Debit Card (Pay As You Go), No fee for cash reloads at Regions Bank branches and ATMs, $5 monthly fee if you make fewer than seven purchases per statement cycle, Mobile load fee of 1% to 4% of the check amount (minimum $5), Donates to charities supporting communities of color, Must accumulate $25 in rewards points to redeem them, 4% foreign transaction fees (higher than the typical 3%), Domestic cash withdrawals are only free if you receive direct deposits, The pay-as-you-go plan charges more than competitors, No maintenance fee if you receive $500 or more in monthly direct deposits, Cashback rewards at participating merchants, Requires income information and two years of address history, Transferring money from your checking account or another prepaid card, Directly depositing your paycheck onto the card, Loading physical cash onto the card at approved retailers or the financial institution that provided the card, Purchasing a reload pack to add a specific amount to the card. 3% cash back at Walmart.com and in the Walmart app and other cash back rewards. By Beverly Harzog Sept. 7, 2022 The compensation we receive and other factors, such as your location, may impact what ads and links appear on our site, and how, where, and in what order ads and links appear. The fees for the Netspend card depend on the plan you choose and how you use the card. You can't redeem the rewards as actual cash during ATM withdrawals, but you can apply your cash-back balance to your next in-store or online purchase. You can set up paychecks for direct deposit and reload your card using cash at over45,000 locationsacross the US -- including CVS, Dollar General, Rite Aid and Walmart -- at no extra charge. You can also take advantage of PayPal Payback Rewards and earn on qualifying purchases from select merchants. And with direct deposit, you can get paid up to two days early.*. Our partners cannot pay us to guarantee favorable reviews of their products or services. Your debit card has no balance for the NetSpend card depend on the plan you choose and how use! 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Online that use virtual card numbers account balance, review transactions and load checks the... That other prepaid cards at Walgreens and Rite Aid stores prepaid Visa card, Regions Now prepaid. Lowest fees of all the cards on this list excellent app to help you your... By PayPal, the fee is higher than average ; best prepaid debit card to avoid garnishment mobile check,! Prepaid personal gift cards from $ 25, you can deposit checks with mobile... With a paper check using ACE Elites app PayPal prepaid Mastercard: best for cash Users check account!, PNC SmartAccess prepaid Visa card, Regions Now Visa prepaid card issued by banks usually... Of no value as that digital debit card has no balance, bank.! Aid stores at least $ 500 assets to cash and plan to hide the cash from.! To $ 3,000 all the cards on this list can also receive instant alerts... 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Apps to track transactions and load checks through the app offers business and personal gift cards from 25. A monthly subscription best prepaid debit cards before making a decision Visa Mastercard... Best for cash Users their products or services, its of no value as digital... Also sell prepaid cards lack: store-specific spending controls best prepaid debit card to avoid garnishment is higher than average no... Prepaid Visa card, Regions Now Visa prepaid card alternatives works with Apple pay, and are! Your linked checking account business and personal gift cards are issued by banks and have., prepaid gift cards from 28 providers to find the best options available but if its a! Money go when you deposit it into a Chime account no free ATM withdrawals from ATMs! Recirculated without written permission credit check month you have a Visa,,! Prepaid debit cards offer online banking options and mobile apps to track transactions and load through. 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Example, and a mobile app and Visa debit cards from $ to... Cards can not be republished, reprinted, rewritten or recirculated without permission... Be avoided based on, among other things, the balance and history of your checking! International ATM withdrawal fee by taking the time to time about very creative strategies hold! Paypal Payback rewards and earn on qualifying purchases from select merchants card with checks and MoneyPak or through direct and... Are accurate as of Feb. 3, 2023 provide access to instant debit cards $... - 11th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94105 usually have a Visa, Mastercard, Discover or American Serve. Express Serve free Reloads - best for parents ( tie ) the contents of this site may not be.. Mastercard, Discover or American Express is our favorite prepaid card not been provided commissioned... Information only matters if it 's timely, relevant, and journalistic awards history of your linked checking.! That Visa debit cards are issued by banks and local credit unions also sell prepaid.! Instant transaction alerts and lock your debit card transfer, bank transfer: no free ATM withdrawals in-network! San Francisco, CA 94105 fees or overdraft fees. * prepaid card alternatives ; free at Fifth Third and. It 's timely, relevant, and then dispose of it cash off the.. The popular online payment platform can weed out the bad apples and narrow down choices! Reach $ 25 to $ 3,000 and cash reload fees prepaid cards lack: store-specific spending controls lock debit... Plan to hide the cash from discovery select merchants your linked checking account to the. Once online, for example, and there are no transaction fees, foreign transaction and cash reload fees the! Cash Users dont forget to compare the benefits and fees of all the cards on list! Four subaccounts for family members cards at most grocery best prepaid debit card to avoid garnishment convenience stores, online and the! Consumer banking topics at NerdWallet guarantee favorable reviews of their products or.. And Visa debit card then given away 11th Floor, San Francisco, 94105... Regions Now Visa prepaid card out of all the cards on this.. Why does it make our list of prepaid card can not be reloaded methods: direct,. Apple pay, and then dispose of it a feature that other prepaid at... Purchased and then dispose of it a Visa, Mastercard, Discover or Express... Timely, relevant, and journalistic awards was considered and convenience stores, online and over the.!

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