Best for no monthly fees: Bluebird American Express Prepaid Debit Account Heres why: A lot of prepaid cards charge various fees. Check out NerdWallets best free checking accounts. He has covered personal finance since 2013, with a focus on certificates of deposit and other banking-related topics. To keep fees down, its best used in conjunction with setting up a direct deposit of at least $500 a month. Rates and information are accurate as of Feb. 3, 2023. And remember, performing your due diligence can save you money (and headaches) down the road. See our criteria for evaluating banks and credit unions. Prepaid cards are typically used by consumers who either don't have a traditional bank account or cant get a credit card due to poor credit history. If you buy the card online, you may be issued a virtual card or receive a physical card in the mail at a later time. It is accepted anywhere that Visa debit cards are accepted. American Express Serve Pay As You Go: There is no monthly fee for this card. Premier is an upgrade from Netspends starter prepaid debit card. We believe everyone should be able to make financial decisions with confidence. Bluebird by American Express: Best for avoiding fees. 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. Chase Liquid is a reloadable debit card offered by the national bank that can be loaded at any Chase location. Posted on May 3, 2014. And you get an additional 30 days for returns and exchanges. For no monthly fee, you get both a spending and savings account. She travels to Africa and the Middle East regularly to consult with women's NGOs about small business development. Some require photo identification and charge an activation fee up to $10 for loading the initial funds onto the card. No wire transfers. . Reloads are free through the Walmart MoneyCard app or at Walmart stores. If you need todeposit cash, you can visit one of Movo's 3.5 million in-network ATMs or swing by your local CVS, Walgreens or 7-Eleven (and some grocery stores). The disclosed APY is effective as of October 25, 2022. The Forbes Advisor editorial team is independent and objective. Netspend has more than 70,000 distribution locations and 130,000 places to reload cards. Pre-qualified offers are not binding. We promise to publish credible information we have as soon as we have it, throughout a product's life cycle, from its first public announcement to any potential recall or emergence of a competing device. Read more. 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. For prepaid debit cards, you load the card with money when you get it, then use it to make purchases. Other prepayment plans also offer a discount. The fees for adding and withdrawing cash are the same or slightly higher than those for the Netspend twins. One of the biggest free ATM networks among prepaid cards. It offers free direct deposit, cash loads at more than 130,000 locations, and a relatively low monthly fee. The features and benefits are also excellent. There are two plans to choose from starting at $20 a month or $200 a year. 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. Netspend is an American provider of reloadable prepaid cards, instant virtual debit cards and other financial services. You can deposit checks with the mobile app and receive Western Union money transfers. For many of these products and services, we earn a commission. $7.95 monthly fee is waived if you spend more than $1,000 per month. Unlike traditional credit cards, these cards require that cardholders load funds onto the card before using. Serve comes with a long list of features: American Express Serve FREE Reloads: Reload cash to the card for free at over 45,000 retail locations. The Greenlight debit card is available for kids of all ages and provides tutorials about money management. Prepaid debit card vs. debit card vs. credit card Prepaid debit cards pay before: You load money onto the card via cash, checks, direct deposit or a bank account before paying for transactions. Theres no monthly fee, but cardholders pay $1.50 per purchase. Credit card reviews and listings We started by comparing prepaid card reviews from all of our highest rated issuers Green Dot, Walmart, Netspend, Rushcard and Chase. Bluebird, issued by American Express, offers more than the average prepaid debit card, and you can load and spend money without paying fees. We ask that you inform us whenever you find an error, spot a gap in our coverage, or have any other suggestions for improvement. If you live within Regions Banks service area and plan to use your prepaid debit card frequently, the Now Card could be an affordable option. Weve already mentioned Bluebird, which is as low fee as youll find. Companies displayed may pay us to be Authorized or when you click a link, call a number or fill a form on our site. Since its a Visa, the card is widely accepted. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Manage your money easier with Green Dot Prepaid Cards. No monthly fees; no fee for cash reloads at Walmart. Prepaid debit cards are a good payment alternative for consumers who don't have a credit card and can't open a bank account or don't want one. Look for a card thats widely accepted, earns rewards and provides fraud protection. Nearly everyone is eligible for a prepaid debit card since theres no credit check involved in the application process. Gold Visa Prepaid Card earns cash back rewards plus 3% APY. Prepaid cards are typically associated with a national card network, such as Visa, MasterCard, American Express or Discover. When you use your card for purchases, Extra spots you the money. Editorial Note: We earn a commission from partner links on Forbes Advisor. Offers prepaid debit cards for $0 purchase price. $2.50 to $4.33 if prepaid; $5.99 if billed. 10 day wait to avoid fees . Given low purchase and withdrawal limits, its best as a family budgeting tool instead of a bank account replacement. Judgment creditors would love . Once you pay the cards purchase price, you have options for funding the initial amount, including: Cardholders must register their prepaid cards after purchase if the FDIC or NCUA insures it, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). Access to surcharge-free ATMs through the MoneyPass network; Minors of any age can get a debit card; Multiple subscription plans: $5.99 monthly service fee, $25.99 for six months, $39.99 for 12 . Each issuer sets different requirements for activating prepaid debit cards. General fees and features: You can prepay $59.99 for two years of FamZoo that works out to $2.50 per month. Ink Business Premier, Capital One Venture vs. Capital One Quicksilver, Chase Freedom Unlimited vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred, Western Union Netspend Mastercard Prepaid Card. The Regions Now Card has zero cash reload fees at over 1,900 ATMs across Regions Banks 15-state service area. Free withdrawals at Chase ATMs and free cash reload. You'll receive a Mastercard number you can add to your digital wallet to make payments and deposits through the mobile app. 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. One client recently explained that he . However, you typically cant pay for a reloadable debit card with a credit card. You can also deposit funds through the Netspend app, which has check capture capabilities. The best prepaid cards offer convenience and dont charge many fees. Very good; only minor caveats for most customers, Good; issues that might make a difference to some customers, Fair; make sure strengths and weaknesses are a good match for you, About the authors: Spencer Tierney is an expert on certificates of deposit at NerdWallet. ~Out-of-network ATM withdrawal fees may apply except at MoneyPass ATMs in a 7-Eleven, or any Allpoint or Visa Plus Alliance ATM. We constantly monitor our competition, user activity, and journalistic awards. 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. If you buy a prepaid card online, you might be issued a virtual card to use until you get your new card in the mail. Direct deposit, debit card transfer, bank transfer. Downsides: No free ATM network; maximum monthly fee is higher than average; no mobile check deposit feature. Unsubscribe at any time. Use anywhere in the United States that accepts Visa. ", "Save When I Get Paid automatically transfers 10% of your direct deposits of $500 or more from your Checking Account into your savings account. Even if you dont want to build your credit score, many easy-to-get credit cards come with better perks than even the best prepaid cards. Prepaid debit cards are issued by banks and usually have a Visa, Mastercard, Discover or American Express logo on them. She is based in Portland, Oregon. Parents and turn a card off or on from the app. The H&R Block Emerald card by Axos Bank is a prepaid debit card that makes it easy for consumers to receive access to their tax refunds quickly. Regardless, all the cards issuers are banks that insure consumers money through the. 8. Some prepaid debit cards charge a host of fees. Downsides: Theres no access to a nationwide retail network for adding cash; the card is only available in Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia; and the card doesnt have a separate savings feature. Green Dot also offers a plan with a monthly fee for those who don't want to pay a fee per transaction. Besides Bankrate.com, her work has been featured in Business Jet Traveler, MSN, CheatSheet.com, Freshome.com and SimpleDollar.com. The card is free to get, has no monthly fees, is FDIC insured, and offers free direct deposit. But you're the final judge. You load funds onto prepaid cards before using them for purchases. However, all CNET editorial content is independently researched and developed without regard to our corporate relationship to HomeInsurance.com LLC or its advertiser relationships. ", Chime says: "Round Ups automatically round up debit card purchases to the nearest dollar and transfer the round up from your Chime Checking Account to your savings account. In addition, some prepaid cards will waive some or all of the monthly fee if you load a certain amount of money on the card via direct deposit. No credit check. Cash withdrawal and third-party fees may apply. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment based on your own personal circumstances and consult with your own investment, financial, tax and legal advisers. Disclaimer: NerdWallet strives to keep its information accurate and up to date. Free at Fifth Third ATMs and ATMs in the Allpoint ATM network; free at Presto! NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. Add funds for free through direct deposit, mobile check capture, debit card transfer, or at Walmart. aseptic technique ampoule; deaths in hardeman county tn; hydro dipping hertfordshire; trove gem calculator; abandoned places in orange county ny; buford's message to reynolds gettysburg 1863 Earn up to $75 cash back each year at Walmart. Cardholders enjoy perks like two-day early direct deposit on checks and a free custom card design. Other services: Up to 5 subaccounts, no international ATM withdrawal fee. If a popular product is on store shelves, you can count on CNET for immediate commentary and benchmark analysis as soon as possible. No usage fees. You can set up a prepaid debit card for a specific spending category such as travel or dining out, and then use the card exclusively for those purchases to avoid overspending. Green Dots products are sold at thousands of major retail locations in the U.S. Walmart Money Cards can be used anywhere Visa or Mastercard is accepted. Walmart MoneyCard - Best for Walmart Shoppers. Chime isnt a prepaid debit card or a traditional bank account but a free checking account in the Visa payment network. $4 monthly fee thats waived if you have a Fifth Third checking account or if you make $500 or more in deposits monthly; no costs for activation or inactivity. You can withdraw money from MoneyPass ATMs for free. All prepaid debit cards have some type of fee. ACE Elite Visa Prepaid Debit Card, AccountNow Gold Visa Prepaid Card, American Express Serve, BB&T MoneyAccount, Bluebird by American Express, Boost Mobile Wallet Prepaid Mastercard, Brinks Prepaid Mastercard, Card.com Prepaid Card, CashPass Prepaid Mastercard, Commerce Bank mySpending Card, Control Prepaid Mastercard, Exact Prepaid Mastercard, FamZoo Prepaid Card, Fancard, FasterMoney, Fifth Third Access 360 Reloadable Prepaid Card, Fred Meyer Prepaid Card, Green Dot Prepaid Visa Card, Greenlight Prepaid Mastercard, H&R Block Emerald Prepaid Mastercard, Mango Visa Prepaid Card, MOVO Virtual Prepaid Visa Card, MyVanilla Prepaid Card, Netspend Visa Prepaid Card, NexsCard Visa Prepaid Card, Opt+ Prepaid Visa Card, PayPal Prepaid Mastercard, PNC SmartAccess Prepaid Visa Card, Regions Now Visa Prepaid Card, RushCard Prepaid Visa Card, Starbucks Rewards Visa Prepaid Card, TD Connect Reloadable Prepaid Visa Card, Walmart MoneyCard, Western Union Netspend Prepaid Card. Charges a monthly plan fee of $4.95. As you run low, you can add more money to the card. Looking for a traditional spending account? Reload methods: Direct deposit; bank transfer; PayPal, Apple Pay, Venmo and Square Cash transfer; PopMoney transfer (for a fee); add cash at retailers like 7-Eleven and Walgreens that participate in the Reload @ the Register, MoneyPak and Mastercard rePower networks (about $5 retail fee). express the opinions of the author alone, and not those of any credit card issuer. $4.99 to $9.98 per month, depending on selected plan (more expensive plans include features like investing education and identity theft protection); no costs for activation, inactivity or account closure. February 27, 2023 . Best with No Signature Transaction Fees: NetSpend Visa Prepaid Card. . Commissions do not affect our editors' opinions or evaluations. If youre not careful, these charges can quickly add up and eat into your budget. No charge from FamZoo, but ATM withdrawals will still cost you: Since FamZoo doesn't have any of its own ATMs, third-party ATM operator fees can apply. The American Express Serve card is labeled as a "full service reloadable prepaid account." Here's a list of the best prepaid debit cards on the market today: Learn More Best Overall: BlueBird by American Express Pros No monthly fee or in-network ATM fees Free to load at Walmart Free online bill pay Cons $2.50 ATM fee for out-of-network ATMs $2,500 daily money transfer limit Fees are between $4 and $16 for money transfers Walmart MoneyCenters and Customer Service desks also offer fee-free cash withdrawals. Once you select the prepaid card that best meets your needs, you pay the activation fee and load money onto the card. Add funds. More from NerdWallet: What is a debit card? 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. Cards are free to register and allow ATM withdrawals at more than 24,000 MoneyPass ATM locations around the nation. Parents have total control over the childs account if they want it. To learn more about our rating and review methodology and editorial process, check out our guide on How Forbes Advisor Reviews Banks. Her work has appeared on Chime, Clever Girl Finance, RateGenius, and Mint Intuit, among other publications. You can use your Regions Now card to earn cashback on eligible purchases from select merchants when you activate offers on Regions Banks website or using its mobile app. The Walmart MoneyCard pays 3% cash back on purchases from walmart.com, 2% cash back Walmart fuel stations, and 1% cash back at Walmart stores, up to $75 a year in rewards.. The card offers online bill pay, mobile check deposit, free direct deposit, and a mobile app. Additional prepaid card benefits include: As you consider a prepaid debit card, its crucial to be aware of their drawbacks. The funds you add to the card are available right away for spending. 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. (888) 915-1973. Some issuers provide access to instant debit cards online that use virtual card numbers. You can even add cash for free at most Walmart stores. Not to be confused with the free reload card, the Serve American Express Prepaid Debit Account helps you earn cash back for purchases you would be making anyway -- a true rarity for a prepaid card. $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. American Express Serve FREE Reloads - Best for Cash Users. American Express Serve Cash Back: Get 1% cash back for every dollar spent with the Serve card. Downsides: Fee to use ATMs; limited methods for reloading funds. Information in this guide is general in nature and is intended for informational purposes only; it is not legal, health, investment or tax advice. offer convenience and dont charge many fees. The one drawback to this card is that there are no free ATM withdrawalsthey cost $2.50 each. A prepaid credit card is actually not a credit card but a debit card linked to a bank account. You could enable your children's spending with a prepaid debit card, while teaching them how to be responsible with money. . Offers travel protection and 24/7 customer service. The difference between prepaid debit cards and checking accounts is starting to blur, as many have similar features and services. Bluebird charges fewer fees than most prepaid cards and if you reload with cash at Walmart, there's no charge. Best for a spending cushion . The card can also be used with Apple Pay, Google Pay, or Samsung Pay. You can create a family account with up to 4 additional cards, and setting spending limits on each card. You can use these cards at any online or physical location that accepts debit cards. Other services: Up to four free additional accounts; savings account with 2% APY for first $1,000, and chances to win monthly cash prizes; option to lock and unlock your card via the app; text and email alerts. But in cases that involve government entities, student loans or child support . Prepaid card vs. debit cards. With this prepaid debit card, you can earn one reward point for every $2 spent on everyday purchases and 1.5 points for every $1 spent on brands including Netflix, Uber and select Black-owned businesses. 7-Eleven, or Samsung pay get an additional 30 days for returns and...., cash best prepaid debit card to avoid garnishment at more than 130,000 locations, and Mint Intuit among. To $ 2.50 each Green Dot also offers a plan with a credit but... 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