Credit and Debit Card Ratings

New BlueBird Prepaid Debit Card Now Offering Checks

Since American Express launched the BlueBird Prepaid Debit Card, it has offered a fabulous product for the unbanked.  Starting out as a prepaid American Express debit card, it serves many of the same functions of an online checking account.  Working in concert with WalMart, users can load deposits free of charge, make ATM withdrawals, use online billpay, track spending and set limits, all without the extra fees banks often charge.

Adding even more benefits to their product, BlueBirds now offer its users the ability to order physical checks right from their online account.  Though the website shows fees associated with ordering physical check, checks are actually free until May 21st.  Shipping is also free.  With this new move, American Express has effectively turned 4,000 WalMart stores into bank literal branches.

In some ways, the BlueBird is actually better than a traditional checking account without the extra fees piled on since the passage of Dodd Frank Financial Reform Bill.  According to American Banker, “American Express (AXP) has just given its checking account alternative, BlueBird, more bank-like checking account features.  It has added FDIC insurance, increased the amount of money a customer can place in an account and added physical checkbooks.  The New York credit card company said Bluebird customers who can already deposit checks by snapping a picture from their smartphones, electronically pays billers and send cash to friends, can now place up to $100,000 in an account at any one time.”  Funds received from BlueBird are moved to Wells Fargo within 24hrs, allowing the funds to be protected via FDIC insurance coverage.

For more information on the American Express BlueBird Prepaid Debit Card, visit www.bluebird.com.

For more from this author visit:  Tameka Riley’s Author Page

Author: Tameka Riley

  • New BlueBird Prepaid Debit Card Now Offering Checks

    New BlueBird Prepaid Debit Card Now Offering Checks

    Since American Express launched the BlueBird Prepaid Debit Card, it has offered a fabulous product for the unbanked.  Starting out as a prepaid American Express debit card, it serves many of the same functions of an online checking account.  Working in concert with WalMart, users can load deposits free of charge, make ATM withdrawals, use online billpay, track spending and set limits, all without the extra fees banks often charge.

    Adding even more benefits to their product, BlueBirds now offer its users the ability to order physical checks right from their online account.  Though the website shows fees associated with ordering physical check, checks are actually free until May 21st.  Shipping is also free.  With this new move, American Express has effectively turned 4,000 WalMart stores into bank literal branches.

    In some ways, the BlueBird is actually better than a traditional checking account without the extra fees piled on since the passage of Dodd Frank Financial Reform Bill.  According to American Banker, “American Express (AXP) has just given its checking account alternative, BlueBird, more bank-like checking account features.  It has added FDIC insurance, increased the amount of money a customer can place in an account and added physical checkbooks.  The New York credit card company said Bluebird customers who can already deposit checks by snapping a picture from their smartphones, electronically pays billers and send cash to friends, can now place up to $100,000 in an account at any one time.”  Funds received from BlueBird are moved to Wells Fargo within 24hrs, allowing the funds to be protected via FDIC insurance coverage.

    For more information on the American Express BlueBird Prepaid Debit Card, visit www.bluebird.com.

    For more from this author visit:  Tameka Riley’s Author Page

  • Approved Card From Suze Orman

    Approved Card From Suze Orman

    If you find yourself among the unbanked or under-banked a prepaid debit card may be the checking account alternative you are looking for. Suze Orman has recently launched her Approved Card – a prepaid debit card that is supposed to be better than the competition. But is it really? Does it have low or no fees?

    Suze Orman says about the Approved Card, “It’s the single most important thing I’ve done in my whole career.”

    She says it’s a better way to bank.

    It is safer than cash, comes with no credit checks, no check cashing fees, no bank account required, no overdraft fees, no interest charges and it is easy to load and use.

    The Appoved Card (http://www.theapprovedcard.com) also comes with free identity theft protection, free Transunion credit reports, credit scores and credit monitoring. These features are not seen on many of the best prepaid debit cards. You can expect to see services like this included because Suze Orman is a big proponent of keeping an eye on your credit report and score.

    So let’s talk about getting this prepaid debit card’s fees. You will have to pay $3 to purchase it. This fee is lower than most other prepaid debit cards. And then you have a $3 monthly account maintenance fee with the first month waived. Compare this to other cards which can run from no cost per month all the way to $9.95 a month.

    You can get free ATM withdrawals at over 35,000 Allpoint locations for the following 30 days you make a Direct Deposit of $20 or more. You can find these ATMs at places like 7-Eleven, CVS, Costco, Kroger, Target and Walgreens. Otherwise you will have to pay a $2.00 fee.

    You also get free online bill pay and a free additional card along with no activation fee.

    You do not have to pay a fee to purchase with a signature or PIN transaction.

    You also get one free live customer service agent call per month and $2.00 per call after that.

    If you like to receive a paper statement that will cost you $2.00 per statement.

    When you check out the fee chart you will see that most of the fees can be waived for a 30 day period after you Direct Deposit $20 or more.

    So who is the Approved Card by Suze Orman for? People who do not want to use a secured credit card, people who cannot get approved for a checking account due to bad credit, and people who will deposit less than $1,000 each month through Direct Deposit.

    It’s not the best prepaid debit card but it is also not the worst prepaid debit card.

    For more from this author visit:  Tameka Riley’s Author Page

Credit and Debit Card Ratings