Category: Best Low Fee Prepaid Cards

Millions of people are turning to prepaid debit cards as a smart alternative to carrying cash and writing checks. Almost anyone can qualify and they don’t require a credit check or a bank account. Though they carry credit card logos and can be used anywhere a credit card is used, unlike a credit card, they do not offer a line of credit. The user can only spend the amount that has been loaded onto the card or placed into the account associated with the card.

There are dozens of debit cards on the market, many of them issued by the same bank, but fee structures are vastly different. Bestprepaiddebitcards.com has done all the research for you and provides comprehensive reviews to help you decide which card is best for you.

Jackson Hewitt Go Big Refund Advance Loan – Full Rating and Reviews
Welcome to our site! Our editors have been covering the credit and debit card space for a total of 30+ years and we are proud to have been featured by the Wall Street Journal, CNN, etc. Your input is invaluable and we’d love to have your opinion as to whether the Jackson Hewitt Go Big Refund Advance Loan is a good or bad deal (see the bottom of the page for reviews and to post questions) – this site is powered by you!

Jackson Hewitt Go Big Refund Advance Loan – Full Rating and Review

Jackson Hewitt offers what they call the “Go Big Refund Advance Loan” which does include a fee. Who doesn’t want to “Go Big”? Below is more detailed information regarding this loan.

The Go Big Refund Advance is a loan, between $1,000 and $6,400, provided by MetaBank® and is available at participating Jackson Hewitt locations. There is a good reason why the replaced the “No Fee” words with the “Go Big” words. The Go Big Refund Advance loan has a fee of 2% of the loan amount. For example, with a $2,500 loan, the total amount payable from your tax refunds is $2,550 including the fee. Depending on the loan duration, the effective APR of the loan would vary. Based on a loan duration of 25 days, the 2% fee would translate to a 29.2% APR. This is not a good APR rate. There are tons of credit cards out there with better interest rates than this.

The Go Big Refund Advance Loan amount is inclusive of any Early Refund Advance loan amount you have received. The Early Refund Advance loan amount ($200-$500) is not subject to the 2% fee.

The Go Big Refund Advance is available beginning January 2, 2020 and the program ends on February 2, 2020.

The Go Big Refund Advance loan sizes can be $1,000, $1,500, $2,000, $2,500, $4,500, $5,500, and $6,400 for qualifying clients. If you needed $3,000 you would have to take out the $4,500 loan which would leave you paying interest on money you didn’t need. Not a good idea.

How long will it take to receive my loan?

If you are approved, loans can be received within 24 hours if disbursed via an American Express Serve Card. Be careful of fees if you decide to use the American Express Serve Card. Or, within 5 business days if you choose to have the loan amount directly deposited into a qualified account of your choice.

We suggest having your loan amount deposited into a Chime Bank Account so you don’t get hit with fees.

Related Visa Card to Compare to American Express Serve Card (works like American Express Serve Card but with No Fees):

Chime is a new Visa card that is amazingly free (unless you use the card outside of their large ATM network). This is best alternative to a prepaid card that we’ve seen in 5+ years and offers all of the benefits of traditional bank account.

It’s a real Visa card (not a prepaid debit card which usually have a lot more fees) and people with poor credit can apply too as there is no credit check. Chime can be managed entirely from your smartphone. No overdraft fees. No minimum balance. No monthly service fees. No transfer fees. No Chex Systems. Over 38,000 fee-free ATMs, plus 30,000+ cash-back locations.

And for a limited time, earn a Cash referral bonus of $50 when you tell your friends and family members about Chime and they sign up (and they’ll earn $50 too)- details within the app after you apply! Click for more info.- you can apply online in just 2 mins with no obligation. Start by simply entering your email address and clicking “Get Started”– over 3 million customers couldn’t be wrong. 🙂 (Referral Link)

Will applying for a Refund Advance loan impact your credit score?

Jackson Hewitt says no. There is no impact on your credit score if you apply for a Refund Advance.

Do you need good credit to qualify?

Historically, the No Fee Refund Advance has had high approval rates, but approval varies from customer to customer. You can be approved for a Refund Advance loan even if you do not have a credit history. Loan approval is subject to Metabank’s underwriting criteria that is based in part on the size of your tax refund.

Important Consumer Note!
The Refund Advance Loans do NOT help you improve your credit. 🙁

If you do not know your credit score, Credit Soup offers your credit score (the new TransUnion Vantage Score® 3.0) for free (no gimmicks and no credit card required). Sign up in just mins- very short form- and it won’t hurt your credit.

Also, based on your score, you will be matched with legit card offers that you are likely to qualify for – that can help you build your credit- not prepaid cards.

If you are trying to get a higher credit rating (which is very important), we strongly suggest you consider the no annual fee Capital One Secured MasterCard (apply online in mins- if you have poor credit or no credit, this card will to help you rebuild or build your credit).
- No annual fee (unlike almost all prepaid cards), and all the credit building benefits with responsible card use.
  
  26.99% APR (interest rate)
  
  Unlike a prepaid card, it builds credit when used responsibly, with regular reporting to the 3 major credit bureaus
  
  You will get an initial $200 credit line after making a security deposit of only $49, $99, or $200, determined based on your creditworthiness
(Sponsor Link)
Bottom Line:

Jackson Hewitt tries to trick you by throwing out a low number of 2%. But be careful, 2% of the loan amount could add up to be more than what most credit cards offer as an Annual Percentage Rate APR. So if you decide to go with this loan just be careful how you decide to pocket the loan money. We suggest having it directly deposited into a checking account such as Chime so you don’t get hit with fees. And remember you will have to file your taxes with Jackson Hewitt so you will have to pay them what it cost for their 2019 tax return on top of the 2% of the loan amount. All in all, we find this to not be the best option out there.

Other Related Reviews and Resources That Might be Helpful:

Still not finding the right Card to fund using your Refund Advance Loan? Click HERE to go to our current reviews on our Main Prepaid Card Page.

Click HERE to read our reviews of the Jackson Hewitt Prepaid American Express Serve Card

Click HERE to read the Review of the H&R Block Advance Tax Refund Loan up to $3,500

Editorial Note!:
“The editorial content on this page is not provided by any of the companies mentioned, and has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. Opinions expressed here are author’s alone, including this review and the reviews written by actual cardholders below.”
December 11, 2019
Jackson Hewitt No Fee Refund Advance Loan – Up to $3,200 – 0% APR Review
Welcome to our site! Our editors have been covering the credit and debit card space for a total of 30+ years and we are proud to have been featured by the Wall Street Journal, CNN, etc. Your input is invaluable and we’d love to have your opinion as to whether the Jackson Hewitt No Fee Refund Advance Loan is a good or bad deal (see the bottom of the page for reviews and to post questions) – this site is powered by you!

Full Review and Ratings – Jackson Hewitt No Fee Refund Advance Loan – Up To $3,200 with 0% APR

With the No Fee Refund Advance Loan – Up to $3,200 – 0% APR. There are no fees applied to this loan and you will not be charged interest either. This loan can only be applied for starting January 2, 2020 through February 23, 202 in the amount of $200-$3,200 when you file your taxes through Jackson Hewitt. JH will need to know how much your federal tax refund from 2018 was in order to determine if you are eligible for this loan or not. To apply for this loan you can go to their website and input last years federal tax return amount. They will then ask you if you received the full amount of your tax return and if you had money taken out of your taxes for childcare, back taxes, or outstanding student loans.

After answering their questions, you will then have to submit your name, email, date of birth, social security number, address and phone number in order for JH to process your pre-qualification. You can find our in minutes how much you pre-qualify for with Jackson Hewitt. My advice would be to start the process as early as you can since tax season in around the corner.

Keep in mind this loan from $200-$3,200 will be deducted from your 2019 tax return that has to be prepared by JH.

The incremental amounts you can get from the loan is either $200, $500, $750, $1,000, $1,250, and $3,200. So if you need $800 for a rent payment, you better plan on getting the $1,000 loan amount.

How long will it take to receive my loan?

If you are approved, loans can be received within 24 hours if disbursed via an American Express Serve Card. Be careful of fees if you decide to use the American Express Serve Card. Or, within 5 business days if you choose to have the loan amount directly deposited into a qualified account of your choice.

We suggest having your loan amount deposited into a Chime Bank Account so you don’t get hit with fees.

Related Visa Card to Compare to American Express Serve Card (works like American Express Serve Card but with No Fees):

Chime is a new Visa card that is amazingly free (unless you use the card outside of their large ATM network). This is best alternative to a prepaid card that we’ve seen in 5+ years and offers all of the benefits of traditional bank account.

It’s a real Visa card (not a prepaid debit card which usually have a lot more fees) and people with poor credit can apply too as there is no credit check. Chime can be managed entirely from your smartphone. No overdraft fees. No minimum balance. No monthly service fees. No transfer fees. No Chex Systems. Over 38,000 fee-free ATMs, plus 30,000+ cash-back locations.

And for a limited time, earn a Cash referral bonus of $50 when you tell your friends and family members about Chime and they sign up (and they’ll earn $50 too)- details within the app after you apply! Click for more info.- you can apply online in just 2 mins with no obligation. Start by simply entering your email address and clicking “Get Started”– over 3 million customers couldn’t be wrong. 🙂 (Referral Link)

Will applying for a Refund Advance loan impact your credit score?

Jackson Hewitt says no. There is no impact on your credit score if you apply for a Refund Advance.

Do you need good credit to qualify?

Historically, the No Fee Refund Advance has had high approval rates, but approval varies from customer to customer. You can be approved for a Refund Advance loan even if you do not have a credit history. Loan approval is subject to Metabank’s underwriting criteria that is based in part on the size of your tax refund.

Important Consumer Note!
The Refund Advance Load does NOT help you improve your credit. 🙁

If you do not know your credit score, Credit Soup offers your credit score (the new TransUnion Vantage Score® 3.0) for free (no gimmicks and no credit card required). Sign up in just mins- very short form- and it won’t hurt your credit.

Also, based on your score, you will be matched with legit card offers that you are likely to qualify for – that can help you build your credit- not prepaid cards.

If you are trying to get a higher credit rating (which is very important), we strongly suggest you consider the no annual fee Capital One Secured MasterCard (apply online in mins- if you have poor credit or no credit, this card will to help you rebuild or build your credit).
- No annual fee (unlike almost all prepaid cards), and all the credit building benefits with responsible card use.
  
  26.99% APR (interest rate)
  
  Unlike a prepaid card, it builds credit when used responsibly, with regular reporting to the 3 major credit bureaus
  
  You will get an initial $200 credit line after making a security deposit of only $49, $99, or $200, determined based on your creditworthiness
(Sponsor Link)
Bottom Line:

If you are in a crunch for money and you can not wait until you receive your tax return then we find this loan to be a good choice. Just be careful how you decide to pocket the loan money. We suggest having it directly deposited into a checking account such as Chime so you don’t get hit with fees. And remember you will have to file your taxes with Jackson Hewitt so you will have to pay them what it cost for their 2019 tax return. They may be selling you on the “No Fee – 0% APR” but there will always be the cost for them to do your taxes.

Other Related Reviews and Resources That Might be Helpful:

Still not finding the right Card to fund using your Refund Advance Loan? Click HERE to go to our current reviews on our Main Prepaid Card Page.

Click HERE to read our reviews of the Jackson Hewitt Prepaid American Express Serve Card

Click HERE to read the Review of the H&R Block Advance Tax Refund Loan up to $3,500

Editorial Note!:
“The editorial content on this page is not provided by any of the companies mentioned, and has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. Opinions expressed here are author’s alone, including this review and the reviews written by actual cardholders below.”
December 11, 2019
Is the Jackson Hewitt Tax Refund Advance Loan a Good Deal? 2019 Tax Season
Welcome to our site! Our editors have been covering the credit and debit card space for a total of 30+ years and we are proud to have been featured by the Wall Street Journal, CNN, etc. Your input is invaluable and we’d love to have your opinion as to whether the Jackson Hewitt Tax Refund Advance Loan is a good or bad deal (see the bottom of the page for reviews and to post questions) – this site is powered by you!

Jackson Hewitt Tax Refund Advance Loan Review

Jackson Hewitt (JH) is offering an Early Refund Advance Loan and a Refund Advance loan of up to $3,200. In order to apply for these loans you have to prepare you taxes with JH. How do these loans work? What loan amount JH decides to grant you is deducted from your tax refunds prepared by JH, reducing the amount paid to you as the taxpayer.

For example, lets say Jackson Hewitt determines you will get roughly $2,000 back in taxes for the 2019 tax season. And you needed a $1,500 loan. JH would deduct the loan amount of $1,500 from your tax return amount of $2,000 leaving you with a tax return amount of $500 after your taxes are filed through Jackson Hewitt.

But first, you will need to know whether you qualify or not.

There are Three Tax Refund Advance Loans you can apply for:
- No Fee Early Refund Advance Loan – Up to $500 with 0% APR loan
- No Fee Refund Advance Loan – Up to $3,200 with 0% APR loan
- Go Big Refund Advance Loan
We will start with the Early Refund Advance Loan – Up to $500 – 0% APR. There are no fees applied to this loan and you will not be charged interest either. This loan can only be applied for starting on December…

To read more about the Jackson Hewitt Early Refund Advance Loan – Up to $500 – 0% APR please click HERE.

The No Fee Early Refund Advance Loan – Up to $3,200 with 0% APR Loan. This loan is the same as the loan above in regards to fees and interest (no fees & no interest). This loan you will have to pre-qualify the same way you…

To read more about the Jackson Hewitt No Fee Refund Advance Loan – Up to $3,200 – 0% APR please click HERE.

How long will it take to receive my loan?

If you are approved, loans can be received within 24 hours if disbursed via an American Express Serve Card. Be careful of fees if you decide to use the American Express Serve Card. Or, within 5 business days if you choose to have the loan amount directly deposited into a qualified account of your choice.

We suggest having your loan amount deposited into a Chime Bank Account so you don’t get hit with fees.

Related Visa Card to Compare to American Express Serve Card (works like American Express Serve Card but with No Fees):

Chime is a new Visa card that is amazingly free (unless you use the card outside of their large ATM network). This is best alternative to a prepaid card that we’ve seen in 5+ years and offers all of the benefits of traditional bank account.

It’s a real Visa card (not a prepaid debit card which usually have a lot more fees) and people with poor credit can apply too as there is no credit check. Chime can be managed entirely from your smartphone. No overdraft fees. No minimum balance. No monthly service fees. No transfer fees. No Chex Systems. Over 38,000 fee-free ATMs, plus 30,000+ cash-back locations.

And for a limited time, earn a Cash referral bonus of $50 when you tell your friends and family members about Chime and they sign up (and they’ll earn $50 too)- details within the app after you apply! Click for more info.- you can apply online in just 2 mins with no obligation. Start by simply entering your email address and clicking “Get Started”– over 3 million customers couldn’t be wrong. 🙂 (Referral Link)

Will applying for a Refund Advance loan impact your credit score?

Jackson Hewitt says no. There is no impact on your credit score if you apply for a Refund Advance.

Do you need good credit to qualify?

Historically, the No Fee Refund Advance has had high approval rates, but approval varies from customer to customer. You can be approved for a Refund Advance loan even if you do not have a credit history. Loan approval is subject to Metabank’s underwriting criteria that is based in part on the size of your tax refund.

Important Consumer Note!
The Refund Advance Loans do NOT help you improve your credit. 🙁

If you do not know your credit score, Credit Soup offers your credit score (the new TransUnion Vantage Score® 3.0) for free (no gimmicks and no credit card required). Sign up in just mins- very short form- and it won’t hurt your credit.

Also, based on your score, you will be matched with legit card offers that you are likely to qualify for – that can help you build your credit- not prepaid cards.

If you are trying to get a higher credit rating (which is very important), we strongly suggest you consider the no annual fee Capital One Secured MasterCard (apply online in mins- if you have poor credit or no credit, this card will to help you rebuild or build your credit).
- No annual fee (unlike almost all prepaid cards), and all the credit building benefits with responsible card use.
  
  26.99% APR (interest rate)
  
  Unlike a prepaid card, it builds credit when used responsibly, with regular reporting to the 3 major credit bureaus
  
  You will get an initial $200 credit line after making a security deposit of only $49, $99, or $200, determined based on your creditworthiness
(Sponsor Link)
Does Jackson Hewitt offer any other Advance Tax Loans?

Jackson Hewitt also offers what they call the “Go Big Refund Advance Loan” which does include a fee.

To read more about the Jackson Hewitt Go Big Refund Advance Loan with Ratings and Customer Reviews please click HERE.

Bottom Line:

To read more about the Jackson Hewitt Early Refund Advance Loan – Up to $500 – 0% APR please click HERE.

To read more about the Jackson Hewitt No Fee Refund Advance Loan – Up to $3,200 – 0% APR please click HERE.

To read more about the Jackson Hewitt Go Big Refund Advance Loan with Ratings and Customer Reviews please click HERE.

Just be careful how you decide to pocket the loan money. We suggest having it directly deposited into a checking account such as Chime so you don’t get hit with fees.

Other Related Reviews and Resources That Might be Helpful:

Still not finding the right Card to fund using your Refund Advance Loan? Click HERE to go to our current reviews on our Main Prepaid Card Page.

Click HERE to read our reviews of the Jackson Hewitt Prepaid American Express Serve Card

Click HERE to read the Review of the H&R Block Advance Tax Refund Loan up to $3,500

Editorial Note!:
“The editorial content on this page is not provided by any of the companies mentioned, and has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. Opinions expressed here are author’s alone, including this review and the reviews written by actual cardholders below.”
December 10, 2019
Is the Discover Cashback Debit Card a Good Deal (Review of Prepaid Card)?
Welcome to our site! Our editors have been covering the credit and debit card space for a total of 30+ years and we are proud to have been featured by the Wall Street Journal, CCN, etc. Unlike almost all card comparison sites that only list cards that advertise with them, 85% of the cards on our site don’t pay us a dime. Your input is invaluable and we’d love to have your opinions about the Discover cash back debit card and/or prepaid card (see below) – this site is powered by you!

Discover Card is one of many companies offering a growing suite of reloadable, prepaid debit card solutions, customized to meet your needs. Offerings range from:
- General Purpose Reloadable (GPR)
- Discover Campus
- Discover Payroll
One concern most people have when considering a Discover Prepaid Debit Card is that it won’t be accepted most places, but today, Discover is accepted at over 90% of merchants that accept credit card payments. Discover is also a part of the Pulse Network, the nation’s largest Electronic Funds Transfer network allowing you easy access to cash withdrawals at any ATM that carries the Pulse ® logo. Our Experts have laid out some questions you will need answered in order for you to determine if this is the right card for you. What Fees apply to this Card?
If you would like to read our Current List of the Best Low Fee Prepaid Debit Cards please click HERE
Are there any Benefits to being a Discover Card Account Holder? Is there an Online App to Manage my Account? Is there a Rewards Program?
If you are looking for the answers to these questions and more please click HERE for our Full Article with Expert and Customer Reviews.

Is the Discover Cash Back Debit Card a Good Deal or Bad (Summary Review)? Plus Universal Prepaid Debit Card Rating

PLEASE NOTE!There are no more Discover prepaid debit cards being issued direct to consumers. Apparently, they still offer prepaid cards through employers as they have recently updated the terms for the Discover Universal Discover® Prepaid Card.
The bottom line is that the Universal card is more limited that most prepaid cards such as the new no fee Chime Visa below, but the cash back benefit is a good deal if you do business with their featured merchants (for example, CVS Pharmacy is one of them, but Amazon and Walmart are not). Discover does still offer the Discover secured credit card (click for review)).
Click here to read our reviews of the current best prepaid cards on the market and apply online in mins, including the new Chime Visa debit card which offers benefits that the Discover rewards debit card does not, including $50 cash referrals up to $600 per year. You can also get approved for Chime even if your credit is bad (and Visa is more widely accepted than Discover is).
One very low fee card option is the new No Fee Chime Visa Debit Card, (Referral Link) which can managed entirely from your smartphone and charges no overdraft fees, no monthly service fees and no transfer fees. No Chex systems. No minimum balance is required and Chime features over 38,000 fee-free MoneyPass® and Visa Plus Alliance ATMs (there is a map of all fee-free ATM’s in the app).
And for a limited time, earn a Cash referral bonus of $50 when you tell your friends and family members about Chime and they sign up (and they’ll earn $50 too)- details within the app after you apply! This is the best and cheapest alternative to prepaid cards we have seen since we started reviewing prepaid cards over 5 years ago.Click for more info.- you can apply online in just 2 mins with no obligation- start by simply entering your email and clicking Get Started– over 3 million customer couldn’t be wrong. 🙂

Related Resources and Reviews:

Still looking for a better Prepaid Debit Card? Click HERE to see our Current List of the Best Prepaid Debit Cards.

If you would like to read our Current List of the Best Low Fee Prepaid Debit Cards please click HERE
November 26, 2019
Tips on How to Best Use a Prepaid Reloadable Debit Card

Welcome to our site! Our editors have been covering the credit and debit card space for a total of 30+ years and we are proud to have been featured by the Wall Street Journal, CNN, etc. Your input is invaluable and we’d love to have your opinion regarding tips on how to best use a prepaid debit card (see below) – this site is powered by you!

Chime is a new Visa card that is amazingly free (unless you use the card outside of their large ATM network). This is best alternative to a prepaid card that we’ve seen in 5+ years and offers all of the benefits of traditional bank account.

It’s a Visa card and has a lot less fees than the typical prepaid debit card. Also, people with poor credit can apply too as there is no credit check. Chime can be managed entirely from your smartphone. No overdraft fees. No minimum balance. No Chex Sytems. No monthly service fees. No transfer fees. Over 38,000 fee-free ATMs, plus 30,000+ cash-back locations.

And for a limited time, earn a Cash referral bonus of $50 when you tell your friends and family members about Chime and they sign up (and they’ll earn $50 too)- details within the app after you apply! Click for more info.- you can apply online in just 2 mins with no obligation. Start by simply entering your email address and clicking “Get Started”– over 3 million customers couldn’t be wrong. 🙂 (Referral Link)

Prepaid debit cards are big business in the United States. According to Time magazine, consumers used them for (http://business.time.com/2013/08/01/prepaid-debit-cards-a-few-good-ones-to-consider-and-several-to-avoid) $77 billion worth of transactions in 2012. That’s a lot of swiping.

We all know about using them to pay for lunch or a pair of shoes. But have you ever thought about a prepaid card for. Following are some tips on creative ways you can use a prepaid debit card (Visa or MasterCard).

1. A door prize. You want lots of butts in the seats at the community cleanup or the first PTA gathering of the year? Advertise that a $50 prepaid debit card (or a couple of $25 ones) will be given away. Advertise it extensively.

Sure, it would be nice if people would attend such things without coaxing, but be realistic: If someone’s on the fence about attending (“Do I want to get up that early on a Saturday?/Be out that late on a school night?”) then the chance of winning might tip them over into Do The Right Thing territory.

2. An employee incentive. Whether it’s for putting (usable) ideas in the suggestion box or for making it through the holiday crush without losing their minds, your workers might appreciate the chance to get a little something extra.

Do it through a random drawing or as an out-and-out prize for a really smart suggestion. (Note: These are considered taxable income, according to the Internal Revenue Service. But they’re still fun to get.) On a related note, please note that Pex and Bento offer employee prepaid cards for small to medium sized businesses.

3. Help to a relative/friend in need. Sometimes handing over cash feels weird. Giving a prepaid card lets the person you love get what he needs: medicine, a bag of groceries, a tank of gas. Better yet: Slip it under the person’s door or mail it anonymously.

4. Moving expenses. Donna Freedman, who blogs at Surviving and Thriving (http://www.donnafreedman.com), tells us: “When my daughter and son-in-law moved from Seattle to Phoenix, I saw them off with a big bag of snacks and a $300 prepaid gift card for road expenses. I thought the card would be easier to manage than a wad of cash. (It was.)”

5. Kid travel gift. If your pre adolescent or teen is heading cross-country to visit his grandparents or to spend the summer with the noncustodial parent, a prepaid card will let him buy his own snacks and incidentals.

6. Blog giveaway. Want to build subscriber loyalty and get the attention of additional readers? Have a monthly giveaway – and every so often, make it a prepaid debit card. “This is something that we definitely plan on doing for our readers of our website and Facebook page.

With our website name talking specifically about prepaid cards, it just makes sense,” says Shane Tripcony, co-founder of BestPrepaidDebitCards.com. Regular gift cards are popular, too, but not everyone drinks coffee or shops at Target, whereas a prepaid card is good just about anywhere. Heck, I wish I could win one.

7. New grad gift. It can be tough to guess the needs/desires of an 18 or 22-year-old. A prepaid gift card means not just buying power, but choice. It’s up to him whether he spends at a grocery store or at The Gap.

8. Tax refund. The major tax preparers let you have the option of a refund via prepaid debit card. You’ll want to keep a close eye on the fees, but if you’re unbanked or underbanked, you want the refund a little faster or you just want to really manage how you spend your tax refund, this could be the right option.

9. Teacher present. Believe me when I tell you that your kid’s teacher has waaaaay too many mugs already. Please don’t add to that problem. Give a prepaid card because it can be spent at any merchant the teacher chooses. However, I predict at least some of it will be rung up at a bookshop or educational supply store. Teachers are just like that.

This is a short list of potential ways to use a prepaid reloadable debit card. What are some creative ways you have used your prepaid card? We welcome your comments below and would love to hear from you.

September 1, 2019
Differences between a Prepaid Visa Gift Card and a Prepaid Visa Debit Card

The Visa Gift card is a “non-reloadable prepaid” card with its initial value set by its purchaser which cannot be exchanged for cash. This differs from a prepaid Visa debit card (click for reviews of the best prepaid reloadable cards) that you can reload funds on to.

A Visa gift card carries the Visa logo and are accepted anywhere the Visa Card is accepted. They can be used in person at brick-and-mortar retail businesses or for online payments and purchases. Many Visa Gift Cards are activated automatically upon purchase and can be used immediately upon purchase. It may be necessary to activate the card if you plan on using your card online.

The Visa Gift Card does not offer a line of credit. Each time a purchase is made, the amount is automatically deducted from the balance on the card. Most do not come with a pin number so it is important to use them as a credit card rather than a debit card and sign the receipt.

Related Visa Debit Card (No Fees, but no Expiration Date on Funds Deposited- Not a Gift Card):

Chime is a new Visa card that is amazingly free (unless you use the card outside of their large ATM network). This is best alternative to a prepaid card that we’ve seen in 5+ years and offers all of the benefits of traditional bank account.

It’s a real Visa debit card, (not a prepaid debit card which usually have a lot more fees) and people with poor credit can apply too as there is no credit check. Chime can be managed entirely from your smartphone. No overdraft fees. No minimum balance. No monthly service fees. No transfer fees. Over 38,000 fee-free ATMs, plus 30,000+ cash-back locations.

And for a limited time, earn a Cash referral bonus of $50 when you tell your friends and family members about Chime and they sign up (and they’ll earn $50 too)- details within the app after you apply! Click for more info.- you can apply online in just 2 mins with no obligation. Start by simply entering your email address and clicking “Get Started”– over 3 million customers couldn’t be wrong. 🙂 (Ad Link)

If the purchase is for less than the value of the card, the credit remains on the card until it is exhausted. You must personally keep up with the balance on the card as the merchant may not have access to this information.

Once your gift card has been depleted, it is always a good idea to keep the card until you know for sure you will not be returning any of the items purchased with the card. If you do need to return items, the store policy may require that you present the card you used to make the purchase.

If your gift card states “Valid only in the United States” on the front, your issuer has issued a Domestic Use Only card. Although your gift card will not be accepted at locations outside of the United States, it’s welcome at millions of locations within the U.S. where Visa Cards are accepted.

Important Consumer Note!

Any prepaid Visa card (whether a gift card or not) does NOT help you improve your credit. 🙁

If you do not know your credit score, Credit Sesame offers your credit score for free (no gimmicks and no credit card required) & you can monitor your credit for free. Also, offers free ID Theft Protection and tips on how to improve your score.

Sign up in just 90 seconds- start by simply entering your email. Includes tips on increasing your score. .

August 22, 2019

Category: Best Low Fee Prepaid Cards

Jackson Hewitt Go Big Refund Advance Loan – Full Rating and Review

How long will it take to receive my loan?

We suggest having your loan amount deposited into a Chime Bank Account so you don’t get hit with fees.

Important Consumer Note!

The Refund Advance Loans do NOT help you improve your credit. 🙁

26.99% APR (interest rate)

Unlike a prepaid card, it builds credit when used responsibly, with regular reporting to the 3 major credit bureaus

You will get an initial $200 credit line after making a security deposit of only $49, $99, or $200, determined based on your creditworthiness

Bottom Line:

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Full Review and Ratings – Jackson Hewitt No Fee Refund Advance Loan – Up To $3,200 with 0% APR

How long will it take to receive my loan?

We suggest having your loan amount deposited into a Chime Bank Account so you don’t get hit with fees.

Important Consumer Note!

The Refund Advance Load does NOT help you improve your credit. 🙁

26.99% APR (interest rate)

Unlike a prepaid card, it builds credit when used responsibly, with regular reporting to the 3 major credit bureaus

You will get an initial $200 credit line after making a security deposit of only $49, $99, or $200, determined based on your creditworthiness

Bottom Line:

Other Related Reviews and Resources That Might be Helpful:

Jackson Hewitt Tax Refund Advance Loan Review

There are Three Tax Refund Advance Loans you can apply for:

How long will it take to receive my loan?

We suggest having your loan amount deposited into a Chime Bank Account so you don’t get hit with fees.

Important Consumer Note!

The Refund Advance Loans do NOT help you improve your credit. 🙁

26.99% APR (interest rate)

Unlike a prepaid card, it builds credit when used responsibly, with regular reporting to the 3 major credit bureaus

You will get an initial $200 credit line after making a security deposit of only $49, $99, or $200, determined based on your creditworthiness

Does Jackson Hewitt offer any other Advance Tax Loans?

Bottom Line:

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Discover Card is one of many companies offering a growing suite of reloadable, prepaid debit card solutions, customized to meet your needs. Offerings range from:

Is the Discover Cash Back Debit Card a Good Deal or Bad (Summary Review)? Plus Universal Prepaid Debit Card Rating

PLEASE NOTE!There are no more Discover prepaid debit cards being issued direct to consumers. Apparently, they still offer prepaid cards through employers as they have recently updated the terms for the Discover Universal Discover® Prepaid Card.

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Still looking for a better Prepaid Debit Card? Click HERE to see our Current List of the Best Prepaid Debit Cards.

Important Consumer Note!