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Overview:
Average Monthly Fees and Costs:
Consumer Note! Please consider writing your review of this card below- it only takes a few mins and will help others!
Does Kroger offer a debit card rewards program?
Unfortunately, Kroger discontinued / closed its prepaid and debit card rewards cards in 2023. However, you can still purchase other reloadable debit cards (from other issuers) in store.
Product Details:
$4.95 monthly account fee
Mobile banking app for Android and iPhone
Rewards program
Receive $10 cash back when you sign up for direct deposit of your tax refund
Activation Fee: $0.00 online ($1.50 in store)
Monthly Fee: $4.95 (monthly fee is not assessed when balance is $0, which is a nice benefit)
Card Limit: N/A
PIN Transaction Fee: $0.00
Signature Transaction Fee: $0.00
ATM Withdrawal Fee: $2.50 (in network)
ATM Balance Inquiry Fee: $1.00
ATM Out of Network Withdrawal Fee: $2.50
ATM Out of Network Balance Inquiry Fee: $1.00
ATM Withdrawal Limit: N/A
Bill Payment Fee: N/A
Bill Payment Limit: N/A
Bank Teller Cash Fee: N/A
Bill Pay Expedited Service Fee: N/A
Inactivity/Maintenance Fee: N/A
Cash Load Fee (* asterisk indicates third party fees): $3.00
Wire Fee: N/A
ACH Debit Fee: N/A
Card Purchases (SIgnature) Daily Limit: N/A
Card Purchases (PIN) Daily Limit: N/A
Send Money Limit: N/A
Card Features:
Initial Fees
Average Monthly Fees
Bill Pay Fees / Features
Loading Fees / Options
Total Score
User Rating
39 total ratings
Things We Like
Attractive debit card rewards program. Low fees. Nice app that integrates well with the card. Save $.05 per gallon on Kroger gas / fuel purchases.
Things We Dislike
Fees will likely not outweigh rewards unless you shop at Kroger a lot.
Bottom Line
The Kroger Prepaid Debit Card, aka the Kroger Rewards Prepaid Visa or formerly known as the 1-2-3-Rewards Prepaid Visa Card, (click here for our rating of the Kroger credit card) is from the supermarket chain Kroger touts itself as “no ordinary prepaid card—it’s a prepaid card that rewards you just for shopping.” And that is […]
Posted January 5, 2019 by D. Shane Tripcony
Full Article
The Kroger Prepaid Debit Card, aka the Kroger Rewards Prepaid Visa or formerly known as the 1-2-3-Rewards Prepaid Visa Card, (click here for our rating of the Kroger credit card) is from the supermarket chain Kroger touts itself as “no ordinary prepaid card—it’s a prepaid card that rewards you just for shopping.” And that is certainly true. The card allows you to earn free groceries as well as bonus fuel discounts and other savings at participating stores. However these benefits come with a downside: Lots of fees. Among other things, the Kroger card charges a monthly fee, ATM fees, and cash reload fees that can really add up.
Here’s how the debit card rewards program works (the rewards earnings are just the same as the credit card program, which is rare as debit card reward programs are usually not as good as their credit card counterparts).
You earn one point for every dollar you spend, two points for every dollar spent in one of the Kroger® Family of Stores, and three points for every dollar spent on any Kroger brand products.
For every 1,000 points accumulated, a cardholder earns $5 in free groceries.
In addition, use of the Rewards card to purchase gas at select stations earns users a discount of $.05 per gallon.
How to Redeem your Kroger Rewards Points
The redemption process integrates well with your Kroger prepaid card. In order to make sure that you get all eligible points, you must scan the barcode on the back of your Debit Card every time you make a purchase at a Kroger (or Kroger Family of Stores locations).
- Once you have earned 1,000 points, a $5 electronic coupon will be loaded to your Rewards prepaid Visa. Electronic coupons are earned and delivered to you each month, so you don’t have to wait long to redeem.
- To use your digital coupons, scan the barcode on the back of your Personalized Prepaid Card when you make a purchase at Kroger. Coupons can only be redeemed at Kroger for groceries or other Kroger merchandise (not for cash).
Always be sure to ask your cashier if you have any coupons available!
Cash Back Bonus Details:
Enjoy a cash bonus of $10 added to your reloadable prepaid debit card if you have your tax refund direct deposited to your card (fairly easy to do using their website). Like other prepaid cards, you will get your tax refund faster if you have it direct deposited.
Kroger Rewards Debit Card Review: Bottom line
:
Careful consideration of how you use this card is vital. Will the rewards be worth the fees you might have to pay? For many people, that won’t be the case unless you shop at Kroger a lot. The fees are pretty low when compared to other prepaid cards.
While these card benefits will appeal to some, we calculate that typical usage of the card will rack up fees of around $100 per year. That’s a lot to pay for supposedly “free groceries”. For example, if you spend $85 a month on Kroger generic groceries (to earn the maximum rebate of 3 points for every dollar spent), you will only earn $15 in annual rebates. 🙁
Important Consumer Note! The Kroger prepaid Rewards Visa does NOT help you build or rebuild your credit. If you are trying to improve your credit, we strongly suggest you consider applying for a secured credit card (click to read reviews) Also, secured credit cards are a typically less expensive than prepaid Visa cards (like regular credit cards, secured cards do charge interest or finance charges if you carry a balance).
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.”
Consumer Reviews and Ratings of Kroger Prepaid Visa Rebate Debit Card:
5 CommentsLeave a comment »
thressa murphy October 31, 2015 at 4:32 pm
this is absolute crap for customer service. for over a year i could access my account online via google chrome. now they have updated it so you can ONLY access via explorer. who the heck updates and takes things AWAY? seriously? when i tried to log on it wouldn’t accept my password. so i do a password reset. i make sure everything is right and matches and meets requirements and it keeps saying that the new password (where you verify the password) does not match and it DOES. I’m told to try again and they will submit an escalation ticket. i try again and NOW when i put in my pin number … it says invalid characters. jeez … whoever does the support and tech for this prepaid card and website should have gone to school!
Shane TripconyNovember 6, 2015 at 6:31 pm
I am sorry to hear of the technical woes! Unfortunately, I have seen that happen with other sites, and applications, too. I agree, and it is frustrating – who takes things AWAY? I guess the new, “updated” system is a bit of a step back in some areas…
AmritaDecember 12, 2018 at 1:52 am
Agree with OP. They have no customer care and often block my card and then there is no one to provide a resolution. There is no email, no chat. You can only call n there is no record of ur previous contact. I only got my card unblocked once I threatened to report them to cfpb.
They get ur own money n then dont let u use it. Rude agents hang up on u.
Renford HutchinsonJanuary 25, 2019 at 3:08 pm
Think I am ending my association with this 123 reward prepaid card, I do direct deposit which doesn’t serve me any good because it reaches the account late, usually on a real ATM card it reaches after 12 in the night. Now my card is block I talked to CCA and was told I have to wait 24 hrs before I can get access to my cash or use an ATM machine and also wait an hour before I can use the card online this all happen while am on the road. I put in my three digit code its telling me it don’t recognized it. Now what the …… I do from here. I strongly suggest stick to just the Kroger card and leave the other cards a lone, if I am going to give my info and this customer care agent cant help me it makes no sense. If there is no technical support that can assist you fix the problem immediately when u have bills to pay I don’t see the need for such card right now. Today is Jan 25, 2019 and am in VA
NicholeJanuary 31, 2019 at 7:08 pm
The Krogers prepaid card is the worst card ever …. don’t waste your money. I purchased a card 3 weeks ago for $320 for my sister and she has not been able to use it. If I can use the card without actually creating an account what’s the problem. They force you to give them all of your information only to charge you the 4.95 per month. You are better off just buying a gift card. Customer service suck too. DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY ITS NON REFUNDABLE .
Susie Downs
Man you need to see about changing your rating of Kroger because those prepaid gift cards they have with US Bank SUCK!
I buy them all the time to get the fuel points. I buy them to pay things like car insurance, utilities, use to shopping. I also purchase them to use to save money for trips etc.
Kroger does these specials where they do 4 times the fuel points for gift card purchases and such. Like they are not doing 4 times the fuel points right now but, I am buying a few prepaid mastercards tomorrow.
I am using my Discover to buy them because I get cash back at grocery stores starting tomorrow and then I will have the fuel points to use as well.
The website is almost ALWAYS down to register their cards. 🙁
Follow up:
So Kroger always does double fuel points on gift cards. So like if we are taking a trip, I will wait until they are doing 4 times the fuel points if I can. I will go to Kroger and use my Southwest airline Chase Visa and buy Southwest gift cards to pay for my husband’s airline ticket.
I typically have enough points to get my airfare for free. I’ll use the gift card to pay his airfare. I’ve earned fuel points to use at Kroger or Shell, I will earn points on the Southwest VISA for the purchase, and my hubby will earn his Rapid Reward points when he flies. So I call that triple dipping!!!
I learned this from a lady who has a website called Couponing to Disney. Then to help my hubby earn points, I will log into his southwest rapid rewards account and use it to book the hotel room and the rental car. If I do it that way, he will earn rapid Rewards point for those bookings.
If we have to use parking spot, Uber or other things we can earn rapid rewards points for, I use his account to book it, use my credit card and then we both earn points on the one purchase. That is double dipping LOL
I buy those pre-paid Kroger mastercards to use to save $$ for traveling and trips but only when they are 4X the fuel points.
Kroger has a gift card mall which has way more than choices of gift card purchases other than what is in the store. Like if we are going to California to visit, I know we will eat once or twice at Jack in the Box or El Pollo Loco or some franchise fast food chain that we don’t have here.
Well they have gift cards for those places as well. So I will go online months prior to the trip and get the gift cards. That is a way to save $$ for the trip and not have to use your debit card in CA.
People’s cards are ALWAYS getting skimmed out there and it is not safe to carry cash. Also, you can ONLY get $40 a day out of an ATM there and some ATM’s, you can get no money at all. 🙁
So we are talking about going to a Blues Festival in April. So I go online to look at hotels booked through the Rapid Rewards account. Right now today I can get one week at Days Inn Wyndham in St. Petersburg for $525 plus tax.
BUT….by booking it through his Rapid Rewards, they have a special now that he would earn 5000 rapid rewards points. Red Roof Inn would be $627 but he would earn 8000 rapid rewards points.
Then, to sweeten the pot, on the credit card, I earn double points. Because any travel etc. that I use the card for I get double the points! Bon Voyage- hope these tips help. 🙂
2020/12/30 at 11:59 pm
Select comment Curtis Arnold
In reply to ron.
Ron-
Thanks so much for taking the time to write a detailed account of your problems with the Kroger rewards card.
This is very alarming (needless to say) and you will be in my thoughts and prayers- hate that this happened during the holidays! So sorry!
Please do update us on how things turn out – hoping for a better solution in 2021.
And you’ll probably be glad to know we have just given this product a lower rating. 🙂
2020/12/30 at 2:29 am
Select comment Curtis Arnold
In reply to Linda M.
Linda-
Thanks for sharing your rants about the Kroger Visa which I’m sure will help other consumers. That is frustrating I’m sure.
Their terms and conditions state you can load cash at Kroger stores. I’m assuming you tried to do a cash load at Kroger?
Let us know how things turn out. Curious what replacement card you get. 🙂
2020/10/05 at 6:44 pm
Select comment Linda M
This Kroger Prepaid card is awful. We have it for online shopping and paying autobills, like our Hulu account and toll tags. We have tried several times to add cash to the card and it will not allow us to do that. We cannot reach a real human at customer service most of the time. We finally reached someone over the weekend and they suggested we use a PayPal account to load the card.
If I wanted my debit cards that are tied to my bank account, on the internet, I wouldn’t need this card in the first place. They said this was the only way we could load our cards. We will be getting some other type of card that won’t create such nightmares for us. This is the third time that we were unable to use cash to load our card. Also, at a time I had over $1000 on the card for a trip I was taking, I was unable to use the card to pay for an airline change. Had to do it with a different (credit) card.
What is the point of having money on a prepaid card if you can’t access the money? And, what is the point of a pre-paid card if you can’t add moeny to it either.
2020/10/05 at 5:38 pm
Select comment Curtis Arnold
In reply to Tommy Waters.
Greetings Tommy and thanks for your customer review of the Kroger prepaid rebate program.
Not sure how long you can use (I assume for 30 days or so), but would advise that you call this number for the temp Card: 888-371-890. Did you activate it yet?
The good news is that There is no Monthly maintenance Fee for the Temporary one. 🙂
Down side is the Reloadable features and benefits are not available with Temp one. 🙁
2020/05/04 at 5:26 pm
Select comment Tommy Waters
Just how long can you use the temporary card for? I just signed up! I was looking for a prepaid debit card that wouldn’t require me to use my SSN to sign up or to recieve funds.
2020/05/04 at 4:46 pm
Select comment Anonymous
WORST PREPAID CARD EVER! THE KROGER PREPAID APP IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE. THE PREPAID DEBIT CARD REWARDS PROGRAM HAS BERN DISCONTINUED.
YOU CANNOT TALK TO REPRESENTATIVE NO MATTER WHAT OPTION YOU CHOOSE WHEN YOU CALL THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMBER. THE AUTOMATED SYSTEM ALMOST ALWAYS DISCONNECTS YOU.
THREE OF MY CREDIT CARD PAYMENTS WERE DECLINED BY THIS BANK. WHEN I HAD OVER $1000 AVAILABLE. THEIR MONTHLY STATEMENTS ARE TO CONFUSING TO MAKE SENSE OF. DO YOURSELF A FAVOR, DEFINITELY DO NOT CONSIDER THIS CARD.
{Editor’s Comment- Thanks for sharing your complaints, but please don’t make any future posts in all caps as it’s hard for others to read. Sorry about your problems!}
2020/05/02 at 4:06 pm
Select comment Marry Walker
Hey Curtis, I read your blog and I got all the information which I was looking about Kroger prepaid Visa debit card.Thank you for the comprehensive article- it will help me with comparison shopping.
2019/12/11 at 4:35 am
Select comment Cindie
I too had my card locked on a random id verification. I was told a notice was sent out. I did not receive it. I looked at all of my mail, no notice. It was blocked on a Friday after everyone in the fax department went home, on a 3 day weekend no less. Tueday hit, I was told I could have access in about 4 hours, when I called to make sure they got it, I was told it could take 16 business hours. Run, run fast from this card!!! Just use your normal Kroger values card. I do not recommended this debit card to anyone. If you need access to your money that is.
2019/09/03 at 11:24 pm
Select comment Renford Hutchinson
Think I am ending my association with this 123 reward prepaid card, I do direct deposit which doesn’t serve me any good because it reaches the account late, usually on a real ATM card it reaches after 12 in the night. Now my card is block I talked to CCA and was told I have to wait 24 hrs before I can get access to my cash or use an ATM machine and also wait an hour before I can use the card online this all happen while am on the road. I put in my three digit code its telling me it don’t recognized it.
Now what the …… I do from here. I strongly suggest stick to just the Kroger card and leave the other cards (such as prepaid debit rewards) a lone, if I am going to give my info and this customer care agent cant help me it makes no sense. If there is no technical support that can assist you fix the problem immediately when u have bills to pay I don’t see the need for such card right now. Today is Jan 25, 2019 and am in VA
2019/08/23 at 9:16 pm
Select comment Curtis Arnold
Did anyone notice that Kroger is no charging a fee if you use your debit card to get cash back at the register? It only .50 if you request cash back up to $100 and they waive the fee apparently if you use your Kroger card, but it’s still caused quite an uproar among customers.
Anyone have any thoughts? The fee also does not APPEAR as of yet to apply to their prepaid card, so that is good news. 🙂
2019/08/16 at 8:56 pm
Select comment James Carlisle
We love our Kroger rewards card and use it for discounts on gas purchases (my favortie feature as a Kroger customer) as well as rebates on groceries. We use the card a lot- used it today at a vending machine to buy snacks for my daughter in fact! 🙂
I would rate it with 5 stars. There is not a benefit that my wife and I do not like.
2019/04/25 at 6:26 pm
Select comment Larry
I got the ACE Cash Express card at their store by Kroger and would only rate it with 1 star. 🙁
I used it as an alternative prepaid debit card and would recommend Netspend over them.
They charged me a fee for a cash refill or 3 or 4 bucks plus a monthly usage fee. Just too many fees.
A female customer that is a friend of mine had the same problem with fees and dumped her card.
Now I’m using a low fee bank debit card and am happy.
2019/04/19 at 4:40 pm
Select comment tytrrty
(This comment about how good or bad the Kroger visa prepaid card is has been edited by the editors.)
2019/04/18 at 1:27 pm
Select comment Curtis Arnold
Thanks for posting your opinion on the Kroger Visa card fees Marques. This doesn’t appear to be good news for Visa Card customers, but will hopefully help bring more attention to card fees.
2019/04/17 at 4:37 pm
Select comment Marques
In reply to Marques.
Quick follow-up to my remark above- was just in Vegas at Smiths Drug and Grocery (part of Kroger chain) and noticed this consumer warning posted:
EFFECTIVE APRIL 3, 2019
Due to excessive bank fees (when using your Visa card), we will no longer accept Visa® credit cards. We will gladly continue to accept Visa® debit cards, plus all other major credit and debit cards including Discover and American Express. 🙁
Wow- can’t believe this! Kroger is definitely making a big statement. Anyone else see this?
Select comment Nancy
I got the Kroger credit card and didn’t have any problems with approval or getting the card. Have yet to activate it, but it’s on my list of things to do.
Got the card because I shop and Kroger a lot and also buy gas there.
Also, noticed that Kroger has just Introduced Kroger Pay and a new Kroger REWARDS Debit Card, which looks similar to the Target debit card.
2019/03/25 at 3:04 pm
Select comment Marques
I love the Kroger prepaid Visa card as it saves me money on gas purchases and my grocery bill – as a customer, I would highly recommend it – Kroger is becoming a financial powerhouse – ironically, several of their stores recently stopped taking Visa Cards because of high fees
