Prepaid Debit Card Reviews, Complaints, Etc

Tag: Debit card

  • Is the GreenDot Prepaid Visa Debit Card a Good Deal or Bad?

    Is the GreenDot Prepaid Visa Debit Card a Good Deal or Bad?

    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 Green Dot prepaid debit card is a good deal (see below) – this site is powered by you!

    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.

    How the Green Dot Reloadable Visa Debit Card Works

    Just like many other prepaid debit cards, the standard Green Dot Prepaid Visa® Card (which is what this review will focus on) works like a bank debit card or ATM card. However, depending on what you load your Green Dot prepaid card to do, the working can vary a little. You can load the card to put money on other prepaid cards, debit cards or credit cards; and even to pay some specified bills.

    Please Note! This page was originally published a few years ago and is no longer being updated in 2021. GreenDot is focusing on promoting their new and improved Go2Bank Cash Rebate Visa- Click Here for to More Info and to Apply Online in Just Mins! (sponsor link)

    Now, depending on the service that you will be using your prepaid card to access, there are a number of benefits you may receive as compared to using bank cards. For instance, you can use the Green Dot card to get some discounts on online shopping. In some cases, you may also be rewarded with points for using the card.

    However, please note that the card has a pretty high monthly maintenance fee of $7.95 if you do not do a monthly direct deposit of at least $1,000 (which is a high amount as well compared to other prepaid Visa cards). Also, there is a $1.95 fee to purchase the card (activation fee) and a cash reload fee of $5.95, which is high as well in comparison to other similar prepaid card offers (bad features).

    Good Benefits of using the Green Dot Reloadable Visa Card

    • You can track spending on the go using the Green Dot mobile app.
    • You can apply for this prepaid debit card whether you have a bank account or not and you will not be subject to a credit check before you are provided with the card.
    • You will be able to fill other prepaid cards, debit cards or even credit cards easily with the Green Dot MoneyPak. On the same note, you can use the card to pay bills, withdraw cash from ATMs and even shop online.
    • You will have no long usage commitments. This means you can choose whether to use it or not.
    • You will not be subject to any penalty charges and overdraft fees.
    • Finally, the card is reloadable meaning that you can top up the money on the card using direct deposit, MoneyPak or even bank money transfer services.

    Important Consumer Note!

    The Greendot debit card does NOT help you improve your credit.

    Registering for Green Dot Prepaid Debit Card

    There are two ways to get a Green Dot reloadable Visa prepaid debit card. You can register online and setup your account or purchase a card at a retail location.  Both options are simple.  However, by registering online you can avoid the fee associated with purchasing a card in-store.  You will be required to load the card before you can make purchases.

    When registering, you may be required to submit some of your personal details including the provision of your social security number. After registration, you will be provided with a non-reloadable temporary prepaid card that you will use until you are provided with the reloadable prepaid card. It is important to note that the temporary card will not have access to some services like ATM usage, and it may be limited for use in the United States only.

    As per the provision of Federal laws, Green Dot will have the responsibility of obtaining, verifying and recording relevant customer information that can be used to identify them (customers). Some of the basic information that Green Dot may require from you when registering for a Green Dot reloadable prepaid debit card include your name, date of birth, social security number and address.

    Is the Green Dot Prepaid Visa Debit Card a Good Deal or Bad? (Summary)

    Please Note! This page is no longer being updated in 2021. GreenDot is focusing on promoting their new and improved Go2Bank Cash Rebate Visa- Click Here for to More Info and to Apply Online in Just Mins! (sponsor link)

    The Green Dot prepaid card may be a good deal for you, but be sure to review our other prepaid card offers which have less fees, such as the new no fee Chime Visa below, and different benefits. The monthly membership fees on Green Dot are high if you don’t have a direct deposit every month.

    The bottom line is that it may or may not be the best reloadable card for you depending on how you use it.  You should compare prepaid cards carefully to be sure you choose the prepaid card that’s most cost efficient for you.

    Related New Visa Card to Compare to Green Dot (Works Like Greendot Debit but has 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.

    People with poor credit can apply too as there is no credit check (No ChexSystems either). Chime can be managed entirely from your smartphone. No hidden fees. 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. 🙂 (Referral Link)

    Please read our review of another Green Dot offer here:

    Full Green Dot Prepaid Unlimited Cashback Debit Card Review

  • Where Can I Get an American Express Serve Card (You Can Apply @ WalMart)?

    Where Can I Get an American Express Serve Card (You Can Apply @ WalMart)?

    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 Chime Bank debit card is a good deal (see below) – this site is powered by you!

    Related Visa Card to Compare to AmEx Serve (like Serve but with less 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 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)

    Please Note! This article was published in 2013 and is being keep for historical purposes. Please click here for our current review of the American Express (AmEx) Serve Card.

    In October of 2012 American Express and Walmart teamed up to launch Bluebird, a low-fee card meant to attract people unhappy with traditional checking and debit account fees. On April 21st of this year, Walmart and AmEx announced that they were joining forces again, this time to make the American Express Serve prepaid card available for sale at 4,100 of the retailer’s stores nationwide. The card will cost $1.95 and be sold at checkout lines and in Walmart MoneyCenters.

    This announcement instantly gives AmEx an attractive bragging point in the increasingly competitive prepaid debit card industry. By making Serve available at thousands of Walmart stores, AmEx has has created the largest free cash reload network in America. In addition to Walmart, it is now possible for Serve customers to add cash to their Serve accounts for no charge at 19,500 locations, including CVS pharmacies and 7-Eleven locations.

    Customers can now go to the cash register at any of those locations and add as little as $20 or as much as $500 to their Serve accounts. This ubiquity is important, says Madeline Aufseeser, a senior analyst at Aite Group. “American Express Serve is making it even more convenient for consumers to add cash to their accounts so they can use those funds to quickly and easily manage their personal finances,” she says.

    This expansion of Serve is just the latest effort by AmEx to better serve the millions of so-called “unbanked” or “underbanked” Americans, who either don’t have a traditional bank account or are unhappy with what they do have. “By offering American Express Serve alongside Bluebird at Walmart, we’re expanding our portfolio of products to meet the needs of more Walmart shoppers,” says Dan Schulman, group president of Enterprise Growth at American Express. “Bluebird is a great option for the “unhappily banked” who are looking for a true alternative to the fees and hidden charges often associated with debit and checking. With Serve, our full service reloadable prepaid account, we can now provide the nearly 70 million Americans who are unbanked or underbanked a simple and affordable way to move and manage their money.”

    To go along with its expansion of the availability of Serve cards, AmEx is also launching an advertising campaign to highlight the benefits of its signature prepaid product. The TV ads are shot in a documentary style and are meant to highlight the struggles regular Americans who are either ignored or underserved by the traditional banking system face to make simple financial transactions.

    Where Can you Apply for American Express Serve Prepaid Card?

  • Netspend Prepaid MasterCard Review (support your fav MLB team)

    The Netspend Prepaid MasterCard Debit Card is a highly functional debit card, which makes financial errands easy and fun filled tasks – well almost. You can also support your favorite Major League baseball team by having their logo put on your card. It is issued by Netspend, one of America’s largest prepaid debit card processors. Read the full Netspend Card Rating here.

    When it comes to cash safety, this is one of the safer cards to settle for. The bank processes the card in a highly secretive way, to ensure that all transactions are carried out by genuine card holders (most prepaid card offer similar security benefits). This is effective because the bank has detailed security information pertaining to all card holders. In case a card is lost or stolen, the bank protects your account against all unauthorized transactions. What’s more, it will issue a new card on the spot to avoid any inconvenience. This is one of the better prepaid debit cards, but be sure to comparison shop on our site as their are cheaper options (be sure that is safer than cash and cheaper to than using check cashing places).

    The Netspend Prepaid MasterCard Debit Card is a card that can be used anywhere across the globe where MasterCard is accpeted. It is Better Business Bureau accredited with a BBB rating of A+ (though there are negative reviews on our site). In addition, Netspend is issued by Metabank that is a member of the FDIC, every transaction under the card is genuine due to highly encrypted information which protects the password, and other security card details. With the card, one can manage his or her finances at the comfort of his or her home. For regular travelers, the card is efficient and you do not have to walk around with huge amounts of cash.

    The Netspend.com Prepaid MasterCard Debit Card allows you to shop online too, and you can do faster transactions than carrying cash. With availability and easy accessibility of internet services across the globe, you can do your shopping online with the card as well as retail stores. It spares shoppers daily, weekly or monthly shopping hassles especially during peaks seasons such as Easter or Christmas Eve.

    Like other prepaid MasterCards, the card has a 100% guaranteed approval and there is no need for a credit check. You can get this prepaid debit card regardless if you have bad or no credit. The other feature with this card is that there are no minimum balances or overdraft fees (another benefit of most prepaid cards). There is also exclusive a savings account program you can enroll in.

    For those who love to transfer funds from one account to the other without leaving their homes, this card is offers related options. Online transactions and transfers are just a click away. Card holders can also pay their creditors online, pay bills online to avoid embarrassing moments where creditors come knocking at your door. Like other prepaid MasterCards, card holders also benefit from direct deposits from their paycheck or government paychecks.

    The Netspend Prepaid MasterCard Debit Card is also beneficial because it allows card holders to control their spending more efficiently. This can be done by tracking all transactions with online budgeting tools. Card holders also get alerts on their mobile phones on a 24 hour basis. All funds that are transacted with the cards are FDIC Insured up to the current coverage limit. Lastly, you can get rewarded with lots of Netspend card benefits. Intro APR, into APR period, Regular APR and balance transfers are not applicable as this is not a credit card.

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

  • Netspend Prepaid Visa Rating (Up to $5000 Sweepstakes Offer)

    The Netspend Prepaid Visa Debit Card (read full  Netspend Card Rating here) is one of the most popular prepaid Visa debit cards on the market. The card is FDIC insured. This is one of the better prepaid debit cards because it comes with excellent features which can be hardly accessed in other prepaid Visa cards.

    Account holders can run their financial errands with the card with no interest or late fees which make the card more convenient. With the card, there are no surprises as well as no credit checks. What’s more, card holders can easily have their paycheck deposited to their accounts directly with direct deposit.

    With the Netspend Prepaid Visa Debit Card, shopping is just a click away and has enabled many to enjoy an incredible shopping experience. It is widely accepted in a number of stores, supermarkets and many other shopping places. Card holders can comfortably purchase groceries, pay bills; make online purchases which save a great deal of time and buy gas among other products.

    One does not have to carry huge amounts of cash to shop anymore. It is also convenient for shopping in the sense that if you run out of cash, the card serves it purpose best since it’s widely accepted in supermarkets. There are many reasons as to why this card is highly efficient and one of the most trusted prepaid debit cards in the industry.

    The Netspend prepaid debit card is issued by highly reputable banking institutions. It is therefore a card that can be used anywhere there its acceptable with confidence. For this reason, it is a smart and excellent way of managing your finances even in the comfort of your home. It doesn’t matter which part of the globe you may be, in order to use a Netspend Prepaid Visa debit card. The card can be used in different ATMs across the globe which provides more convenience to account holders.

    When opening a Netspend account, a person has to provide factual information which will be used for identification and security purposes. This includes the name, ID card number, driving license, date of birth, and address among other vital details. These will be used for security purposes. Card holders are assured of cash safety even in the event of robbery or in case a card is lost. If an incident occurs, it is essential to notify the issuing bank immediately. This way, necessary security measures will be undertaken to secure your funds. The bank will process a new debit card and guard your account against any unauthorized transactions.

    The Netspend prepaid Visa debit card is of high quality and highly valuable. It is designed with the best technologies in order for it to serve its purpose best. Whether it is used on regular basis or not, the card will remain functional for a long time. In addition, a card holder has authority to choose and control the best value pricing plan that suits his or her personal needs more efficiently. The card is free of charge and for more convenience, it is issued online. In this connection, one can order for a Netspend Prepaid Visa Debit Card within 60 seconds.

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

  • TD Go Prepaid Visa Card Review (Independent)

    TD Go Prepaid Visa Card Review (Independent)

    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, among other publications But your input is invaluable and we’d love to have your opinion on the TD Bank Go Visa prepaid debit card (see below- this site is powered by you)!

    Please note that this 2018 review is outdated and is only kept for historical reasons. Please read our updated review of the TD Bank Go Visa Card here (that is in a better visual format).

    If one of your New Year’s resolutions was to teach your teenager how to better manage money, TD Bank wants to help. A few years back, TD Bank, one of the ten largest banks in the U.S., announced the release of the Visa TD Go Card a few years back (when we first reviewed this card offer), its first foray into the prepaid debit card market.

    TD Bank’s new prepaid card is aimed at helping parents teach their teenagers how to spend money wisely, albeit in a way that offers a sturdy safety net.

    “The development of smart spending habits is a journey and many parents want to offer teens a gradual path to increasing fiscal freedom,” says Tami Farrow, Senior Vice President and head of retail deposit payments for TD Bank. “With the launch of the TD Go Card, TD Bank is offering parents a convenient and safe environment to get money to their teens and an easy way to monitor spending.”

    New Popular No Fee Visa Debit Card (works like the TD prepaid card but with less fees):

    Chime is a new type of bank account designed to help people lead healthier financial lives and automate their savings (people with poor credit can apply too as there is no credit check). With Chime, you get a free Chime Visa Debit Card (a real debit card, not a prepaid debit card which usually have a lot more fees).

    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)

    Here’s how the TD Bank prepaid card works. Parents can purchase the TD Bank Go Card online and fund it initially with a minimum of $20 and a maximum of $1,000.

    Once the card is activated, which is partnered with Visa Buxx, parents have the ability to monitor how their child uses the card online and can also receive text and email alerts account balances, transactions and so-called “adult-oriented” purchases.

    The TD Bank Go Reloadable Prepaid Visa Card (aka TD Teen Card) is by no means the first to market itself as a learning tool. Companies like SpendSmart offer prepaid cards designed with many of the same features as TD Bank’s new prepaid card. More infamously, celebrities like Justin Beiber have attached their names to prepaid debit cards meant to attract teens.

    One thing parents and teens who opt to get a TD Go Card might learn is that using a prepaid debit card can sometimes be pricey. Depending on how a teen uses the card, the fees it charges can add up.

    There is a $4.95 charge for purchasing the card initially and there’s a $1.00 charge to load it using either a debit or credit card (direct deposit is free).

    Withdrawals from a TD Bank ATM are free, although taking money out of a non-TD Bank ATM costs $3.00, as does a balance inquiry at a non-TD ATM.

    Requesting a paper account statement runs $5.00  and there is a $2.50 charge if the card EACH MONTH if not used for 12 months.

    Go Visa Card Features:

    24/7 access lets you easily spend, load and track your money
    Set up transaction alerts, check your balance, reload your card on the go, and more with the TD Alerts app
    Helps you budget – you can only spend what you put on your card.

    How to Load Funds:

    Load funds online* 24/7 using your TD Bank Debit or Credit Card
    Direct deposit any amount from your paycheck
    Deposit cash or checks or transfer funds from your TD Bank checking or savings account at any TD Bank

    How to Open:

    Bring $25 cash – no TD Bank account needed – or transfer $25 from your TD Bank checking or savings account
    Bring your Social Security number and a valid ID (driver’s license, passport or state-issued)

    Monthly fee is $5.99*

    Per purchase $0

    ATM cash withdrawals:

    $0 in-network
    $3.00 out-of-network

    Reload Fee: $0

    Is the TD Go Prepaid Card Good? (Summary):

    Please note that this 2018 review is outdated and is only kept for historical reasons. Please read our updated review of the TD Bank Go Visa Card here (that is in a better visual format).

    The TD Go Card is a good card if you are an existing customer- the fees are definitely low. It’s also a good option if you are looking for a teen card for allowances. But the TD Go Card is not a great option for a general prepaid card.

    Click here to search for the prepaid debit cards with different benefits than the TD Card (and at least in one case, lower fees) – read reviews and apply online in mins.

    One lower fee card option than the TD Bank Go reloadable card is the new No Fee Chime Visa Debit Card, (Ad Link) which can managed entirely from your smartphone and charges no overdraft fees, no monthly service fees and no transfer fees. 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).

    This is the best and cheapest alternative to prepaid cards we have seen since we started reviewing prepaid cards over 5 years ago. 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 and clicking Get Started– over 3 million customers couldn’t be wrong. 🙂

    Finally, be sure to read customer reviews (complaints and praises) of the TD Bank Go Visa Card below and post your negative or positive review!

    Related Prepaid Card to Consider:

    The TD  Connect reloadable prepaid visa card is  offering (for adults- not teens). Read our full TD Prepaid Connet Card Review by clicking here. Please note that anyone can apply for this card – no TD Bank account needed.

    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.”

Prepaid Debit Card Reviews, Complaints, Etc