Prepaid Cards | Credit Card Topics | CardRates.com

13 Prepaid Cards You Can Add Money To

By: Adam West, 12/6/2021

Prepaid cards that you can add money to provide the opportunity to create a budget or conduct your financial dealings without the need for a traditional bank account. With these cards, you can authorize direct deposits of checks, safely store your money, and make purchases or payments online or in person — without the fear of accumulating debt or paying interest charges like you would with a traditional credit card. And the best reloadable prepaid card options provide mobile... read more »

12 Prepaid Cards Without Bank Account Requirements

By: Eric Bank, 11/30/2021

According to recent data, 5% of American adults do not have a bank account. Five percent may not seem significant, but considering the US population was 329.5 million as of 2020, that's still more than 16 million Americans who need access to alternative financial services, such as prepaid debit cards. You can use a prepaid card to perform basic financial functions, including cashless purchases, money transfers, and withdrawing cash at an ATM. Prepaid cards work perfectly well... read more »

5 Netspend Prepaid Cards in 2023

By: Eric Bank, 11/17/2021

If you hate banks, you may develop a warm spot in your heart for Netspend prepaid cards. Netspend cards let you avoid banks, bank credit cards, bank debit cards, and banking fees. Naturally, Netspend cards come with their own sets of charges, but you’ll never face overdraft fees. In this article, we’ll review five prepaid debit cards that, under the covers, belong to the Netspend universe. Look out, banks, there’s a new sheriff in town. Navigate This Article: ... read more »

13 Prepaid Cards With No Activation Fees

By: Aaron Crowe, 11/10/2021

Prepaid cards with no activation fee can make online purchasing easier if you don’t have good enough credit to qualify for a credit card. They’re also a lot safer to carry around than cash. A prepaid card requires a cash reload to fund it and can be used wherever a credit card or debit card can be used. Though sometimes referred to as a prepaid credit card, there is no line of credit associated with a prepaid card. It works more like a debit card by transferring cash from your... read more »

Where Can I Get a PayPal Prepaid Card?

By: Eric Bank, 11/8/2021

The PayPal Prepaid Mastercard® is among the most popular offerings in the reloadable debit card market, no doubt benefiting from its high name recognition. PayPal has built its reputation pioneering online money transfers between individuals and between individuals and businesses. Its prepaid debit card is a natural extension of its services, allowing for seamless PayPal transfers of money between the card and a PayPal cash account. As we will explain, it’s easy to... read more »

Mastercard Prepaid Cards For 2023

By: Eric Bank, 11/3/2021

Mastercard prepaid cards help fill a demand for a convenient, universally accepted method of paying for purchases without the need for a credit score or a bank account. The famous red and yellow logo ensures acceptance of a Mastercard prepaid card wherever Mastercard credit and debit cards are welcomed. We’ve evaluated and summarized key information about the seven leading prepaid cards bearing the Mastercard brand. Keep reading to learn about the features each card offers... read more »

5 Prepaid Cards That Work With Apple Pay

By: Eric Bank, 10/19/2021

If you love all things Apple, you will want to read our review of eight prepaid cards that work with Apple Pay. Prepaid reloadable cards are a good alternative to bank-linked credit and debit cards, and the Apple Pay mobile digital wallet app works with most of them. When you combine the convenience of Apple Pay with the simplicity of prepaid cards, you get a worry-free way to pay your bills without overdrafts or late fees. Navigate This Article: List of... read more »

Where Can I Get a Prepaid Visa Card?

By: Adam West, 10/14/2021

Changes to the prepaid card industry over the last decade have left many consumers wondering, “Where can I get a prepaid Visa Card?” Prepaid debit cards that work on the Visa network are easy to obtain online through each card issuer’s website or in retail stores nationwide. They’re free to sign up for online, but you’ll be charged a small fee to purchase a prepaid card in-store. With so many card options available — each with varying fees and perks — you may need... read more »

How to Get Cash From a Prepaid Visa Debit Card

By: Eric Bank, 10/13/2021

If you want to learn how to get cash from a prepaid Visa debit card, you’ve come to the right place. As it turns out, you can use your prepaid debit card in several ways to put cold hard cash into your hot little hands. You have even more options if you are willing to settle for a deposit to your checking account. However you extract cash from your reloadable card, we think you shouldn’t have to pay a fee. After all, you already pay a monthly or per-use... read more »

7 Reloadable Visa Cards in 2023

By: Ashley Dull, 10/11/2021

Reloadable Visa cards are handy in several ways. They give consumers access to a card that’s capable of making transactions online or at the register. Consumers can also receive a direct deposit of their paychecks or benefits checks and avoid those pesky check-cashing fees. Reloadable prepaid and secured cards provide an affordable way to set a budget and live within your means. With the cards listed below, you can load a set amount of money into your card account and be certain... read more »

12 Free Prepaid Debit Cards of 2023

By: Eric Bank, 10/5/2021

Free prepaid debit cards look just like regular credit cards and enjoy the same level of acceptance. But you can use them without a credit rating or bank account (or any financial institution account). If all that sounds good to you, check out our review of the best dozen. Navigate This Article: Mastercard Visa Amex Kids & Families FAQs Free Prepaid Debit Mastercards Mastercard is a... read more »

Best Prepaid Debit Cards For Vacations in 2023

By: Choncé Maddox, 9/30/2021

The best prepaid debit cards for vacations can help protect your money and allow you to enjoy your visit without overspending. Not to mention, holding onto a ton of cash while traveling is risky. Instead, you can load the money onto a prepaid card that’s secured and safe to use. Prepaid debits cards don't require a bank account, and some even come with a few other perks, including direct deposit, no fees, and rewards. Here are the five best prepaid debit cards for... read more »

5 Prepaid Cards With Rewards

By: Ashley Dull, 8/24/2021

Prepaid cards with rewards provide a way for you to earn valuable cash back without the need for a credit card. Although a credit card can yield far more cash back than a prepaid debit card can, we can’t discount the fact that prepaid cards are important for helping the 5% of unbanked Americans (or anyone else who shies away from credit) who make purchases that require a card. And the cards below just so happen to reward cardholders for using their cards to pay for certain... read more »

Types of Prepaid Cards & #1 Card For Each in 2023

By: Eric Bank, 8/17/2021

With so many different types of prepaid cards available, it’s clear that these cards have caught the imagination of consumers, especially ones who have little use for credit cards. After all, prepaid cards don’t require you to use credit, don’t require a credit score, don’t charge you late fees, and don’t force you to have an account at a financial institution. As it turns out, not all prepaid cards are the same. Rather, this breed of card (sometimes inaccurately... read more »

7 Prepaid Debit Cards With Mobile Check Deposit

By: Choncé Maddox, 8/9/2021

On the surface, it may seem as though prepaid debit cards don’t offer the same features and benefits as you’d get with a regular checking account. But these types of payment cards are evolving. Still, one of the trickiest things about managing a prepaid card is figuring out how to load money onto the card. If you’ve been secretly wishing for a prepaid card that allows you to deposit your paycheck with your phone, you finally have some real options to consider. ... read more »

Custom Prepaid Debit Cards of 2023

By: Eric Bank, 7/19/2021

You express your personality in so many ways, so why not through custom prepaid debit cards? Functionally, they are no different than standard prepaid cards with bland, generic designs. But when you customize your prepaid debit card (sometimes called a prepaid credit card), you can display unique and personal images. As you may already know, you don’t need a bank account to use a prepaid debit card. Unlike a regular debit card, a prepaid card uses money from the card account, not... read more »

8 Best Prepaid Cards With Mobile Apps of 2023

By: Eric Bank, 7/12/2021

If you’re tech-savvy but bank-phobic (I’m looking at you, millennials and zoomers), check out our list of the best prepaid cards with mobile apps. These cards do not require a bank account, do not use credit, and can be managed from your mobile phone. This kind of card (which some incorrectly call a prepaid credit card) can never hit you with late fees, interest charges, or credit checks, all of which are common risks of credit card ownership. Unlike a credit card, a reloadable... read more »

8 Best Prepaid Cards For Tax Refunds

By: Ashley Dull, 4/7/2021

The best prepaid cards for tax refunds are prepaid cards that accept direct deposits. This allows the government to deposit your federal tax refund directly onto the card, which helps you receive your money faster and more efficiently than through snail mail. Once your tax return is deposited, you can use the card to spend the money just as you would with any other debit or credit card. These cards all work on the Visa, Mastercard, or American Express payment networks, and can be used... read more »

Prepaid Cards Without SSN Requirements in 2023

By: Ashley Dull, 12/16/2020

Several years ago, you could easily access prepaid cards without SSN requirements. But as these anonymous cards became popular among thieves and money launderers, the government enacted laws that require prepaid card issuers to collect a cardholder’s Social Security number before the card can be activated. Today, only a few prepaid card issuers don’t require a SSN for activation, requiring instead an alternate form of identification — such as an Individual Taxpayer... read more »

5 Prepaid Cards With Overdraft Protection

By: Ashley Dull, 12/2/2020

Prepaid cards with overdraft protection didn't exist just a few years ago. Banks originally designed these cards to act as a traditional checking account, which meant you could only spend what you deposited into the account. But new laws in 2016 allowed card issuers to provide an overdraft protection service that permitted cardholders to temporarily spend below a $0 balance. However, overdraft protection is still relatively uncommon on most prepaid card accounts. While banks such as... read more »

Do Prepaid Cards Work on Cash App?

By: Ashley Dull, 10/21/2020

Cash App is a peer-to-peer payment platform that gained a massive following because of its simplicity, versatility, and user-friendly interface. Developed by Square Inc., this P2P app makes it easy to send money to friends and family for free using their phone number, email address, or $Cashtag. Most bank accounts, debit cards, and credit cards work on the app, but what about other options? Do prepaid cards work on Cash App? If not, what are the alternatives? Let’s explore Cash... read more »

Do Prepaid Cards Work For PayPal?

By: Ashley Dull, 9/25/2020

PayPal is one of the most-used online payment platforms in the world. From the acquisition of Braintree and Venmo in 2014 to becoming the first foreign online payment provider in China, PayPal has made tremendous strides over the last few years. PayPal processes a variety of payment methods, including credit cards, debit cards, bank accounts, PayPal Cash, and more. The platform also accepts prepaid cards, but only under specific terms. Yes, Prepaid Cards Work For PayPal – But... read more »

Bluebird Provides a Convenient Checking and Debit Alternative with Many of the Same Features as Banks, Including Bill Pay and ATM Access

By: Matt Walker, 2/27/2020

In a Nutshell: For many Americans who do not have access to bank accounts, or are considered underbanked, access to modern conveniences, such as shopping on the internet, direct deposit, and electronic bill pay, is very limited. But with the Bluebird prepaid card, the unbanked can participate in today’s world of digital commerce. Bluebird account holders gain access to bank-like features, including the ones mentioned above, as well as ATM access and low fees. Bluebird users can also... read more »

How Does a Prepaid Credit Card Work?

By: Marcie Geffner, 2/5/2020

Certain types of financial transactions can be quite challenging if you don't have a credit card. Examples include buying an airline ticket, reserving a hotel room, renting a car, and shopping online. If you need a credit card for those or other types of transactions, but you aren't qualified for a conventional card because your credit score isn't high enough, a prepaid credit card may be an option for you to consider -- but how does a prepaid card work? Despite its name, a... read more »

7 Best Prepaid Debit Cards for Bad Credit in 2023

By: Matt Walker, 9/4/2019

More than 14 million American adults don’t have an active bank account. That means they have no place to deposit a paycheck, an account from which they can pay bills, or make necessary online purchases. If you’re in that group, and you also have a damaged credit history, things can get even tougher. Check cashing fees can eat away at a paycheck, and sending money orders to pay bills adds an unnecessary expense. If you’re tired of these fees, a good prepaid debit card may be... read more »

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