A prepaid Visa card provides shoppers with convenience and safety. Using plastic versus dollar bills and coins gives shoppers greater accountability – a recap of your electronic purchases that can be tracked by phone or online. Prepaid Visa cards come with protection against online theft, and they are safer to carry than cash. No credit check is required for a prepaid Visa card and you can have your payroll earnings deposited towards your balance. Your spending limit is equal to the available balance on your prepaid Visa card and you can reload your card at anytime. Reloading a prepaid Visa card is the process of adding additional money to your card. Your prepaid card may be reloaded at the retail store that issued your card, using money packs, via money transfer services such as Western Union or Money Gram and from your bank account.
Getting Started
Making the Transfer
You can make an electronic funds transfer from your bank to your prepaid Visa card if you have online access. Log in to your online bank account to execute an ACH transfer or electronic funds transfer. This process will electronically transfer the amount of money you request from your checking account to your prepaid card, usually within one to three business days. Check with your bank for details. Signing up for direct deposit is free and your money will be added to your prepaid card faster. You can direct your employer to either deposit your entire paycheck, or a portion of your earnings.
Other Considerations
Verify that you are on a secure web page before providing personal or sensitive information. A secure web page that has a green strip across the URL name, or that displays "https" for the URL page, confirms that the web page will encrypt the transmission of your data, thereby providing you with protection and peace of mind.
References
- Green Dot: ACH Transfer
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: How do I add money to my prepaid card?
- Kroger Rewards Prepaid VISA: How to Add Money to Your Reloadable Prepaid Debit Card
- CStore: How to Add Money to Your Personalized Prepaid Debit Card
- Account Now: Deposit Center
- FDIC. "2017 FDIC National Survey of Unbanked and Underbanked Households." Accessed Oct. 15, 2020.
- Experian. "Do Prepaid Credit Cards Help Credit Scores?" Accessed Oct. 15, 2020.
Writer Bio
Ray Cole has written professionally since 1999 and has designed dozens of Web sites. Cole writes for eHow and "SF Gate." As a small business owner for over 15 years, he provides mortgage services, credit-related help and financial planning for his clients. Cole is currently writing a book about personal finance. He has also studied and taught martial arts for over 31 years.