How To Get Reloadable PrePaid Cards For No Fees [All You Need To Know]

how to get reloadable prepaid cards for no fees

Due to the advancement in technology in the banking and financial market, there has been the development of many money transfer and transaction methods. The development of gift cards and Prepaid cards is a gateway to making payments and transfers from card without a bank account. Although you can transfer money from  Prepaid card to your bank account.

A prepaid card is a type of payment card that is preloaded with a certain amount of money. This means that you can use the card to make purchases or withdraw cash up to the amount of money that is loaded onto the card. Prepaid cards are not linked to a bank account, so you do not need to have a credit check to get one. There are two types of prepaid cards: Reloadable and non-reloadable prepaid cards.

Reloadable cards are often used by people who do not have a bank account or who want to control their spending. They can also be a convenient way to pay for everyday expenses, such as groceries and gas.

Find out more details about prepaid cards, reloadable cards, how to get a reloadable prepaid card  for no fees and others in this article.

What Is A Prepaid Card?

A prepaid card is a type of payment card that is loaded with a specific amount of money upfront. This means you can use the card to make purchases or withdraw cash up to the preloaded amount. Unlike traditional debit cards linked to a bank account, prepaid cards operate on a prepaid basis, requiring you to add money before making transactions.

Prepaid cards are not connected to a bank account; instead, you must load money onto the card before using it. This can be done through various methods, such as cash at participating retailers, online transfers, or linking a bank account.

There are two types of prepaid cards: Reloadable and non-reloadable prepaid cards.

What Is a Reloadable Prepaid Cards?

A reloadable prepaid card is a type of prepaid card that can be loaded with money multiple times. Unlike debit cards, which are linked to a checking account, reloadable prepaid cards are not connected to a bank account and instead operate on a prepaid basis. This means that you must load money onto the card before you can use it to make purchases or withdraw money.

Reloadable prepaid cards are advantageous in the sense that they help you control over spending, and also there is no credit check required before used.

Reloadable prepaid cards can be used for everyday purchases, online transactions, and ATM withdrawals.

What are Non-Reloadable Prepaid Card?

A non-reloadable prepaid card is a type of prepaid card that cannot be loaded with additional funds once the initial amount has been depleted. These cards are typically used for one-time purchases or as gifts.

Non-reloadable prepaid cards have a fixed value. This shows that the amount it its can't be increase or reloaded after used. It is only for a one-time used.

Non-reloadable prepaid cards are often given as gifts, allowing the recipient to spend the preloaded amount at their discretion. Non-reloadable prepaid cards can be a useful financial tool when used responsibly and for specific purposes. They offer convenience, budgeting control, and security to your finances.

Some examples of non-reloadable prepaid cards includes

1. Gift Cards:

  • Retail Gift Cards: These cards are specific to a particular store or retailer, allowing the recipient to make purchases at that establishment. Examples include Amazon Gift Card, Walmart Gift Card, Target Gift Card, and Starbucks Gift Card.
  • General-Use Gift Cards: These cards can be used at a variety of merchants, offering more flexibility than retail gift cards. Examples include Visa Gift Card, Mast ercard Gift Card, and American Express Gift Card.

2. Travel Prepaid Cards:

  • Travel Prepaid Cards: These cards are designed for international travel, often offering favorable exchange rates and no foreign transaction fees. Examples include Travelex Cash Passport, Wise Travel Card, and Revolut Travel Card.
  • Airline Prepaid Cards: These cards are specifically for purchasing airline tickets and related expenses, such as baggage fees and seat upgrades. Examples include United MileagePlus Travel Card, Delta SkyMiles Prepaid Card, and American Airlines AAdvantage Prepaid Card.

3. Utility Prepaid Cards:

  • Utility Prepaid Cards: These cards are used to pay for utility bills, such as electricity, gas, and water. Examples include SmartPay Prepaid Card, PayPower Prepaid Card, and NetSpend Prepaid Utility Card.
  • Phone Prepaid Cards: These cards are used to pay for prepaid mobile phone plans and services. Examples include TracFone Prepaid Card, AT&T GoPhone Prepaid Card, and T-Mobile Prepaid Card.

4. Government Benefit Cards:

  • Government Benefit Cards: These cards are issued by government agencies to distribute benefits, such as unemployment insurance, food stamps, and TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families). Examples include Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) cards.

5. Event-Specific Prepaid Cards:

  • Event-Specific Prepaid Cards: These cards are loaded with funds for specific events, such as concerts, festivals, or sporting events. They allow for cashless transactions within the event venue.
  • Campus Prepaid Cards: These cards are issued by colleges or universities to students for various purposes, such as meal plans, bookstore purchases, or laundry services.

How To Get Reloadable Prepaid Cards For No Fees

As seen above, A reloadable prepaid card is a type of prepaid card that can be loaded with money multiple times.

Several options allow you to obtain reloadable prepaid cards for free without incurring any fees. below are some of the common methods that you can used:

Sign Up for a Free Checking Account that offers a Prepaid card

Several financial institutions provide free checking accounts that include a reloadable prepaid card. These accounts typically require no minimum balance or monthly maintenance fees. You can load the prepaid card with funds from your checking account, allowing you to manage your finances conveniently.

Some great financial institutions that offer free checking accounts reloadable prepaid cards includes:

  • Chime Checking Account, that offers a free checking account with a reloadable Visa debit card.
  • Current Checking Account. You can earn up to 4% cashback on qualifying purchases, and there are no monthly fees or minimum balance requirements.
  • Varo Bank Checking Account. You can also earn up to 5% interest on your balance, up to $3,000.
  • Axos Bank Rewards Checking Account. You can also earn up to 1% cash back on all purchases.
  • SoFi Checking and Savings Account. You can also earn up to 2.00% APY on your savings balance.

To open a free checking account using a prepaid card, you will normally need to provide basic personal information such as your name, address, and date of birth. You may also be required to provide your Social Security number and the routing number for your current bank account.

After you open a free checking account, you will receive your reloadable debit card in the mail. After that, you can activate your card and begin making purchases, withdrawing cash, and transferring payments.

Get a Prepaid Card from your Employer: 

Many employers offer their employees reloadable prepaid cards as a way to pay wages. This option can be particularly convenient for those who prefer not to deal with cash or direct deposit.

Some advantages of Employer-Issued Prepaid Cards include:

  • Convenience: Employees can receive their wages directly on their prepaid cards, eliminating the need to visit a bank or ATM.
  • Faster Access to Funds: Prepaid cards allow employees to access their wages immediately upon payroll processing, rather than waiting for a check to clear.
  • Security: Prepaid cards offer a more secure way to carry wages compared to cash, reducing the risk of theft or loss.
  • Financial Management: Prepaid cards can help employees manage their finances by providing a clear spending history and enabling budgeting tools.

How to Get a Prepaid Card from Your Employer:

  1. Check if Your Employer Offers Prepaid Cards: Contact your human resources department or payroll department to inquire about the availability of prepaid cards.
  2. Enroll for the Prepaid Card Program: If your employer offers prepaid cards, they will typically provide you with an enrollment form or online portal to sign up.
  3. Personal Information and Activation: Provide your personal information, such as your name, address, and contact details, to complete the enrollment process. Once enrolled, you will receive your prepaid card and instructions for activation.
  4. Linking Your Bank Account (Optional): Some prepaid cards allow you to link your bank account for convenient transfers between accounts.
  5. Loading Funds and Usage: Your employer will load your wages directly onto your prepaid card. You can use the card to make purchases, withdraw cash, and transfer funds to your bank account.

Take Advantage of Promotions:

Various prepaid card companies offer promotions that allow you to receive a free card when you load it with a specific amount of money. These promotions can be a great way to get started with a prepaid card without incurring any fees.

Some examples of current promotions include:

  • Bluebird by American Express: Get a $100 statement credit when you load $100 or more onto your Bluebird card within 30 days of account opening.
  • Green Dot Prepaid Mastercard: Get a $50 bonus when you load $200 or more onto your Green Dot card within 30 days of account opening.
  • Netspend Prepaid Mastercard: Get a $25 bonus when you load $100 or more onto your Netspend card within 30 days of account opening.
  • PayPal Prepaid Mastercard: Get a $10 bonus when you load $50 or more onto your PayPal Prepaid card within 30 days of account opening.
  • ONE VIP Visa Prepaid Card: Get a $10 bonus when you load $50 or more onto your ONE VIP Visa card within 30 days of account opening.

Use a mobile app:

Several mobile apps offer reloadable prepaid cards without fees. These apps typically require linking your bank account or debit card to load the prepaid card. However, they often provide a convenient and fee-free way to manage your finances.

Some popular mobile apps that provide reloadable prepaid cards are:

  1. Green Dot Prepaid App: The Green Dot Prepaid app allows you to manage your Green Dot prepaid card, including checking your balance, loading funds, and setting spending alerts.
  2. Netspend Prepaid App: The Netspend Prepaid app provides similar features for managing your Netspend prepaid card, including viewing transactions, transferring funds, and locating ATMs.
  3. PayPal Prepaid Mastercard App: The PayPal Prepaid Mastercard app allows you to manage your PayPal Prepaid Mastercard, including checking your balance, sending money, and linking PayPal accounts.
  4. Serve American Express Prepaid Debit Account App: The Serve American Express Prepaid Debit Account app provides features for managing your Serve prepaid card, including viewing transactions, scheduling transfers, and receiving cashback rewards.
  5. Movo Virtual Prepaid Visa Card App: The Movo Virtual Prepaid Visa Card app allows you to manage your Movo virtual prepaid card, including loading funds, making online purchases, and setting up direct deposit.
  6. FamZoo Prepaid Card App: The FamZoo Prepaid Card app provides parental controls for managing children's FamZoo prepaid cards, including setting spending limits, assigning allowances, and tracking transactions.
  7. Greenlight Prepaid Mastercard App: The Greenlight Prepaid Mastercard app offers similar features for managing children's Greenlight prepaid cards, including parental spending controls, real-time transaction monitoring, and educational tools.

What Are The Best Reloadable Prepaid Cards?

There are different types of reloadable prepaid cards available, each with its own set of features and benefits. Some of  the best reloadable prepaid cards from visa origin include:

  1. Bluebird by American Express: Bluebird is a widely accepted reloadable prepaid card that offers no monthly fees and free ATM withdrawals at participating ATMs. It also provides cashback rewards on select purchases and allows direct deposit of paychecks or government benefits.
  2. Green Dot Prepaid Mastercard: Green Dot is another popular reloadable prepaid card with no monthly fees and free ATM withdrawals at participating ATMs. It offers a variety of load options, including cash at retail locations, online transfers, and payroll direct deposit.
  3. Netspend Prepaid Mastercard: Netspend is a versatile reloadable prepaid card with no monthly fees and free ATM withdrawals at participating ATMs. It offers various load options, including cash at retail locations, online transfers, and payroll direct deposit.
  4. Serve American Express Prepaid Debit Account: Serve is a reloadable prepaid card with no monthly fees and free ATM withdrawals at participating ATMs. It also provides cashback rewards on select purchases and allows direct deposit of paychecks or government benefits.
  5. ONE VIP Visa Prepaid Card: ONE VIP is a reloadable prepaid card designed for the underserved communities. It offers no monthly fees, free ATM withdrawals at participating ATMs, and cashback rewards on select purchases.
  6. FamZoo Prepaid Card: FamZoo is a reloadable prepaid card designed for families. It allows parents to control spending, set allowances, and track transactions for their children.
  7. Greenlight Prepaid Mastercard: Greenlight is another reloadable prepaid card designed for families. It provides similar features to FamZoo, including parental controls, allowance management, and spending tracking.
  8. Movo Virtual Prepaid Visa Card: Movo is a virtual reloadable prepaid card that can be used for online purchases and mobile payments. It offers no monthly fees and allows loading funds from a linked bank account.
  9. NetSpend Visa Prepaid Card: NetSpend is a reloadable prepaid card that offers a paired savings account. This allows users to save and earn interest while still having access to reloadable funds for spending.
  10. Walmart MoneyCard: Walmart MoneyCard is a reloadable prepaid card that offers cashback rewards on Walmart purchases and free ATM withdrawals at Walmart ATMs.

Benefits Of Using Reloadable Prepaid Cards

Getting a free reloadable prepaid card can be the best option to control your spending, here are some of the benefits of using reloadable cards:

  • No credit check required.
  • No monthly fees (for some cards).
  • ATM fee rebates (for some cards).
  • Can be loaded with cash or funds from a bank account or debit card.
  • Can be used to make purchases anywhere that accepts the card's network.
  • Can be used to withdraw cash from ATMs.

Final Thought About Reloadable Prepaid Cards for free

A reloadable prepaid card is a type of prepaid card that can be loaded with money multiple times. Unlike debit cards, which are linked to a checking account, reloadable prepaid cards are not connected to a bank account and instead operate on a prepaid basis. This means that you must load money onto the card before you can use it to make purchases or withdraw money.

Several options allow you to obtain reloadable prepaid cards for free without incurring any fees such as; sign up for a free checking account that offers a Prepaid card, get a prepaid card from your employer, or taking advantage of promotions.

Reloadable prepaid card are beneficial in the sense that they have no monthly fees, can be use to withdraw at ATMs, no credit check required and others.

Aside reloadable prepaid, we have non-reloadable  prepaid cards with are for one time used only. See details above.

Frequently Asked Questions ( FAQs) about Prepaid cards

People are also looking for details on the following topic, which might also be of interest to you.

VISA Prepaid Card

A Visa Prepaid card is a prepaid card that is associated with the Visa network. This means you can use it to make purchases anywhere Visa is accepted. Visa prepaid cards are often reloadable, which means you may replenish the card when it runs out of funds.

There are several advantages to using a Visa prepaid card. For starters, they are a convenient method of payment. The card can be used to make purchases online, in stores, or over the phone. Second, they are a secure method of payment. Visa prepaid cards are covered by Visa's Zero Liability policy, which means you are not held responsible for fraudulent transactions. Third, they can assist you in budgeting. Visa prepaid cards can be a useful budgeting tool because you can only spend the money that has been loaded onto the card.

Some Most Popular Visa Prepaid Cards

  • Bluebird by American Express: Bluebird is a popular reloadable prepaid card that offers no monthly fees and free ATM withdrawals at participating ATMs.
  • Green Dot Prepaid Mastercard: Green Dot is another popular reloadable prepaid card with no monthly fees and free ATM withdrawals at participating ATMs.
  • Netspend Prepaid Mastercard: Netspend is a versatile reloadable prepaid card with no monthly fees and free ATM withdrawals at participating ATMs.
  • Serve American Express Prepaid Debit Account: Serve is a reloadable prepaid card with no monthly fees and free ATM withdrawals at participating ATMs.
  • ONE VIP Visa Prepaid Card: ONE VIP is a reloadable prepaid card designed for the underserved communities. It offers no monthly fees, free ATM withdrawals at participating ATMs, and cashback rewards on select purchases.

You can obtain a Visa prepaid card by visiting a participating shop or by signing up online. Typically, you will be required to submit your name, address, date of birth, and Social Security number. You will receive your card in the mail once you have been accepted.

Fees Associated With Visa Prepaid Cards

Monthly fees: Some Visa prepaid cards include a monthly cost, which normally ranges between $5 and $10.

ATM withdrawal fees: If you withdraw cash from an ATM that is not part of the card's network, you may be charged a fee.

Purchase fees: Some Visa prepaid cards have a purchase fee, which is usually a modest percentage of the transaction amount.

Fees for reloading your card: You may be charged a fee if you reload it with cash at a merchant.