For those that don’t have a bank or need a budgeting tool, prepaid debit cards can be a great plastic alternative to your wallet. Reloadable prepaid cards work similarly to debit cards. The only difference is that you’ll preload funds to the card using cash instead of using it to access the money in your checking account. If you’re trying to minimize card charges, you’ll be happy to learn that you can get reloadable prepaid cards with no fees. It means you can avoid some of the standard costs that most general-purpose reloadable cards apply, depending on which card you buy.
When you purchase this reloadable card for the first time, you’ll get a temporary debit card for making purchases until you deplete the funds. After that, you’ll need to register your card and upgrade the account so that the GPR card becomes reloadable with direct deposit and access ATMs, among other features. As you register the card, the issuer will ask for your basic details, including your address, email, SSN, date of birth, and name. Non-US citizens can use their foreign ID or taxi ID number to sign up for prepaid debit cards with no fees.
You should also keep in mind that a reloadable prepaid card with no fees is not a gift card. Unlike a gift card, a reloadable card will deduct monthly charges from your card balance, whether it’s in active use or not. Another contrasting feature is that general-purpose prepaid cards are reloadable while gift cards are not. In this article, we’ll be talking about the best reloadable prepaid cards with no monthly fees. We’ll also tell you why people use these cards and help you learn how to choose the right one for you.
Reloadable Prepaid Cards With No Fees: Everything You Should Know
Before we look at the available reloadable prepaid cards with no fees, we have to clarify that you’ll eventually pay some type of charges. Therefore, we must highlight some significant card fees apart from load or reload costs. Many of these charges are similar to debit cards and traditional checking accounts.
Since you’ll want to minimize these costs, go for a reloadable prepaid card that is transparent about their charges. For example, most of the reloadable prepaid visa cards have clear fee schedules that highlight all potential expenses. The following table shows the typical fees you’ll expect to find with most GPR cards;
| Type of Fee | Description | Average Cost |
| Card purchase | Cost of obtaining your card | Between $2 and $5 |
| Monthly maintenance | Card maintenance charge | Between $5 and $6 |
| Out-of-network ATM fee | Withdraw cash from non-network ATMs | Between $2 and $3 |
| Balance checks | Checking card balance at ATMs | Between $1 and $2 |
| Card Replacement | To replace lost cards | Between $4 and $10 |
| Foreign Transaction | Transactions outside the US | Between 2% and 4% of the total transaction |
Once more, we want to remind you that reloadable prepaid cards with no fees are not free. Instead, the cards we’ll list don’t have some of the charges in the chart above.
8 Benefits of Reloadable Prepaid Cards
Initially, you’d get a reloadable card if you didn’t qualify for a bank account or credit card. Today, however, consumers are increasingly using this product for various reasons. Here are the eight most widespread advantages of using reloadable prepaid cards;
- Avoid Banks: Part of the US population remains unbanked, while other customers are avoiding unpredictable bank charges. Plastic money is more convenient for their transactions.
- Purchase Without Credit: Some consumers don’t qualify or do not want credit cards. Instead, reloadable prepaid cards with no fees are more convenient as they can shop at almost every outlet accepting Visa, AMEX, or MasterCard debits. Also, it helps customers to avoid incurring debt through credit cards.
- Safe Online Shopping: Today, people can shop on the internet safely using reloadable cards, with no fraud concerns, as is the case with online credit card shopping.
- Protect Money: You’re better of having your money in a plastic card than carrying hard cash. Similarly, a GPR card account is much safer compared to stashing cash at home. The issuer can replace a stolen prepaid card and restore the balance in your account.
- Tracking Expenditure: It’s very easy to spend cash mindlessly. But you can review and monitor electronic transactions. The feature helps many people to budget their spending. For instance, you can use the card to save for your family vacation. Some cardholders add a certain amount of money to their reloadable cards every month, which they start using during the trip.
- Handling Business Spending: Currently, a lot of small enterprises are also using general-purpose cards for budgeting. For example, instead of the petty cash drawer, the business keeps a card for non-recurring expenses, office supplies, and company events. The sales department might use the card to pay for trips, for instance. In this case, GPR cards are less risky than credit cards, more secure than hard cash, and cheaper to handle than preparing expense statements.
- Accessible Finances for Teens: Many families are turning to prepaid products to allow access to money for kids, teens, as well as college students. It’s easy for parents to give an allowance for books, groceries, and gas, among other expenses. Besides, reloadable cards can be an emergency fund for teens and a tool to help them learn responsible financial management.
- Limit Charges: Now, some customers want to cut monthly fees. The best-prepaid debit cards usually disclose all associated costs in advance. It means you can avoid nasty end-month surprises like late surcharges, overdraft penalties, or interest fees.
Before we wrap up the benefits of reloadable prepaid cards with no fees, let’s clarify that the cards aren’t free. Regardless, customers prefer these GPR cards for predictable payment schedules compared to traditional checking accounts.
How To Get The Right Reloadable Prepaid Card
You have seen what reloadable prepaid cards are and are now aware of the benefits you can get from one. And you must be wondering, “Which reloadable prepaid card with no fees is right for me?” In this section, we are going to help you learn how to choose the right prepaid card for your needs.
Even though most general-purpose reloadable cards have similar functions, each comes with unique features and costs. So, you should first consider how you want to use the reloadable product to help you find the right match. In that case, we recommend that you answer the following questions before picking a card:
1. How Do You Plan To Use The GPR Card?
Finding the best-prepaid card may seem grueling due to the numerous rewards and perks of each product. If you narrow down the choices based on your intended use can make it easy to make an informed decision. The card could have many applications, including;
- Your primary financial management tool
- A way to allow financial access to your kids
- A complementary product to existing bank accounts
The more functions you’ll want for the card, the more you’ll need to access the full range of features. Therefore, it would make sense to pay higher monthly charges and waive each of the card’s transaction costs like bill payment, ATM access, and direct deposit, for free.
2. How Many Monthly Transactions Do You Expect To Make On Average?
If you plan to use the card more frequently, consider a costly card, which will give you cash back money in return. On the other hand, a cheap, entry cost card would be best for once-in-a-while monthly online transactions.
3. Will You Be Looking For Cash Back?
Ordinarily, you can get cash from a bank teller through ATMs or in the form of cash back rewards after making purchases. Individual cards have different policies and possible fees for each method. Consider a card with the cheapest possible access to funds if you’ll need cash back often.
4. How Frequently Will You Load Or Reload The Card?
After activating the temporary card, most issuers allow free direct deposit reloads. And if you intend to reload the card with cash, it’s vital to confirm how much you’ll pay for each reload. While the reloadable card may not apply a fee, the retailer is likely to charge for reloads.
5. Do you intend to include a direct deposit?
Some GPR cards will waive monthly charges if you deposit a set dollar amount every month. The Green Dot Prepaid Card, for example, waives monthly fees for customers who deposit at least $1,000. So, if you intend to include direct deposit, consider getting a card that’ll waive monthly charges or offer different benefits instead.
6. Do you plan to transfer funds to other people?
Most card companies have free instant transfers for in-house brand cardholders. It might be worth checking out the reloadable products that those in your circle are using to help you make a decision.
After studying and answering these questions, you now have a higher understanding of the card features you’ll often need. Without a self-appraisal, you can quickly overlook a good deal on a card for its high monthly fees. However, that card might ultimately be the least costly option if the services you’ll use frequently are charge-free.
It makes sense, for example, to pay more cash every month to secure free funds transfers to people with a similar card, free cash access, and free swipe reloads at groceries. Conversely, picking low monthly rates might work better for you if you’ll rarely use the reloadable card to access cash.
With that in mind, below are our top ten list of the best reloadable prepaid cards with no fees in 2020.
Top 10 Best Reloadable Prepaid Cards With No Fees
No one likes paying fees. So, we whittled down available options in the market to bring you the ten best reloadable prepaid cards with no fees.
1. NetSpend Visa Prepaid Card
The NetSpend reloadable prepaid Visa card comes with a direct deposit feature that’ll pay you faster than regular paper checks. The card is available in two main plans;
- Monthly Plan with $9.95 per month for free transactions
- Pay-as-you-go plan with a one-dollar fee for each transaction with your signature, and a two-dollar charge for individual transactions with your PIN
Here are other details about the card;
- Multiple cash reload options, including PayPal, direct deposit, tax refunds, bank account, mobile check deposit, and NetSpend account transfers
- Same-day mobile check processing for a fee
- Access NetSpend Mobile App for account management
- Text and email alerts for transactions
- Use at global outlets that accept Visa Debit cards
- Over 130,000 NetSpend locations across the US
- Offers from 0.50% to 5.00% annual interest savings account
NetSpend Visa Prepaid Card Fees
| Type of Fee | Cost |
| Card purchase | From $2.95 to $9.95 at retailers Free when you order and register online |
| Monthly charge | Varies up to $9.95 a month Activate at least $500 monthly direct deposits for a $5 monthly fee |
| Out-of-network ATM | $2.50 + network fee |
| In-network ATM | $2.50 |
| Declined ATM Transaction | $1 per transaction |
| Foreign Transaction | 4% of the total transaction |
| Purchases | From $1 to $2 per purchase Pay $9.95 a month for free transactions |
| Inactivity charges | $5.95 for 90-days’ inactive cards |
| Account Closure | $5.95 to receive account balance via mailed check |
| Retailers’ Checkouts | Free |
| OTC bank withdrawals | $2.50 |
What We Like
- No late or overdraft fees
- Free direct deposits
- Same-day check processing
- Numerous ways to reload cash
- Availability of interest-earning savings account
- Convenient mobile app with text and email alerts
- Vast NetSpend network throughout the country
- Long customer hours beyond 9-to-5 regular time, including weekends
What We Don’t Like
- No free ATM access
- No free online bill pay service
- Pay $3.95 to reload funds at NetSpend locations
- Wait ten days to receive cash via free check processing
- Additional charges to check account balance via ATM or requesting funds transfer through customer service
2. Brinks Prepaid MasterCard
Brink’s reloadable prepaid card gives you peace of mind through quick, direct deposit payments. You shouldn’t expect to pay monthly maintenance charges with this card’s pay-as-you-go-plan unless you stop using it. Customers pay a flat fee of $1.00 per signature transaction, on this plans, and a $2.00 fee per PIN transaction
Here are other details about the card;
- Reload cash from a bank account, NetSpend locations, or direct deposits
- Same-day mobile check processing for a fee
- Online bill pay
- Free direct deposit
- Access Brinks Mobile App for account management
- Text and email alerts for transactions
- Use at global outlets that accept MasterCard Debit cards
- Use the over 130,000 NetSpend locations across the US to reload cash
- Offers interest-earning savings account
Brinks Prepaid MasterCard Fee Schedule
| Type of Fee | Cost |
| Card purchase | $0 |
| Monthly charge | Varies up to $9.95 a month Activate at least $500 monthly direct deposits for a $5 monthly fee |
| Out-of-network ATM | $2.50 + network fee |
| In-network ATM | $2.50 |
| Declined ATM Transaction | $1 per transaction |
| Foreign Transaction | 3.5% of the total transaction |
| Purchases | From $1 to $2 per purchase Pay $9.95 a month for free transactions |
| Inactivity charges | $5.95 for 90-days’ inactive cards |
| Account Closure | $0 |
| Retailers’ Checkouts | Free |
| OTC bank withdrawals | $2.50 |
What We Like
- No late or overdraft fees
- Free direct deposits
- $0 to load your card
- No account closure fees
- Available in prescription discounts
- Flexibility to connect an interest-bearing savings account
- Up to $10 purchase cushioning for select customers
- Convenient mobile app with text and email alerts
- Free funds transfer to NetSpend cardholders
- PayBack rewards for shopping at eligible merchants
- Long customer hours beyond 9-to-5 regular time, including weekends
What We Don’t Like
- No free ATM access
- Charges an account inactivity fee
- Additional charges of up to $0.50 to check account balance via ATM
- Requires between 300 and 850 FICO score to qualify for the card
- Limited reload options
3. American Express Serve
The AMEX Serve prepaid card comes with free cash withdrawals at thousands of MoneyPass ATM network across the United States.
Other details about this card include;
- Free funds reload at 45k+ locations such as Walmart, CVS pharmacy, and Dollar General, among others
- Pay online bills for free
- Bank transfers at $0
- Convenient mobile app for managing funds
- Up to 120 days’ purchase protection
- Two days’ advance direct deposit at $0
- Convenient free subaccount options
- Instant access to funds through mobile check deposits at a fee
- Text and email alerts for transactions
- Shop online and at retail stores that accept AMEX cards
- Add funds via direct deposit, check deposit with a mobile app, linked banked account, linked debit cards, or loading at over 45,000 retail locations
AMEX Serve Prepaid Fee Schedule
| Type of Fee | Cost |
| Card purchase | $0 for online purchase Up to $3.95 at retail stores |
| Monthly charge | Varies up to $6.95 a month Activate at least $500 monthly direct deposits for a waiver No charges in NY, TX, and VT |
| Out-of-network ATM | $2.50 + operator fee |
| In-network ATM | $0 |
| Declined ATM Transaction | $0.75 per transaction, no charges in Vermont |
| Foreign Transaction | 2.7% of the total transaction |
| Purchases | $0 |
| Inactivity charges | $0 |
| Account Closure | $0 |
| Retailers’ Checkouts | Free |
| OTC bank withdrawals | $2.50 |
What We Like
- No late or overdraft fees
- Free direct deposits
- $0 to load your card
- No account closure fees
- $0 subaccounts
- Convenient mobile app with text and email alerts
What We Don’t Like
- $500 direct deposits every month to waive monthly fees
- Pay a fee to buy the card from retail locations
4. Bluebird by American Express
AMEX Bluebird card is among the finest reloadable prepaid cards with no fees you can obtain. It comes with no monthly costs, free direct deposits, and no transaction charges.
Other details about this card include;
- Great features to help with budgeting
- Free to load and spend money
- Free direct deposits
- Free card replacements
- Convenient mobile app for managing funds
- Instant access to funds through mobile check deposits at a fee
- Text and email alerts for transactions
- Shop online and at retail stores that accept AMEX cards
- Add funds via direct deposit, check deposit with a mobile app, debit card transfers, in-network card transfers, or load cash at Walmart and other retailers
Bluebird Prepaid Fee Schedule
| Type of Fee | Cost |
| Card purchase | $0 |
| Monthly charge | $0 |
| Out-of-network ATM | $2.50 + operator fee |
| In-network ATM | $0 |
| Declined ATM Transaction | $0.75 per transaction |
| Foreign Transaction | Free |
| Purchases | $0 |
| Inactivity charges | $0 |
| Account Closure | $0 |
| Retailers’ Checkouts | Free |
| OTC bank withdrawals | $2.50 |
What We Like
- No late or overdraft fees
- Free direct deposits
- $0 to load your card
- No account closure fees
- Free subaccounts
- Offers check-writing feature
- Availability of interest-earning savings account
- No foreign transaction fees
What We Don’t Like
- Other retailers besides Walmart may charge up to $3.95 per reload
- No funds transfer from bank accounts
5. Chase Liquid Prepaid Card
Get your Chase Liquid reloadable card for fee-free free transactions with a slight monthly charge.
The main features of this card include;
- Great features to help with budgeting
- Free to check the account balance
- Send money to non-Chase accounts for free
- Convenient mobile app for managing funds
- Instant access to funds through mobile check deposits at a fee
- Text and email alerts for transactions
- Shop online and at retail stores that accept Visa cards
- Add funds via Chase QuickDeposit, Chase ATMs, thousands of Chase bank branches, direct deposit, check deposit with a mobile app, and online transfers
Chase Liquid Prepaid Card Fee Schedule
| Type of Fee | Cost |
| Card purchase | $0 |
| Monthly charge | $4.95 or waive by linking to a Chase checking account |
| Out-of-network ATM | $2.50 |
| In-network ATM | $0 |
| Declined ATM Transaction | $0 |
| Foreign Transaction | 3% of the total transaction |
| Purchases | $0 |
| Inactivity charges | $0 |
| Account Closure | $0 |
| Retailers’ Checkouts | Free |
| OTC bank withdrawals | Free |
What We Like
- Multiple ways to load cash at $0
- Provides fraud protection services
- Free online bill pay
- Reimbursements for unauthorized purchases
- Free direct deposits
What We Don’t Like
- No check writing feature
- An almost unavoidable monthly fee
6. PayPal Prepaid MasterCard
The prepaid MasterCard from PayPal offers an easy and convenient way to direct deposit your government tax refunds without waiting in line.
Here are the main features of the PayPal prepaid MasterCard;
- Quickly fund your prepaid card account with a transfer from your PayPal account
- Earn cash rewards among other offers for using the card
- Quick payments through direct deposits
- Provides an optional interest-earning savings account
- Convenient mobile app for managing funds
- Text and email alerts for transactions
- Order subaccount cards for free
- Shop online and at retail stores that accept MasterCard debits
- Use the over 130,000 NetSpend retail locations to add funds
- Free direct deposits
- Add funds through direct deposit, NetSpend reload locations, reload packs, bank transfers, and tax refunds
PayPal Prepaid MasterCard Fee Schedule
| Type of Fee | Cost |
| Card purchase | $0 |
| Monthly charge | $4.95 |
| Out-of-network ATM | $1.95 + any operator costs |
| Declined ATM Transaction | $1 |
| Foreign Transaction | 2.5% of the total transaction |
| Purchases | $0 |
| Inactivity charges | $0 |
| Account Closure | $0 |
| Retailers’ Checkouts | Up to $4.00 |
| OTC bank withdrawals | $2.50 |
What We Like
- Multiple ways to load cash
- Free mobile check deposit with same-day processing at a fee
- Free online services like
- Free customer care
- Free purchase cushioning of up to $10
- Free online bill pay
- Earn cash back at select retail stores
- Free direct deposits
- Free to add sub-accounts
What We Don’t Like
- Non-waivable monthly fee
- No network ATMs
- The card has additional charges like statement mailing costs
7. Akimbo Prepaid MasterCard
Akimbo is among the finest reloadable prepaid cards with no fees for letting you create different cards for each budgeting goal. After that, you can manage each of its prepaid MasterCard using the Akimbo app.
The most popular features of the Akimbo Prepaid MasterCard include;
- Add the first two sub-account for free
- Schedule automatic loading every week for recurrent expenditure
- Get to enable and disable subaccount cards using the Akimbo app
- Activate text alerts to receive a message after every transaction
- Low cost $0.99 PIN purchase fee per transaction
- Access card balance via ATM at $0.33 per request
- Shop online and at thousands of retail stores worldwide that accept MasterCard debit
Akimbo Prepaid MasterCard Fee Schedule
| Type of Fee | Cost |
| Card purchase | $4.95 |
| Monthly charge | $0 |
| Out-of-network ATM | $1.98 + any operator costs |
| Declined ATM Transaction | $0 |
| Foreign Transaction | 3% of the total transaction |
| Purchases | $0 to $0.99 |
| Inactivity charges | $4.95 |
| Reload fees | $0, although providers may apply a fee |
What We Like
- No monthly charges
- Free to add the first two subaccounts
- One free card replacement per year
- Convenient app for managing funds
- Akimbo doesn’t charge reload fees although retailers may apply fees
- Great for budgeting goals
What We Don’t Like
- The card has a PIN purchase transaction that adds up
- No free ATM withdrawals
8. Movo Digital Prepaid Visa Card
You can avoid the monthly or per-transaction fees that most prepaid cards apply by getting Movo’s prepaid card. The card has neither of the charges, save for when you choose to stay more than three months without using it.
Here are the main features you’ll get with Movo Virtual Prepaid Card;
- Enjoy Movo’s digital element for online shopping
- Purchase products in-person from retailers using the physical
- Leverage Movo’s free ATM network for cash withdrawals
- Free online bill pay
- Shop online or in-store for retailers that accept Visa cards
- Enjoy free domestic and international ATM balance inquiries
- Pay $0 for international purchases
- Convenient mobile app for online transactions and managing funds on the go
- Load your card account with MovoChain feature for blockchain transactions
- Numerous ways to reload your account, including bank account transfers, mobile check deposits, crypto-currency transfers like bitcoin to cash, and Visa Readylink or MoneyPak retailers for cash reloads
Movo Digital Prepaid Card Fee Schedule
| Type of Fee | Cost |
| Card purchase | $0 |
| Monthly charge | $0 |
| Out-of-network ATM | $2.00 + any operator costs |
| Declined ATM Transaction | $0 |
| OTC withdrawals | $0 |
| Foreign Transaction | $0 |
| Purchases | $0 |
| Inactivity charges | $4.95 |
| Reload fees | $0, although retail providers may apply a fee |
What We Like
- Free to create secondary online card accounts
- Accepts Samsung Pay, Apple Pay, and Google Pay through MovoCoin
- Free card to bank money transfers
- Multiple free methods to reload your account, including PayPal and bank transfers
- No monthly charges
- Nationwide, free ATM network
- No purchase fees
- Supports crypto-currency funds transfers
- Free international transactions
What We Don’t Like
- Costly inactivity surcharge that applies after three months of card dormancy
- Doesn’t accept funds transfer to Venmo
9. Chase Starbucks Rewards Prepaid Card
If you need an excellent alternative for reloadable prepaid cards with no fees, then the Starbucks Rewards Visa Card may just be what you need.
The card packs great features, including;
- Earn rewards for every $10 spent
- Use the card for online purchases and in-store for retailers that accept Visa cards
- You won’t have to worry about monthly or annual charges
- Keep your account active to maintain your rewards points
- Convenient Chase Mobile app to track your expenditure
Chase Starbucks Rewards Prepaid Card Fee Schedule
| Type of Fee | Cost |
| Card purchase | $0 |
| Monthly charge | $0 |
| Out-of-network ATM | Not Available |
| Declined ATM Transaction | Not Available |
| OTC withdrawals | Not Available |
| Foreign Transaction | 3% of the total transaction |
| Purchases | $0 |
| Inactivity charges | $0 |
| Reload fees | $0, although retail providers may apply a fee |
What We Like
- Free online bill pay
- Free online and in-person purchases
- No monthly service charges
- No inactivity fees
- Free transfers from banks or other Chase Liquid cards
- Free debit card funds transfer
- Free online and telephone customer service, including balance inquiries
What We Don’t Like
- Doesn’t offer ATM or branch access
- No cash or check reloads
10. American Express Serve Cash Back
The AMEX Serve Cash Back wraps up the best reloadable prepaid cards with no fees.
The card is popular among its three Serve versions for these features;
- No monthly fees for New York, Vermont, and Texas cardholders
- Earn 1% cash back for any expenditure
- Reload funds for $3.95 at 45k+ locations such as Walmart, CVS pharmacy, and Dollar General, among others
- Pay bills online at no cost
- Transfer funds from a bank account at $0 fees
- Convenient mobile app for managing funds
- Up to 120 days’ purchase protection
- Two days’ advance direct deposit at $0
- Convenient free subaccount options
- Instant access to funds through mobile check deposits at a fee
- Text and email alerts for transactions
- Shop online and at retail stores that accept AMEX cards
- Add funds via direct deposit, check deposit with a mobile app, linked banked account, linked debit cards, or loading at over 45,000 retail locations
AMEX Serve Cash Back Fee Schedule
| Type of Fee | Cost |
| Card purchase | $0 for online purchase Up to $3.95 at retail stores |
| Monthly charge | Standard $7.95 a month, save for NY, TX, and VT residents |
| Out-of-network ATM | $2.50 + operator fee |
| In-network ATM | $0 |
| Declined ATM Transaction | $0.75 per transaction, no charges in Vermont |
| Foreign Transaction | 2.7% of the total transaction |
| Purchases | $0 |
| Inactivity charges | $0 |
| Account Closure | $0 |
| Retailers’ Checkouts | Free |
| OTC bank withdrawals | $2.50 |
What We Like
- No late or overdraft fees
- Free direct deposits
- Earn cash back for all your spending
- No account closure fees
- Free subaccounts
- Convenient mobile app with text and email alerts
What We Don’t Like
- Non-waivable monthly fees
- Pay a fee to buy the card from retail locations
Let not this shortlist of cards worry you. These are not the only options available for reloadable prepaid cards with no fees. If you do your homework, you can avoid any charges from foreign transaction costs to monthly services fees.
Where Are Reloadable Prepaid Cards Sold
There are two ways to buy your reloadable prepaid cards with no fees. The two ways to obtain your card are;
1. On The Internet
The majority of card issuers let you register for a card on the web. You’ll need to visit your preferred card issuer’s webpage and follow the instructions. The registration process is usually straightforward. However, you should be ready to provide some essential personal details, including;
- Your official name
- Your contact information
- Your Social Security Number
After that, you will have to create a username and unique password. Also, you’ll be answering a few security questions to help you access your account should you lose your password.
Once you complete the sign-up process, you’ll get a temporary card. The issuer will then tell you when to expect the physical prepaid card through the mail. It often takes one or two weeks to receive the physical card. The best thing about this online process is that it often excludes the sign-up fees.
The downside with online registration is you won’t get a physical card instantly. But you can still use your temporary GPR card for in-store and online purchases.
2. In-Store Reloadable Prepaid Card Purchases
Another way to get reloadable prepaid cards with no fees is by visiting a card issuer’s participating retailer. Generally, you’ll find prepaid cards at various national retail chains like Walmart, Rite Aid, Walgreens, Dollar General, 7-Eleven, Kmart, CVS, and Family Dollar, among others.
With an in-store purchase, you can bring cash for the first card load and let the cashier add it to your card. But keep in mind that the clerk will deduct relevant purchase fees. Like the online sign-up process, you’ll get a temporary card with the physical one to follow via mail in a week or two.
If you’re in a tangle about where to buy reloadable prepaid cards with no fees, here’s a chart from The Pew Charitable Trusts showing where Americans buy their cards;
| Place of Purchase | Percentage of Buyers |
| Supermarket | 45% |
| Other retailers | 8% |
| Other organization | 2% |
| Online-based issuer | 8% |
| Discount store | 63% |
| Department store | 17% |
| Credit card company | 29% |
| A convenience store or gas station | 32% |
| Check cashers | 22% |
| Bank or savings institution | 26% |
You’ll want to note that the card balance in your temporary card will reflect automatically in your physical prepaid card when it arrives.
How Does Reloadable Prepaid Card Work?
Even though prepaid cards are almost similar to bank debit cards, GPR cards have a handful of important variations that you need to learn before you begin using them.
Some sources refer to prepaid cards as reloadable cards, general-purpose reloadable cards – GPR cards, or prepaid credit cards. The cards function by allowing you to preload the account with funds, similar to a gift card. Conversely, you can use them for online and in-store shopping like a credit card.
You can use the most reloadable prepaid cards at the majority of the places that accept typical credit cards. Besides, major credit card issuers like MasterCard, American Express, Visa, and Discover, also brand prepaid cards. Each expenditure deducts funds from the card balance, without the flexibility to spend more than what’s available on the cards. Once you deplete the balance, you can add more funds to the card or dispose of it.
Are Prepaid Cards Different from Bank Debit Cards
The main contrasting feature between GPR cards and bank-issued debits is that, unlike the latter, reloadable prepaid cards don’t link to a particular bank account. Therefore, prepaid credit cards are freestanding accounts to which you’ll add money using various methods. And even if it’s possible to connect your bank account to the prepaid card account for reloads, it mustn’t be the issuing bank.
You’ll need to add funds after signing up for the GPR card. One way to do this is via bank transfers using the card’s routing and account numbers for auto-debits. Nevertheless, most prepaid debit cards will let you add funds through other methods, including;
- cash deposits at retail locations,
- direct deposits such as tax refunds
- bank debit card transfers,
- check deposits, including mobile checking
You can always start shopping with your reloadable prepaid card once the funds reflect in your card account. After using up the prepaid fund, you will have to reload your account to continue shopping. Concerning the actual use of general-purpose cards, there’s no difference with regular bank debit cards. You can use to pay bills at any place that accepts the card’s network.
For the latest prepaid products with new chip technology, you’ll just have to insert the card in the chip reader. On the other hand, you must swipe magnetic stripe cards through the reader for in-store purchases. Moreover, the terminal may have you select between a credit and debit transaction. Credit transactions often require a signature verification, while the latter will ask for PIN verification.
How To Add Funds To Reloadable Prepaid Cards
After purchasing reloadable prepaid cards with no fees, cardholders can add money in several such as direct deposits, mobile check deposits, or cash reloads depending on the card.
Here is a chart summarizing the various ways to add money to reloadable prepaid cards;
| Reload Method | Description |
| Direct Deposit | Have your employer or other income sources like government tax refunds, deposit funds to your card account directly |
| In-Store Deposits | Bring cash to retail chains for the cashier to add funds to your account balance |
| Check Deposit | Deposit checks through check-cashing retailers like Walmart or mobile check deposits |
| Online Transfers | Transfer money from bank debit cards, online apps like PayPal, and other prepaid cards |
| Bank Account Transfers | # Transfer funds directly from your bank’s online account by entering the card’s account number # Instruct bank tellers to transfer funds from your checking or savings account by giving them the card’s routing and account numbers |
You may have more funds transfer options than what’s in our list, depending on the type of card you get. Our list merely includes the most common methods you’ll find with almost every reloadable prepaid product.
Closing Thought
So, what’s your thought concerning reloadable prepaid cards? Do you want to abandon your bank account and join the unbanked community? Or, would you rather have a fee-free reloadable card as a tool for safe online shopping? And if you already own one of these reloadable prepaid cards with no fees, some of our tips can improve your shopping experience. Besides, there’s plenty of value in GPR cards, more so as a way to allow kids and teens access to funds. With the wide selection of prepaid debit cards at your disposal, you can find no-fee or low-cost options matching almost any financial need.
But keep in mind that while general-purpose cards offer a useful financial management tool, they are not a perfect solution. Many times, customers end up paying some kind of fee, whether a monthly service cost or a charge for each transaction. Moreover, it’s vital to remember that using a prepaid credit card does not build your credit profile. So, if you’re looking to improve your FICO score, then consider a credit card instead.