Whether you are shopping, paying bills, or running errands, you surely want to move through life with ease. With Bluebird, you may achieve the convenience and flexibility that you need. In this Bluebird American Express Prepaid Debit Account and Visa Debit Card review, I’ll list all of their features and benefits so you can decide if it is the right debit card or debit account for you.
The Bluebird American Express Prepaid Debit Account refers to Bluebird’s reloadable prepaid debit account, which you can use where American Express cards are generally accepted. Whereas the Bluebird Visa Debit Card refers to a card, you can use in stores or establishments where Visa is usually accepted.
Read on to learn more about the Bluebird American Express Prepaid Debit Account and Visa Debit Card, their features, benefits, and downsides.
About Bluebird Accounts
The Bluebird American Express Prepaid Debit Account refers to the reloadable prepaid debit account offered by Bluebird. You can use it to buy at any stores where American Express cards are accepted. Whereas the Bluebird Visa Debit Card refers to a card, you can use in stores or establishments where Visa is generally accepted.
This article will discuss both the Bluebird American Express Prepaid Debit Account and the Bluebird Visa Debit Card. But, first, let’s briefly talk about Bluebird and its parent company Metabank, N.A.
MetaBank, N.A. established the Bluebird Bank Account, a South Dakota-based financial holding company Meta Financial Group subsidiary.
MetaBank’s Business Lines
MetaBank has several business lines, including the following:
- Consumer Finance
- Commercial Finance
- Tax Services
- Payments
- Meta Ventures
1. Consumer Finance
Its Consumer Finance business line allows consumers to have several spending options and dependable access to funds. That way, consumers are given more control when it comes to their financial futures.
2. Commercial Finance
Under Commercial Finance, the target market includes small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and large businesses. MetaBank offers flexible business solutions, including government guaranteed lending, leasing, asset-based lending, and factoring.
3. Tax Services
The Tax Services offered by MetaBank provides underbanked consumers with an option to receive funds electronically or pay for tax preparations services. It also gives consumers liquidity access while waiting for their refunds.
4. Payments
Under the Payments services, MetaBank coordinates with third-party providers, fintech, and other organizations. The tasks focus on distributing prepaid cards, deposit accounts, and other transactions related to payment.
5. Meta Ventures
The Meta Ventures business line allows emerging and strategic companies to raise capital. That way, MetaBank gets to provide support to organizations. At the same time, they reach their objective of providing financial inclusion to all.
Bluebird American Express Prepaid Debit Account
The Bluebird American Express Prepaid Debit Account refers to a prepaid card that offers low fees. It also has competitive banking and shopping features.
With this debit account, you get to experience the ease of having a prepaid account with banking features such as a direct deposit. At the same time, it gives you access to American Express (Amex) money-saving offerings that are typically available only with credit cards.
You will find many debt-free customers choosing Bluebird as their number one option for financial management.
How to Get an American Express Bluebird Prepaid Debit Card
You can open an American Express Bluebird Prepaid Debit Account online. But you also have an option to get it at participating retail stores.
Getting an Amex Bluebird Prepaid Debit Card is not the same as applying for a credit card. When you order your Bluebird Amex Prepaid Debit Card, there’s no need for the debit card issuer to review your credit history. Also, they don’t have to retrieve your credit report.
How to Deposit Money into My Bluebird Amex Prepaid Debit Account
You can deposit funds into your Bluebird Amex Prepaid Debit Account in various ways. You can do it using your computer, using your mobile device, or by visiting Walmart. The maximum amount you can transfer to your debit account per year is $100,000. But every month, the maximum amount you can deposit is $10,000.
Here are the different ways of depositing money into your Bluebird Amex Prepaid Debit Account:
- Direct Deposit
- Cash
- Checks
- Debit Card
- Tax Refunds
1. Direct Deposit
Let’s say, for instance, your employer pays you using the Direct Deposit service. You can link your Bluebird Amex Prepaid Debit card to your bank account so that it will automatically reflect in your debit card.
Under this method, you will not be charged any fee. The payment, however, must come from a U.S. bank account recognized by Bluebird and vice versa. Otherwise, the deposit will be unsuccessful.
2. Cash
Walmart Money Centers accept cash deposits. You can also personally visit Walmart to deposit funds into your American Express Bluebird debit account.
At Walmart Money Centers, you can deposit a maximum of $2,500 per day. At the same time, you can deposit up to $1,999 at Walmart. Each month, your cash deposit should not exceed $5,000. Either way, you will not be charged any fee.
You have the option to make cash deposits at other retail locations. However, you will most likely be charged a fee of up to $3.95.
3. Checks
If you’re depositing a check, there’s no need to go to the bank to do so. All you have to do is to use the Mobile Check Capture feature of the Bluebird mobile app. That way, you will be able to deposit your check using your mobile device conveniently.
Per day, your check deposit should not exceed $2,000. At the same time, it should not exceed $10,000 each month. Similar to other methods, depositing checks doesn’t come with a fee.
4. Debit Card
If you have another bank debit card, you can use it to deposit money into your Bluebird Amex Prepaid Debit Card. This can be done online or through the Bluebird mobile app.
You are only allowed to deposit a maximum of $200 per day to transfer funds from another debit card. Each month, the maximum allowable amount is $1,000.
5. Tax Refunds
If you expect any tax refund, it can be credited to your Bluebird Amex Prepaid Debit Card. Doing so will not subject you to pay any transaction fee.
Again, what do the Bluebird American Express Prepaid Debit Account and Visa Debit Card offer? With a Bluebird American Express Prepaid Debit Account, you’ll get a reloadable prepaid card which you can use in stores that accept American Express cards. At the same time, a Visa Debit Card refers to a card you can use in establishments that accept Visa cards.
How to Use My Bluebird Amex Prepaid Debit Card
You may use your Bluebird Amex Prepaid Debit Card for different types of transactions. These include the following:
- Shopping
- Bills Payment
- Money Transfer
- Cash Withdrawal
- Checks
1. Shopping
You can use your American Express Bluebird Debit Card to pay for items bought at retail stores. Aside from that, you can use it to pay when dining in.
When doing online shopping, you can use your debit card too. You can also use it for online food delivery.
In essence, you can use your Amex Bluebird Debit Card just about anywhere American Express is accepted.
2. Bills Payment
You can pay your bills using your Bluebird Amex Prepaid Debit Account. This means that you can pay your phone bills, utility bills, and rent with convenience. By paying online or through your downloaded mobile app, you can complete the transactions anywhere you may be.
3. Money Transfer
If you are transferring funds, you may do so using the Bluebird2Walmart Money Transfer facility. This feature is powered by Ria and will allow you to transfer a maximum amount of $2,500 per month.
Money transfer transactions, however, come with a fee. In the U.S. or Puerto Rico, the fees are as follows:
Amount to Be Transferred | Transaction Fee |
$50 or below | $4 |
$50.01 – $1,000 | $8 |
$1,000.01 – $2,500 | $16 |
4. Cash Withdrawal
You can withdraw cash using your Bluebird American Express Prepaid Debit Card at any MoneyPass ATM. There are more than 24,000 MoneyPass ATMs across the United States.
But in case there’s no MoneyPass ATM available nearby, you can use out-of-network ATMs. You will, however, be charged a fee worth $2.50 per transaction. There are also out-of-network ATMs that charge fees other than the transaction fee.
It is also possible to get cash from Walmart using the Cash Pickup facility powered by Ria. The schedule of fees is as follows:
Amount of Cash Withdrawal | Transaction Fee |
$500 or below | $3 |
$500.01 – $1,000 | $6 |
$1,000.01 – $2,900 | $9 |
5. Checks
You can issue checks, too, if you have a Bluebird American Express Prepaid Debit Account. To request paper checks, you will be required to pay $19.95. Aside from that, you also have to pay the taxes and shipping costs.
If you write a check amounting to $2,000 or more, you will be asked to get pre-authorization. This might take a few days to process.
Bluebird American Express Prepaid Debit Account Vs Bluebird Bank Account
It is worth noting that the Bluebird American Express Prepaid Debit Account and Card are both issued by American Express Travel Related Services Co. Instead, it is not a bank; rather, it is licensed by the New York State Department of Financial Services as a Money Transmitter. Its terms, conditions, and fees are all indicated in the Member Agreement.
On the contrary, the Bluebird Bank Account refers to a demand deposit account. It is owned by MetaBank, N.A., which is a member of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. Its terms, conditions, and fees are all indicated in the Deposit Account Agreement.
Bluebird Visa Debit Card
Bluebird also offers a Visa Debit Card. The Bluebird Visa Debit Card is also a reloadable prepaid card. Like the Amex Prepaid Debit Card, you can conveniently manage your money with your Visa Debit Card.
In essence, you can use your Bluebird Visa Debit Card in any stores or establishments accredited with Visa.
Conclusion – Bluebird American Express Prepaid Debit Account and Visa Debit Card
The Bluebird American Express Prepaid Debit Account refers to Bluebird’s reloadable prepaid debit account, which you can use where American Express cards are generally accepted. Whereas the Bluebird Visa Debit Card refers to a card, you can use in stores or establishments where Visa is usually accepted.
If it excites you to have a simple prepaid card that allows you to issue checks, then the Bluebird American Express Prepaid Debit Account is an ideal financial solution for you. If you are familiar with the transaction fees charged by other card issuers, you would know that this prepaid debit card issuer charges low fees or none at all.
There is also a downside in terms of owning a Bluebird Amex debit card. It’s a fact that not all merchants accept American Express payments. In which case, you might want to consider getting a Bluebird Visa Debit Card too.