Green Dot Reloadable Prepaid Visa Card [Details and Review]

Many consumers prefer to use prepaid cards, so they don’t have to deal with credit card bills and due dates. If you’re this type of consumer, then Green Dot Bank might have a product for you. In this Green Dot Reloadable Prepaid Visa Card review, I’ll list all of its features, benefits, and requirements so you can decide if it is the right Visa card for you.

The Green Dot Reloadable Prepaid Visa Card allows you to shop online, pay bills, and make purchases anytime you need to. It allows you to monitor your spending 24/7, do free bank transfers, or send money to another Green Dot account for free.

Read on to learn more about the Green Dot Reloadable Prepaid Visa Card, its features, benefits, and pros and cons.

About the Green Dot Reloadable Prepaid Visa Card

Green Dot Reloadable Prepaid Visa Card

The Green Dot Reloadable Prepaid Visa Card allows you to pay bills, shop online, and basically make purchases anytime you need to. It lets you monitor your spending 24/7, do free bank transfers, or send money to another Green Dot account for free.

This prepaid Visa card is not a gift card and can only be used by consumers aged 18 years old and above. It is easy to apply for one, and it is very convenient to use.

Green Dot Reloadable Prepaid Visa Card Benefits

The Green Dot Reloadable Prepaid Visa Card has several benefits, which include the following:

  1. Get Direct Deposit
  2. Shop Anywhere You Want
  3. 0% Bank Transfer Fees
  4. Offers True Mobile Banking Services

1. Get Direct Deposit

Green Dot Prepaid Visa Card is equipped with the ASAP Direct Deposit technology. It is a feature that allows you to access your funds sooner. An example of this is crediting your pay or benefits two days earlier if your employer gives advance notice. This means you don’t have to wait for payday.

However, the early availability of direct deposits depends on the payment instructions from the payor. It may not be honored, too, due to fraud prevention restrictions.

For the ASAP Direct Deposit feature to work smoothly, the personal details on file with your employer must be the same as the details on file with Green Dot. No matter how small it may be, any inconsistency can reason deposits not to push through.

2. Shop Anywhere You Want

As long as the merchants are accredited with Visa, you can use your Green Dot Reloadable Prepaid Visa Card for shopping. You can also link it to your mobile wallets such as:

  • Samsung Pay,
  • Google Pay, and
  • Apple Pay.

3. 0% Bank Transfer Fees

To keep your Green Dot Reloadable Prepaid Visa Card full and always ready to use, you can transfer funds from another bank. Green Dot doesn’t charge any bank transfer fees.

However, there might still be fees charged to you by the bank where the funds will be coming from. Also, the fund transfer process has limits and qualifications. At the same time, enrollment requirements also apply.

This might give you the impression that transferring funds is very inconvenient, but it’s actually not. What seems to be an inconvenience is, in fact, what makes your funds secure and protected from fraud.

4. Offers True Mobile Banking Services

Even when you’re on a business trip or vacation, you can track your Green Dot Prepaid Visa Card transactions. You can check your account, pay bills, and do online shopping using your smartphone:

In this video, the vlogger from The Stuff I Use Channel explains how to load money in your Green Dot Reloadable Prepaid Visa Card.

Green Dot Prepaid Visa Card Fees

green dot reloadable prepaid visa card review

Getting a Green Dot Prepaid Visa Card will cost you $1.95. Once you have it, you will be subject to a monthly fee of $7.95. But if you load $1,000 or more, your monthly fee for the next period will be waived. Also, there’s cash reload fee every time you reload funds in your Green Dot account. This cash reload fee varies but, most of the time, it costs $5.95.

If you are withdrawing cash via the ATM or a teller, there’s a withdrawal fee of $3. For check deposits, there’s a fee of $5.95 for every 12 checks. As for international transactions, you will be charged 3% of the U.S. dollar amount for each transaction. Also, if you want to know your balance, each ATM balance inquiry will cost you $0.50.

In case your card gets lost, you can have it replaced. For regular delivery of card replacement, the fee is $5. At the same time, expedited delivery costs $15.

All Green Dot Reloadable Prepaid Visa Cardholders are eligible for a VIP upgrade too. This comes with a fee amounting to $4.95.

Summary of Green Dot Reloadable Prepaid Visa Card Fees

Here’s a table of Green Dot Reloadable Prepaid Visa Card Fees for easy reference:

Transaction Fees
Card Purchase $1.95
Monthly Fee $7.95
Cash Reload $5.95
ATM Withdrawal $3.00
Teller Cash Withdrawal $3.00
ATM Balance Inquiry $0.50
International Transaction 3% of the U.S. dollar
amount per transaction
Paper Checks
(pack of 12 checks)		 $5.95
Card Replacement
(regular delivery)		 $5.00
Card Replacement
(expedited delivery)		 $15.00
VIP Upgrade $4.95

Again, what does the Green Dot Reloadable Prepared Visa Card offer? The Green Dot Reloadable Prepaid Visa Card allows you to do lots of things, including shop online, pay bills, make purchases anytime, monitor how much you spend 24/7, transfer money to banks for free, and lastly, to freely send money to another Green Dot account.

Green Dot Prepaid Visa Card Pros and Cons

green dot reloadable prepaid online shopping visa card

Pros

Here are the advantages of having a Green Dot Prepaid Visa Card:

  1. Not subject to credit check
  2. No overdraft or penalty fees
  3. Monthly fee of $7.95 is waived when you load $1,000 or more in the previous month
  4. Can have VIP upgrade to enjoy more benefits
  5. Adapts the ASAP Direct Deposit technology
  6. Can pay bills online without paying additional fees
  7. Monitor transactions using the Green Dot mobile app

Cons

There are disadvantages to using a Green Dot Prepaid Visa Card too. These include the following:

  1. Involves a lot of fees
  2. Does not improve credit score

I want to explain further the second item mentioned under the disadvantages of using this card.

If you have bad credit and want to improve your credit score, your Green Dot Reloadable Prepaid Visa Card won’t help you. This card is not a credit card, and your Green Dot transactions are not reported to credit bureaus. If you aim to build credit, it’s best to get a credit card instead.

Frequently Asked Questions-Green Dot Prepaid Visa Card

How Much Money Can I Put on a Prepaid Visa Card Green Dot?

The maximum balance limit of the Green Dot Prepaid Card is $10,000. It has a daily spending limit of $3,000 and a daily ATM withdrawal limit of $400. These figures are all on par with other prepaid cards.

Is Green Dot a Prepaid Card?

The Green Dot card is a reloadable prepaid debit card insured with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. It can be used for bills payment, shopping, and cash withdrawals. You can get a Green Dot card at various retailers, including Wal-Mart, Rite-Aid, and CVS.

Can I Use a Green Dot Card Without Registering?

Yes, you can use your Green Dot Reloadable Prepaid Visa Card without registering. However, it will have limited functionality. You can use it to make purchases until the amount loaded is exhausted.

What’s the Minimum I Can Put on a Green Dot Card?

Once you get your own Green Dot Reloadable Prepaid Visa Card, you can place an initial deposit ranging between $20 and $500.

How to Open a Green Dot Prepaid Card Account

You won’t be able to get a Green Dot Reloadable Prepaid Visa Card online. It is only available at Green Dot retail partners. If you want to know which Green Dot retail-partner location is nearest you, follow these steps:

  1. Go to the provider’s website
  2. Follow the steps to apply
  3. From the website of Green Dot, click Other Products
  4. Then click Prepaid Card
  5. Scroll down to the Green Dot Prepaid Visa Card
  6. Then click Learn More
  7. Click Find Location
  8. Type your location or activate location finder

You are eligible to get a Green Dot Prepaid Card if you are at least 18 years old and if you have a Social Security number.

For Green Dot Prepaid Card registration, you need to disclose several personal details. You will also be required to send a copy of your government-issued ID card.

What to Do Once I Get My Green Dot Prepaid Card

Once you get your Green Dot Prepaid Card, make sure to maximize all its features.

Here are the things you should do once you get your Green Dot Prepaid Card:

  1. Register Your Green Dot Prepaid Card Online
  2. Meet the Monthly Fee Waiver Minimum
  3. Sign up for Direct Deposit
  4. Contact the Customer Service Team

1. Register Your Green Dot Prepaid Card Online

Once you get your Green Dot Prepaid Card, go to the website of Green Dot to register your card. That way, you will access additional features, which include viewing your account using the mobile app.

2. Meet the Monthly Fee Waiver Minimum

If you want to avoid paying the monthly fee of $7.95, make sure to deposit $1,000 or more monthly. 

3. Sign up for Direct Deposit

If you’re interested in maximizing the Direct Deposit feature, get your account information immediately from the Green Dot website as soon as you have registered your online account.

4. Contact the Customer Service Team

If you need to clarify more about maximizing your Green Dot Reloadable Prepaid Visa Card, it’s best to contact their Customer Service Team. The hotline number is indicated on the back of your card. You can also reach them via Twitter.

Conclusion – Green Dot Reloadable Prepaid Visa Card

The Green Dot Reloadable Prepaid Visa Card allows you to pay bills, shop online, and basically make purchases anytime you need to. It lets you monitor your spending 24/7, do free bank transfers, or send money to another Green Dot account for free.

If you’re not fond of using credit cards, then the Green Dot Reloadable Prepaid Visa Card is perfect for you. Since it’s a Visa Card, you’ll be able to use it in most, if not all, retail stores and restaurants.

However, if you aim to build or improve your credit score, this prepaid card might not be able to help you do that. You can only establish your credit history by getting a credit card and using it responsibly.