smiONE Visa Prepaid Card [Details and Review] 

From payment for online purchases to ATM cash withdrawals, smiONE has your financial needs covered. The company markets its card as a promising alternative to traditional banking, providing freedom for money management. In this smiONE Visa Prepaid Card review, I’ll talk about its details and features, so you can determine if this is the right debit card for you. 

The smiONE Visa Prepaid Card is a debit card where you can access child support payments. You can use it to pay for your purchases in any online or physical store that accepts Visa payments. The card also allows cash withdrawals in partner ATMs. It comes with a mobile app that lets users deposit checks and manage their cards. 

Read on to know more about the smiONE Visa Prepaid Card, including some of its notable features, as well as a few of its pros and cons. 

About the smiONE Visa Prepaid Card 

Since 2012, smiONE has been serving families, providing a more convenient alternative to conventional banking. It allows customers to make fast and secure payments, even without a traditional bank account. 

smiONE is a premier card provider for government payments. It serves more than 1.9 million families in over 12 states. The card specializes in the distribution of child support payments and payment cards for unemployment insurance and foster care services. As the company claims, they are in the business of helping families so that you can expect a compassionate service. 

With the smiONE Visa card, you can pay anywhere Visa is accepted. Whether online or in-store, it is a great way to settle your purchases. More so, you can also enjoy fee-free cash withdrawals in compatible ATMs. Plus, you can reload the card through different channels, including mobile check load and direct deposit. 

Main Features of the smiONE Visa Prepaid Card 

What makes the smiONE debit card great? This section explores some of the most notable features:

1. Different Ways to Add Money to Your Account 

Since it is a prepaid card, you will need to add money before you can use it. Aside from child support payments, the user can also add more funds through the following:

Direct Deposit

Whether a tax refund, unemployment benefit, or paycheck, you can put them directly on your smiONE account. Go to the website to download the direct deposit form and submit it to the payer. 

Mobile Check Deposit

The smiONE mobile app has powerful functionalities, including check deposits—no need to go to the bank. Look for the deposit tab on the app and follow the instructions. 

Cash Loads

Another easy way to transfer cash to your card is through Visa ReadyLink merchants. Input your card details, and you can quickly move funds. 

Card Transfers

If you have family and friends who are also using smiONE cards, you can request fund transfers. 

2. Contactless Chip Card 

Similar to most modern debit and credit cards today, the smiONE Prepaid Card comes with a built-in chip for contactless use. You no longer need to swipe the card. This is not only convenient, but it is also a good way to prevent fraud. All it takes is a single tap on a card terminal. You don’t even need to input your PIN! 

3. Advanced Protection Against Fraud 

Do not be a victim of fraud! smiONE utilizes innovative technologies to take card security to the next level. Below are some of the solutions that will help in keeping your card secure and protecting you against fraudulent activities: 

Zero Liability Protection

It is a Visa program wherein you won’t have to pay for any fraudulent transaction on your debit card. However, you must follow the reporting requirements to qualify.

24/7 Fraud Engine Monitoring

The company utilizes an innovative system in place to intelligently analyze all transactions of prepaid cards. In turn, they can determine which ones are suspicious. 

FDIC Insurance

For your peace of mind, it is also good to know that your FDIC insures your deposit through The Bancorp Bank. 

Card Lock and Unlock

Use your mobile app to lock and unlock your debit card, which is a great way to prevent unauthorized use. It will also prevent any transactions in case of loss. 

Again, what does the smiONE Visa Prepaid Card offer? With smiONE Visa Prepaid Card, you can get access to child support systems. Apart from this, you can also use it to pay for your online and physical store purchases. You can also use it to withdraw cash thru ATMs. Lastly, thru the mobile app, you can deposit checks and manage your cards.

smiONE Visa Prepaid Card Rates and Fees 

To maintain a seamless service and deliver the highest level of satisfaction, smiONE invests in its people and technologies. As a result, they have to pass the costs to the customers. With this, the card has several fees, including those that we’ll talk about in this section:

1. ATM Withdrawal 

If you are withdrawing from an in-network ATM, there is no additional charge. This means that you can enjoy free withdrawals if you are cashing out from any Allpoint ATM. 

Meanwhile, if you are using an ATM outside of the Allpoint Network, you must pay a transaction fee of $2.5. Even if you did not complete a transaction, the ATM operator might charge your card. 

2. Balance Inquiry 

The ATM charges $.50 for every balance inquiry. This can even be higher depending on the ATM operator. A good way to spare your card from this charge is to use the mobile app instead. Log in to your account, and you will see your balance in real-time. 

3. Card Replacement Expedited Shipping 

Lost your card? Expecting the delivery of a new one? If you choose expedited service, you will pay $20. The service is under UPS, and you can expect to receive your new debit card in three business days. 

Pros and Cons of the smiONe Debit Card 

Is the smiONE Prepaid Card for you? Find out below as we weigh the good and the bad to help you decide:

Pros of the smiONE Visa Card 

If you are looking for more compelling reasons to choose a smiONE debit card, below are some of the benefits worth noting:

1. Wide Network Acceptance 

The smiONE prepaid card work likes any Visa debit or credit card. This means that if an establishment accepts Visa, smiONE is a valid form of payment. Whether you are shopping in a physical store or on a website, you can use this card. 

2. No Hidden Fees 

You will love how the company is straightforward with the fees. They do not have hidden charges, so you won’t end up in shock when you receive your statements. Log in to your account and check the fee schedules to determine how much they are charging for the different services you can enjoy. 

3. Free Account Alerts

After the card registration, sign up for text alerts. After this, you will receive free notifications about your account. With this, you will stay up-to-date about the latest account activities. This is also a great way to counter fraud since you will receive immediate information about any activity. 

4. Accepts Online Check Deposits 

Skip the line the next time that you are about to deposit a check. You can do it quickly and hassle-free through the mobile app. Take a photo of the check and submit it through your phone. Make sure that all details are correct for faster transactions. Once the check clears, the fund is directly deposited into your account. 

5. No Need for an Existing Bank Account

Many of the traditional debit cards are tied to a bank account. For any reason, if you do not have a bank account, smiONE provides an excellent solution. You can apply for a debit card without an existing bank account. The application is also quick and effortless. However, you need to be an approved payment recipient by a local government or state agency partner. 

6. Round-the-Clock Customer Service 

You can reach the company through multiple channels, such as live chat and email, if you need assistance. They have customer service representatives who are available round-the-clock. This is unlike in other card companies, wherein reaching out is frustrating. 

Cons of the smiONE Visa Card 

Despite all the good things, the smiONE card also has several drawbacks, including those that we’ll list down below:

Horrible Mobile Application 

While it is a good thing that the smiONE card comes with access to a mobile app, the latter is quite frustrating to use. It is clunky, dated, and unresponsive. With these, the overall experience can be frustrating. The company might want to consider redesigning the app so that it becomes more intuitive. 

No Rewards 

This is a drawback that applies to debit cards in general, not just to smiONE. Unlike credit cards, you won’t get a reward for every dollar that you will spend. Rewards are great if you want to make the most out of every expense you charge on your card. 

Conclusion: smiONE Visa Prepaid Card 

The smiONE Visa is a prepaid card that does more than just receiving child support payments. You can fund it in multiple ways, such as through direct deposits from your paychecks and insurance. You can also deposit a check or enjoy transfers from other smiONE cardholders. 

Use this prepaid card anywhere that accepts Visa, both online and offline. Aside from the extensive network, users also enjoy straightforward fee schedules, free account alerts, and exceptional customer service. Nonetheless, there are also some complaints about it, specifically regarding how frustrating the mobile app is.