Finding a great prepaid card that works the best for you can take a lot of time and patience. There is a right card for everyone. In this article, I will review the Walmart MoneyCard to make the choice of whether this card fits best for you easier.
The Walmart MoneyCard is a money management debit card. It is issued by Green Dot Bank, and you can earn cashback rewards for every Walmart purchase you make with it.
You will earn a different amount depending on where you make your purchase. You will get 3% cashback at purchases made in the Walmart app and at Walmart.com. If you use your card at Walmart fuel stations, you will earn 2% cashback, and 1% at Walmart stores. You can earn up to $75 cashback each year, which you will receive on your Walmart MoneyCard at the end of the year.
The card is available in either MasterCard or Visa versions. And despite all of the great perks of using it at Walmart, it is not restricted to only their stores. You can use it at any retailer that accepts MasterCard or Visa.
Source: www.walmartmoneycard.com
Prepaid Debit Cards
With a prepaid debit card, you can only spend the amount that is loaded onto the card. This way you can easily manage your spending as you can not go into negative. Once your balance is gone, your card simply stops working until you put more money onto it.
However, because it is not a credit card, it will not help you build your credit. So those who want to get good credit to lower the interest rates given to them, a debit card is not the greatest choice.
But people who do not want to have a card for credit purposes might want one. Prepaid debit cards work almost like regular debit cards. The only major difference is that you do not need a bank account or good credit to get a prepaid card.
How to Get a Walmart MoneyCard?
To get a Walmart MoneyCard you need to be at least 18 years old. Or if you are a minor aged 16-17, you can get the card with parental permission. Younger children can also be added to their parent’s accounts, having a card on their own. This way they can easily access funds if needed and the parent will be able to monitor the purchases made.
Because the Walmart MoneyCard is a prepaid debit card, there are no other set requirements that need to be fulfilled. So, you do not have to worry about your credit score.
Now that you know that you are eligible, the only thing you need to do to get the card is to request it online at Walmart MoneyCard’s official website. If you order it through their website, you can avoid the Card Issuance Fee. After the card is mailed to you, it will arrive in 7-10 days.
If you want to have the card faster, you can also choose to buy it at any checkout lane at your local Walmart store. However, when you purchase the card you will have to pay a $3 Card Issuance Fee.
Source: www.walmartmoneycard.com
How to Activate Walmart MoneyCard?
Once you have your card at hand, you can choose between two different options for activating it. You can either call the number given on the packaging, or you can register your card online.
If you call the number, all you have to do is to follow the instructions you hear. You will have to give some personal details, so make sure you have some ID at hand.
If you would rather activate it online, these are the steps you will have to go through:
- Go to WalmartMoneyCard.com and find the segment asking if you have a new card, then click on the link “Register and activate it here.“
- The link will direct you to the register screen, where it will ask you to enter your Walmart MoneyCard card number, expiration date, and security code. Once you filled those in, press the “Next” button.
- Another screen will pop up, where they will ask for your name, address, mobile phone number, email, social security number, date of birth and you will also create your card’s 4 digit PIN here.
- After you have entered the information, you will have to agree to the cardholder agreement and their privacy policy. You also have the choice of whether you want to receive marketing calls and text messages in the future. After you made your choice, you can click on the blue “Continue” button at the bottom of the page.
- After you arrived on the next page, it will ask you to verify your mobile number. You can not skip this part. Once you receive the verification code in text, you will have to enter this code and click on the “Submit” button.
- The next screen that pops up will ask you to create a secure login. You can choose your user ID and password here. After you entered these, you can click on the “Continue” button.
The next page you will see will let you know that you successfully activated your card and your account is ready to use. Once you have your account, you can access it online on the Walmart MoneyCard website or on their app.
Walmart MoneyCard App
You can download Walmart MoneyCard’s app either from Google Play or App Store for free. It is an easy-to-use app that offers a convenient way of managing your account.
Source: www.walmartmoneycard.com
Their mobile app allows you to monitor your spending, review transactions, and refill your card for free from another bank account. You can also use the app to set up direct deposits to receive your pay or benefits on the card.
How to Deposit Money Onto Your Card
You can deposit cash easily at any Walmart store, you just need to bring your card and cash or check. There are also some options for those who prefer online bank transfers or want to have their tax refund sent directly to their card.
Here are the many different ways that you can choose from to reload your card:
Direct Deposit
Your pay or benefits can be directly sent onto your card with a direct deposit. This service is free of charge and you can choose between depositing all or only a part of your check. If you choose this, you can get your money up to two days before your official payday.
Check Cashing
Similar to the previous method, with check cashing you can cash your paycheck or benefits check at Walmart. The money will be instantly sent to your MoneyCard.
They do not charge reload fees, but you might have to pay a charge for cashing your check. There is a $4 check cashing fee on checks up to $1,000; and a maximum of $8 fee on checks worth more than that.
Cash Reload
This option is available at any Walmart register. You can add anywhere between $20 and $1,100 to your card instantly. There is a $3 fee if you put money into your card this way.
If you want to put money onto your card at other reload agents than Walmart’s, you will be charged fees up to $5.95. This fee is charged by the reload agent, not by Walmart.
Walmart Money Center Express
You can find these centers near the front of Walmart shops. They allow you to buy phone cards, check your balance, purchase money orders and add funds to your Walmart MoneyCard. The reload fee here is also $3.
Online Bank Transfer
Once you sent the money from another bank account to your Walmart MoneyCard, the funds will be available anywhere between one to three business days. There are no fees on Walmart’s side if you choose this option, but your bank might charge some for the transfer.
Walmart MoneyCard Pricing and Fees
There is no monthly fee for your card if you deposit at least $1,000 to your account each month. Otherwise, you will be charged a $5 fee. So if you do not put that amount onto your card every month, you will pay $60 each year for just having the card. This is really close to the amount you can save ($75) each year.
Cash withdrawal is free at thousands of MoneyPass ATMs nationwide. However, if you want to use other ATMs than MoneyPass, you will be charged $2. If you only want to check your balance at ATMs, and not get any money out you will have to pay $1. To see your balance is otherwise free at MoneyPass ATMs, via text message, by phone, or online.
If you happen to lose your card somewhere, you will have to call Walmart customer service. They will cancel the lost card and send you the new one. The replacement card will cost you $3. Once sent, you can expect the new card to arrive within seven business days via the United States Postal Service.
If you send money outside of your country, you will be charged a 3% transaction fee. While if you send money with a standard online bank transfer in the United States of America, you will not have to pay anything. But if you need the money to get to the recipient fast, you can use a same-day transfer, this will cost you $2.95.
Source: www.businesswire.com
How to Cancel Walmart MoneyCard?
If you are not using your card and do not want to pay the monthly fee anymore, you can choose to cancel your Walmart MoneyCard in three different ways: online, by phone, or by mail. Here is a rundown of how to cancel depending on which method you want to use:
Online Cancellation
For online cancellation, you will first have to visit Walmart MoneyCard’s website. Once you are there, you will have to log into your account. Then you will have to click on the link that takes you to your account management panel. Here, you can choose to cancel your card. To make sure it is you and not someone else canceling your card, you will have to provide some information before submitting the cancellation request.
Cancellation by Phone
To cancel on your phone, you will have to call Walmart MoneyCard’s customer service line at 1-877-937-4098. After you are connected, you will hear an automated voice telling you about the different services you can get. Here, you have to select customer support by pressing “5” on your phone keypad.
After that, they will ask you to put in your account or social security number. Then, you will have to provide some information related to your birthday. You can continue to follow through with the automated prompts and select the cancel account option.
Cancellation by Mail
If you choose to cancel your card by mail, make sure it includes your account number, name, address, and mobile number. You will need to send the letter to their post office box at 1187, Monrovia, CA 91017. There is nothing else to do after you sent the mail, you will only need to wait for their response.
Summary
The Walmart MoneyCard can be a great choice if you do not have a checking account, as it offers features just like any traditional checking account or credit card would. The only difference is that with a prepaid debit card you will not have to worry about credit checks or overdraft fees.
The card is best for anyone who is a frequent customer of Walmart and wants an easy and convenient way to manage their spending money or to earn rewards and cashback.
However, if you can not or do not want to load $1,000 or more into this card, it might not be the best choice. Even with the free bill pay and money transfers between family and friends, the monthly fee is way higher than average.
To decide definitely whether having this card is worth it for you, you should look at how much you want to add to the card each month. If you add more than $1,000, you can forget about the monthly fee.
But the other fees can add up just as quickly, check how many times you use ATMs, send money abroad and make daily transfers. As the amount you can save with cashback is $75 a year, you should make sure you do not pay more fees than the money you save.