Prepaid Cards – Spend Without a Bank Account

A prepaid card is a reloadable Visa, Mastercard, Discover, or American Express card that you load with money before spending. There is no credit check and no traditional bank account required, making prepaid cards useful for budgeting, teens, travel, or anyone underbanked.

Best Prepaid Cards in the US

Popular US prepaid options include the Netspend Prepaid Visa with early direct deposit, the Bluebird by American Express with no monthly fee, Greendot and PayPal Prepaid for cashback, and the Walmart MoneyCard with cash reloads at thousands of stores.

Watch the Fees

Prepaid cards typically charge monthly fees of $0 to $9.95, transaction fees, ATM fees, and reload fees. Always compare fee schedules. Pay-as-you-go plans suit light users while monthly plans suit heavy users who can earn back the fee.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do prepaid cards build credit?

No. Prepaid cards are debit products and do not report to credit bureaus. If you want to build credit, consider a secured credit card such as the Discover it Secured or the Capital One Platinum Secured.

Can I use a prepaid card on Amazon and other online stores?

Yes. Major prepaid cards (Netspend, Bluebird, Greendot, PayPal Prepaid) are accepted anywhere Visa, Mastercard, Discover, or American Express is accepted, including all major US online retailers.

Is my money safe on a prepaid card?

Reputable prepaid cards are issued through FDIC-insured banks, so funds are protected up to $250,000 if the card issuer fails. Always check that your card lists an FDIC member bank (for example The Bancorp Bank for Netspend).

How can I avoid prepaid card fees?

Choose a no-fee plan (Bluebird), use direct deposit to waive the monthly fee (Netspend Premier), reload via in-network locations to avoid reload fees, and use in-network ATMs (most cards have Allpoint or MoneyPass partnerships).