Gone and never to come are those days when one would have to carry cash in bulk in order to pay bills, make purchases, transfer money to your bank account and so forth. With the introduction of prepaid Visa or MasterCard debit cards such as Green Dot card, most users are now able to make the above-mentioned transactions with ease. However, for your Green Dot card to be of much help to you, there is a need for you load it with money once in a while. As far as reloading the Green Dot card is concerned, most people would like to do so free of charge. However, there is no absolute way you can reload your Green Dot card free of charge. This is because different options attract different fees. In this article, we shall take a closer look at where you can reload your Green Dot card, alongside the respective charges to expect.
Ways Or Places To Reload Money To Your Green Dot Card
Some of the ways that can help you load your Green Dot Card include:
1. Visit any Reload@the register partner store near you
One of the ways through which you can reload your Green Dot is by visiting the brick-and-mortar Reload@the register partner store near you with ready cash and then get started. Besides money, remember to carry your prepaid card as you will have to present these items to the cashier that you will find there and ask him or her to add these funds to your card.
If you choose this method to recharge your card, brace yourself to incur up to $4.95 as the service fee. However, you will be able to reload amounts ranging from $20 to $500.Once the cashier reloads your prepaid card, remember to check the balance on your account before leaving the store. In most cases, these funds will reflect in your prepaid card account within 10 minutes or thereabout.
2. Green Dot Direct Deposit
Apart from visiting any of the participating retail stores mentioned above, you can chose reload your card via the Direct Deposit method. Here, you can opt to have your monthly government benefits such as your Social Security funds to be deposited to your prepaid card directly.
Better still, you can choose to have your paycheck directly deposited to your Green Dot prepaid card. You can ask your benefits officer or employer whether his company participates in Direct Deposit or not. In case the company is a participant, you can provide the employer with your account number and routing number and you will be good to go.
Apart from your paycheck and the Social Security, other types of income that can be deposited to your prepaid card include:
- Veterans Compensation and Pension
- Federal Civil Service Retirement System benefits
- Supplemental Security Income
Besides the above-mentioned types of incomes, you will be able to channel your tax refunds to your prepaid cards. It is imperative to note that tax refunds cannot be channeled towards another person’s Green Dot card. Once you choose the direct deposit method, be sure that you will get all your income 4 days earlier than the current benefits payday.
3. Initiate a bank transfer
If you choose to load your card using the bank transfer method, there is a need for you to link your bank account to your prepaid card. For standard transfer, you will be allowed to send up to $500 per day. On the other hand, if you choose the instant transfer method, you will only be able to transfer up to $200 to your card on a daily basis.
For ACH transfers, you will be at liberty to transfer up to $1000 free of charge. However, this does not apply to all banks as some banks charge some transaction fees. To add money to your card via this method, all you need to do is to log into your online banking with your details and then follow the instructions that you will see on your screen.
For most banks, you need to have the routing and account number of your card for this transaction to be complete. To be on the safe side, you can contact the customer support team of your bank and make more enquiries. If this method proves difficult you can visit your nearest bank and reload your card from that end.
4. Deposit a check
As we speak, you can now visit any of the Walmart store near you with your preprinted check and cash it. Once you cash the check, those funds will be transferred to your Green Dot card. Since this service allows you to recharge your Green Dot card with ease, be sure that you will charged a certain check chasing fee.
At Walmart, you will be able to load your card with up to $1000 and incur a $5 reload fee. If you are not certain about the nearest Walmart locations that allows you to cash check, consider visiting the Walmart website for more details.
5. Use MoneyPak
Apart from the above-mentioned methods, you can recharge your Green Dot card using the MoneyPak. If you choose this method, brace yourself to part with a $5.95 transaction fee. As far as the deposit limits are concerned, they range between $20 to $500.Since MoneyPak is accepted by most Visa, MasterCard and Discover debit cards, you will not have issues anytime you want to load any of these cards.
Currently, you can purchase MoneyPak from retailers all over the US and then create an account. Thereafter, you will be able to recharge your Green Dot card.
6. Use the send money service
Green Dot now offers Send Money services to all its users out there. With this service at hand, you will be able to receive and send money via text or email. Unlike other methods, this one is free to use as money is usually deducted from the sender’s card on the go.
Typically, a link will be sent to you via email or text and you will be required to claim the money by clicking on it within 10 days. Once you click that link, the money will be deducted from the sender’s card and be reloaded on your card.
To prevent funds from being sent back to the sender, there is a need for you to click the link within the above-mentioned timeframe. Besides this, there is a need for you know that Green Dot is not responsible for any errors that might crop up when keying your email address or phone number. In case, the wrong individual claims your money, you will not be in a position to get it back.
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Stores Where You Can Reload Your Green Dot Card
Some of the retail stores where you can reload your Green Dot card include:
1. Walmart
Besides shopping for electronics and furniture, you can now reload your Green Dot card at Walmart. All you need to do is to locate the nearest physical Walmart store near you and visit it with your Green Dot card and some cash with you.
Here, you will be able to make a direct deposit of up to $500 be able to get your pay 2 days earlier than others. Also, you will enjoy an overdraft protection of up to $200. At Walmart, you are not only allowed to reload your Green Dot card with cash but also via check and MoneyPak.
2. 7-Eleven
Apart from Walmart, you can now visit 7-Eleven and reload your Green Dot card. Here, you are free to reload your Green Dot card using cash or MoneyPak. Unfortunately, you will not be able to reload your Green Dot card using a check at this store.
3. Dollar Tree
Once you visit this store to reload your Green Dot card, you will have to pay a $1 transaction fee for every $75 you load on your card. The lowest amount you can load on your Green Dot card here is $20. Whether you have cash or MoneyPak, be sure that you will be able to reload your card seamlessly. However, if you have a check, you might consider visiting other stores for this service.
4. Walgreens
At Walgreens, you will not only have an opportunity to purchase health and wellness products but also reload your Green Dot card. When it comes to reloading your card, you can readily do so using MoneyPak or cash.
Besides this, you can set up a direct deposit here and be able to get your pay 2 days earlier than usual. You will also enjoy an overdraft protection of up to $200 with opt-in an eligible direct deposit.
5. Kroger
Once you visit Kroger to recharge your Green Dot Visa debit card, you will be charged an activation fee of $1.95 and a subsequent reload fee of $4.95. However, if you want to recharge a Green Dot Cash Back Visa debit card, brace yourself to incur an activation fee of $2.95 and a reload fee of up to $4.95. As far as the methods of reloading your Green Dot card are concerned, only cash and MoneyPak method are supported. If you have a check, you might have to consider other alternative stores.