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About Green Dot Prepaid Cards
Green Dot Prepaid Cards are a convenient money-management solution for consumers looking for help sticking to their budget. Unlike a traditional credit card, Green Dot’s prepaid cards do not let you use more money than is on the card.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- No overdraft fees
- Use anywhere that accepts Visa
- Free deposits and retailer withdrawals
Cons
- $2,500 card maximum
- Various added fees
Bottom Line
With free deposits, transfers and withdrawals from retailers, Green Dot cards are a versatile financial option accepted at many places. But with many hidden fees and a $2,500 maximum, it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution.
Top Green Dot Prepaid Cards Reviews
Green Dot is the greatest thing ever. It’s much easier to bank with and I get no late fees, hidden fees or phone calls. The alert message telling me how much is in my account is a...
Read full reviewI like not dealing with the bank. I was getting my paychecks put on the Green Dot card and it's easy to use. Also, I have the app where I can check my balance. A lot of times when...
Read full reviewWhat is Green Dot?
Green Dot Prepaid Cards are reloadable debit cards that serve as an alternative to traditional bank accounts and let you load your paychecks directly onto the card for free. The company provides an easy-to-use mobile app and flat-rate monthly fees, and the card is accepted anywhere in the U.S. that accepts Visa.
Prepaid cards are easier to get approved for than some other types of banking solutions, which makes them a good option for those with bad or no credit.
Other people who like the flexibility and control of prepaid cards include:
- People traveling across the country
- Parents giving kids an allowance
- People who want to manage their spending
- People who don’t like traditional banks
How do Green Dot cards work?
You can easily set up a Green Dot prepaid card to receive direct deposits from paychecks, government deposits or tax returns for free. You can also use the mobile app to deposit checks online.
Once you’ve put funds onto the card, it can be used like any other debit card. It can be used anywhere that accepts Visa, so it's accepted at many locations around the world. Many retailers, including Kroger and 7-Eleven, allow for free cash withdrawals when you check out.
How much are Green Dot cards?
Green Dot Prepaid Cards has a $7.95 monthly charge for users who deposit less than $1,000 on the card each month. There is no monthly fee for those who deposit more than $1,000 per month. It costs $3 to withdraw money from ATMs and around $6 to reload cash onto the card.
Green Dot Prepaid Cards also offer:
- Free direct deposit
- Free ACH transfers
- Free mobile check deposit
- Free mobile app
- Free withdrawals from select stores
Green Dot FAQ
How do I access my Green Dot account?
You can either use the company’s online website or mobile app to access your account.
What prepaid cards work with Green Dot?
Green Dot offers prepaid Visa cards.
What bank is associated with Green Dot?
Green Dot partners with Bonneville Bank and the U.S. Treasury.
Is Green Dot a real bank?
The Green Dot Corp. is an American financial technology and bank holding company.
How do I activate my Green Dot prepaid Visa card?
You can activate your Green Dot card on the company’s website.
Do Green Dot cards have a chip?
Yes, Green Dot cards have a chip for added protection.
Is Green Dot safe?
Green Dot prepaid cards are a good solution for customers who want more control over their spending without the hassle of using a traditional bank. Because the cards don’t help build credit, Green Dot Prepaid Cards aren’t the best long-term solution for building a better financial history. However, the reasonable monthly fees and free deposits, transfers and retailer withdrawals make the cards an affordable and straightforward solution that can be attractive to many.
Green Dot Prepaid Cards Reviews
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I made it online reservation and the hotel chain charge my card in error because upon arriving they did not have a room so they refunded my money immediately but Green Dot who manages the card for Walmart prepaid Visa debit it's taking 2 weeks to put my money back in my account. Now after talking with Green Dot representative several times and explaining that when they charge my card it's instant but yet they're going to hold my money for 2 weeks before they refund it not only is it putting me in financial difficulty but they're not making me whole by paying any interest. So I consider this theft. They've stolen $113.79 and they refuse to accept a certified letter from the merchant saying that the charge was an error and has been transaction has been canceled. So information as far as I'm concerned they should be prosecuted for larceny.
I was issued a pay card from my employer. I used the card to pay for a trip then received a credit from the company. This company then froze my account saying I need to provide documentation showing this is a valid credit. I emailed the 1st address provided by their representative then found out 2 days later that it was incorrect. After getting the correct email address & sending all the documents I was informed to give them another 2 to 3 business days to review the documents. It’s been almost 2 weeks and I’m still getting the same answer.
Today April 25, 2023, I spoke to Meme who said she was creating another ticket & wait 2-3 business days. Then I spoke with Marites, the supervisor who said the same thing. The call was recorded & I asked twice what is the process when nothing happens after 2-3 days & all she would say is, "Just wait and call back tomorrow." I have been told by every representative to wait 2 to 3 business days then nothing ever happens. This is a card provided by my employer that my work funds are loaded but they are allowed to just hold my money & not give it back. This is a company I wouldn’t advise anyone to ever use under any circumstances!
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I've been a customer for a couple of years now and watched how far downhill they've gone. They've revised their rules to limit you on how much money you can pull out at once and they charge you monthly fees to use their card. If you need to shut your car down or replace it you lose out on the cash back fees that you acquire with it. Green Dot claims that they abide by banking laws but they do not. When you suspect that there may have been fraud and the transaction is still pending they tell you that you have to allow it to post to your account before you can file a dispute. When you do call back file a dispute you are then informed that you are at fault for making the purchase and giving the merchant your purchasing information and they can try to file a dispute but if it's denied then there's nothing they can do about it and your money is lost to the thieving merchant.
The representatives are rude and condescending. This banking institution wanna-be needs to be shut down permanently and tried in a court of law for all of the crimes that they commit against consumers who put their trust in them as an online bank. I personally have now lost out on hundreds of dollars due to this Bank refusing to help me retrieve my money from thieving merchants. And not only that but I lose out on money to Green Dot themselves and I'm paying them to use their services but they don't abide by all of the terms of the contract nor do they protect anybody from anything bad happening whether it be from them or a thief.
People, don't ever trust this company with your money. DO NOT USE this company because they will scam you at some point or another. I bought this card from Walmart thinking it was a gift card (long story) and I put $200 in it. Their website states to send copy of card and receipt for a refund but they refuse returning my money. I never registered nor use their card. And when I did try to register and activate the card they said "no matching info". They def have employees inside their company stealing people's money and instead of finding out those bad apples they pass on the loss to customers. I'm still trying to get my money back, not so much for the money but to make them pay for the aggravation. Lawsuit coming up soon!! Hope they go out of business.
I have been unable to obtain a refund of US$478.00 which I deposited onto a prepaid VISA card issued by Green Dot Bank on November 16, 2022. The card could not be activated, either over the phone or on the Green Dot website. I notified Green Dot within hours of purchasing the card that it could not be activated. They have refused to refund my money.
On November 22, 2022, Green Dot promised to issue a refund if I provided them with details of the transaction, a copy of the card and receipt, and a U.S. mailing address for the refund check. I provided all the information. I contacted them several times to follow up, and received either no replies or replies that amounted to evasion or dead ends.
On February 9, 2023, Green Dot advised me for the first time that they did not intend to issue a refund. They allege that the card was activated by an unnamed third party, and that under their terms and conditions they were not responsible for a refund. I have asked them for a copy of the terms and conditions they rely on, and they have not provided them.
This is by far the worst customer relations experience I have ever had. To be given the run-around and to be misled by so many Green Dot employees is not only unprofessional and irresponsible, but also beyond infuriating. I paid US$478.00 in good faith for a card that never worked and reported the issue promptly, and Green Dot refuses to give the money back.
I needed to order a new card and I am getting ready to move so when I ordered the new card I gave them the address I would be at when the car was to arrive they did not tell me that I would have to have that new address on my ID to be able to receive the card. That isn't possible so I put my old address back on file they have now blocked my account it's been 5 days. It was only supposed to take 2. I have submitted documents 3 times the 2nd time the representative on the phone attached them to my file on the 2nd of November and told me they were fine.
On the 4th of November I got an email saying they were blurry and could not be read even though the address has been the same for 18 years. I then re submitted the same documents it's now been another 24 hours and still no lift on the block I have had no access to my money for 6 days now. My car insurance has been canceled. I missed a job interview yesterday because I have no money for gas because they won't even let me transfer funds from one account to another. They have my entire social security number I have been a customer for 5 years nothing has changed on the account and they have it blocked. I have $0 in my pocket and all my money is in this account. I am now low on food, my Utilities are being shut off. This is absolutely ridiculous
After having my veterans benefits direct deposited to this card for four years, they blocked my account when I called saying I had lost my card and wanted a new one sent to me at another address because I was traveling. At the instruction of their agent, I put the temporary address into my mobile profile. Then they told me this address had to be verified before a card could be reissued. This was over a month ago. I have called many times and have been told it would be unblocked and then nothing happens. I can't even call them because my card number is invalid and you have to have a valid number in order to get through to customer service. Before they took my card out of the system I had three so called managers hang up on me when they couldn't provide answers to my questions. All customer service is handled in other countries so very hard to understand. I have been blocked out of my account for over a month and can get no one to help.
I had to change my mailing address at the same time they were sending me my new card. I was told they would email me with instructions and I would need to attach my ID to it with my reply to that email. The same instructions were in the email. It stated that it would take two business days to review. So I waited two days with no access to my account to ensure I am not committing fraud. I called them back and they stated they didn't receive it. I then emailed them again and waited two days. This went on several rounds. Then they said I needed to send it to a different email address. So I did that, again went a couple rounds with that one. They finally stated they received it. That was now 4 business days later and still my account is locked. One person I spoke to stated I needed to now send a copy of my utility bill. When using their chat feature all the chats vanish so I started taking screenshots so they can't always play dumb.
I received the gift card – purchased from Walmart on 07/02/22. I did not know that Walmart gift/debit cards do not work, unless you willingly give GREENDOT your social security number and date of birth. I’ve had issues with my identity, so I did not want to give them my personal information (to protect my security). The 1st time I called Greendot was July 19th. Getting a human took a good 20+ minutes. I finally spoke to Sonndos, (man) who told me to e-mail a request for a refund (it would take 2-3 weeks to receive a refund check). I was also told to supply them a copy of the card (back & front) of the Walmart paid receipt. I did – sending it to: RR@greendotcorp.com as instructed at 8:53 am EST on 07/19/22. I was told to refer to my CASE# **.
I was away for almost (2) weeks, so I followed up on my return. I called on August 12, 2022. After 15+ minutes waiting for a human, I finally spoke to Urcher (female). She told me nothing was received and I needed to resend my request and copies? I e-mailed everything again on August 12th at 1:16 pm EST. This time she told me to refer to new CASE# **.
The 3rd time I called them was on August 22, 2022. I spent 45 min on the phone, speaking to several Green dot employees. WHY? Because Shreeaano told me that card was “registered” and “used”, so the case was closed. I asked if they could refer to my letters and (2) prior written requests – because I did not register the card out of fear of identity theft (& how I did not want to provide my ss# or birthdate to Greendot). Shreeanno wouldn’t listen, only receptively saying the case was "closed", the card was "registered and used".
I begged to speak to a human – preferably an American supervisor. He transferred me to Dominic and said he was unable to tell me when the card was registered – I asked who and when was the card registered. Again, I requested to speak to an American Supervisor. He transferred me to Rose, (corp card solutions?). She said the case was “closed” because the card was "registered and used" on August 12th. And suggested I call my, “local law enforcement”. I kept asking why Greendot wasn’t interested to investigate which of their employees stole from a customer – she kept ignoring me and continued to tell me to call my local law enforcement.
Then I called Walmart (479)273-4000 on August 22 at 4:48 pm. I spoke to Katelyn who explained that despite Walmart’s name being all over the credit/debit card they outsource it to a 3rd party company – outside of the USA. Walmart will sell these cards and do not care about their customers or that their 3rd party company is stealing from their customers.
In order to activate the card, the Greendot employee had to use their social security number and birthdate (or give it to a friend) – so the evidence is there. No police department is going to sit on the phone for that long with Greendot, speaking to people in India, or a $30 loss. My advice? Do not buy any Walmart gift cards &/or debit cards!!!
At first, it seemed to work pretty well, until I tried to send my daughter some money. Even though the money was taken off of my card, Green Dot wouldn't let the transfer go through because my daughter doesn't have a Green Dot card. We tried to put the money back on my card, Green Dot wouldn't allow that either. Customer service hung up on me several times before I could even talk to anyone. I finally got it taken care of several days later. A few days after that, my pin number wouldn't work, I finally got someone from customer service on the phone and was told that my pin number had expired. Not the card, just my pin number, with no 'heads up' from Green Dot. I had to completely reset the pin number.
About a month later, I was trying to make an online purchase and I kept getting a 'card denied' response even though I knew that the money was there. I was told by Green Dot customer service that the company I was trying to order from was not on their list of preferred merchants, so my transaction would not be allowed. These are only a few problems that I had, the actual list is much longer.
Green Dot Prepaid Cards Company Information
- Company Name:
- Green Dot
- Year Founded:
- 1999
- Website:
- www.greendot.com
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