WalletHub has details on 14 student prepaid cards that can be ideal for college students who want the convenience of paying with plastic without opening a checking account. Prepaid cards offer all the features of a checking account except for
the ability to write checks. But that can be an advantage to young consumers still
…learning to handle money responsibly, since there’s no way to get hit with overdraft fees for overdrawing funds. That said, you may want to compare student checking account offers, many of which are available with no monthly fee.
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Updating Debit Cards
NetSpend® Visa® Prepaid Card - Pay-As-You-Go
Monthly Fee
None
Activation Fee
None
Transaction Fee
Signature: $1
ATM: $2.5
ATM: $2.5
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- 100% approval - No credit check required
- Pay bills and make purchases online
- Use it when you can't use cash — everywhere Visa debit cards are accepted
- Protect your money — carrying a card is safer than carrying cash
- Put money on your card at any of more than 130,000 reload locations like Walgreen's® , 7-Eleven® and Western Union®
- Fees assessed for customer service calls are mentioned for each balance inquiry
Direct Express® Prepaid Debit MasterCard®
Monthly Fee
None
Activation Fee
None
Transaction Fee
Signature: Free
ATM: $0.85
ATM: $0.85
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- No monthly fees, no hidden fees and most services are FREE!
- When you sign up to receive your federal benefits on the Direct Express® card, you will receive your payment every month without having to worry about cashing your check or having it lost or stolen. Instead of receiving a check, your money will be automatically deposited to your Direct Express® card account on payment day
- Use your card to withdraw cash from Automated Teller Machines (ATMs), make purchases at stores that accept Debit MasterCard®, and get cash back when you make those purchases.
- One free ATM cash withdrawal for each deposit posted to account each month; $0.85 per additional withdrawal
- The Direct Express® card surcharge-free ATM network offers surcharge free ATM access at approximately 75,000 ATMs throughout the country including Comerica Bank, Charter One, Privileged Status, Alliance One, PNC Bank, MasterCard® ATM Alliance, and MoneyPass
PNC SmartAccess® Prepaid Visa® Card
Monthly Fee
$5
Activation Fee
None
Transaction Fee
Signature: Free
ATM: $3
ATM: $3
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- You can open a PNC SmartAccess Card for free, although a $25 minimum deposit is required
- Make purchases at any retail location or online retail site that accepts Visa debit cards
- Deposit cash at any participating Visa ReadyLink retail locations
- Deposit cash at any PNC branch and at select PNC DepositEasy ATMs using the prepaid load option
- Set up alerts for recent deposits, recent purchases and even for low balances, delivered right to your phone or email inbox
- PNC SmartAccess Mobile App - Keep tabs on your balance and view purchases from your mobile device. Download for iPhone or Android
- Withdraw your money fee-free at over 9,000 PNC ATMs
Univision MasterCard Prepaid Card
Monthly Fee
$9.95
Activation Fee
None
Transaction Fee
Signature: Free
ATM: $1.95
ATM: $1.95
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- Use your Univision MasterCard Prepaid Card in stores, restaurants, telephone, or on the internet
- There's no credit check and no traditional bank account required
- You can also add cash to your Univision MasterCard Prepaid Card by: Vanilla® Reload, Service fee of up to $3.95 applies. Walmart Rapid Reload ™, A reload fee of up to $3.74 applies
- Enroll in Direct Deposit and get your paycheck automatically deposited on to your current card account - it's free and convenient!
- Get no fee cash withdrawals at in-network ATMs. Univision has the largest free ATM network in the country, with their partner Allpoint®
- Just look for the green logo on the ATM machine at: At most Target® CVS™ and Walgreens locations. Thousands of other convenient locations, including many grocery and drug stores. In total, you have access to over 35,000 Free ATMs!
PayPal Prepaid Card
Monthly Fee
$4.95
Activation Fee
None
Transaction Fee
Signature: Free
ATM: $1.95
ATM: $1.95
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- PayPal Prepaid Card has a purchase fee of up to $4.95 if you buy it at a retail location. It’s free to get the prepaid card online
- Take advantage of special offers from select merchants and get cash back rewards on those purchases
- Open an optional savings account through the BanCorp Bank; Member FDIC, and earn up to 5.00% APY for balances up to $1,000
- With the Refer-a-Friend program, for every friend you get to sign up, activate and load $10 on their card, you'll both earn $5
- You can even add money at more than 130,000 NetSpend Reload Network locations nationwide.
- As a special benefit for PayPal Prepaid Card cardholders, when the card is used at any Allpoint Network ATM in the U.S., the ATM owner surcharge fee will be waived. Subject to prior notice, the availability of this benefit may change and/or be withdrawn
Emerald Prepaid Card
Monthly Fee
None
Activation Fee
None
Transaction Fee
Signature: Free
ATM: $3
ATM: $3
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- No setup fee, No annual fee, No monthly activity fees, No overdraft fees, or customer service calls (FREE)
- Get cash back with purchases made at many stores—generally without a fee — including grocery, drug and discount stores
- Avoid check-cashing fees with Direct Deposit of your payroll, unemployment or government benefits and gain fast access to your money on payday
- Load cash to your Emerald Card Account anytime at your local Walmart®, Dollar General®, and many more locations. Use the MyBlock mobile app to find a participating reload location near you
- Use the MyBlock mobile app to load check funds into your Emerald Card Account, with options for Funds in Minutes (fees apply) or Funds in Days (no fee)
Ventra Prepaid Card
Monthly Fee
None
Activation Fee
None
Transaction Fee
Signature: Free
ATM: $1.5
ATM: $1.5
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- Use your Ventra Card everywhere Debit Mastercard® is accepted
- There is a $5.00 purchase fee for the Ventra Card, which is returned to you as transit value upon registration
- Customers can also pay for rides with a credit or debit card that has this contactless symbol
- Find participating surcharge-free ATMs near you by using the Money Network mobile app (available at the App Store and Google Play) or visit ventrachicago.com
Wells Fargo EasyPay® Prepaid Card
Monthly Fee
$5
Activation Fee
None
Transaction Fee
Signature: Free
ATM: $2.5
ATM: $2.5
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- Reload money and make cash withdrawals at more than 13,000 Wells Fargo ATMs and approximately 5,500 branches.
- Track your activity with free alerts, online and mobile banking, and balance inquiries at Wells Fargo ATMs
- Rest easy with Zero Liability protection for unauthorized card transactions when reported promptly, 24/7 fraud monitoring, and chip technology
- Deposit checks from your mobile phone or tablet using the Wells Fargo Mobile® app
- Transfer funds from your Wells Fargo deposit account to your Wells Fargo EasyPay Card online, by phone, or mobile banking
- Card Design Studio service — Customize your Wells Fargo EasyPay Card with the Card Design Studio® service
American Express Serve® FREE Reloads
Monthly Fee
$6.95 (no fee NY, TX & VT)
Activation Fee
None
Transaction Fee
Signature: Free
ATM: $2.5
ATM: $2.5
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- There is a Card Price of up to $3.95 if you purchase the card in retail locations; otherwise $0 to purchase online
- Your Full Service Prepaid Debit Account with FREE Cash Reloads. (American Express Serve is not a credit card)
- No credit check. No minimum balance. No hidden fees
- Free cash reloads at over 45,000 locations including CVS/pharmacy®, Dollar General®, Family Dollar®, Rite Aid®, Walmart® and participating 7‑ELEVEN® locations
- You may withdraw money for FREE from over 24,000 MoneyPass® ATMs in the US. Transactions at non-MoneyPass® ATMs have an up to $2.50 American Express Serve fee
- Enjoy American Express service and security 24/7. Shop online and off and enjoy Card Membership benefits like Purchase Protection*
- *Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Subject to additional terms, conditions, and exclusions
Fifth Third Access 360° Reloadable Prepaid Card
Monthly Fee
$4
Activation Fee
None
Transaction Fee
Signature: Free
ATM: $2.75
ATM: $2.75
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- Use it anywhere debit Mastercard® is accepted
- Withdraw or transfer for $0 fee at any Fifth Third ATM or financial center
- Fifth Third Bank is also part of the Allpoint® and 7-Eleven® network of ATMs, which features more than 50,000 fee-free ATMs nationwide
- Track your purchases and activity via Fifth Third Online Banking at www.53.com and download the Mobile app to have your information at your fingertips
- Zero Liability®: Get protection from unauthorized purchases on your account
- Easily Load Money - deposit cash, sign up for direct deposit or transfer funds from any Fifth Third checking or savings account to your card with Fifth Third Mobile App or Online Banking
- The monthly fee is waived if the cardholder is a Fifth Third checking customer or in any monthly period that $500 or more is deposited onto the card
