WalletHub has details on 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.
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
Monthly Fee
None
Activation Fee
None
Signature Fee
$2.00
ATM Fee
$2.00
Additional Info
- With Direct Deposit, you can get paid faster than a paper check.
- No late fees or interest charges because this is not a credit card.
- Use the Netspend Mobile App to manage your Card Account on the go and enroll to get text messages or email alerts (Message & data rates may apply).
- Card use is subject to activation and ID verification. Terms and Costs apply
- Card issued by Pathward N.A., Member FDIC. Card may be used everywhere Visa debit card is accepted.
- See additional NetSpend® Prepaid Visa® details.
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Pink ACE Elite® Visa® Prepaid Debit Card (Pay-As-You-Go)
Monthly Fee
None
Activation Fee
None
Signature Fee
$2.00
ATM Fee
$3.00
Additional Info
- Support the fight against breast cancer when you swipe your Pink Debit Card. There's no additional cost to contribute and no extra steps required.
- Send money to other ACE Elite cardholders at no-cost from your Online Account Center or Mobile App.
- With over 900 locations nationwide, you likely have an ACE Cash Express store near your neighborhood.
- No-Fee Cash Withdrawals up to $100 at ACE when you Direct Deposit.
- Get paid up to 2 days faster when you have your payroll or government benefits checks direct deposited to your ACE Elite Card.
- As a cardholder, you can open an Optional Tiered Rate Savings Account. Balances up to $1,000.00 currently earn 5.00% annual percentage yield. No minimum balance required.
- A portion of each purchase made with the Pink ACE Elite Visa Card is donated to the National Breast Cancer Foundation.
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Direct Express® Prepaid Debit Mastercard®
Monthly Fee
None
Activation Fee
None
Signature Fee
Free
ATM Fee
$0.85
Additional Info
- 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 in the United States for every federal benefit deposited to your Direct Express® card account.
- 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.
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Emerald Prepaid Card
Monthly Fee
None
Activation Fee
None
Signature Fee
Free
ATM Fee
$3.50
Additional Info
- No setup fee, No annual fee, No monthly activity fees, No overdraft fees, or customer service calls (FREE)
- Get cash back with purchases from retailers and at ATMs anywhere in the U.S. that Debit Mastercard is accepted.
- Fast access without check-cashing fees — get your refund and payroll direct deposited onto your Emerald Card.
- Use the check-to-card service. Through the MyBlock mobile app you can load check funds into your Emerald Card Account, with options for Funds in Minutes (fees apply) or Funds in Days (no fee)
- Manage all of your money. Add payroll, unemployment or government benefits, cash and checks to your Emerald Card account all year long.
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Ventra Card
Monthly Fee
None
Activation Fee
$5
Signature Fee
N/A
ATM Fee
N/A
Additional Info
- Ventra is the convenient fare payment system for CTA, Pace and Metra that allows customers to pay for train and bus rides throughout Chicagoland.
- The $5 purchase fee will be refunded to your Ventra Account as transit value if you register within 90 days of purchase.
- You can purchase a reusable Ventra Card at a variety of places, including the following locations: Online at ventrachicago.com; Via the Ventra app; Ventra Vending Machines in CTA rail stations and select suburban locations; Participating Ventra Retailers; By phone; OR The Ventra Customer Service Center.
- Customers can also pay for rides with a credit or debit card that has this contactless symbol or with compatible digital wallets or payment apps such as Apple Pay or Google Pay.
- You can add up to $100 per transaction to your Ventra Card, up to a maximum $300 value limit.
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American Express Serve® FREE Reloads
Monthly Fee
$6.95 (no fee NY, TX & VT)
Activation Fee
None
Signature Fee
Free
ATM Fee
$2.50
Additional Info
- 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 7ELEVEN® locations.
- You may withdraw money for FREE from over 38,000 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.
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Regions Now Card®
Monthly Fee
$5
Activation Fee
None
Signature Fee
Free
ATM Fee
$2.50
Additional Info
- No monthly fee with 7 purchases posted to your Now Card during the monthly statement period.
- You can use your Regions Now Card anywhere Visa debit cards are accepted – in stores, online or over the phone.
- Regions limits each prepaid card to a maximum balance of $7,500. Signature or PIN-based purchases combined purchases of up to $3,000 per card each day are allowed.
- You can load the card at a Regions branch, DepositSmart ATM, with Mobile Deposit, through Online Banking and any Visa ReadyLink location.
- Regions offers you worry-free, 24/7 fraud protection with Visa Zero Liability to fully protect your Regions Visa debit cards from unauthorized transactions.
- Access to over 1,900 ATMs across Regions' 15-state service area.
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Western Union® NetSpend® Prepaid MasterCard®
Monthly Fee
$9.95
Activation Fee
None
Signature Fee
Free
ATM Fee
$2.50
Additional Info
- You can send and receive WU® money transfers in minutes, shop online, pay bills, or get cash at ATMs.
- Get paid up to 2 days faster when your payroll or government benefits check is direct deposited to your account.
- Access your account info through: Online account center, Mobile apps (available on Android or iOS), Anytime Alerts™ which automatically update you through text or email.
- Get special offers from select merchants and get cash back rewards on those purchases.
- Use the Refer-a-Friend program and when your family and friends fund their card with at least $40, you’ll each get a $20 credit.
- This prepaid card has an optional savings account which allows you to start saving money. The account currently features a 5.00% APY on balances of up to $1,000
- Visit any of the over 130,000 reload locations in the Netspend® Reload Network
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NASCAR® Reloadable Prepaid Visa® card
Monthly Fee
$5.95
Activation Fee
None
Signature Fee
Free
ATM Fee
$2.50
Additional Info
- No credit check or bank account required.
- No penalty fees. No overdraft fees. No minimum balance.
- FREE direct deposit and online bill pay - like a checking account!
- Easily pay bills, shop online & make purchases everywhere Visa® is accepted - millions of locations worldwide.
- Monthly Fee waived when you load at least $1,000 to your Card or have 30 posted purchase transactions (excludes all ATM declined withdrawals, ATM balance inquiries, teller cash withdrawals and online bill payments at www.greendot.com)
- FREE withdrawals at thousands of ATMs nationwide.
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MyVanilla Prepaid Card
Monthly Fee
None
Activation Fee
$3.95
Signature Fee
$0.95
ATM Fee
$1.95
Additional Info
- You can either get a MyVanilla Prepaid Visa or MyVanilla Prepaid MasterCard.
- Each Vanilla Direct Retailer may charge a transaction fee of up to $3.95 in addition to the amount being loaded – see the Vanilla Direct Retailer for additional details.
- Free Direct Deposit. Automatically load your payroll, government benefits or tax return onto your MyVanilla Card. No check-cashing fees or long lines on payday.
- Add your MyVanilla Card to the mobile wallet app on your phone, and pay for all purchases with your smartphone, tablet or smartwatch.
- The bank charges $1.95 per In-network ATM withdrawal. There is no additional fee charged by ATM owners for withdrawals made at participating MoneyPass® ATMs.
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