You can buy prepaid cards at most major retailers, banks, and online
Prepaid cards are sold in the checkout aisles of supermarkets, drugstores, and big-box retailers like Walmart and Target. You can also buy them directly from banks, credit unions, and card issuers through their websites. Some prepaid cards come with monthly fees, spending limits, or ATM withdrawal charges, so the place you buy matters less than which card you choose.
The card itself is usually free or costs $5 to $10 at the register. What costs money is loading funds onto it and using it — fees vary widely depending on the brand and where you load money. A card sold at a grocery store checkout might charge $3 to load funds at that store but $2 at a different retailer, or charge nothing if you set up direct deposit from your employer.
Key Takeaways
- Prepaid cards are sold at retail checkouts (Walmart, Target, CVS, Walgreens) and directly through bank websites, with the physical card costing $5 to $10 or less.
- Loading fees, monthly maintenance fees, and ATM fees vary by card brand and location, so compare the total cost of use before buying.
- Direct deposit from your paycheck often waives or reduces monthly fees on prepaid cards offered by banks and credit unions.
- Retail prepaid cards (Visa, Mastercard sold at checkouts) tend to have higher per-transaction fees than bank-issued prepaid cards.
- You do not need a credit check, bank account, or Social Security number to buy most prepaid cards at retail locations.
Retail locations where you can buy prepaid cards on the spot
Walk into any Walmart, Target, CVS, Walgreens, or grocery store and you will find prepaid card displays near the checkout. These are usually Visa or Mastercard branded cards issued by companies like NetSpend, Green Dot, or Vanilla. You pick the card off the shelf, pay the set up fee at the register (typically $3 to $10), and load money onto it right there using a debit card, cash, or check.
The advantage is speed — you have a working card in minutes. The disadvantage is cost. Retail prepaid cards often charge $1 to $3 per transaction, $2 to $5 per ATM withdrawal, and $5 to $10 per month in maintenance fees. If you use the card frequently, these add up fast. Read the fee schedule on the back of the package before you buy, or ask the cashier to show you the terms.
Some retailers offer their own branded prepaid cards. Walmart has the Walmart MoneyCard, Target has the Target Prepaid Card, and Amazon has the Amazon Prime Reload card. These sometimes have lower fees if you use them at that retailer, but higher fees elsewhere.
Bank and credit union prepaid cards
Most banks and credit unions offer prepaid cards directly through their websites or branches. Chime, LendingClub, Varo, and many traditional banks like Wells Fargo and Bank of America have prepaid or checking account options that function like prepaid cards. You open the account online, verify your identity, and the card arrives by mail in 5 to 10 business days.
Bank prepaid cards usually have lower fees than retail cards, especially if you set up direct deposit from your paycheck. Many waive monthly maintenance fees entirely if your employer deposits at least $500 per month. ATM withdrawals are often free at the bank's network or at any ATM nationwide, depending on the card.
The trade-off is time. You cannot walk out of a store with the card the same day. If you need money when ready, a retail card is faster. If you plan to use the card regularly over months or years, a bank card usually costs less overall.
Online-only prepaid card providers
Companies like Revolut, Wise, and Chime operate entirely online. You read their app, create an account, verify your identity with a photo ID, and the card ships to your address. These cards are designed for people who want to avoid brick-and-mortar banking altogether.
Online-only cards often have the lowest fees because they have no physical branches to maintain. Some charge no monthly fee, no ATM fee, and no transaction fee. Others charge a small monthly subscription ($5 to $15) but waive all per-use fees. Read the fee schedule carefully — "no fees" sometimes means no fees in their home country, but fees explore if you use the card abroad or withdraw cash.
The main drawback is that you cannot load cash onto these cards at a store. You must transfer money from a bank account, receive a direct deposit, or use a linked debit card. If you do not have a bank account or prefer to use cash, an online-only card may not work for you.
What to check before you buy
Before you hand over money, compare these costs across the cards you are considering. A card that costs $5 upfront but charges $3 per transaction will be expensive if you use it 10 times a month. A card that costs $10 upfront but has no transaction fees might be cheaper overall.
Check whether the card charges a monthly maintenance fee and whether that fee is waived if you meet certain conditions — like setting up direct deposit or maintaining a minimum balance. Ask whether ATM withdrawals are free and at how many ATMs. Find out whether the card charges a fee to check your balance, reload funds, or close the account.
Look at the card's spending limits. Some prepaid cards cap how much you can load per day, per month, or per transaction. If you need to move a large sum of money, a card with a $500 daily limit will not work. Check the card's customer service hours and whether you can reach support by phone, email, or chat if something goes wrong.
How to load money onto a prepaid card
The method you use to load money often determines the fee. Direct deposit from your paycheck is almost always free or has the lowest fee. Loading cash at a retail location (Walmart, CVS, etc.) usually costs $2 to $5. Transferring money from a bank account may be free or cost $1 to $3. Loading via a debit card sometimes costs $1 to $2.
Some cards let you load money at multiple locations. A Green Dot card, for example, can be loaded at Walmart, CVS, Walgreens, and many other stores, but the fee may differ at each location. Before you buy, confirm where you can load money and what it costs at the places you actually shop.
If you receive regular paychecks, setting up direct deposit is usually the cheapest option. Many employers will deposit your paycheck onto a prepaid card if you provide the routing number and account number, which you can find in the card's app or on the back of the card itself.
Prepaid cards without a credit check or bank account
Most prepaid cards sold at retail do not require a credit check, bank account, or Social Security number. You can buy one with just a photo ID. This makes prepaid cards useful if you have been denied a bank account due to past overdrafts or fraud, or if you do not have a Social Security number.
Some prepaid cards do require identity verification, which usually means uploading a photo of your ID through the card's app. This is not a credit check — it is a federal requirement to prevent money laundering. Verification typically takes a few minutes to a few hours.
If you are unbanked or underbanked, a prepaid card can serve as a bridge to a full bank account. Use it for a few months, build a record of responsible use, and you may be able to open a checking account at a bank or credit union later.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a prepaid card to build credit?
No. Prepaid cards do not report to credit bureaus, so using one does not build your credit score. If you want to build credit, you need a credit-builder loan or a secured credit card that reports your payment history to the three major credit bureaus.
What happens if I lose my prepaid card?
Contact the card issuer when ready to freeze the card and prevent unauthorized use. Most prepaid cards allow you to request a replacement card, which arrives by mail in 5 to 10 business days. Any funds on the card are usually protected, but confirm this with your card's customer service before you lose it.
Can I withdraw cash from a prepaid card at any ATM?
It depends on the card. Some prepaid cards work at any ATM nationwide but charge a fee ($2 to $3 per withdrawal). Others are free at a specific network of ATMs (like Allpoint or MoneyPass) but charge a fee at other ATMs. Check the card's website or app to find free ATMs near you.
Do I need to load the full amount at once?
No. You can load money onto a prepaid card multiple times. Some cards let you load as little as $20 at a time, while others have minimum load amounts of $50 or $100. Check the card's terms before you buy.
What is the difference between a prepaid card and a debit card?
A debit card is linked to a bank account and draws from money you have deposited there. A prepaid card is not linked to a bank account — you load money onto it directly. Prepaid cards are useful if you do not have a bank account or want to limit your spending to a set amount.