How Can I Deposit a Paper Check on a Prepaid Debit Card?
Prepaid debit cards come in many forms and some, like those issued by your employer or the government or Social Security, you cannot reload. However, many prepaid debit gift cards are rechargeable, which means that you can reload your card at any time by making a deposit with the card issuer. Since debit cards provide you with instant access to funds, you must reload the cards with cash or electronic funds. Consequently, you can only reload your cards with money from a check if you do it indirectly.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Review the terms and conditions of your prepaid debit card to find out if you can reload the card, and at what locations you can add funds to the card. Many banks sell prepaid cards, but not all branches are equipped to take deposits for already issued cards. Likewise, not all retail stores sell prepaid debit cards or enable you to reload the cards.
-
2
Endorse the back of the check you wish to use and take it to the bank. Hand it to the teller along with your government issued identification. Ask the teller to cash the check and then count the proceeds before you leave the bank.
-
-
3
Go to the bank or retailer that issued your prepaid debit card. Hand the debit card to the cashier or the teller and explain that you wish to reload the card. Give the cash proceeds from your cashed check to the cashier or teller and instruct the cashier to add the money to your card.
-
4
Review your receipt. The receipt should show your total debit card balance including the money you just added to the card as well as any residual balance that was already on the card.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Some retailers cash payroll checks, so you can save yourself from having to make a trip to your bank by cashing your check at the retailer that issued your card and then immediately applying the proceeds to the debit card. However, retailers typically do not cash personal checks, in which case you must cash your check either at your own bank or at the bank of the check writer.
Both retailers and banks can charge check cashing fees, but your own bank cannot assess a fee when you cash a check against your own account.
Many companies charge inactivity or low balance fees on prepaid debit cards, and you may incur these fees on a regular basis if you reload and use the same card over and over again. You may find it less expensive just to cancel your prepaid debit card once you have depleted the funds and then just buy a new card as and when you need to.
