If you received a Netspend Prepaid Card in the mail or picked one up at a store, we can help you register your new card. In this post, we will walk you through the step by step process to activate Netspend prepaid card and begin to access all the great features and benefits.
If you need help setting up an online account, see our post here.
This post on How to Activate Netspend Prepaid Card will Cover:
- Netspend Prepaid Card Perks
- How to Activate Netspend Prepaid Card
- What You Can do with Netspend Prepaid Card Account?
- How to Add Money to your Netspend Card
- Netspend Prepaid Card Frequently Asked Questions
Netspend Prepaid Card Perks
Your Netspend Prepaid debit card comes with some great features and perks that many cardholders are not away off. Here are the top 3 benefits you may be missing out on:
1. Direct Deposit
You can set up Direct Deposit to receive your paycheck or federal government benefit payments.
Netspend gives you access to your money as soon as the funds are electronically deposited to your card account – that can be up to 2 days faster than you’d expect.
Existing cardholders can log in to their account online to learn more about how to set up a direct deposit.
Here are details about the Netspend Direct Deposit feature:
Paychecks
All or part of your paycheck can be directly deposited to your card account. You will need to provide your employer a the Netspend routing number and your card account number.
For more information on where to find the routing number and account number, click here.
Government Benefits Checks
You can also have your government benefits direct deposited into your Netspend account. This includes:
- Social Security benefits
- SSI (Supplemental Security Income)
- Pensions
- Railroad Retirement Benefits (RRB)
- Defense Finance and Accounting Service Payments (DFAS)
- State unemployment benefits (varies by state)
- Government Disability Benefits-SSDI or Workers Compensation (varies by state)
- Veterans’ benefits
Check your benefits provider’s site for enrollment instructions.
Tax Refunds
Finally, you can also get your Federal and State tax refunds deposited on your Nespend account.
The biggest benefit of doing that is because you can get your refunds faster than you would by mail.
2. Mobile Check Loads
You can load checks to your Netspend account at your convenience.
With the Netspend mobile application, you can load the money straight to your account anywhere – without the hassle of waiting in line.
Once the card is funded, the money is yours to spend.
Here’s how to start using Mobile Check Load on your phone:
- Download the latest version of the Netspend Mobile App. The Netspend Mobile App is available on Android and iOS devices.
- Select “Mobile Check Load” from the “Move Money” menu to the left
- Follow the on-screen instructions
- You’ll be guided through how to take pictures of your check, and given information about your loading options.
In some cases, your money will be available in minutes.
3. Send Money to Friends & Family and More
If you need to send money to family or friends, you can do so with your Netspend online account.
You can send or receive funds with other Netspend Cardholders, as well as ACE Elite, Control, and Purpose cardholders.
To send money, all you need is the other person’s name and their FlashPay ID.
Simply log into your Online Account Center, enter their name, FlashPay ID, and the amount you want to send, and that’s it!
To receive money, your friends and family just need your name and FlashPay ID, which you can find in your Online Account Center.
So, if you want to send money to your family or just split the check with some friends, now you can.
For more details, click here.
How to Activate a new Netspend Prepaid card
To activate your Netspend Prepaid Card, you’ll need to visit the Netspend website. Click here to be taken there.
Once you are on the website, click on the “Activate Card” link as shown in the image below.
You will be taken to a page like the one below where you will be asked to provide the following information to create an online account:
- Card Number (16 digit Netspend card number)
- Security Code (this is the 3 digit code at the back of your card)
After you have successfully entered the information, click the “CONTINUE” button to activate your Netspend Prepaid debit card.
What You Can do with a Netspend Card Account
With Netspend, you get a convenient way to manage your money on a prepaid card that is packed with features including the ability to:
- Get paid up to 2 days faster with Direct Deposit
- Earn cashback with Payback Rewards
- Know the moment your money arrives with Anytime Alerts
- Manage your money anywhere with our Mobile App
Netspend issues three different prepaid debit cards:
- Visa Prepaid Card
- Prepaid Mastercard
- Small Business Prepaid Mastercard Account
There are several benefits to having a Netspend Prepaid online account. Here is a list of the functions you can perform with an online account:
- Online Bill Pay
- Check Account Balance
- Set up Direct Deposit
- Send Money (Person-to-Person Transfers)
How to Add Money to your Netspend Prepaid Card
There are 4 convenient ways to add money to your Netspend Prepaid Card Account:
Option 1 – Direct Deposit
You can direct deposit the following into your Netspend Prepaid Account:
- Paycheck – If you deposit your paycheck into your Netspend account, you could receive your pay up to 2 days faster.
- Tax refund – Depositing your tax refund onto your prepaid card allows you to receive your refund faster than a paper check sent in the mail.
- Government benefits – You can have your government benefit payments, including Social Security, SSDI and SSI benefit direct deposited into your Netspend account. You could receive your government benefits 2 days faster.
To set up direct deposit, click here to login to your account.
Option 2 – Cash Reloads
You can reload your Netspend Prepaid card with cash at one of the over 130,000 convenient reload locations in the U.S.
However, you may be charged a fee for this service, up to $3.95. To find Netspend Reload Network location nearest to you, click here.
Option 3 – Mobile Check Loads
You can load checks to your account anywhere using the Netspend mobile app. The app is available for Apple or Android smartphones.
This saves you time since you don’t have to wait in line at a cashing place.
Once the card is funded, the money is yours to spend. All you have to do is take a picture of the front and back of the check and upload it.
You will be guided through how to take pictures of your check, and given information about your loading options. In some cases, your money will be available in minutes.
Option 4 – Bank Transfers
If you have a bank account in addition to your Netspend Card Account, you can link your financial accounts from participating bank accounts and you can transfer money between them and your Netspend Card Account.
To link your bank account to your Netspend card account, log in to your account and follow the prompts for transfers.
Netspend Customer Service Number
If you experience any issues activating your card online, you can call the Netspend customer service center at 1-866-387-7363 and follow the instructions.
You also have the option to activate your Netspend Prepaid debit card by phone. Simply call the customer service above.
Netspend Prepaid Card Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of our most frequently asked about the Netspend Prepaid Card.
How much does it cost to order a Netspend card?
There is no cost to order and activate a Netspend card online.
However, if you purchase a Netspend Prepaid card from a store location, like Walmart, there is a purchase fee. Purchase fees vary and are up to $9.95
Once you activate the card, you may choose a fee plan (as shown below)
How long does it take to receive my Netspend card in the mail?
Once you request a Netspend Prepaid card online, you should receive your card in approximately 7 to 10 business days.
If you do not receive your card within 10 business days, call the Netspend Card Customer Service at 1-866-387-7363.
How do I deposit my tax refund in my Netspend account?
You can have your tax refund directly deposited to your Netspend card account. This saves you time since you don’t have to wait for a paper check.
To set this up, bring your Netspend Routing Number and Account Number to your tax preparer, or if you’re filling out your own taxes, indicate them in the designated sections.
To get your Netspend Routing Number and Account Number, login into your Netspend account.
Is the Netspend Prepaid Card Free?
No, the Netspend Prepaid Card comes with a $9.95 monthly fee for the “Monthly Plan”. This fee can be reduced to $5.00 with direct deposit.
However, there is no fee for the “Pay-As-You-Go Plan”.
There are also additional fees for various services.
Here are the most common fees for the Netspend Prepaid Card. We have listed below fees for both the Monthly Plan and the Pay-As-You-Go Plan.
| Netspend Prepaid Card Fees | |
| Fee | Monthly Plan |
| Card Purchase Fee | Up to $9.95 |
| Card Purchase Fee (for card not acquired at a retail location) | No Fee |
| Monthly Fee (w/ direct deposit) | $5.00 |
| Monthly Fee (w/o direct deposit | $9.95 |
| Transaction Fee | No Fee |
| Bill Pay Service | No Fee |
| ATM Withdrawal Fee–In Network | $2.50 |
| ATM Withdrawal Fee-Out of Network | $2.50 |
| Over the Counter Withdrawal Fee | $2.5 – $3.00 |
| Call with Live Customer Service agent | No Fee |
| Toll Free Telephone Balance Inquiries | No Fee |
| ATM Balance Inquiry Fee | $0.50 |
| ATM Transaction Decline Fee | $1.00 |
| Replacement Card Fee (Lost, stolen, or damaged Card replaced) | $9.95 |
| Expedited Card Fee (for a replacement card) | $20 or $25 |
| Inactivity Fee | $5.95 per mo. |
| Foreign transaction fee | 3.5% – 4.0% of transaction amount |
Here are the fees for the Pay-As-You-Go Plan
| Netspend Prepaid Card Fees | |
| Fee | Pay As You Go Plan |
| Card Purchase Fee | Up to $9.95 |
| Card Purchase Fee (for card not acquired at a retail location) | No Fee |
| Monthly Fee (w/ direct deposit) | No Fee |
| Monthly Fee (w/o direct deposit | No Fee |
| Transaction Fee | $1.50 – $2.00 |
| Bill Pay Service | No Fee |
| ATM Withdrawal Fee–In Network | $2.50 |
| ATM Withdrawal Fee-Out of Network | $2.50 |
| Over the Counter Withdrawal Fee | $2.5 – $3.00 |
| Call with Live Customer Service agent | No Fee |
| Toll Free Telephone Balance Inquiries | No Fee |
| ATM Balance Inquiry Fee | $0.50 |
| ATM Transaction Decline Fee | $1.00 |
| Replacement Card Fee (Lost, stolen, or damaged Card replaced) | $9.95 |
| Expedited Card Fee (for a replacement card) | $20 or $25 |
| Inactivity Fee | $5.95 per mo. |
| Foreign transaction fee | 3.5% – 4.0% of transaction amount |
| Fees for Reloading the card with funds | |
| Transaction Type | Fee Amount |
| Direct deposit of payroll or government benefits | $0.00 |
| Mobile check deposit | No Fee |
| Reload with cash at participating retail locations | Up to $3.95 |
How do I dispute a charge from a merchant?
If you suspect fraud or have a transaction on your Netspend account you do not recognize or did not make, you can dispute it by contacting the Netspend Customer Service toll-free at 1-866-387-7363.
You can also file an online dispute here by logging into your Netspend account.
Once you are logged in, from the main menu, select ‘Help’ and then ‘File a Dispute’ to start the dispute process.
You will need your PIN to access this online service.
What do I do if my Netspend Prepaid card is lost or stolen?
If your Netspend card is lost or stolen, you should immediately contact the Netspend Customer Service Center toll-free at 1-866-387-7363.
Alternatively, you can also log in to the Netspend Online Account to report your card lost or stolen.
Once logged in, from the main menu, select ‘My Account’, ‘My Prepaid Cards’ and then ‘Report Card Lost/Stolen’.
You will also be able to order a new card. Note that you will be charged a replacement card fee, which will be taken from your account balance. See the list of fees above.
In addition, you can also pay an extra fee to have your new card expedited.
Who Can Get a Netspend Prepaid Card?
If you are trying to get a Netspend Prepaid Card and are wondering what the eligibility criteria are, here is what you need to know.
- You have to be 18 or older to buy and use the Netspend Prepaid Card.
- There is no credit check
- You don’t need to have a bank account to buy a Netspend Prepaid Card
- Minors aged 16-17 can get the card with parents’ permission.
- You are allowed to get multiple cards for a single account. All fees and purchases for all cards will be drawn from that account.
Summary
We hope this post on How to Activate Netspend Prepaid Card was helpful.
If your question was not answered and are still having trouble activating your account, please let us know in the comments section below.
Be sure to check out our other articles on how to Transfer Money from a Bank Account to a Prepaid Debit Card and Netspend Card Login.