How to Transfer Money from a Bank Account to a Prepaid Debit Card

If you are looking for a way to transfer money from a bank account to a prepaid debit card, we can help. In this post, we will show you the step-by-step process you can follow to load money onto your prepaid debit card from your bank account.

In addition, we will explain how to locate your prepaid debit card account number and routing number, which you will need to initiate your bank transfer.

This post will cover:

  • Benefits of Loading Your Prepaid Card with your Bank Account
  • How to Transfer Money from a Bank Account to a Prepaid Debit Card
  • How Long Does the Transfer Take?
  • Can I transfer money from bank account to prepaid card online instantly?
  • Other Ways to Add Funds to Your Prepaid Card

"Transfer Money from a Bank Account to a Prepaid Debit Card"

If you have a prepaid debit card, you can only spend the money you load on the card. There are several ways to load money onto a prepaid card.

However, most come with fees. One of the fastest and cheapest ways to add money to your prepaid card is to transfer funds from your bank checking or savings account.

You can transfer money from your bank account into your prepaid account by setting up an ACH (automatic clearing house) transfer with your bank.

An ACH is a way of electronically transferring funds transfer from a bank account to some other account.

The reason we like ACH transfers as an option to load funds into your prepaid card is that it’s free and it takes just a day or two for the money to become available in your prepaid account.

In this article, we walk through how to transfer money from a bank account to a prepaid debit card.

How to Transfer Money from a Bank Account to a Prepaid Debit Card

Here’s what you need to know to transfer money from a bank account to a prepaid debit card.

Step 1: Get the Prepaid Card Account Number and Routing Number

The first step to the process is to get the account number and routing number for your prepaid debit card.

This is where most prepaid cardholders get stuck in the process because they cannot locate that information. If that’s you, keep reading.

Every prepaid debit card has an issuing bank. Even though it’s a prepaid debit card, a financial institution issued that card.

Therefore, since the card was issued by a bank, there is an account number for each prepaid card and there is a routing number for the issuing bank.

To be able to set up the transfer from your bank to your prepaid card, you will first have to get your prepaid card account number and the routing number for the issuing bank.

Some prepaid cards easily provide this information to you and it can be located in your prepaid card account online.

However, some prepaid debit cards do not make this information easily available.

Sometimes, the account number that identifies your debit card can be different from the card number.

"How to locate prepaid debit card account number and routing number"

How to Locate your Prepaid Card Account Number and Routing Number

Here’s how to get your account number and routing number.

There are two ways you can get this information:

Option 1 – Log into your prepaid card account

If you have online access to your prepaid account, log in and look for a menu item that allows you to transfer money to your card. This is where you are likely to find the routing and account numbers for your prepaid debit card.

If you need help logging into your prepaid account or need help setting up online access to your prepaid account, click below for a step by step login help for the following cards:

Walmart MoneyCard 
Paypal Prepaid Card
RushCard
American Express Bluebird Card
TurboTax Debit Card
Jackson Hewitt Amex Serve Card
H&R Block Emerald Card

Option 2 – Call your prepaid card customer service

Another way to get the account number and routing number for your prepaid debit card is to call your prepaid card customer service number.

When you call, explain to them that you are trying to add funds from your bank account to your prepaid card and need your prepaid card account number and the bank routing number to complete the transaction.

Step 2: Add Your Prepaid Card to Your Bank Account

Most banks and credit unions provide their customers with the option to transfer money to other accounts.

Log into your bank account and navigate to the “Transfers” link.

Once there, look for the “external transfer” option, which allows you to transfer money to accounts outside your bank.

You will be provided with instructions on how to add your prepaid card to your bank account, including your prepaid account number and routing number.

Once you enter this information, it will be saved in your bank account.

That way,  each time you need to transfer money from your bank account to your prepaid card, you can just click on the prepaid debit card details and move forward without the need to re-enter the account information.

Step 3: Test Deposit

Your bank will probably send test deposits to your prepaid card to confirm the account information you provided.

However, these test deposits are very small amounts and most people miss them. They are usually deposits of less than a dollar, and many banks send two of them.

Once the test deposits are sent by your bank to your prepaid card, they will send you an email, like the one below.

Be sure to look out for these as you will need the two deposit amounts to confirm your prepaid account with your bank.

Once you see the test deposits in your prepaid card account (it can take between three and five business days to appear), log into your bank account and enter them into your bank’s website in the required spot.

If you enter the correct test deposit amounts, you will receive confirmation that your prepaid debit card has been added to your bank account and you are now ready to transfer funds from your bank account to your prepaid card.

Example of Test Deposit Email

Here is an example of what the test deposit verification email looks like, from TD Bank.

"how to transfer money from your checking account to your prepaid card"

Step 4: Initiate Your Transfer

Now that you have added your prepaid debit card to your bank account, you are now ready to transfer money from your bank account to your prepaid debit card account.

Here are the steps to initiate a transfer:

First, log in to your bank account online.

Second, locate the “Transfer” link.

Third, indicate the amount you want to transfer.

Fourth, select the account you want to transfer the money from.

Fifth, select the account you want to transfer the money to – in this case, you will select your prepaid debit card.

Sixth, follow the instructions to transfer your funds.

Depending on your bank, you might be able to set up a recurring transfer, which will transfer money from your bank account to your prepaid card on a specific date every month.

How Long Does the Transfer Take?

Bank transfers usually take one business day to show up in your prepaid account but can take as much as 3-5 business days.

Can I transfer money from bank account to prepaid card online instantly?

Unfortunately, ACHs are not instant. However, you can ask your bank if you can do a wire transfer to your prepaid account. A wire transfer takes a few minutes/hours to appear in an account depending on the bank.

However, there are fees associated with sending a wire, up to $50. You may also get charged a fee by your prepaid card for receiving a wire into your account.

Furthermore, some prepaid cards may not permit incoming wire transfers so be sure to check with customer service.

Summary

We hope this post on How to Transfer Money from a Bank Account to a Prepaid Debit Card was helpful.

If you have further questions about Prepaid Debit Card funding or reloads, please let us know in the comments section below.

Be sure to check out our other articles on Prepaid Cards, including Jackson Hewitt Amex Serve Card Login and TurboTax Prepaid Debit Card Login