Learn
6 Benefits of Prepaid Debit Cards

There's really no getting around using plastic these days. Whether you want to make a purchase online or fill your gas tank, you need to have a card to complete the transaction.
However, if you're not yet an expert at managing your spending, you might want to avoid the temptation of having a debit card or credit card in your wallet. Fortunately, a prepaid debit card could be the answer.
What is a prepaid debit card?
A prepaid debit card works similarly to a regular debit card. However, it's not tied to a bank account. Instead of pulling funds directly from your checking account every time a transaction goes through, the money comes from a separate account that you fund ahead of time.
Most prepaid debit cards charge an activation fee as well as a monthly account maintenance fee. Some will charge a host of other fees as well, such as fees to check your balance, reload funds, or pay bills online.1 That's why it's important to compare cards and choose one that doesn't charge high fees, such as the Synovus Connections Visa Prepaid Card.
If you want all the convenience of a credit card with the ability to better manage your spending, a prepaid debit card could be the answer.
Benefits of prepaid debit cards
Prepaid cards can be very convenient and also help you manage your spending. Major benefits of prepaid debit cards include:
- No credit check required: To get a credit card, you usually need to have decent credit. So if your credit isn't great — or you don't have any credit history yet — getting your hands on a card can be difficult. With a prepaid card, no credit check is necessary.
- Limit your spending: Another major benefit of prepaid debit cards is the ability to control your spending. With a regular debit card, there's always the danger of spending more than what's available in your checking account and overdrafting. A prepaid card allows you to load exactly the amount of money you have to spend. Once the balance reaches zero, you can't spend any more until you reload more funds.
- Manage someone else's spending: A prepaid card is also helpful if you're managing finances for another person. For instance, if you have older kids that need a bit of freedom to spend money, but you don't want them to have full access to a bank account or credit card, you can load their allowance on to a prepaid card and keep tabs on their spending.
- Reload funds: Unlike a gift card, which you usually toss when you've spent the balance, a prepaid card is reloadable. You don't have to worry about getting a new card and updating your recurring payments every time you use up the balance. Instead, simply add more money to your account as needed. There are a variety of ways to reload your card, including setting up direct deposits, loading funds at select retailers, and depositing checks at the ATM.
- Access cash at ATMs: Speaking of ATMs, you can use your prepaid card to pull out cash at ATMs just as you would with a regular debit card. And unlike a credit card, there's no cash advance penalty or interest.
- Prevent fraud: Finally, using a prepaid card is a great way to prevent criminals from gaining access to your bank account or credit card information. If a criminal hacks your debit card, they can drain your bank account or run up a lot of charges before they're caught. With a prepaid card, on the other hand, your risk is limited to what's loaded on the card. Plus, you can set up alerts on your card to notify you when unusual activity takes place.
Compare your options
While there are quite a few benefits to using a prepaid debit card, not all cards are created equally. Be sure to take the time to compare several card options and choose one that offers account perks, low fees, and plenty of security. The Synovus Connections Visa Prepaid Card. is a great one to consider.
Important Disclosure Information
This content is general in nature and does not constitute legal, tax, accounting, financial or investment advice. You are encouraged to consult with competent legal, tax, accounting, financial or investment professionals based on your specific circumstances. We do not make any warranties as to accuracy or completeness of this information, do not endorse any third-party companies, products, or services described here, and take no liability for your use of this information.
-
“What types of fees do prepaid cards typically charge?" Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, November 28, 2016.
Back
Do you have questions or ideas?
Share your thoughts about this article or suggest a topic for a new one