The Bluebird American Express card is a prepaid debit card that functions like a checking account. You can use it to make payments, transfer money and receive direct deposits instead of using a debit card linked to a traditional checking account.
How Does the Bluebird American Express Card Work?
The Bluebird American Express Card works like a regular debit card, except it’s not linked to a bank account. Instead, you need to load money onto the card before using it to make a payment or withdraw cash from an ATM. Cardholders get free ATM withdrawals at over 30,000 ATMs in the MoneyPass network.
To get the Bluebird card, you can create a free account online and wait seven to 10 days for your card to arrive in the mail. Or, you can purchase a temporary card at Walmart, load it with cash and use it until you receive a permanent card.
Once you load money onto the Bluebird prepaid card, you can use it to withdraw cash at an ATM, pay bills, transfer money or make a purchase anywhere American Express cards are accepted.
The card has very few fees, but you should be aware of them. You’ll pay $2.50 for out-of-network ATM transactions and a cash reload fee of up to $3.95, depending on where you reload your card. Plus, there are extra fees if you want instant access to deposited checks: 1% for payroll or government checks and 5% for other checks, with a $5.00 minimum fee.
Who Is the American Express Bluebird Prepaid Card For?
The Bluebird prepaid card makes money management easier for people who don’t have checking accounts. If you struggle to qualify for a checking account, a Bluebird card is a functional alternative that offers many of the same features.
The Bluebird card is also useful for families who want to help their kids learn to manage money. Bluebird cardholders can add up to four subaccounts for family members. This allows the main account holder to limit spending and withdrawals from the various subaccounts.
