At a Glance
If you have a traditional gift card, you can use it to make purchases online or in a store, but you can’t use it for much else.
However, if you have a reloadable prepaid card, such as the Visa Vanilla card, you may be able to get cash back during a purchase transaction. These cards, which come with a PIN, can be swiped as “debit” transactions and therefore used to get cash back from the register, an ATM, or other financial institution.
In this article, learn more about:
- Can I get cash back from a prepaid card?
- How does a prepaid card work?
- Ways to use a prepaid card to get cash back
- How much can I withdraw from a prepaid card?
- FAQs
Can I get cash back from a prepaid card?
It is important to read the card’s terms to know if you can use it to get cash back. However, if you have a prepaid card, like a Visa prepaid card, you may be able to use it to get cash back. These cards will come with a PIN, and you can choose which type of transaction to perform at the register, ATM, or financial institution.
If you choose “credit,” the card will be charged as a regular credit card or gift card would. If you choose “debit,” you’ll be given the option to get cash back. In this case, the total of your purchase would be subtracted from the card, as well as the total of the cash back withdrawal.
For example, if you have a $100 prepaid card, your purchase was $50, and you get $25 cash back, your card will have $25 left.
How does a prepaid card work?
These cards are similar to the debit card you get when you open a checking or savings account with a bank. You can sign up for a prepaid card online from the issuer or buy one (for a small fee) from a store that sells the card. While it looks like a gift card, you can reload these cards with more funds.
Prepaid cards are great for those who have low credit scores and can’t qualify for a credit card, but these cards work on a payment network, such as Mastercard, Visa, or American Express.
Use these cards to make a purchase just as you would with a credit or debit card. Tap, insert, or swipe the card, choose “debit” to make a PIN transaction, or “credit” to make a signature transaction. Then, the total amount of your purchase will be taken off the card.
When the funds run low, you can add more in ways like direct deposit from your employer, the IRS, Social Security, or other benefits providers. You can also add cash at designated loading stations, though be aware of fees you may have to pay.
Ways to use a prepaid card to get cash back
Unlike a cash advance using a credit card, getting cash back from a prepaid card avoids high fees and accrued interest. There are also multiple ways you can use a prepaid card to get cash back including:
- At the register. When completing a purchase at a store, you can get cash back from your prepaid cards. Insert, tap, or swipe the prepaid card and ask or choose the option for cash back. You may be charged a fee for each transaction, and some stores set a limit for how much you can withdraw.
- At an ATM. Most prepaid cards come with or allow you to assign a PIN to the card when it’s activated. You can then use this PIN at an ATM to withdraw money. Enter the card into the ATM, enter your PIN, and withdraw an amount up to either the balance on the card, or the maximum daily limit.
- At a financial institution. Any participating bank or institution that accepts Visa cards allows you to get cash back from a prepaid card. Simply show the teller a form of identification and your card. Note that sometimes, these institutions charge a fee for teller cash withdrawal. Some cards have a flat fee, while others charge a percentage of the withdrawal amount.
- At reload locations. Some prepaid cards have a network of reload locations where you can add funds to the card or withdraw cash.
How much can I withdraw from a prepaid card?
You can only withdraw as much as the balance on the card. For example, if you have $1,000 on the card, you can withdraw up to $1,000.
Some cards limit the balances you can have on the card, but the maximum may be as high as $20,000. In other cases, the maximum amount you can withdraw at one time may be limited. For example, you can have up to $20,000 on the card, but can only withdraw $1,999 per day.
How to get cash back from a credit card?
In simple terms, you get cash back from a credit card by using your credit card to buy things. If you are using a cash back credit card, you can earn a small percentage back on all your purchases. You’ll earn cash back on spending, especially those that align with bonus categories and higher rewards rates designated by that specific card.
For those keen on maximizing cash back rewards, these top-tier credit cards offer lucrative opportunities:
Wells Fargo Active Cash®
Apply nowRead full review
Reward rate:2.00%
Reward details:Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases with no categories to track or quarterly activations
Card summary
Signup Bonus:$200
Annual fee:$0
Regular APR:20.24% - 29.99%
Recommended Credit Score:Good
Chase Freedom Unlimited®
Apply nowRead full review
Reward rate:1.5% - 5%
Reward details:Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back or more on all purchases, like 3% on dining and drugstores and 5% on travel purchased through Chase.
Card summary
Signup Bonus:$200
Annual fee:$0
Regular APR:20.24% - 28.99%
Recommended Credit Score:Fair
FAQs
Can I get cash back with a gift card?
No, you cannot use a gift card to get cash back at the register when you make a purchase. The only way to get cash for a store gift card is to sell it to a gift card reseller. But be careful – many resellers can be scams, so do your research to find one that is reputable.
Related: Can You Get Cash Back Off of a Gift Card
Are there fees for getting cash back from a prepaid card?
Fees you may face can vary by issuer and method of withdrawing cash. For example, you may be charged a $2 fee withdrawing from a register during a purchase, but a $3.95 fee withdrawing from an ATM.
