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AccountNow Gold Visa Prepaid Card review

Reload as much as you'd like but watch out for high fees.

The AccountNow Gold Visa Prepaid Card is a prepaid card that offers the convenience of direct deposit without a checking account. You’ll find easy approval after simple ID verification. And because it’s not a credit card, there’s no credit check. But its fees are slightly higher than the competition.

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Megan Horner
Last Updated

$9.95

Monthly maintenance fee

$0

Signature transaction fee

$0

PIN transaction fee

Details

Card typeDebit
Card networkVisa
Monthly fee$9.95
Signature transaction fee$0
PIN transaction fee$0
Additional Card Fee$0

Review by

Megan Horner is head of publishing at Finder, where she leads a team that's focused on publishing personal finance guides and reviews that help readers make informed financial decisions. She's passionate about helping you find the best financial accounts to meet your needs — whether that's earning great rewards or improving your credit score.  Megan's expertise has been featured on Lifehacker, CreditCards.com, American Banker and news broadcasts across the country. She has a longstanding background in surfacing the best deals and helping people make decisions, including a start as a writer at a comparison website and editing credit card and credit score content at Credit Karma. She earned a degree in English and editing from Brigham Young University.

Expert review

If you’re looking for an alternative to a standard checking or savings account, AccountNow might have a streamlined solution with its Gold Visa Prepaid Card. Use this card without worrying about overdraft or bounced check fees that typically come with bank accounts.

Even if you have poor credit, you’ll find easy approval with successful confirmation of your identity. Load funds through direct deposit or a third-party money transfer services with no minimum balance requirement.

But watch out for this card’s fees as they’re pricier than most.

How do I open an AccountNow Gold Visa Prepaid Card account?

Follow these simple steps to apply for the AccountNow Gold Visa Prepaid Card.

  1. Go to the provider’s site and follow the steps to apply.
  2. From the official AccountNow website, click Login.
  3. Click Sign up Now and wait to be redirected to the GreenDot website.
  4. Enter your personal information, agree to the terms and conditions and click Submit Securely.

Eligibility criteria

This prepaid card is open to anyone who meets these simple eligibility criteria.

  • You must be at least 18 years old or your state’s age of majority.
  • You must be a US citizen or legal resident.

Required information

You’ll need the following information on hand when you apply:

  • Your full name and residential address
  • Your phone number and email address
  • Your Social Security number and date of birth
  • In some cases, a copy of your driver’s license or other identifying documents

Benefits of the AccountNow Gold Visa Prepaid Card

The AccountNow Gold Visa Prepaid Card doesn’t require a credit check and you can’t overdraw on your account, so you won’t have to worry about overdraft fees. As a cardholder, you’ll enjoy these unique benefits:
  • No minimum balance requirements. If you don’t have cash to load right away, that’s okay. You can keep your balance as low as you wish.
  • Supports authorized users. Get additional cards for authorized users with the right to revoke their privileges at any point.
  • Reloadable balance. You can reload money onto your card as much as you’d like. But keep in mind there’s a $5.95 fee for retail reloads.
  • ATM withdrawals. Withdraw your cash from an extensive ATM network. But note that each withdrawal comes with a $3 fee. You can avoid the fee by requesting cash back at a merchant and selecting “debit” before you enter your PIN.

What to watch out for

  • Poor ratings. AccountNow isn’t rated highly on BBB, with customers complaining about unexpected fees or missing deposits.
  • Poor customer service. If you’re looking for the ability to easily speak with a representative, you may want to apply for a different card.
  • Maximum balance limits. The max you can keep on this card at any one time is $10,000 — and you can’t load more than $1,500 in cash a day.
  • Unavoidable monthly fee. You’ll pay $9.95 a month for this card, unlike other companies that waive the monthly fee when you meet certain direct deposit requirements.
  • Usage fees. Many of the AccountNow Gold Visa Prepaid Card‘s services come with a fee. Here’s what you face with this card:
ServiceFee
Monthly fee$9.95
ATM withdrawals, domestic$3
ATM withdrawals, international$4.95
International transaction fee3%
Balance inquiries at ATMs$1.50
Reloads at retail locations$5.95
Teller cash withdrawal3%
ACH debit payment$2.50
Expedited bill payment$9.95
Card replacement fee$10

If you’re looking for a prepaid card with lower fees, compare your options until you find one that’s right for you.

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14 Comments

    Default Gravatar
    Dennis
    June 10, 2019

    I lost my AccountNow Gold Visa Prepaid Card and state ID. Please help me get a new card.

    Reply
      Avatarfinder Customer Care
      Joshua
      June 10, 2019

      Hi Dennis,

      Thanks for getting in touch with Finder. I’m sorry to hear about your lost card and ID.

      If your card has been lost or stolen, you would need to call AccountNow as soon as possible to prevent your money from possibly stolen. When you get connected to AccountNow, select the lost/stolen option and you will be connected to a representative who can assist you.

      Regarding your state ID, depending on what type of ID that is, you would need to directly get in touch to the concerned government issuer.

      I hope this helps. Should you have further questions, please don’t hesitate to reach us out again.

      Have a wonderful day!

      Cheers,
      Joshua

      Reply
    Default Gravatar
    Karen
    May 11, 2019

    I want to know where other places can you take money from the card not just Walmart, like maybe a drug store or anywhere else.

    Reply
      Avatarfinder Customer Care
      Mai
      May 11, 2019

      Hi Karen,

      Thank you for reaching out.

      You can go to any local grocery stores in your area and get cash back at your local grocery store. This can help you can skip the ATM fees all together by using your Visa Prepaid Card to withdraw money from the card. Just look for a merchant that accepts Visa cards.

      For the list of available merchants, you can reach out to AccountNow for more information by calling them or visiting their website.

      Hope this helps! 😊

      Kind Regards,
      Mai

      Reply
    Default Gravatar
    Barbara
    August 22, 2018

    So it’s a monthly fee, not each time I put money on there. Do you know like how much Dollar store charges to put money on card?

    Reply
      Avatarfinder Customer Care
      Jhezelyn
      August 24, 2018

      Hello Barbara,

      Thank you for your comment.

      The monthly fee/charge for AccountNow® Gold Visa® Prepaid Card is $9.95 but you are not charged for making transactions. Reloads is up to $4.95 and this varies per retailer. The limit of cash load is $1,500.00 per day. I hope this helps.

      Should you wish to have real-time answers to your questions, try our chat box on the lower right corner of our page.

      Regards,
      Jhezelyn

      Reply
    Default Gravatar
    Paul
    September 29, 2017

    Can I load one check unto multiple cards?

    Reply
      Default Gravatar
      Jonathan
      September 29, 2017

      Hello Paul,

      Thank you for your inquiry.

      Generally, you can add money to your prepaid account through cash loads or direct deposit.Your bank may allow transfers from a checking or savings account to your AccountNow card. Contact your bank for details and/or restrictions.

      Hope this helps.

      Cheers,
      Jonathan

      Reply
    Default Gravatar
    Maya
    September 13, 2017

    Does account now have a savings account separate from the checking? I can’t get my saving account amount or is it the same as my checking? If it is separate how can I check?

    Reply
      Default Gravatar
      Jonathan
      September 14, 2017

      Hello Maya,

      Thank you for your inquiry.

      There is only one prepaid card account number where all debits or credits go. There is no distinct savings or checking division on this card product.

      Hope this helps.

      Cheers,
      Jonathan

      Reply
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