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American Express Serve is a prepaid debit card that offers the convenience of Amex without monthly billing statements or overdraft charges. There are three Amex Serve cards to choose from — each with varying monthly fees, reload options and benefits to suit your individual needs.
$6.95
Monthly maintenance fee
Card type | Debit |
---|---|
Card network | American Express |
Monthly fee | $6.95 |
Monthly fee with a direct deposit | $0 |
Additional Cardholder Fee | $0 |
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As the news editor at Finder, Ryan Brinks melds decades of experience in business news and online content into creating comprehensive and helpful comparisons of the companies you trust your money with. He loves to innovate and put money to work while keeping a careful eye on managing risk. Beyond work, Ryan's also passionate about his family and serving his community.
Most prepaid cards don’t come with free reloads or cash back, so American Express prepaid cards are good options for anyone interested in these benefits.
The major downside is that there are quite a few fees to watch out for, but this is typical of prepaid cards. Be sure to read through the fine print before you start using your card so you know how to cut down on costs.
American Express Serve costs $0 when you sign up online and up to $3.95 at a retail location.
Here are the three types of cards you can choose from — all of which come with free direct deposits, bank account reloads, online bill pay and subaccounts:
American Express Serve | American Express Serve FREE Reloads | American Express Serve Cash Back | |
---|---|---|---|
Monthly fee ($0 in Texas, New York and Vermont) | $6.95 or $0 with a $500 direct deposit monthly | $6.95 | $7.95 |
Cash back | None | None | Unlimited 1% cash back on purchases (rounded up to the nearest dollar) |
Cash reloads | Up to $3.95 (varies by retailer) | $0 at more than 45,000 locations | Up to $3.95 (varies by retailer) |
ATM withdrawal fee | $0 at MoneyPass® ATMs $2.50 at non-MoneyPass ATMs. ATM operator fees may apply. | $0 at MoneyPass® ATMs $2.50 at non-MoneyPass ATMs. ATM operator fees may apply. | $0 at MoneyPass® ATMs $2.50 at non-MoneyPass ATMs. ATM operator fees may apply. |
ATM transaction decline fee ($0 in Vermont) | $0.75 | $0.75 | $0.75 |
Foreign transaction fee | 2.7% | 2.7% | 2.7% |
Mobile Check Capture | $0 for Money in 10 Days. For Money in Minutes, a 1% fee on payroll or government checks with preprinted signatures or 5% fee on other checks; $5 minimum fee applies. | $0 for Money in 10 Days. For Money in Minutes, a 1% fee on payroll or government checks with preprinted signatures or 5% fee on other checks; $5 minimum fee applies. | $0 for Money in 10 Days. For Money in Minutes, a 1% fee on payroll or government checks with preprinted signatures or 5% fee on other checks; $5 minimum fee applies. |
Cash Pickup Powered by Ria | Up to $9.49 per withdrawal | Up to $9.49 per withdrawal | Up to $9.49 per withdrawal |
Serve Money Transfer Powered by Ria | Send up to $2,500 for $16.99 per transaction | Send up to $2,500 for $16.99 per transaction | Send up to $2,500 for $16.99 per transaction |
Replacement Card Fee ($0 in Texas, New York and Vermont) | $5 per card | $5 per card | $5 per card |
Follow these steps to apply for an American Express Serve card online:
You’ll be approved in about a minute after submitting your enrollment form.
To apply for American Express Serve cards, you must be:
You’ll need to submit personal and financial information that includes:
American Express prepaid cards come with the reputation and customer service of Amex, plus extra perks based on your spending needs. There’s no credit check, and you’ll enjoy these benefits:
Most prepaid debit cards lack the conveniences of typical credit cards, and American Express Serve is no exception. Keep in mind these factors when considering whether to apply.
Guide to American Express credit cards
Sort this table by monthly fees, ATM withdrawals and features to see how American Serve cards stack up against the competition:
Get the most out of your American Express prepaid card by doing the following:
American Express earns an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) based on its years in business, financial stability and readiness to resolve customer complaints. It has a 1.18 out of 5-star customer rating based on 177 reviews. For the Serve card specifically, users like that you get the perks of being an Amex customer without having to apply for a credit card. But some say Amex has permanently suspended their Serve accounts with no warning or explanation, leaving them in frustration.
Images: AmericanExpress.com