Green Dot Unlimited review

How do I open a Green Dot Unlimited account?

Request your Green Dot Unlimited account at one of these participating retailers. Or, apply online in two simple steps:

1. Go to the provider’s site and follow the steps to apply.
2. From Green Dot’s website, click Open An Account.
3. Enter your personal information, review the deposit agreement and click Open My Account.

Your debit card should arrive in the mail within seven to 10 business days of completing your application.

What are the benefits of a Green Dot Unlimited account?

The Green Dot Unlimited bank account has standard features like bill pay, FDIC insurance and a debit card. But it also has these standout features:

• High-yield savings account. Earn 2% APY on balances up to $10,000. But you won’t get any interest on balances over this limit.
• Free cash deposits. Most digital banks don’t accept cash deposits. But with Green Dot, you can deposit cash for free at more than 90,000 retail locations nationwide.
• Quick direct deposits. Get your paycheck up to two days earlier and government benefits up to four days earlier than you would with a regular bank account.
• No overdraft fees. Green Dot doesn’t charge any fees for overdrafts or bounced checks, giving you one less thing to worry about if your account is short on cash.
• Avoidable monthly fee. Green Dot waives the $7.95 monthly fee when you spend at least $1,000 in the previous month.
• Unlimited cashback rewards. Most debit cards limit your cash back once you’ve spent up to a specific amount. But Green Dot Unlimited doesn’t put a limit on how much 2% cash back you earn on qualifying online and mobile purchases.

What purchases qualify for 2% cash back?

Most purchases made online or on mobile qualify for 2% cash back. Here’s a list of everything that doesn’t qualify:

You’ll get a notification in your Green Dot mobile app each time you make a qualifying purchase.

What should I look out for?

The Green Dot Unlimited account seems like a clear winner on the surface, but there are a few details to consider:

• Annual rewards. Cashback rewards and savings account interest is only redeemable once a year on your account anniversary. Other digital bank accounts release earnings once a month.
• Difficult to waive monthly fee. The following transactions don’t count toward the $1,000 minimum needed to waive the monthly fee: cash withdrawals, bill payments, check or ACH payments, gift card and prepaid card purchases.
• Identity verification. If you buy an Unlimited Cash Back bank account package at a retail store and Green Dot can’t verify your identity, you won’t be eligible for 2% cash back, bill pay or other perks.
• No wire transfers. You can’t send or receive wire transfers with your Green Dot Unlimited account.

If you’re looking for an account that doesn’t have many restrictions, compare your options to find an online bank account with simpler fees.

Green Dot’s ATM network and fees

Compare Green Dot Unlimited to other checking accounts

Use the table to compare Green Dot Unlimited’s fees and features to other top-rated digital accounts.

Green Dot Cash Back Visa Debit Card

★★★★★

Finder rating 3.2 / 5

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Fee

$7.95 per month
(can be waived)

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Annual Percentage Yield (APY)

2.00% on balances of $0 to $10,000

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Minimum deposit to open

$0

BMO Smart Advantage Checking

★★★★★

Finder rating 4.7 / 5

Go to site

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Fee

$0

---

Annual Percentage Yield (APY)

N/A

---

Minimum deposit to open

$25

Cash Card by Cash App

★★★★★

Finder rating 4.4 / 5

Go to site

---

Fee

$0

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Annual Percentage Yield (APY)

N/A

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Minimum deposit to open

$0

How do I deposit or withdraw my money?

Frequently asked questions

• How do I deposit cash for free into my Green Dot Unlimited account?

  Deposit cash for free using these steps:

  1. Log in to the Green Dot app.
  2. Tap on the Deposit Cash menu.
  3. Select Deposit Cash using the Green Dot App from the list.
  4. Select Create A Deposit Code.
  5. Choose the retailer where you’ll make the cash deposit.
  6. A barcode will generate for that specific retailer.
  7. At the register, hand the cashier your money and let them scan the barcode on your phone.
  8. They’ll deposit the money for you and will give you a receipt.

  The money gets added to your debit card within 10 minutes and you don’t need to have your debit card on you to complete the deposit.

• What fees are associated with the Green Dot Unlimited account?

  Here are all the fees associated with the Green Dot Unlimited account:

  Fees	Cost
  Monthly service fee	$7.95 or $0 when you make at least $1,000 in purchases the previous month
  Non-network ATM withdrawal	$3
  Non-network ATM balance inquiry	$0.50
  Cash withdrawal with a teller	$3.00
  Replacement card	$5.00
  Foreign transaction fee	3% of total amount
  Paper check fee	$5.95 for a pack of 12 checks

• How does the waivable monthly fee work for the Green Dot Unlimited account?

  You won’t pay a monthly fee based on your previous month’s spending. For example, if you spend $1,000 in eligible purchases in January, you won’t pay a monthly fee in February.

  If you spend another $1,000 in February, you won’t pay the monthly fee in March. But if you don’t meet that minimum, you’ll pay the $7.95 fee.

• Does the Green Dot Unlimited account have any daily spending or deposit limits?

  Yes. Here’s a list of daily limits to watch out for:

  Transaction type	Daily limit
  Cash deposits	$3,000
  Cash withdrawals	$500
  Debit card purchases	$10,000

Green Dot Cash Back Visa Debit Card is not currently available on Finder

Have you considered BMO Smart Advantage Checking?

Earn a $400 cash bonus after $4,000 deposits in the first 120 days. Pay $0 monthly fees and no minimum balance. Access a large nationwide network of free ATMs. Member FDIC.

• $0 monthly fee
• Large $0 fee ATM network
• No minimum balance

Learn more

No thanks, compare other checking account options.