Navy Federal Visa Buxx review
No monthly fees, but it lacks features and you must have ties to the military.
finder.com’s rating: 3.6 / 5.0
★★★★★
The Visa Buxx card from Navy Federal Credit Union lets you give your teen spending power without handing over your credit card. There are no fees to open this account or keep it active, and it includes parental controls to monitor your teen’s spending habits and limit the amount of cash they can access. However, this card doesn’t include allowance or chores functionality, and if you don’t have any ties to the military, you won’t qualify for an account.
$0
Monthly maintenance fee
$0
Card fee
Review by
Michael Benninger
michael.benninger@finder.comMichael Benninger is a staff banking writer at Finder. He is a former credit analyst and longtime freelancer whose articles have been published by Intuit, Business Insider and the Los Angeles Times. Michael is passionate about all facets of personal finance and has written hundreds of articles about money management during the past decade.
Expert review
The Navy Federal Visa Buxx card is best for teens in families with ties to the armed forces or the Department of Defense. The card includes some decent parental controls and doesn’t include any monthly fee. It also includes a zero-liability policy and roadside assistance services.
However, you can only get this card for your kid if you qualify for membership in the credit union. And the only way to reload the card for free is by using a Navy Federal Visa card or Navy Federal Mastercard. Plus, unlike other cards like Busykid, this card doesn’t give parents the ability to assign chores or automate allowance payments.
If you’re looking for a prepaid debit card that doesn’t require you to be a current or former member of the military, or if you want a card with more features for parents, compare other popular prepaid cards for kids.
How do I get the Navy Federal Visa Buxx card?
Signing up for a Navy Federal Visa Buxx card takes about 10 minutes, but you must be a member of the credit union to get approved.
- Go to the provider’s site and follow the steps to apply.
- Select Checking & Savings, then Prepaid and gift cards.
- Click or tap on Visa Buxx, then choose Get a card.
- Enter your full name, phone number, date of birth and email address.
- Provide your mailing address and government ID details.
- Create a username and password, then select a security question and provide an answer.
- Choose to fund the card with either a Navy Federal Visa card or Navy Federal Mastercard.
- Enter the card number, expiration date, security code and billing address.
- Agree to the terms and conditions and select Continue.
- Review and submit your application.
Eligibility
To get a Visa Buxx card, your child must be at least 13 years old, and you must be at least 18 years old and a member of Navy Federal. If you aren’t already a Navy Federal member, you can become one if you meet at least one of the following criteria.
- Active Duty member, reservist, veteran, retiree or annuitant of the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force or Coast Guard
- Army or Air National Guard personnel
- Delayed Entry Program personnel
- Department of Defense (DoD) civilian
- US government employee assigned to a DoD installation
- Contractor assigned to a DoD installation
- Family member of one of the above
Required information
- Provide the following information when signing up for a Navy Federal Buxx card.
- Social Security number
- Current home address
- Driver’s license or government ID
- Navy Federal Visa or Mastercard to fund your account
What you’ll like about the Navy Federal Visa Buxx card
Navy Federal Credit Union’s Visa Buxx card has a few attractive features that might entice you to apply.
- No monthly fee. There’s no signup or monthly fee to keep the account open.
- Decent parental controls. Track your kid’s purchases, check their balance and reload the card online, over the phone or via the Navy Federal Prepaid app. Also, limit ATM access and restrict how much cash your child can get back from participating retailers.
- Zero-liability protection. Navy Federal won’t hold your kid responsible for confirmed fraudulent transactions as long as you notify the credit union within 60 days of the statement date on which any fraudulent transactions first appear.
- Roadside Dispatch. The Buxx card comes with roadside assistance your teen can use for towing, tire changes, jump starts and other automotive issues, but there’s a $59.95 fee to use it.
What to watch out for
This card also has several drawbacks you should keep in mind before applying.
- Limited funding options. It’s only possible to fund the account for free using your Navy Federal Credit Union Visa card or Mastercard. Otherwise, fund the card with cash or other credit cards at brick-and-mortar retailers that provide Visa ReadyLink services, but you could see a charge of up to $5.95.
- Eligibility criteria. You must be a current or former member of the military, work for the Department of Defense or have a family member who meets either of these criteria to qualify for membership in this credit union.
- Age requirement. Your child must also be at least 13 years old. Other prepaid cards for kids like FamZoo, don’t have a minimum age requirement.
- Few features. Unlike several other prepaid cards for kids like BusyKid and Greenlight, this card doesn’t include integrated chores or allowance features.
Is the Navy Federal Visa Buxx card safe?
Yes, the Navy Federal Visa Buxx card is safe. This Visa Buxx card is covered by a zero-liability policy for fraud, which means your kid won’t be held responsible for confirmed fraudulent purchases as long as you notify Navy Federal within 60 days of the statement date on which the fraudulent transactions first appear. Navy Federal’s Visa Buxx card also includes Purchase Security, which may allow you to get purchased items repaired, replaced or fully reimbursed in the event of theft or damage.
Navy Federal Visa Buxx card reviews and complaints
Navy Federal Credit Union is not accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB), and reviews on the BBB’s website vary by location. On Trustpilot, Navy Federal has an overall rating of 4.7 out of 5, but none of the reviews mention the Visa Buxx card.
Compare Navy Federal’s Visa Buxx card with other debit cards for kids
See how this card stacks up against other prepaid cards for kids based on fees and features.
How do Navy Federal’s Visa Buxx fees compare to the competition?
There’s no initial or ongoing fee for Navy Federal’s Visa Buxx card, but there are a few fees you might encounter. Here’s an overview of potential charges and how they compare to similar prepaid debit cards.
| Fee and limit | Amount | How it compares to other kids’ cards |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee | $0 | Lower than most |
| Inactive fee — after six months | $1 per month | Standard |
| Out-of-network ATM fee | $1 + fees charged by ATM owner | Below average |
| Card replacement fee | $5 | Standard |
| Card express delivery fee | $5 | Standard |
| Visa ReadyLink reload fee | $5.95 | Above average |
| International transaction fee | 1% | Standard |
How long will it take to get my card?
According to Navy Federal’s support specialists, it will take approximately seven to 10 days to receive your card after approval.
I got the card. Now what?
Once you receive your Visa Buxx card, use it in the following ways:
- Load the card using the Navy Federal Prepaid app, which is separate from the Navy Federal Credit Union app.
- Use the card to pay for purchases at online or offline retailers.
- Add the card to your kid’s digital wallet, such as Apple Pay if they’re at least 13 and Google Pay if they’re at least 1, so that they can pay for purchases with their smartphone.
- Set up autopay so your teen can use their Buxx card to pay any recurring bills automatically.
Two funding options
Fund your Visa Buxx card using these methods:
- Online, over the phone or via the Navy Federal Prepaid app with a Navy Federal Credit Union Visa card or Mastercard
- With cash or a credit card at any brick-and-mortar retailer that offers Visa ReadyLink loading
How can I contact Navy Federal?
If you have questions or need help with your account, there are a few ways to contact a Navy Federal Credit Union support specialist.
- Visit any of Navy Federal’s 340 branches to speak with a banker in person.
- Call 888-842-6328 for live phone support 24/7.
- Chat with a representative on Navy Federal’s website on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET and on weekends from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET.
- Fill out the contact form on Navy Federal’s website, and a specialist will email you back.
- Send a tweet to @NavyFederal or @NavyFederalHelp, or connect with the credit union on Facebook.
- Send postal mail to Navy Federal, P.O. Box 3000, Merrifield, VA 22119-3000.
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