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Netspend All-Access Account by MetaBank review
Combines the benefits of a prepaid card with a traditional bank account — but watch out for fees.
The Netspend All-Access Account by MetaBank offers unique perks like a large ATM network, overdraft protection and early direct deposits. It’s ideal for anyone who wants a traditional bank account but doesn’t qualify for one. But it has an unavoidable monthly fee.
$5
Monthly maintenance fee
$0
Signature transaction fee
$0
PIN transaction fee
Review by
Cassidy Horton
cassidy.horton@findercrew.comCassidy Horton is a writer for Finder, specializing in banking and kids’ debit cards. She’s been featured on Legal Zoom, MSN, and Consolidated Credit and has a Bachelor of Science in Public Relations and a Master of Business Administration from Georgia Southern University. When not writing, you can find her exploring the Pacific Northwest and watching endless reruns of The Office.
Expert review
The Netspend All-Access Account marries all the best features of a prepaid card and a checking account. It won’t check your credit and you’ll get access to early direct deposits, an optional high-yield savings account and an optional overdraft protection. These features make it a great choice for anyone who has bad credit, no credit or a negative banking history.
But as with most prepaid cards, there are a few fees to watch out for. The biggest is an unavoidable $5 monthly fee, which can eat into your account balance each month.
How do I open a Netspend All-Access Account by MetaBank account?
Follow these steps to sign up for your free account online:
- Select Apply now.
- From the official Netspend website, click Sign Up Now.
- Enter your personal information, select your direct deposit methods, choose your card design and click Sign Up.
You should know instantly if you’re approved, and your All-Access debit card should arrive in the mail seven to 10 business days after you apply.
Required information
You’ll need to give the following information when you apply online:
- Name, address and date of birth
- Social Security number
- Government-issued photo ID number
What are the benefits of a Netspend All-Access account?
The Netspend account doesn’t require a credit check. It’s a good option for those with bad credit or a negative banking history, as well as anyone looking for these features:
- Early direct deposits. Get your paycheck and government benefits up to two days earlier than you would with a traditional bank account.
- Payback Rewards. Earn cash back when you use your debit card on qualifying purchases.
- Optional overdraft protection. Unlike other prepaid card accounts, you can enable an overdraft protection feature. But you’ll pay $20 every time you overdraft by more than $10, instead of declining the transaction.
- Purchase cushion. This feature is available to those with a qualifying direct deposit. It covers you for free if you overdraw on your account by less than $10.
- Large ATM network. Use over 32,000 ATMs in the MoneyPass network for free.
- Bonus savings account. If you choose to open Netspend’s optional savings account, you’ll earn 6% APY on the first $2,000 and 0.5% on any amount over this limit.
- Virtual cards. If you don’t feel comfortable giving your card information out online or by phone, you can request up to six active Virtual Cards that expire at the end of the month.
What should I look out for?
The Netspend All-Access Account has a few drawbacks worth mentioning:
- Unavoidable monthly fee. Expect to pay $5 a month to maintain this account. Unlike other accounts, you can’t avoid the fee.
- No wire transfers. Netspend doesn’t accept any inbound wire transfers. If you regularly receive wire transfers, consider a traditional checking account or a second-chance checking account if you have a negative banking history.
- Spending limits. You can’t spend more than $5,000 per transaction at point-of-sale locations and you can’t withdraw more than $400 per transaction or $1,000 a day at ATMs.
- Miscellaneous fees. Along with the $5 monthly fee, expect to pay these fees for using your card:
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Non-network ATM withdrawal, domestic | $2.50 |
| Non-network ATM withdrawal, international | $4.95 |
| Balance inquiry fee | $1 |
| Foreign transaction fee | 3% |
| Overdraft fee | $20 |
| Replacement card fee | $3.95 |
| Additional card fee | $3.95 |
| Paper statement fee | $5.95 |
| Custom card fee | $4.95 |
If you’re looking for an account with fewer fees and an avoidable monthly fee, shop around until you find one that’s right for you.
Compare with other debit cards
How do I deposit or withdraw my money?
There are a handful of ways to add money to your Netspend All-Access Account:
Deposits
- Direct deposit
- Cash at a NetSpend retail location
- Bank transfer
- Transfer between Netspend accounts
- Tax refund deposit
Withdrawals
- Withdrawal at an ATM
- Bank transfer
- Transfer to another NetSpend account
- Cash back at retailer
Why did Netspend All-Access send me a card?
According to users on Reddit, it’s a marketing tactic Netspend uses. The card shouldn’t have any funds and won’t work unless you decide to activate it. If you want to make sure you don’t have an active account, you can contact Netspend at customerservice@netspendallaccess.com.
