We know that financial terms can sometimes be confusing, so we've created some frequently asked questions to help explain things.
Of course, if you still have any questions, please contact us.
A. There is one way to get a PayPal Prepaid Card.
A. There is a cost to purchase the temporary card at a retail location and the price depends on the retail location. You will also need to add funds at the time you purchase the card. The card purchase price depends on the retail location. Depending on which retail location you visit, the minimum initial load value will be either $10 or $20. The maximum initial load value will be $500.
Upon purchasing the card, you will be automatically enrolled in the $4.95 per month fee plan which lets you make unlimited purchase transactions (subject to funds availability). The first Plan Fee will be deducted from your Card Account within 36 hours of purchase. To view this monthly fee, and the other costs associated with using the card, see the "Fees Related to the Service" section of the PayPal Prepaid Card Cardholder Agreement.
A. Any U.S. resident or U.S. resident alien over 18 years of age with a valid Social Security number (SSN) and a verifiable physical U.S. street address may purchase a card. We do not offer PayPal Prepaid Cards to residents of Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, or other U.S. territories. When you open a Card Account, you will be required to supply your name, physical street address (no P.O. Boxes), date of birth, and SSN.
A. No. A minor may not independently request or purchase a PayPal Prepaid Card. However, the primary cardholder of a PayPal Prepaid Card account may request a secondary card, at no additional cost, for a minor. The primary cardholder must be the parent or legal guardian of the minor. The minor must be at least 13 years of age. To request up to two secondary cards for eligible minor(s) or other household members or trusted friends, contact PayPal Prepaid Card Customer Service at (866) 753-6440.
When the cardholder requests the addition of the secondary cardholder(s) to the PayPal Prepaid Card account, the Customer Service representative will need to know each secondary cardholder's name, physical street address (no P.O. Boxes), date of birth, and SSN. In addition, a copy of each minor's Social Security card and birth certificate will be required.
A. Yes. As long as you are a permanent resident of the U.S., over 18 years of age with a valid Social Security number (SSN), and a verifiable physical U.S. street address (no P.O. Boxes) you may request or purchase a card.
A. When you purchase the card at a retail location you will leave the store with a temporary card, which expires 120 days from the date of purchase. In order to receive a personalized card, you must activate the temporary card and verify your identity. You should follow the instructions that come with the temporary card. We will mail the personalized card to you on the first business day after you requested it. If you do not receive your personalized card within 10 business days, call Customer Service at (866) 753-6440.
A. Successful activation of the temporary card you purchased at a store and verification of your identity means you will be able to enjoy more features like direct deposit, and withdrawing cash at Automated Teller Machines (ATMs).
A. To activate a PayPal Prepaid Card call our 24-hour toll-free automated phone system at (866) 753-6440, or visit www.PayPal.com/prepaid.
When you purchase the temporary card at a retail location and make an initial value load of up to $500, you will have the use of a temporary card with limited functionality: the temporary card cannot be reloaded with additional funds and it will expire 120 days from the date of purchase. In order to have access to more features of the card account, including receipt of a personalized card, access to the Virtual Account feature, and the ability to make additional value loads, you must activate the card and verify your identity following the instructions shown above or those that accompany the temporary card.
A. There are a few key items needed to successfully activate the card. We must collect your first name and last name, a verifiable physical U.S. street address (no P.O. Boxes), date of birth, home phone number, e-mail address, and Social Security number.
A. Federal law (The USA PATRIOT Act) requires us to obtain, verify, and record certain information including your first name and last name, verifiable U.S. street address (no P.O. Boxes), date of birth, Social Security number, and other information that will allow us to reasonably identify you. We may also ask for your driver's license or other identifying documents at any time. These requirements help prevent the card from being used for illegal purposes.
A. Yes. The PayPal Prepaid Card account is a safe and secure payment alternative. If your card is lost or stolen, we will, upon your request, send you a new card. Your funds will be transferred to the new card account. There is a fee for replacing a lost, stolen, or damaged card. For information about the fee, see the "Fees Related to the Service" section of the PayPal Prepaid Card Cardholder Agreement.
In addition, upon receipt by The Bancorp Bank, of Wilmington, Delaware, your funds are insured up to the current limit by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). PayPal Prepaid Cards are issued by The Bancorp Bank, Member FDIC.
A. In order to have access to the full suite of PayPal Prepaid Card online features and functionality, you must link the card account to a PayPal Personal or Premier Account. Valuable online features include access to the online Account Center where you may securely view your PayPal Prepaid Card account balance and transaction history, use of our online bill payment service, access to the Virtual Account feature and eligibility to open an optional tiered-rate savings account.
A. During the PayPal Prepaid Card activation process you will be asked if you have a PayPal Account. If you do have a PayPal Account, then you will be asked to provide the log-in information for the account. We will then use that log-in information to automatically link the PayPal Prepaid Card with your PayPal Account.
A. If you do not have a PayPal Account, you will need to establish one in order to have access to the full suite of PayPal Prepaid Card online features and functionality. Valuable online features include access to the online Account Center where you may securely view your PayPal Prepaid Card account balance and transaction history, use of our online bill payment service, access to the Virtual Account feature and eligibility to open an optional tiered-rate savings account.
A. If you do not establish a PayPal Account, you will not have access to the entire suite of PayPal Prepaid Card online features and functionality. Valuable online features include access to the online Account Center where you may securely view your PayPal Prepaid Card account balance and transaction history, use of our online bill payment service, access to the Virtual Account feature and eligibility to open an optional tiered-rate savings account.
A. To add your PayPal Prepaid Card as a funding source to your PayPal Account you must log-in to your PayPal Account at www.PayPal.com and add the card to your funding sources.
A. If your PayPal Account is closed, or access to PayPal Services (as defined in the PayPal User Agreement, which can be found at www.PayPal.com) is closed, suspended, or limited by PayPal, then you will have no access to the online features and functionality of the PayPal Prepaid Card. This means you will still be able to make purchases or withdraw cash, but in order to check your card balance, you will have to call our toll-free Customer Service telephone number, use our real-time alerts service (pre-enrollment is required to use this service - standard text message rates from your wireless service provider may apply), or check your card balance at an ATM. While there is no fee to use the first two balance inquiry methods, there is a $0.50 fee for checking your balance at an ATM.
A. Yes. While the physical card does have an expiration date printed on it, the Card Account does not expire.
If you purchased your PayPal Prepaid Card at a retail location: the temporary card you received will expire 120 days from the date of purchase. We encourage you to contact us early in the 120-day period so that we may send you a personalized card to ensure that your access to your money is uninterrupted. The personalized card we send to you will have an expiration date printed on the front of the card.
A. If our records show a balance on your PayPal Prepaid Card approximately 45 days prior to its expiration date (the date printed on the card) we will send you a replacement card with a new expiration date. Your funds will be fully accessible through use of the replacement card. Please be sure to regularly review your contact information so that we can deliver the replacement card to your correct address.
If our records show your PayPal Prepaid Card has a zero balance approximately 45 days prior to its expiration date (the date printed on the card), we will not send you a replacement card with a new expiration date.
An expired card cannot be used to make purchases, withdraw cash, or be reloaded.
A. There are multiple ways to add money to the PayPal Prepaid Card:
A. Value loading fees vary from location to location - some reload locations may not charge a fee. To find the reload locations nearest to you:
A. If you purchased the card at a retail location: the initial value load and any subsequent reloads made using Reload Packs, require a minimum of either $10 or $20, depending on the specific location. The maximum initial value load at a retail location is $500; each subsequent retail location reload made with the use of a Reload Pack is limited to $500. The maximum value of all cards you may have with The Bancorp Bank, the issuer of the PayPal Prepaid Card is $15,000. See the PayPal Prepaid Card Cardholder Agreement for more details.
A. Enrolling in our direct deposit service is easy, no matter where a deposit comes from.
A. The Bancorp Bank's ABA routing number is 114924742. Your card account number is not the 16-digit number on the card. There are 3 easy ways to find out your card account number:
A. Currently-accepted government payments include: (This list is subject to change.)
A. You will have access to your money as soon as the funds are electronically deposited to your PayPal Prepaid Card account — that could be up to 2 days faster than you'd expect, compared to traditional check deposits.* Please note, your card account MUST be open and active in order for electronic direct deposits to be credited. Processing of a direct deposit requires that the name associated with the direct deposit be the same as the name associated with the card account. Card load limits apply to direct deposits.
* Faster access to funds is based on comparison of our immediate availability policy versus the typical banking practice of only posting funds after settlement. Direct Deposit and earlier availability of funds are subject to payor's support of this feature and timing of payor's funding. Check with your payor to find out when the direct deposit of funds will start.
A. When you have tax refunds direct deposited to your PayPal Prepaid Card account, you don't have to wait for the paper check. This means you get your refund faster. Just bring The Bancorp Bank's ABA routing number (114924742) and your card account number to your tax preparer, or, if you are doing your own taxes, enter those numbers in the designated section of the tax return form. Shorten the waiting time for receipt of your refund even more by e-filing your tax returns. Remember, your card account number is not the 16-digit number on the card.
A. With a PayPal Prepaid MasterCard, you can make purchases at stores, over the phone, and online. Use it anywhere Debit MasterCard is accepted. You can also withdraw cash at ATMs around the world (fee may apply) and if your PayPal Prepaid Card is linked with your PayPal Account, you can make online payments for your bills, rent, and other necessities. Fees may apply. For information about bill pay services and the costs associated with them, visit your online Account Center.
A. Yes. You may use your PayPal Prepaid Card to withdraw cash at any ATM that bears the MasterCard®, Cirrus®, or PULSE® Acceptance Marks. Each cash withdrawal made at an ATM located in the U.S. (domestic ATMs) is subject to a fee of $1.95, plus the surcharge fee the ATM owner or bank may charge. However, as a special benefit for PayPal Prepaid Card cardholders, when the card is used at any MoneyPass Network ATM in the U.S., the ATM owner surcharge fee will be waived. Subject to prior notice, the availability of this benefit may change and/or be withdrawn. For a list of all MoneyPass Network ATMs, CLICK HERE.
A. Yes. You can get cash when making purchases at many retail locations that accept Debit MasterCard, such as grocery stores where the merchant has a point-of-sale device. You should select "DEBIT" on the keypad and enter your Personal Identification Number (PIN) to get cash back.
A. Yes. You may use your PayPal Prepaid Card wherever Debit MasterCard is accepted. Your card must be successfully activated before online merchants will allow you to complete a transaction. Most online merchants will ask for the card's security code. The security code is the 3-digit code printed on the back of the card near the signature panel.
If your PayPal Prepaid Card is linked with your PayPal Account, you can use the Virtual Account feature to make online purchases and payments. Designed to add an extra measure of security, the Virtual Account lets you avoid sharing your actual card number, 3-digit security code and expiration with online merchants. Details about how to get and use up to three (3) active Virtual Accounts can be found in the "Using Your Card/Features" section of the PayPal Prepaid Card Cardholder Agreement.
A. Sometimes, transactions are declined or fail for reasons other than the unavailability of funds. For instance, if the address you provided to the online merchant differs from the address we have on file for you, the transaction could be declined. Please make sure we have your current address and that your card has been successfully activated.
A. If your PayPal Prepaid Card is linked with your PayPal Account and you need to make an immediate payment, then you may use the MoneyGram® ExpressPayment® service available through your online Account Center. For information about the terms and cost of this service, visit your online Account Center.
A. Among active PayPal accounts, the most popular way to transfer money is to use our instant PayPal transfer feature. A no-cost way to transfer funds instantly from your PayPal Account to your PayPal Prepaid MasterCard Account.
A. There are a variety of ways to check your card account balance. All cardholders may call our toll-free Customer Service telephone number, use our real-time alerts service (pre-enrollment is required to use this service - standard text message rates from your wireless service provider may apply.), or check the card's balance at an ATM. While there is no fee to use the first two balance inquiry methods, there is a $0.50 fee for checking your balance at an ATM.
In order to check the card account balance using your online Account Center, you must have, or establish a PayPal Account and link it to your PayPal Prepaid Card.
A. To comply with Federal regulations, there are limits affecting how much money can be loaded, withdrawn, and spent by each PayPal Prepaid Card cardholder.
The maximum amount you can spend or withdraw varies by type of transaction. This chart shows the current limits.
| Type of Transaction | Dollar Limit |
|---|---|
| Purchases | $4,999.99 every 24 hours |
| Over the Counter Cash Withdrawals | $4,999.99 every 24 hours |
| ATM Cash Withdrawals | $325.00 per withdrawal; $940.00 per day, up to 6 per 24 hours |
A. Subject to the specific terms of the transaction, both online and brick-and-mortar merchants are expected to credit returns back to your PayPal Prepaid Card account as they would any other transaction made using a MasterCard prepaid card. For more information, see the "Returns and Refunds" section of the PayPal Prepaid Card Cardholder Agreement.
A. The fastest and easiest way to close your PayPal Prepaid Card account may be to withdraw your money at any ATM that bears the MasterCard®, Cirrus®, or PULSE® Acceptance Marks. NOTE: Withdrawals are subject to daily and other limits imposed by us and/or the ATM owner/operator. Check with us and/or the ATM owner/operator before attempting to close your card account using an ATM. Each cash withdrawal made at an ATM located in the U.S. (domestic ATMs) is subject to a fee of $1.95, plus the surcharge fee the ATM owner or bank may charge. However, as a special benefit for PayPal Prepaid Card cardholders, when the card is used at any Allpoint Network ATM in the U.S., the ATM owner surcharge fee will be waived. Subject to prior notice, the availability of this benefit may change and/or be withdrawn. For a list of all Allpoint Network ATMs, CLICK HERE.
You can also request the funds be sent to you via a paper check. There is a $5.95 fee for this service. Please allow 3 to 4 weeks for us to process your request for a check.
There are two ways to close your card account and request a check:
A. A PIN is a 4-digit security feature. A PIN is used when withdrawing cash at an ATM and sometimes when making purchases. Please remember to keep your PIN safe. Do not keep it in your wallet, or write it on your PayPal Prepaid Card. Never share your PIN with anyone (except that you may share your PIN with a secondary cardholder with the intent of allowing the secondary cardholder to access your card account). If you share your PIN with a secondary cardholder, you are wholly responsible for that person's use of the Card Account according to the terms of the PayPal Card Cardholder Agreement.
A. You can select a PIN when you first activate your PayPal Prepaid Card or at a later time. Just call the 24-hour automated service using the toll-free telephone number printed on the back of your card. When selecting a PIN, remember to choose a 4-digit number that you are familiar with so that you don't easily forget it — but don't choose a PIN that's so obvious that a fraudster could easily determine what it is.
A. No. Even if you linked your PayPal Prepaid Card with your PayPal Account you cannot get a new PIN or change an existing PIN using your online Account Center. To get a new PIN or change an existing PIN you must call the 24-hour automated service using the toll-free telephone number printed on the back of your card.
A. If you forget your PIN, you must choose a new PIN by calling the 24-hour automated service using the toll-free telephone number printed on the back of your card.
A. If your PayPal Prepaid Card is linked with your PayPal Account, you can use the PayPal Prepaid Card's Virtual Account feature to make online purchases and payments. Designed to add an extra measure of security, the Virtual Account lets you avoid sharing your actual card number, 3-digit security code and expiration with online merchants. Details about how to get and use up to three (3) active Virtual Accounts can be found in the "Using Your Card/Features" section of the PayPal Prepaid Card Cardholder Agreement.
A. If your PayPal Prepaid Card is lost or stolen you should IMMEDIATELY contact us. You can call our 24-hour automated service toll-free at 1-866-753-6440 or text HELP to 22622 if you are signed up for mobile alerts.
If your PayPal Prepaid Card is linked with your PayPal Account, you may log in to your secure online Account Center to report the card as lost or stolen.
From the main menu, select "My Account," then "My Prepaid Cards," and then "Report Card Lost/Stolen."
If your card is lost or stolen, upon your request, we will send you a new card. Your funds will be transferred to the new card account. There is a fee for replacing a lost or stolen card. For information about the fee, see the "Fees Related to the Service" section of the PayPal Prepaid Card Cardholder Agreement.
A. Gas stations, hotels, and car rental agencies frequently preauthorize a transaction, which means the business places a hold on your card until it knows the final amount you owe. Here are some common situations where such a hold will occur:
A. No. The PayPal Prepaid Card is not a credit card and does not offer any credit plans, payday advances, or other loans.
A. The optional PayPal Prepaid Card Savings Account is made available to cardholders through The Bancorp Bank, Member FDIC. To open a PayPal Prepaid Card Savings Account through the secure online Account Center, the cardholder must have linked the PayPal Prepaid Card to the PayPal Account.
If you are subject to Internal Revenue Service backup withholding at the time of your request to open a savings account, the request will be declined.
Because savings account funds are withdrawn through the card account (maximum 6 such transfers per calendar month), card transaction fees could reduce the interest earned on the savings account.
A. There is only one source of funds eligible for deposit to the PayPal Prepaid Card Savings Account: funds must be transferred from the PayPal Prepaid Card account to the PayPal Prepaid Card Savings Account. In addition, the cardholder must have linked the PayPal Prepaid Card to the PayPal Account.
Transfers from the PayPal Prepaid Card account to the PayPal Prepaid Card Savings Account may occur two ways:
Additional details about the PayPal Prepaid Card Savings Account are available through the online Account Center. CLICK HERE
A. There are two ways to dispute a transaction made with your PayPal Prepaid Card account:
For specific information about the timing and other requirements associated with disputing transactions, see the "Information About Your Right To Dispute Errors" section of the PayPal Prepaid Card Cardholder Agreement.
A. The PayPal Prepaid Card Cash Back Rewards Program is an easy, automatic way to save money when you use your card to pay for qualifying merchandise and services. Your PayPal Prepaid Card must be linked to your PayPal Account to participate in this online-based program.
We'll send you money-saving offers based on your shopping history. We do not share personal information about you with the merchants sponsoring the offers. When you activate an offer and make a purchase, the merchant will not know you are a rewards customer.
You can opt-out of this program at any time by visiting the Rewards Summary Page in your online Account Center.
Complete details about the program are available by referring to the Program FAQs and Terms and Conditions. CLICK HERE
A. Your PayPal Prepaid Card must be linked with your PayPal Account to participate in this online-based program. Once your online Account Center is up and running, your participation in the program is automatically activated. The more ways you use your card, the more money-saving offers we send to you, giving you more ways to earn more cash back rewards.
Redeem the offers we send to you and you also get cash back on select purchases. The cash back credits will appear in your card account no later than the last day of the calendar month following the calendar month during which you redeemed the offer. For example, rewards you earn from offers used in January will be credited in one lump sum by the end of February.
Complete details about the program are available by referring to the Program FAQs and Terms and Conditions. CLICK HERE