American Express Prepaid Card

The credit card company notoriously famous for corporate and high end personal credit cards now offers the American Express Prepaid Debit Card. In an evolving world of prepaid debit, more sophisticated players like American Express continue to enter the market. Technological advances in mobile platforms, online account management, spending controls, budgeting and brand name recognized worldwide are some of the features that cards like this one can tout.

Review of the American Express Prepaid Card

American Express Prepaid Card


Accessing and spending your money is easy, whether it’s online, at a retail merchant or withdrawing cash at an ATM. American Express is renowned worldwide and recognized by millions of retail merchants and service providers worldwide. Loading money onto your prepaid card is also a cinch with several methods available to you. You can use your smart phone to access your account and reload funds, add funds from an existing bank account automatically (or online) or you can just load cash. You can visit one of thousands of participating Green Dot MoneyPak retailers should you decide to load cash on your American Express prepaid card (MoneyPak load fees will apply).

  • The benefits of Cardmembership start here!
  • No Monthly, Annual or Purchase Fees
  • No Overdraft, Inactivity or Foreign Exchange Fees
  • Purchase Protection*
  • Fraud Protection
  • Roadside Assistance*
  • No Credit Check

    Apply Now!

*Read this Card’s Current Terms & Conditions

How We Rated the American Express prepaid debit card

Card FeaturesAmerican Express prepaid debit card Features
FeesAmerican Express prepaid debit card Fees
Disclosure ClarityAmerican Express prepaid debit card Disclosure
BBB RatingAmerican Express prepaid debit card BBB Rating
Load OptionsAmerican Express prepaid debit card Reload Options
Overall RatingAmerican Express prepaid debit card Rating
 Rating Explanation
American Express prepaid debit card 5 GetDebit.com Editor We can't say enough good things about this card. Low fees, great features, ample loading methods, great customer service and well known branding and usability. Currently, there is no bill pay portal, but that is a minor detail as most service providers allow for payment on their own websites. This is definitely a card to consider if you are looking in the prepaid realm. The only other elements missing from this card (which are by no means necessary) are a rewards program, a savings account, a credit building program and an investment conduit. One of the best features you receive when obtaining an American Express prepaid card is the fantastic extra benefits that come with American Express. You will receive the AmEx Purchase Protection program for lost, damaged or stolen cards with reimbursement up to 90 days from date of purchase. Also included is American Express' World Class Twenty-Four Hour Customer Service and Roadside Assistance platform. Make Your Move(SM) is another included perk that assists cardholders in building a financial track record that might lead to an invitation for an AmEx credit card. Global Assist(R) can help traveling cardholders that require emergency help for those needing medical assistance, legal advice or misplaced passports. You can also enjoy various discounts, special offers or even advance sporting, music or theatre tickets with the included American Express Selects(R) and Entertainment Access(R) programs. Wow! That's a lot of extras included in a prepaid card! Here's the icing on the cake - the American Express Prepaid Card doesn't have any recurring monthly or annual fees! Customer service is FREE, there is no credit check, no overdraft charges, no transaction or use charges and you get ONE FREE ATM WITHDRAWAL MONTHLY! Thereafter, ATM withdrawals will cost you $2 each. There is no purchase, activation or reload fees charged by American Express either. There aren't many prepaid cards that can offer so many benefits for so few fees. And with backing from a brand name like American Express, you can rest assured that it is real.
We can't say enough good things about this card. Low fees, great features, ample loading methods, great customer service and well known branding and usability. Currently, there is no bill pay portal, but that is a minor detail as most service providers allow for payment on their own websites. This is definitely a card to consider if you are looking in the prepaid realm. The only other elements missing from this card (which are by no means necessary) are a rewards program, a savings account, a credit building program and an investment conduit. One of the best features you receive when obtaining an American Express prepaid card is the fantastic extra benefits that come with American Express. You will receive the AmEx Purchase Protection program for lost, damaged or stolen cards with reimbursement up to 90 days from date of purchase. Also included is American Express' World Class Twenty-Four Hour Customer Service and Roadside Assistance platform. Make Your Move(SM) is another included perk that assists cardholders in building a financial track record that might lead to an invitation for an AmEx credit card. Global Assist(R) can help traveling cardholders that require emergency help for those needing medical assistance, legal advice or misplaced passports. You can also enjoy various discounts, special offers or even advance sporting, music or theatre tickets with the included American Express Selects(R) and Entertainment Access(R) programs. Wow! That's a lot of extras included in a prepaid card! Here's the icing on the cake - the American Express Prepaid Card doesn't have any recurring monthly or annual fees! Customer service is FREE, there is no credit check, no overdraft charges, no transaction or use charges and you get ONE FREE ATM WITHDRAWAL MONTHLY! Thereafter, ATM withdrawals will cost you $2 each. There is no purchase, activation or reload fees charged by American Express either. There aren't many prepaid cards that can offer so many benefits for so few fees. And with backing from a brand name like American Express, you can rest assured that it is real.

American Express prepaid debit card Fee Examples

Want to know how much the American Express prepaid debit card might cost you to use in a typical month? We have crunched the numbers for you! We also show how American Express prepaid debit cardstacks up against some common alternatives so you can see if you would save money using this card. Please remember -- cost should NOT be the only reason why you pick a card -- make sure to consider the card's features (some cards have more features than a typical bank account).

To see different scenarios, change the following variables.
Number of transactions each month American Express prepaid debit card Bank of America "Regular" Checking Check Cashing Store
Monthly Fee Once per month $ $ $
Cash paycheck (per month) $ $ $ $*
ATM Withdrawals $ $ $
Bill Payments $ $ $
Online Purchases $ $ N/A
In-Store Purchases*** $ $ N/A
Overdrafts:**** $ $
Total $ $ $

Note: * Based on a U.S. Average check cashing rate of 4.54% (per the Brookings Institution),
**Using the Money Order fees from the U.S. Post Office (Some of the lowest available),
*** We assume that 1/2 of your in-store purchases will be made using your PIN,
****A LARGE portion of Americans experience at least 1 overdraft each Month. Also note that the Check Casher CANNOT buy items online, and must use cash for all purchases.

Fees Associated With The American Express prepaid debit card*

Activation Fee:$0.00 Card Limit:$2500
Monthly Fee:$0.00 ATM Withdrawal:**$2.00
Signature Transactions:***$0.00 ATM Balance Inquiry:$0.00
PIN Transactions:***$0.00 Bill Payments:$N/A

If you visit an ATM more than once a month, then expect to be charged a couple of bucks on each transaction with the American Express Prepaid Debit Card. If not, then you are free from fees with this card.


Notes:
* Fees verified as of 01/17/2012. Check the Current Terms & Conditions for a list of all the fees.
** Some ATM operators may charge a fee for use of their ATMs in addition to this fee.
*** To use your American Express prepaid debit card in a "signature" transaction, select "Credit" when checking out at a brick and mortar merchant. Most internet transactions are automatically processed as "signature" transactions.

American Express prepaid debit card Card Options

One card, one design, one option - great features and benefits and low, low fee structure.

Here are GetDebit’s “Low Fee Tips” for this Card

The American Express prepaid card has only one fee - an ATM fee for withdrawals made after the first withdrawal made every month. Avoid more than one ATM withdrawal a month and this card will cost you nothing from American Express. Realize that some ATM owners might charge you a usage fee. Also, if you load cash onto your AmEx prepaid card via MoneyPak, then Green Dot charges will apply.

Features of this Card

Activation Fee$0.00
Monthly Fee$0.00
Card NetworkAmerican Express
IssuerAmerican Express Company
Bill Payment?No
Credit Builder?No
FDIC Insurance?No
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