Bluebird Prepaid Card: A Quick Overview

If you’re looking for an easy-to-use prepaid card with awesome features, Bluebird deserves a close look. I’ll walk through everything it offers—including sign-up bonuses, mobile deposits, convenient reloads, and enhanced security. Read on to see if Bluebird is the right fit for your wallet.

Prepaid debit cards offer a convenient alternative to cash for managing your personal finances. With no requirement for bank accounts or credit checks, they provide a powerful tool for taking control of your spending. And among the top options stands the Bluebird prepaid card from American Express and Walmart.

What is the Bluebird Prepaid Card?

The Bluebird prepaid card functions like an electronic alternative to cash or a standard debit card, only without needing a linked checking account. You simply load money onto the card, then spend the balance anywhere American Express is accepted.

Issued jointly by American Express and Walmart, Bluebird aims for maximum convenience, flexibility, and security in managing personal finances. Robust online and mobile management delivers complete control over your funds.

With free signup, no monthly fees or minimum balances, and plentiful ways to deposit and reload cash, Bluebird removes the hassles often associated with prepaid debit cards.

Let’s explore some of the best features and perks in more detail:

How to Sign Up for a Bluebird Account

Getting started with Bluebird only takes a few minutes. Simply head to Walmart or their website to quickly register for an account with basic contact info. There’s no registration fee and no credit check required.

Once your account is open, you’ll receive an activated Bluebird prepaid card in the mail within 5-7 business days. As soon as you get your card, you can begin adding money to your account and making purchases anywhere American Express cards are accepted.

How to Deposit Money on Your Bluebird

To start using your prepaid functions, you’ll need to deposit funds. Bluebird offers multiple convenient ways to add money:

Direct Deposit

You can reroute your payroll, benefits, or other recurring deposits straight onto your Bluebird account up to 3 days early. Set it up to automatically grow your balance each pay period.

Cash Deposits

Visit Walmart to make cash loads onto Bluebird at any register, customer service desk or MoneyCenter kiosk with the help of an associate. Deposits reflected instantly!

Mobile Check Deposit

Simply snap photos of checks payable to you right through the Bluebird mobile app and funds appear immediately after approval

Account Transfers

Link external accounts like checking or debit cards to fund transfers. Move money to your Bluebird via bank debit with next day availability.

Reload Agents

Take cash to authorized reload agents like CheckFreePay to load onto Bluebird. Find locations on the mobile app map.

With so many no-fee ways to add money 24/7, funding Bluebird is quick and convenient.

Key Features and Benefits

Aside from easy account funding, Bluebird offers additional useful capabilities:

FDIC insurance for secured balances up to allowed limits
Digital wallet to safely organize cards and accounts in one place
Contactless payments via mobile wallet for POS terminals
Out-of-network ATM access with affordable fees
24/7 live customer support via chat or phone
Transaction alerts and notifications to monitor account activity
Financial insights tracking spending analytics and reports

For those looking to simplify their money management, Bluebird condenses everything into an intuitive online environment with robust tools.

Sign-Up Bonuses and Discounts

Unlike most prepaid offerings, Bluebird sweetens the deal by offering exclusive cardholder perks and discounts:

Sign-up Bonus

New accounts currently receive a $5 statement credit when activating the account and adding at least $5 to your card balance within the first 30 days.

Discounts

You can save up to $250 annually on TurboTax federal products, up to $15 on TurboTax state purchases, and up to 15% off expenses like computer repairs, airport parking, car maintenance, and prescription eyeglasses when shopping through the Bluebird site.

While Bluebird lacks a rewards system, the nice signup bonus and member discounts provide some nice extra savings.

The Bluebird Prepaid Mobile App

One of Bluebird’s biggest assets is its highly-rated mobile app. Available for both iOS and Android devices, the Bluebird app allows you to handle just about any card management or account task right from your smartphone.

Capabilities include:

Monitoring your real-time balance
Adding checks via mobile deposit
Initiating transfers from other accounts
Locking or unlocking your card
Viewing monthly statements
Finding fee-free ATMs
Receiving purchase alerts
Disputing fraudulent transactions

You can essentially maintain complete oversight and access to your prepaid account at all times through the Bluebird mobile app. It really simplifies managing your money on the go.

How to Use Your Bluebird Prepaid Card

When it comes time to actually use your card, Bluebird functions similarly to any prepaid or debit card. You can use it online, in stores with a card reader, to withdraw cash at ATMs, and pay bills.

Anywhere that accepts American Express cards takes Bluebird. It also lacks the foreign transaction fees charged by most bank-issued debit cards, making Bluebird ideal for international travel.

One limitation is that due to the WalMart alliance, Bluebird cards cannot be used for purchases at Walmart locations or on WalMart.com. All other stores and websites are fair game.

Is Bluebird Worth It? Our Take

At the end of the day, Bluebird outpaces most prepaid debit card competitors when it comes to offering robust capabilities with minimal fees.

Easy signup with no credit check makes getting started simple, while the multiple convenient reload options ensure you can quickly fund your account from almost any source. Top-notch mobile app and web portal management empowers users with next-level oversight in monitoring their money and using card features.

And protections like FDIC-insurance for secured balances and $0 fraud liability provide peace of mind for cardholders against account issues.

For those needing an easy, flexible alternative to cash, Bluebird checks all the right boxes. The broad American Express merchant acceptance combines seamlessly with feature-packed account management tools.

So if you want to handle money outside a traditional checking account, then Bluebird could be your prepaid card solution of choice.

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