Can I Load My NetSpend Card With a Credit Card?

Netspend® cards are a brand of prepaid debit cards that you can use at places that accept Visa® and Mastercard®. You can also use them at ATMs. You can add money to a Netspend card in a number of ways, though using a credit card is not one of them.

One way to load money to a Netspend card account is to have your paycheck directly deposited to it. You can also receive some government payments as direct deposits to a Netspend account, including Social Security payments, veterans' benefits and, in some states, unemployment benefits.

If you use direct deposit, funds will be available quickly, and you won't need to deal with paper checks or cash. You can get a routing and account number from Netspend that you can provide to your employer or anyone else who would send you a direct deposit, similar to a traditional bank account. The routing and account numbers are available by phone, by logging in to your Netspend account online or by sending a text to a special number.

If you receive a check from someone, you can also deposit that to your Netspend account. You can do this by taking an image of your check using Netspend's mobile app on your smartphone. Alternatively, you can take a check to many of Netspend's retail locations to deposit it to your account. A search tool on the Netspend site will show you the locations near you.

You may also wish to add cash to your Netspend account. You can do this at various retail locations, including national chains like Walmart and 7-11 stores. The Netspend site has a list and search tool. Different stores charge different fees for the service, and some don't charge a fee. You can see how much it costs to add money at a particular store by using the online search tool.

You can also transfer money to a Netspend account from a traditional bank account if you have one or from PayPal, the online payment service. You can also transfer funds between Netspend accounts if you need to send funds to or receive funds from someone else who has one.

Once you have funded your Netspend account, you can use it to make in-person purchases at places that accept Visa or Mastercard, depending on the network to which your Netspend card belongs. You can also withdraw money using ATMs, though this will incur fees. If you close your account, you can ask Netspend to send you a check for the balance, though there is a fee for issuing the check.