Are you thinking about picking up a Visa Pre-Paid Card? Or maybe someone gave you a Visa Card as a gift. In 2015, more than half of American citizens purchased a prepaid card for their own personal use compared to only 19 percent in 2008, according to Synergistics Research Corporation. Prepaid cards are a great alternative to banking. They allow you to shop online, paying bills online or over the phone, and are perfect for traveling. When you visit WSCE you can leave with a brand new Visa Card in your wallet or replenish the one you already have. The following are 4 things we want our customers to know about Pre-Paid Visa Cards

1. 1. Prepaid cards are more like a debit card than a credit card: Prepaid credit cards may look and spend like a credit card, however, there is no credit behind them. They are technically a debit card – you are spending your own money that you have loaded onto the card – not the banks. Unlike a traditional debit card, you do not need a bank account to use a prepaid card. You will load the money directly onto the card and use it for your future purchases. When the balance gets low, you will need to reload the money. Since the card is prepaid, you never have to worry about paying interest charges. It offers the security of not having to carry a large amount of cash with the convenience and protection of paying with plastic.
   2. Alternative to banking: Did you know that nearly 68 million people in the United States do not have a checking account? Pre-Paid Visa Cards offer the ease of card-based purchases without the hassle of setting up a bank account. Prepaid cards can even come with account and routing numbers, meaning you can have your paycheck deposited onto your card.
   3. Look for features that meet your needs: When you are purchasing a prepaid card make sure the card has all the features you need access to. Our Pre-Paid Visa Card at WSCE allows you to pay bills online, withdraw cash from an ATM, make purchases online, and more!
   4. There are options to reload: Need to push on your Pre-Paid Visa Card? Visit a West Suburban Currency Exchange or other NetSpend authorized retailer. Find a WSCE nearest you by clicking here.

Courtesy Of: CreditCards.Com