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Topic: Reload most prepaid credit cards using the FastCash4Bitcoins service. (Read 5987 times)

sr. member
Activity: 252
Merit: 250
For your safety of course.
newbie
Activity: 42
Merit: 0
Heavy Metal, Stephen is correct.   Unless the bank/debit card specifically states they can accept ACH from a US Bank it probably will not work.
If you PM me the routing number I can check but if the bank isn't routable using the US ACH network we can't load it.

In addition to the options above you pay want to look into OKPay.  We will offer payouts to your OKPay account starting next week.  OKPay has their own international debt card.

Ahhh fiddlesticks!  Why do they have to make moving money so hard?
sr. member
Activity: 476
Merit: 250
Tangible Cryptography LLC
Heavy Metal, Stephen is correct.   Unless the bank/debit card specifically states they can accept ACH from a US Bank it probably will not work.
If you PM me the routing number I can check but if the bank isn't routable using the US ACH network we can't load it.

In addition to the options above you pay want to look into OKPay.  We will offer payouts to your OKPay account starting next week.  OKPay has their own international debt card.
legendary
Activity: 2506
Merit: 1010
I think this is the same thing as direct deposit.

I will buy one and try a transfer and let people know.

Ah .. not so fast.

It looks like non of the prepaid reloadable cards I can find in Canada allow direct deposit.

The direct deposit that FastCash4Bitcoins.com and others offers uses ACH, which is (mostly) for domestic U.S. bank transfer.  Canada has their own (EFT).  

Would I be able to go to Seattle for the day and buy one and get it activated? Is it possible for someone in the US to send one to Canada without opening the package and getting the numbers?

They require you to register the card before it can be loaded with additional funds (reloaded).  I don't think you'ld be able to buy a card in the U.S. and then register a Canadian address for it -- even if the card is one that can be used internationally.  I'm not sure though.

The Canada Post visa allows "bill payment" reloads, but I don't think it is the same thing.

I believe the Canadian bitcoin exchange CA VirtEx offers bill payment as a withdawal method, perhaps that will work to reload the card.

 - https://www.cavirtex.com/methods
 - http://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/VirtEx
newbie
Activity: 42
Merit: 0
It looks like non of the prepaid reloadable cards I can find in Canada allow direct deposit. The Canada Post visa allows "bill payment" reloads, but I don't think it is the same thing.

What is involved in getting one of these cards in the states? Would I be able to go to Seattle for the day and buy one and get it activated? Is it possible for someone in the US to send one to Canada without opening the package and getting the numbers?

I stand corrected. Canadian MoneyMart's "Titanium+ Visa Prepaid Card" says in its FAQ: "Your employer or other payment sources can send direct credit loads to your card. You can get the information you need to set this up by calling customer service"

I think this is the same thing as direct deposit.

I will buy one and try a transfer and let people know.
newbie
Activity: 42
Merit: 0
It looks like non of the prepaid reloadable cards I can find in Canada allow direct deposit. The Canada Post visa allows "bill payment" reloads, but I don't think it is the same thing.

What is involved in getting one of these cards in the states? Would I be able to go to Seattle for the day and buy one and get it activated? Is it possible for someone in the US to send one to Canada without opening the package and getting the numbers?
member
Activity: 110
Merit: 10
All that buzz about the BitInstant Paycard, and they are overlooking that a method to do nearly the same thing is already available:

Quote
For those in the U.S., there is a close variation already possible.

Western Unioni has a prepaid debit card as does American Express:

- https://www.wuprepaid.com
- https://www.americanexpress.com/us/content/prepaid/american-express-prepaid-card/faqs.html

Both of these have no monthly fee and accept Direct Deposit (ACH).

So you simply exchange your bitcoins for USDs at an exchange that offers ACH withdrawals (such as FastCash4Bitcoins.com or from others).

The account you withdraw (ACH) to is the direct deposit account for the prepaid card. The problem is the funds aren’t available for spending on the card for at least a day or three.

That costs less than the BitInstant Paycard even. The Paycard is more convenient, sure, but that’s months off.

This alternative is possible today.

 - http://www.theverge.com/2012/8/22/3260059/mastercard-denies-bitcoin-debit-card-rumors?login=1345738312#112332758


Those cards are only available for US residents denominated in USD though. EU people will be able to avail of a BitInstant Paycard in Euro and British people in Pounds. And then you have other markets for a BitInstant Paycard in the future China, Russia, Brazil etc
legendary
Activity: 3598
Merit: 2386
Viva Ut Vivas
Close, but the BitInstant will allow BTC to cash at the swipe of the card. Not a few days before.
newbie
Activity: 42
Merit: 0
Can anyone say which cards can be used for this in Canada?
legendary
Activity: 1330
Merit: 1026
Mining since 2010 & Hosting since 2012
Nice news but this is not the forum for this.  I believe "Services" in the Marketplace is the proper place for this commercial discussion.  Thanks.    
legendary
Activity: 2506
Merit: 1010
WU isn't the only provider for these types of cards.  There are at least a couple dozen and most have an option for ACH or Direct Deposit.

Right.  The reason these two (Western Union prepaid, American Express Prepaid) stand out is because they have no monthly fee.  And reasonable (e.g. one free per month) costs for withdrawal at ATMs.
sr. member
Activity: 476
Merit: 250
Tangible Cryptography LLC
It seems the WU card has fine print stating only one "employer" can direct deposit to your card. I don't know if that is enforced or not but potentially you would only be able to accept reloads via one service. Also they state that cash access is only available upon identification verification.

The verification before ATM access is standard KYC/AML junk.  Pretty much any bank is going to require it. 

None of our clients have reported any issue with WU cards.  One thing you can't do is try and send a bank wire using the ACH information as one of our customers found out.  We got it resolved but it took some time.

WU isn't the only provider for these types of cards.  There are at least a couple dozen and most have an option for ACH or Direct Deposit.
sr. member
Activity: 476
Merit: 250
Tangible Cryptography LLC
Thanks Stephen.  We have some customers using that option everyday.  I recognize banks like NetBank, MetaBank, American Express,  Bancorp.  I doubt anyone has a checking account with them. 

The advantage of a "PayCard" is the nearly instant transfer.  So it is a big win for Bitcoin if BitInstant can open that door.   Hell maybe we can even walk through that open door.  The industry term is a "white label" debit card.  We have been looking into white label solution providers, but the ones we have talked to are reluctant to be affiliated with Bitcoin even indirectly.  I am curious what bank BitInstant's cards will be issued from.  I was hoping they might have accidentally left that on the mockups but no such luck.

We may be offering something similar at some point in the future but it may involve acquiring a subsidiary incorporated in some offshore locations.  I hear the British Virgin Islands are really nice this time of year. Wink
hero member
Activity: 784
Merit: 1009
firstbits:1MinerQ
It seems the WU card has fine print stating only one "employer" can direct deposit to your card. I don't know if that is enforced or not but potentially you would only be able to accept reloads via one service. Also they state that cash access is only available upon identification verification.
legendary
Activity: 2506
Merit: 1010
All that buzz about the BitInstant Paycard, and they are overlooking that a method to do nearly the same thing is already available:

Quote
For those in the U.S., there is a close variation already possible.

Western Union has a prepaid debit card as does American Express:

- https://www.wuprepaid.com
- https://www.americanexpress.com/us/content/prepaid/american-express-prepaid-card/faqs.html

Both of these have no monthly fee and accept Direct Deposit (ACH).

So you simply exchange your bitcoins for USDs at an exchange that offers ACH withdrawals (such as FastCash4Bitcoins.com or from others).

The account you withdraw (ACH) to is the direct deposit account for the prepaid card. The problem is the funds aren’t available for spending on the card for at least a day or three.

That costs less than the BitInstant Paycard even. The Paycard is more convenient, sure, but that’s months off.

This alternative is possible today.

 - http://www.theverge.com/2012/8/22/3260059/mastercard-denies-bitcoin-debit-card-rumors?login=1345738312#112332758
hero member
Activity: 686
Merit: 500
not supplying you with my SSN thank you very much!

You only need to supply your Routing Number and ACH Number, that's it. Plus, at least with the card I have, you can only be funded with it, not charged. So its completely risk free to my understanding. Your not required to enter an SSN.

@Stephen Gornick

I'll look into that.

And there is a monthly $3 service charge, and adding funds to the account at one of the machines at Walmart cost you $3 (Depositing $50 cost you $53). ACH Transfer is fee free though.

Edit:

Wow thanks Stephen this card even has free ATM withdraws once a month, I'll just run up to Get-Go (Gas Chain) because they have an ATM with free withdraws.
sr. member
Activity: 476
Merit: 250
Tangible Cryptography LLC
Indeed, that is the Direct Deposit feature of that prepaid card.

Yup, "direct deposit" is the phrase to look for.  The term ACH isn't really consumer-friendly.

I don't know the monthly fee for the Walmart Moneycard (serviced by Green Dot, incidentally), but American Express' prepaid card has no monthly fee:

 - https://www.americanexpress.com/us/content/prepaid/american-express-prepaid-card/faqs.html

With so many banks charging for checking accounts now, BTC for savings and spending where bitcoin is accepted + a prepaid debit card and cash for USD spending seems to be a workable solution for those ditching the banks.


Western Union Prepaid card also has no monthly fee.  The site makes no mention of ACH but under load options > Direct Deposit you can get the routing & deposit account number information.
https://www.wuprepaid.com
sr. member
Activity: 476
Merit: 250
Tangible Cryptography LLC
not supplying you with my SSN thank you very much!

Well thanks for not reading. Smiley
Hint: we never asked nor want your SSN.
member
Activity: 98
Merit: 10
(:firstbits => "1mantis")
not supplying you with my SSN thank you very much!
legendary
Activity: 2506
Merit: 1010
Indeed, that is the Direct Deposit feature of that prepaid card.

Yup, "direct deposit" is the phrase to look for.  The term ACH isn't really consumer-friendly.

I don't know the monthly fee for the Walmart Moneycard (serviced by Green Dot, incidentally), but American Express' prepaid card has no monthly fee:

 - https://www.americanexpress.com/us/content/prepaid/american-express-prepaid-card/faqs.html

With so many banks charging for checking accounts now, BTC for savings and spending where bitcoin is accepted + a prepaid debit card and cash for USD spending seems to be a workable solution for those ditching the banks.
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