Jun 28, 2013, 3:20 pm
Last edit by: ChrisFlyer66
Moderator note: A new thread for 2016 is here: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/manufactured-spending/1738030-gobank-greendot-online-banking-debit-card-2016-a.html
Do NOT let Rite-Aid scan the GoBank barcode. You will be charged, but your funds won't load. It is a PIA to get your funds back.
Want to stay active? Be sure to only load when your balance is at or close to 0. Continuing to load when you have funds in there seems to be a no no. Swipes are recommended, but there are folks active that don't swipe.
Lots of $200 loads can get you shutdown. GoBank does not like paying load fees on low denomination loads. Two $500 loads is better than five $200 loads.
Shut down reports:
Please list your load/spend/billpay details (in a single statement/lifetime?) e.g.,
type of load, number of loads, denomination of your gc or mp, amount of your billpay, any actual swipe/dd?
lad2 (closed) - May: $2.7K 9 loads 5DDs - June: $5.5K 5 loads 6DDs - July: $4.6K 6 loads 1DD - August $9.9K 19 loads 1DD - no swipes
TheDapperDon (open) June $4.5k 5 loads. All GCs. 1 swipe. Everything else BP to CC. 1500 most loaded in one day .July - $3489 5 loads. All GCs. Several swipes. No load until below $20 or so remaining.
raghu455 (closed) May $2k 4 loads, june $7k all GCs. All BP to CC.
drdrew450 (closed) 17K in loads, unloaded all through bill pay, less than a month
cuebert (closed) $4.5k in 9 MP loads, BP out. That was fast.
sgideons (closed) May $7k 17 loads, june $17k 27 loads, july $5k 6 loads, september $3.5k 4 loads. Unloaded 90% ACH pull, 5% PP to self, 5% bill pay tool. Closed on September statement date.
MDWCommuter (closed): June only, $8k in 60 loads, all GC. $2k is most loaded in one day. Wrote 2 BP to CC checks, no ATM, no MP loads, no ACH pull, no DD, always carried at least a $1k balance
ArtemK (closed): 1st month - 5/21 - 6/21 - loaded $6,700, 6/21 - 6/30 - $4K loaded, all via GCs. Unloaded all via BP to Citi and Chase. No ATM, no MP loads, no ACH pull, no DD, no swipes.
rdover1 (Closed): 1st month - $23.6k loaded (WM GC), ~$1k spend, rest bill pay (mostly to CC)
rdover1 2nd card (closed): Closed mid cycle, survived 1st month. No bill pay, only MO. Never loaded over ~$4k. Total activity ~$12k.
T3pleShot (closed): 7k in loads at WMT, 10 loads, mostly $500, some $200, $4k billpay to CC, 5 swipes totaling about $25.
ctbarron (open): Month1 - $3.8k loaded, all bill pay out, 1 swipe; Month2 - $3.7k loaded, all bill pay out, few swipes and an ATM WD; Month3 - $4.2k loaded, all bill pay out, few swipes and an ATM WD. Zero membership fee, usually a balance of under $150.
americanindian (closed)- closed after 3 months today. had about 7.5k deposit each month, with lots of small value(<$20) purchases each month. liquidated mostly using bill pay.
rodsren (closed)- the dapperdon warned me. I was closed today after less than 5,500 or loaaing in less than 3 weeks (was going to try to keep it to 7,500 - 10,000 but didn't luck out.)
binnycode (closed, re-opened) - 7x $200 loads + 1x $700 load + 3x $500 over 2 days got me shut down. Called CSR and they re-opened my account, letting me know that "direct deposit would reduce my number of trips to walmart" lol!
Do NOT let Rite-Aid scan the GoBank barcode. You will be charged, but your funds won't load. It is a PIA to get your funds back.
Want to stay active? Be sure to only load when your balance is at or close to 0. Continuing to load when you have funds in there seems to be a no no. Swipes are recommended, but there are folks active that don't swipe.
Lots of $200 loads can get you shutdown. GoBank does not like paying load fees on low denomination loads. Two $500 loads is better than five $200 loads.
Shut down reports:
Please list your load/spend/billpay details (in a single statement/lifetime?) e.g.,
type of load, number of loads, denomination of your gc or mp, amount of your billpay, any actual swipe/dd?
lad2 (closed) - May: $2.7K 9 loads 5DDs - June: $5.5K 5 loads 6DDs - July: $4.6K 6 loads 1DD - August $9.9K 19 loads 1DD - no swipes
TheDapperDon (open) June $4.5k 5 loads. All GCs. 1 swipe. Everything else BP to CC. 1500 most loaded in one day .July - $3489 5 loads. All GCs. Several swipes. No load until below $20 or so remaining.
raghu455 (closed) May $2k 4 loads, june $7k all GCs. All BP to CC.
drdrew450 (closed) 17K in loads, unloaded all through bill pay, less than a month
cuebert (closed) $4.5k in 9 MP loads, BP out. That was fast.
sgideons (closed) May $7k 17 loads, june $17k 27 loads, july $5k 6 loads, september $3.5k 4 loads. Unloaded 90% ACH pull, 5% PP to self, 5% bill pay tool. Closed on September statement date.
MDWCommuter (closed): June only, $8k in 60 loads, all GC. $2k is most loaded in one day. Wrote 2 BP to CC checks, no ATM, no MP loads, no ACH pull, no DD, always carried at least a $1k balance
ArtemK (closed): 1st month - 5/21 - 6/21 - loaded $6,700, 6/21 - 6/30 - $4K loaded, all via GCs. Unloaded all via BP to Citi and Chase. No ATM, no MP loads, no ACH pull, no DD, no swipes.
rdover1 (Closed): 1st month - $23.6k loaded (WM GC), ~$1k spend, rest bill pay (mostly to CC)
rdover1 2nd card (closed): Closed mid cycle, survived 1st month. No bill pay, only MO. Never loaded over ~$4k. Total activity ~$12k.
T3pleShot (closed): 7k in loads at WMT, 10 loads, mostly $500, some $200, $4k billpay to CC, 5 swipes totaling about $25.
ctbarron (open): Month1 - $3.8k loaded, all bill pay out, 1 swipe; Month2 - $3.7k loaded, all bill pay out, few swipes and an ATM WD; Month3 - $4.2k loaded, all bill pay out, few swipes and an ATM WD. Zero membership fee, usually a balance of under $150.
americanindian (closed)- closed after 3 months today. had about 7.5k deposit each month, with lots of small value(<$20) purchases each month. liquidated mostly using bill pay.
rodsren (closed)- the dapperdon warned me. I was closed today after less than 5,500 or loaaing in less than 3 weeks (was going to try to keep it to 7,500 - 10,000 but didn't luck out.)
binnycode (closed, re-opened) - 7x $200 loads + 1x $700 load + 3x $500 over 2 days got me shut down. Called CSR and they re-opened my account, letting me know that "direct deposit would reduce my number of trips to walmart" lol!
Gobank by Greendot - online banking with debit card
Jan 22, 2014, 12:12 pm
#1726
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 142
I tried to do a fast $60 withdraw from ATM machine, but failed. After I logged onto my online account, it asked to contact GoBank. It turns out it was blocked due to loading/unloading activity. I just got the card early this month and loaded about $5K. I did rwo ATM withdraw of $60 (one failed) and three online payments and also sent $750 to my friend. I did notice that when I use ATM to check my balance, it shows 2 entries in my transactions. I think that may trigger the system. I will try to avoid ATM completely.
Jan 22, 2014, 12:20 pm
#1727
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 142
BTW, the lady said that it was first warning and unlocked my account. She told me that I'm supposed to use it as regular checking account. I said I use my checking account for online payment and ATM withdrawal and CC for my purchases. That's exactly the way I use this account.
Jan 22, 2014, 5:41 pm
#1728
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: DFW,OVB (Russia)
Programs: AA HH Gold SPG Gold BA
Posts: 1,823
I tried to do a fast $60 withdraw from ATM machine, but failed. After I logged onto my online account, it asked to contact GoBank. It turns out it was blocked due to loading/unloading activity. I just got the card early this month and loaded about $5K. I did rwo ATM withdraw of $60 (one failed) and three online payments and also sent $750 to my friend. I did notice that when I use ATM to check my balance, it shows 2 entries in my transactions. I think that may trigger the system. I will try to avoid ATM completely.
Jan 22, 2014, 6:27 pm
#1729
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: MSP
Posts: 330
I've loaded $1100 in the last few days, probably won't do much more, don't want to get the ax
Jan 25, 2014, 12:12 pm
#1730
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: White Plains, NY
Posts: 114
Just got booted off Gobank. $6.3k first month, $3.8k 2nd month, $0.5k partial third month.
Jan 29, 2014, 12:02 pm
#1731
Suspended
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 313
Asking me to contact after logging in, does it mean I am done. I will call them but asking here to see if it's worth pleading.
Please call our Member Care team at (888) 280-8260 to access your account.
Please call our Member Care team at (888) 280-8260 to access your account.
Jan 29, 2014, 12:59 pm
#1732
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: SFO
Programs: Hilton-Gold
Posts: 706
Looks like you will join the rest of you who got the boot from Go bank
Jan 29, 2014, 3:39 pm
#1734
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: fort worth, texas
Posts: 946
close process?
I've read back about 10 pages and couldn't find any info.
1) I know closing the acoutn is a PITA, but how long/hard is it to get funds back if you have a balance at the time? I assume they send a check?
2) Are closures ever really done in "real time" or during the day? Another words, if you loaded it in the evening and then paid off a bill that night, what is the risk that you'd be left holding the bag on the load vs. them coming back in a few days to kill the account?
1) I know closing the acoutn is a PITA, but how long/hard is it to get funds back if you have a balance at the time? I assume they send a check?
2) Are closures ever really done in "real time" or during the day? Another words, if you loaded it in the evening and then paid off a bill that night, what is the risk that you'd be left holding the bag on the load vs. them coming back in a few days to kill the account?
Jan 29, 2014, 3:54 pm
#1735
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: MSP
Posts: 330
I've read back about 10 pages and couldn't find any info.
1) I know closing the acoutn is a PITA, but how long/hard is it to get funds back if you have a balance at the time? I assume they send a check?
2) Are closures ever really done in "real time" or during the day? Another words, if you loaded it in the evening and then paid off a bill that night, what is the risk that you'd be left holding the bag on the load vs. them coming back in a few days to kill the account?
1) I know closing the acoutn is a PITA, but how long/hard is it to get funds back if you have a balance at the time? I assume they send a check?
2) Are closures ever really done in "real time" or during the day? Another words, if you loaded it in the evening and then paid off a bill that night, what is the risk that you'd be left holding the bag on the load vs. them coming back in a few days to kill the account?
Jan 29, 2014, 4:01 pm
#1736
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: IAD/DCA
Programs: Bunch of mid-tiers
Posts: 1,034
I've read back about 10 pages and couldn't find any info.
1) I know closing the acoutn is a PITA, but how long/hard is it to get funds back if you have a balance at the time? I assume they send a check?
2) Are closures ever really done in "real time" or during the day? Another words, if you loaded it in the evening and then paid off a bill that night, what is the risk that you'd be left holding the bag on the load vs. them coming back in a few days to kill the account?
1) I know closing the acoutn is a PITA, but how long/hard is it to get funds back if you have a balance at the time? I assume they send a check?
2) Are closures ever really done in "real time" or during the day? Another words, if you loaded it in the evening and then paid off a bill that night, what is the risk that you'd be left holding the bag on the load vs. them coming back in a few days to kill the account?
2. Their closures are not limited to business hours. I don't think there have been reports of them cancelling a transaction (e.g. bill pay) after it has gone out, but they could shut you down after a load and before you got to bill pay.
Jan 29, 2014, 8:48 pm
#1737
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Minneapolis/St. Paul
Posts: 271
After reading all the horror stories of Gobank I'm getting a bit nervous about my GreenDot debit card. Both are owned by the same company so I would imagine the same regulation applies to both.
I recently had plans to open Account Now and Gobank but after news of recent account closures one greendot account is enough for me.
I recently had plans to open Account Now and Gobank but after news of recent account closures one greendot account is enough for me.
Jan 29, 2014, 10:19 pm
#1738
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: SFO
Programs: Hilton-Gold
Posts: 706
[QUOTE=teammjs;22248434]I've read back about 10 pages and couldn't find any info.
1) I know closing the acoutn is a PITA, but how long/hard is it to get funds back if you have a balance at the time? I assume they send a check?
I will answer this from my experience. Closing account is not pain but very easy. Once you get the message and call Go Bank, they will tell you to either use your funds or send a check.
It was very professional unlike my experience with MVD cards.
1) I know closing the acoutn is a PITA, but how long/hard is it to get funds back if you have a balance at the time? I assume they send a check?
I will answer this from my experience. Closing account is not pain but very easy. Once you get the message and call Go Bank, they will tell you to either use your funds or send a check.
It was very professional unlike my experience with MVD cards.
Feb 5, 2014, 9:26 pm
#1739
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 94
Can anyone give me some advice to try to at least get 1 month and a couple thousand spend out of a fresh GB card? Can you still load $500 at least for the initial deposit with Money packs? What is the max amount for cash back at a grocery store with GB card and max safe amount for ATM's?
Feb 6, 2014, 8:00 am
#1740
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: IAD/DCA
Programs: Bunch of mid-tiers
Posts: 1,034
Can anyone give me some advice to try to at least get 1 month and a couple thousand spend out of a fresh GB card? Can you still load $500 at least for the initial deposit with Money packs? What is the max amount for cash back at a grocery store with GB card and max safe amount for ATM's?
Method B would be to use GoBank sparingly. Load $500 or $1,000 per week, let is sit a day or two, then bill pay it out (I just pay off the CC's used to purchase the loads). Swipe the card a couple of times a month (no fees) for fun, make an ATM withdrawal here or there. I've managed to keep GoBank alive for about 8 months now using something like this, but I get little out of the card - just something else that can be done at Walmart while I'm there for MO's, Billpay, etc.
I don't know why you'd want to use an ATM to unload. Their bill pay function is fine and free and you can do larger volumes with this. I believe there are some data points in this thread where ATM activity draws more scrutiny, but YMMV.