Jan 10, 2016, 7:37 pm
Last edit by: radonc1
As of 9/18/21: WM loads are no longer free. WM will charge each load (no matter what the size) $3.74 in addition to the money being deposited into your Go Bank account.
GoBank fees and limits:
Cash deposits are limited to $2,500 per day and $3,000 per 30 days, subject to a maximum account balance of $50,000.
The monthly fee will accumulate if the account is dormant. You must call the phone number on the back to close the account.
5/29/19 - There may be a difference in which card gets free loads at WM. Getting the card online through GoBank.com sends out a Visa version. This card may not allow free loads at WM. Reports are that getting the card directly at WM will result in free loads. If anyone can confirm this, please do so.
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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!
tarcapone (open) old version opened October 2014 still alive February 2016. Load $1k/week ($4-$5K per month) nearly every Monday morning. Bill pay out large chunks to Credit cards. (Open) new version Opened November 2015 load $1K per week, but skipping a week each month. Bill pay out large chunks. My $1K/week is always one transaction (2x$500GC).
GoBank fees and limits:
Cash deposits are limited to $2,500 per day and $3,000 per 30 days, subject to a maximum account balance of $50,000.
- Sign up online & through the GoBank app FREE
- Sign up with a starter kit from participating retail stores Purchase a starter kit at a participating retail location ($2.95 or less) + start your account for as little as $20, up to $500
- Monthly Membership FREE in any month that you make qualifying direct deposits totaling at least $500. Otherwise, $8.95 per month. For more details on the Monthly Membership fee
Keep in mind the maximum number of swipes for payment when loading prepaid reloadables including GoBank is THREE. Swiping the prepaid card is considered as FIRST swipe so it leaves you with THREE remaining swipes so plan accordingly.
The monthly fee will accumulate if the account is dormant. You must call the phone number on the back to close the account.
5/29/19 - There may be a difference in which card gets free loads at WM. Getting the card online through GoBank.com sends out a Visa version. This card may not allow free loads at WM. Reports are that getting the card directly at WM will result in free loads. If anyone can confirm this, please do so.
-----------------------------
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!
tarcapone (open) old version opened October 2014 still alive February 2016. Load $1k/week ($4-$5K per month) nearly every Monday morning. Bill pay out large chunks to Credit cards. (Open) new version Opened November 2015 load $1K per week, but skipping a week each month. Bill pay out large chunks. My $1K/week is always one transaction (2x$500GC).
Gobank by Greendot - online banking with debit card(2016 onwards)
Nov 25, 2020, 9:21 am
#1096
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 69
Data point. I just got back from WM and was able to load both a $200 and a $300 VGC from an office store at the CS desk (location has a MC as well). However, what was funky was that the first swipe gave an error code while the same card worked on the 2nd swipe. Received both error codes 56 and 05 on initial swipes. Attempting the 2 swipes at the MC was a non-starter...was limited to $99 as per the new norm there. My guess is, if the register is capable of doing MO's, you're gonna run into the new limitations.
Nov 25, 2020, 3:30 pm
#1097
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: Continental Onepass, Hilton, Marriott, USAir and now UA
Posts: 6,443
Data point. I just got back from WM and was able to load both a $200 and a $300 VGC from an office store at the CS desk (location has a MC as well). However, what was funky was that the first swipe gave an error code while the same card worked on the 2nd swipe. Received both error codes 56 and 05 on initial swipes. Attempting the 2 swipes at the MC was a non-starter...was limited to $99 as per the new norm there. My guess is, if the register is capable of doing MO's, you're gonna run into the new limitations.
IOWs what techniques are available to avoid the service charge?
Nov 25, 2020, 3:45 pm
#1098
Join Date: Oct 2014
Programs: All of them
Posts: 1,664
Is loading a VGC into Go considered a direct deposit? If it isn't, how does one avoid the $8.95/mo service charge on the card unless you have some bank account which will do a direct deposit into the account.
IOWs what techniques are available to avoid the service charge?
IOWs what techniques are available to avoid the service charge?
A sampling from DOC, maybe others would work:
https://www.doctorofcredit.com/knowl...posits/#GoBank
In the current MS climate, I'd gladly even pay 8.95/mo to have easy way to unload Metas. My only concern is if that direct deposit eats into the monthly load limit.
Nov 25, 2020, 7:51 pm
#1100
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: DUB-BOS
Programs: various
Posts: 3,692
Direct ACH transfer from some banks may work.
A sampling from DOC, maybe others would work:
https://www.doctorofcredit.com/knowl...posits/#GoBank
In the current MS climate, I'd gladly even pay 8.95/mo to have easy way to unload Metas. My only concern is if that direct deposit eats into the monthly load limit.
A sampling from DOC, maybe others would work:
https://www.doctorofcredit.com/knowl...posits/#GoBank
In the current MS climate, I'd gladly even pay 8.95/mo to have easy way to unload Metas. My only concern is if that direct deposit eats into the monthly load limit.
There is info in the wiki that may be useful. I would suggest using the card for occasional swipes, or not draining to zero right after loading to avoid shutdowns. Personally I have been loading up until the max over a couple of weeks and then spend down against some bills a week or so later, usually keeping billpays under 1k. Their target market is not loading 3k in 1 day and then paying a 3k CC bill the next day.
From what I can see the regular cashier terminals in walmart have not been impacted by the new $99 virus. YMMV when it comes to $500's. They work if you can get the cashier to try it, but many seem to think you need to go to the MC (at least in my area).
Many cashiers also freak out if you ask to do multiple loads, especially at 500 loads. YMMV, but I think your are better off going to a different cashier for your additional loads, if you want to keep the route alive.
Nov 26, 2020, 5:50 am
#1101
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: Continental Onepass, Hilton, Marriott, USAir and now UA
Posts: 6,443
Direct ACH transfer from some banks may work.
A sampling from DOC, maybe others would work:
https://www.doctorofcredit.com/knowl...posits/#GoBank
In the current MS climate, I'd gladly even pay 8.95/mo to have easy way to unload Metas. My only concern is if that direct deposit eats into the monthly load limit.
A sampling from DOC, maybe others would work:
https://www.doctorofcredit.com/knowl...posits/#GoBank
In the current MS climate, I'd gladly even pay 8.95/mo to have easy way to unload Metas. My only concern is if that direct deposit eats into the monthly load limit.
I just happen to have a Chase account that can be used for this purpose.
I don't do lots of deposits, but I do want to have multiple avenues for liquidating VGCs other than WM, given the current situation and what it may evolve into.
Nov 27, 2020, 7:46 pm
#1102
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: AUS
Programs: AA EP, BA, DL, UA, TK, SPG Gold
Posts: 70
long time mser, need advice. I do one MO and 3 WMBP (~3-4K) per month at the MC. ran into the 99 issue, did partial payments this month. It is manageable but not convenient. on a whim, got the gobank card today with $25 (+$2.95 activation) on it, $8.95 is a non-issue if I can have the convenience of using the $300 gebit. All I want to do is unload and then pay legit bills, like utilities, mortgage. In yall's expert opinions is that even possible or will I get shutdown?
Nov 28, 2020, 10:17 am
#1103
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 69
long time mser, need advice. I do one MO and 3 WMBP (~3-4K) per month at the MC. ran into the 99 issue, did partial payments this month. It is manageable but not convenient. on a whim, got the gobank card today with $25 (+$2.95 activation) on it, $8.95 is a non-issue if I can have the convenience of using the $300 gebit. All I want to do is unload and then pay legit bills, like utilities, mortgage. In yall's expert opinions is that even possible or will I get shutdown?
Nov 28, 2020, 10:25 am
#1104
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: AUS
Programs: AA EP, BA, DL, UA, TK, SPG Gold
Posts: 70
Nov 28, 2020, 10:53 am
#1105
Join Date: Oct 2014
Programs: All of them
Posts: 1,664
I couldn't even buy one today. Finally found it in different WM tried to ring it up for $500 + 2.95 and neither a CC nor my Simon meta would go through to pay for it. This was at a regular cashier. How were people buying these in the past? Next time I'm there and it's not so crowded with returns, I may try again at customer service.
Nov 29, 2020, 12:18 am
#1106
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 2,061
I couldn't even buy one today. Finally found it in different WM tried to ring it up for $500 + 2.95 and neither a CC nor my Simon meta would go through to pay for it. This was at a regular cashier. How were people buying these in the past? Next time I'm there and it's not so crowded with returns, I may try again at customer service.
Nov 29, 2020, 7:00 am
#1108
Join Date: Oct 2014
Programs: All of them
Posts: 1,664
I tried to use a Simon GC for the full $500 as well, and it didn't work. Cashier was kind of clueless so I couldn't get an idea of what error message he got. The whole point of this is to be able to load Metas for $500+ at a cashier. If I can't do it then I have no need for this card.
Nov 29, 2020, 7:59 am
#1109
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: Continental Onepass, Hilton, Marriott, USAir and now UA
Posts: 6,443
I couldn't even buy one today. Finally found it in different WM tried to ring it up for $500 + 2.95 and neither a CC nor my Simon meta would go through to pay for it. This was at a regular cashier. How were people buying these in the past? Next time I'm there and it's not so crowded with returns, I may try again at customer service.
I have just bought one, but used cash for the $2.95 fee and load of $20. I will await the arrival of the official card and then attempt to load it with a VGC. If that fails, then I will just liquidate the money on the card and cancel the account.
If it succeeds, I will have ways of maintaining the account with direct deposit to preclude fees and use it as a secondary source of VGC liquidation. However, I still am not certain that Go cards will work any better at WM for MO purchases. Perhaps someone can enlighten me
Nov 29, 2020, 9:02 am
#1110
Join Date: Oct 2014
Programs: All of them
Posts: 1,664
Unless one can load a Go card with VGCs, then what is the point of owning one?
I have just bought one, but used cash for the $2.95 fee and load of $20. I will await the arrival of the official card and then attempt to load it with a VGC. If that fails, then I will just liquidate the money on the card and cancel the account.
If it succeeds, I will have ways of maintaining the account with direct deposit to preclude fees and use it as a secondary source of VGC liquidation. However, I still am not certain that Go cards will work any better at WM for MO purchases. Perhaps someone can enlighten me
I have just bought one, but used cash for the $2.95 fee and load of $20. I will await the arrival of the official card and then attempt to load it with a VGC. If that fails, then I will just liquidate the money on the card and cancel the account.
If it succeeds, I will have ways of maintaining the account with direct deposit to preclude fees and use it as a secondary source of VGC liquidation. However, I still am not certain that Go cards will work any better at WM for MO purchases. Perhaps someone can enlighten me
