Netspend is a company with prepaid cards that offers an alternative to checking account debit cards, credit cards, and cash. Customers provide the company with their names and addresses, and the company mails them personalized cards that they activate and load with funds. The cards are operated by Mastercard and Visa.

When will my Direct Deposit be available? Netspend gives you access to your money as soon as the funds are electronically deposited to your card account – that can be up to 2 days faster than you'd expect.

a 24 hour Our Overdraft Service[6] provides a 24 hour grace period. You can avoid an overdraft fee if you bring your Account to a positive available balance within 24 hours from the time of the first transaction that created the negative balance.

Your Money. Your Way. Money can be tricky sometimes, but it doesn't have to be. With a Netspend® Visa® Prepaid Card and Netspend® Prepaid Mastercard® you choose the options that fit your life best, giving you the freedom and control to do your banking your way.

Netspend cards can be used just like credit cards or debit cards. You can choose credit at checkout and provide a signature, or you can choose debit and enter a PIN. Each purchase comes with a $1.95 fee regardless of which option you choose. Fees for ATM cash withdrawals are $2.95.

Netspend allows individuals to receive access to their direct deposit funds two days early, and your money is FDIC-insured via Netspend's relationship with three banks. The company does not charge overdraft fees and allows consumers to open a savings account that pays 5% on balances of less than $1,000.

Get paid up to 2 days faster with Direct Deposit. 1 Get your paycheck or benefits check automatically direct deposited into your Netspend® All‑Access® account.

On average, it can take up to three business days for a direct deposit to clear, but the timing can depend on the type of payroll software your employer/the sender uses. Some employers can process your money faster and make it available immediately on your scheduled payday.

Is there a Waiting Period on Your Card? Some gift card sellers will not allow gift cards purchased at the store to work for a specified time period–generally 24-48 hours. If your Visa gift card is not working, the card may have a time restriction on it.

If you buy your card at a retail store or at a bank or credit union branch, you may be able to start using it for purchases right away. If you purchase your card online or over the phone, you may be issued a virtual card or you may have to wait to get a physical card in the mail.

However, these cards are loaded with a certain amount which you can utilize, unlike debit cards. Netspend cards can be used internationally and are accepted at any location that accepts a debit Visa or Mastercard, depending on the card's brand.

There are additional fees involved in using the card internationally. When you buy standard items or services overseas, the foreign transaction fee is 3.5% of the U.S. dollar amount. On every international ATM withdrawal, there is a charge of $4.95 per withdrawal along with the ATM's own transaction fee.