Green Dot prepaid cards are reloadable by cash, check, direct deposit, bank transfer, or MoneyPak.
If you choose to reload your card in-store, you have several options, including Walmart, CVS, and Walgreens.
Reload fees range up to about $6, but it’s possible to reload your card for free.[1]
Below, we explain where and how to reload a Green Dot prepaid card — plus how to check your balance.
How to Reload
As noted above, you can reload your Green Dot card with cash, a check, a direct deposit, a bank transfer, or MoneyPak.
You can’t reload your Green Dot card with a credit or debit card; MoneyPak purchases are cash-only.
We explain these reload methods in greater detail (including their fees) below.
Cash
Fee: Up to $4.95[2]
You can deposit cash at one of Green Dot’s Reload@theRegister partner stores or through the Green Dot App (using a secure deposit code, which still requires you to visit a store).
Tell the cashier you’d like to reload your Green Dot card and provide the amount you’d like to reload, plus the store’s reload fee in cash.
The money should appear on your card within a few minutes but may take up to an hour.[3]
Check
Fee: $3.74 to reload up to $1000 (check cashing fees up to $4 may apply)[4]; no fee if you use the Green Dot app[5]
You can deposit a check to your Green Dot card using the Ingo Money app, Green Dot app, at a Financial Service Center (FSC), or at a Walmart store.[6]
Direct Deposit
Fee: None[7]
Green Dot accepts direct deposits of payroll checks and government benefits, including Social Security, SSI, disability benefits, pensions, Railroad Retirement Benefits, unemployment benefits, veteran’s benefits, and tax refunds.
This works like any other direct deposit — you’ll provide the payor with your routing and account numbers.
You can find your routing and account numbers in the Green Dot app or text “DDinfo” to 37267.[8]
Bank Transfer
Fee: None[1]
You can transfer funds from a bank account to your Green Dot card. Green Dot offers one-time and recurring bank transfers.
The bank account must be in your name and at a U.S. bank to qualify.[9]
MoneyPak
Fee: $5.95 per MoneyPak[10]
With MoneyPak, you can load any amount between $20 and $500 to your Green Dot card. Cash is the only payment option for MoneyPak.[10]
MoneyPaks are available at a variety of retailers, including 7-Eleven, CVS Pharmacy, and Walgreens.[11]
After buying a MoneyPak, you’ll need to create a MoneyPak account. Input the MoneyPak number online along with your Green Dot card number.[10]
Where to Reload
There are various places across the U.S. where you can reload your Green Dot card.
We list the large national and regional chains that offer Green Dot reloads below, beginning with the most accessible.
We confirmed this information by contacting each store, checking Green Dot’s service locator, and checking MoneyPak’s service locator.
1. Walmart
- Reload with cash? Yes
- Reload with MoneyPak? Yes
- Reload with check? Yes
2. Dollar Tree
- Reload with cash? Yes
- Reload with MoneyPak? No
- Reload with check? No
3. Dollar General
- Reload with cash? Yes
- Reload with MoneyPak? Yes
- Reload with check? No
4. 7-Eleven
- Reload with cash? Yes
- Reload with MoneyPak? Yes
- Reload with check? No
5. CVS
- Reload with cash? Yes
- Reload with MoneyPak? Yes
- Reload with check? No
6. Walgreens
- Reload with cash? Yes
- Reload with MoneyPak? Yes
- Reload with check? No
7. Circle K
- Reload with cash? No
- Reload with MoneyPak? Yes
- Reload with check? No
8. Family Dollar
- Reload with cash? Yes
- Reload with MoneyPak? Yes
- Reload with check? No
9. Speedway
- Reload with cash? Yes
- Reload with MoneyPak? Yes
- Reload with check? No
10. Kroger
- Reload with cash? Yes
- Reload with MoneyPak? Yes
- Reload with check? No
11. Rite Aid
- Reload with cash? Yes
- Reload with MoneyPak? Yes
- Reload with check? No
12. Safeway
- Reload with cash? Yes
- Reload with MoneyPak? Yes
- Reload with check? No
13. ACE Cash Express
- Reload with cash? Yes
- Reload with MoneyPak? No
- Reload with check? Yes
14. Office Depot/OfficeMax
- Reload with cash? No
- Reload with MoneyPak? Yes
- Reload with check? No
15. Pilot/Flying J
- Reload with cash? Yes
- Reload with MoneyPak? Yes
- Reload with check? No
16. Winn Dixie
- Reload with cash? No
- Reload with MoneyPak? Yes
- Reload with check? No
17. TravelCenters of America (TA)
- Reload with cash? Yes
- Reload with MoneyPak? Yes
- Reload with check? No
18. Meijer
- Reload with cash? Yes
- Reload with MoneyPak? No
- Reload with check? No
Checking Your Balance
You can track your spending for free on the Green Dot website and through its mobile app, which is available for both iOS and Android.[12][13]
You can also check your balance for free via text message. Send “BAL” and the last four digits of your card number (e.g., “BAL 1234”) to 43411. You’ll receive a reply with your current balance.
To see a more detailed transaction history, text “HIST” and the last four digits (e.g., “HIST 1234”) to 43411.[14]
FYI… Walmart now charges $4 to cash a payroll check if it is less than $1,000 and $8 cash it if it is over $1,000. It is $6 to cash it if it is a personal check. They do not cash personal checks over $200. This does not include the fee to load the card.
Thank you for bringing this to our attention, Ml! We have updated the fee information in our article.
Can you use a debit card to add money?
can i reload a green dot card at a store without having a physical one on me ? i had signed up for one but it says up to 7 days to deliver . can i just buy one from the store and still use it under my name ?
Can I order things online.
Hi Autumn,
The Green Dot card works just like a regular debit card, so you can use it online anywhere debit cards are accepted (which is most places you can online shop).
It says free! What a crock… we get charged to load and use our own money.
I agree I will just get another account for my son overseas on active duty!
I have been to several CVS locations in Arizona , Phoenix and they are not yet set up to do the bar code cash transactions.
What is taking so long for my cash money $150 to be available on my visa so I can pay a bill after she just swiped, charged & loaded my visa for me? I keep calling & checking over and over but it’s still not on my visa?
Hi Bev,
I’m not sure how long ago you loaded your card, but it isn’t unusual for this process to take up to 24 hours.
I’m trying to reply to ya but idk where this is going? Thanks for replying to me! It ended up taking at least an hour! I’m not used to that because I usually run in Walmart for a quicker load. Thanks because now I’ll know it can take all day. That’s good to know
So I have to pay every single time I reload it sorry I will open up a second bank account then. I feel it is bad enough to have $10.00 a month maintenence fee but if I reload it 2 or 3 times a month, I have to pay a fee each time. I will just find a bank, an interesting concept and good idea, but fails everytime reload fee.
hey i have direct deposit on aa green dotbmoney card i got frome dollar tree. its in the negitive and i was hoping my direct deposite check could pay the fee for yousage
Hi Donnie,
I’m not sure I quite understand your question. If you already have direct deposit set up, your card should come back into the positive (assuming the direct deposit is for a higher amount than the negative balance) once the payment posts. Green Dot will typically deduct any usage or loading fees as soon as the money is added. You can find more about the fees schedule for a Green Dot card on the Green Dot FAQs page. Please let me know if you have any further questions!
How do i reload with cash to my visa prepaid with “Account Now” card by using Green Dot?
Hi Tessa,
I’m not sure I understand the question. You can reload your Green Dot card with cash at any store on our list. You can also transfer money directly from another card to your Green Dot card. If you’re asking about ways to reload your Account Now card, you can find more information on the Account Now website. I hope this helps and please let us know if you have any further questions!
can i reload my greendot card with a convenience check and how?
Hi Chris,
Using a convenience check/credit card check is just like using any other type of check to reload a Green Dot card. Simply cash the check and then give the money to the cashier to load onto your card. You will pay a check cashing fee + the reload fee. If doing this at Walmart, it’s a total of $6.74 BUT only if the Walmart accepts this type of check. Though most Walmart’s do accept these checks, it’s best to call ahead first.