Advantages of Using a WU Prepaid Card

Money By Christine Wardlaw November 10, 2016
Need a card that offers the conveniences of a prepaid card, along with the ability to send and receive Western Union Money Transfer® transactions from the comfort of your own home? Look no further than the Western Union® NetSpend® Prepaid MasterCard®. Western Union has been connecting people and businesses worldwide by providing fast, reliable, and convenient ways to move money for more than 160 years. WU has now teamed up with NetSpend, which since 1999 has enabled more than 7 million customers to make purchases, pay bills, and manage their money. Western Union (WU) has compiled some of the best advantages of using the Western Union® NetSpend® Prepaid MasterCard® so you can see if it’s the right option for you!

Use for Direct Deposit and Tax Refunds

No more waiting in line! Enroll in direct deposit for your paychecks and government payments (such as Social Security, SSI, or SSDI), and your deposits can arrive up to 2 days faster.2 You can also use the card for direct deposit of your U.S. tax refund by putting your Routing and Account number in the designated fields and indicate ‘Checking’ as the account type. (Make sure both parties are listed on the account for joint filers.)

Gotta get this work done!No Minimums or Late Fees

There is no minimum balance required on the Western Union® NetSpend® Prepaid MasterCard®. There are no late fees or interest payments because this is not a credit card.3 You can use the online account center, mobile app, and Anytime Alerts to create a budget and track your spending.4

Use Your Card Most Everywhere Debit MasterCard® is Accepted

Use your Western Union® NetSpend® Prepaid MasterCard® to shop online, in stores, over the phone or get cash at ATMs!5 Use your card to buy groceries, shop for clothes, pay for healthcare needs, or even for a family vacation. Keeping herself updated with the latest business news

Pay Your Bills6

Everyone has bills to pay. With the Western Union® NetSpend® Prepaid MasterCard® you can pay bills like rent, mortgage, cable TV, Internet, natural gas, electricity, insurance, auto loans, student loans and others easily online.

Earn Rewards

Use the Western Union® NetSpend® Prepaid MasterCard® Refer-a-Friend program and when your family and friends fund their new card with at least $40, you'll each get a $20 credit!7 You can also earn cash back by taking advantage special offers from select merchants and using your Western Union® NetSpend® Prepaid MasterCard® for those purchases.8

Easily Add Money

The Western Union® NetSpend® Prepaid MasterCard® offers many easy ways to add money to your card.
  • Direct Deposit of your paycheck, government benefits (such as Social Security, SSI, or SSDI), or other regular payments.9
  • Receive Western Union Money Transfer® transactions directly onto your card.
  • Transfer money directly from your bank.9
  • Visit any of the over reload locations in the NetSpend Reload Network.9

Send and receive WU® money transfers in minutes1

Use your card to send a Western Union Money Transfer® to over 200 countries and territories or receive a WU® money transfer directly onto your card in minutes.1 You can even perform the WU money transfer online and from the comfort of home.

Take Control and Manage Your Money

Your Western Union NetSpend prepaid account is available to you 24/7. Access your account info through:
  • Online account center
  • Mobile apps (available on Android or iOS)10
  • Anytime Alerts which automatically update you through text or email10
As you can see, there are many advantages to using the Western Union® NetSpend® Prepaid MasterCard.® Whether you’re traveling, on-the-go, or want more than a typical bank checking account can offer you, our prepaid card allows you the flexibility you need and the conveniences you want. Learn more about the card HERE!   1 Date available will be displayed on receipt for international transfers over $15. Service and funds availability depends on certain factors including the Service selected, the selection of delayed delivery options, special terms applicable to each Service, amount sent, destination country, currency availability, regulatory issues, consumer protection issues, identification requirements, delivery restrictions, agent location hours, and differences in time zones (collectively, “Restrictions). Fees for money transfers vary and will be calculated at the time of the transfer transaction. Fees, terms and conditions apply, which you must agree to before using the Service. No fee to receive Western Union money transfers onto your Western Union NetSpend Prepaid MasterCard. Western Union Financial Services, Inc., NMLS #906983, is LICENSED BY THE GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF BANKING AND FINANCE. This optional offer is not a MetaBank product or service nor does MetaBank endorse this offer.  Services may be provided by Western Union Financial Services, Inc. NMLS# 906983 and/or Western Union International Services, LLC NMLS# 906985.  See terms and conditions for details. 2 Faster access to funds is based on comparison of NetSpend's immediate availability policy versus the typical banking practice of only posting funds after settlement. No fee for direct deposit services, but there may be a cost when reloading card at retail locations or via bank fund transfer. See the enclosed Cardholder Agreement or online Account Center for more details. 3 There are costs associated with the use and reloading of this Card Account. See the Cardholder Agreement and the online Account Center for information about the costs, terms, and conditions. 4 NetSpend does not charge for this service, but your wireless carrier may charge you for messages or data. 5 ATM owner fees may also apply. ATM access may not be available in every country. 6 Some bill payment services are subject to fees. See the Account Center for details about the range of methods offered through third-party service providers. 7 A cardholder may receive an unlimited number of Refer-a-Friend rewards while program is available. No rewards credited to either party if referred individual had a NetSpend card that was used for a value load, purchase, cash withdrawal, or incurred a balance inquiry fee at any time during the 180 calendar days before the day the $40 load requirement is fully met. Funds received via Western Union money transfers do not count toward the minimum load requirement. Allow 2 business days for $20 credit to appear on each Card Account. If a cardholder accrues $600 or more in Refer-a-Friend rewards in a calendar year, NetSpend will mail cardholder an IRS Form 1099-MISC reflecting the total Refer-a-Friend rewards for such calendar year. Cardholder acknowledges that by referring a friend through this program, cardholder is releasing non-public information. Referred person acknowledges that payment of the referral may result in the cardholder's knowledge of referred person establishing an account with us. MetaBank and Western Union are not affiliated in any way with the Refer-a-Friend rewards program and do not endorse or sponsor this program. 8 NetSpend Payback RewardsSM is an optional program. You may opt-out at any time by visiting your NetSpend Payback Rewards Summary Page at your online Account Center. The reward offers we choose and send to you are based on your shopping habits. NetSpend will not share any personal information about you with the merchants who sponsor offers. When you activate an offer and make a purchase with the card, the merchant will not know you are a NetSpend Payback RewardsSM customer, but you will become their customer. For more details about how and when you get rewarded, see the program FAQs, terms and conditions at www.wunetspendprepaid.com/rewards. Cash back rewards are credited to your Card Account and are not available in the form of a check or other direct payment method. Program sponsor: NetSpend Corporation. MetaBank® and Western Union are not affiliated with the program and neither endorse nor sponsor it. 9 Faster access to funds is based on comparison of NetSpend's immediate availability policy versus the typical banking practice of only posting funds after settlement. No fee for direct deposit services, but there may be a cost when reloading card at retail locations or via bank fund transfer. See the enclosed Cardholder Agreement or online Account Center for more details. 10 NetSpend does not charge for this service, but your wireless carrier may charge for messages or data.