Are you unsure if Netspend cards have chips? Find out today what prepaid cards come with a chip and which ones don’t!
No, both Netspend Visa Prepaid Card and Netspend Prepaid Mastercard do not have a chip. This means you will need to swipe the card to make payments rather than insert it, as there is no EMV chip to read.
Are you considering a Netspend card but want to know if it comes with a chip? Maybe you are due a new card and want to know if this one will come with a chip. Or maybe you are curious and want to know more? Whatever your reason might be, we have the answer for you!
When it comes to prepaid cards, we all want the same security that you get with debit or credit cards. We want to know that our money is safe from fraudsters and that we can pay for cards securely. And these days, a lot of that security comes from the EMV chip.
But how do we know which card has a chip before we apply for the card? And how do we keep our money safe?
These questions race through our heads and leave us unsure where to turn or who to trust with our money. Well, no more!
Today we are here with the answers that you need. Keep reading to find out if Netspend cards come with a chip or not and what other prepaid card options are out there!
Read: Does Earnin Work With Netspend?
Do Netspend Have chip Cards?
Netspend does not have EMV chips on their prepaid master or debit cards. To pay with your Netspend card you will need to swipe the card using the magnetic strip of the card. While this is a common way to pay for items, it does come with a little less protection for you and your finances.
EMV technology is still not common in prepaid cards, leaving those who use them vulnerable to fraud and money loss. The reason for this is attributed to the high cost of replacing every card with a new card and adding the chip to them.
Although being popular in Europe, it is still not well established in the US. It is hoped that as time progresses, we will see more of these in the US, offering protection to those using prepaid cards.
Be sure when using a Netspend card without a chip that you take precautions to ensure your safety. Keep your card in a safe place and report it missing as soon as you can’t find it. You will also want to be aware of any suspicious activity when paying for your goods and to report any suspicious activity on your card immediately.
Often, we don’t realize until after the fact that we are the victims of fraud, but keeping all receipts and being aware of your surroundings can help to minimize the risk where possible and help to reclaim your money should you be the victim of fraud.
What are Card Chips?
Before we dive in, let’s have a quick recap for those in the room that need it! An EMV chip is a small silver or gold square on the front of the card. A card with a chip is inserted into a card reader with the chip facing up to make payments. The chip contains a microprocessor chip that is read by the card reader.
It gives a unique transaction code to each purchase and has stronger transaction and fraud security compared to the magnetic strip that is swiped in other card payments. All EMVs are different and are present on a range of cards from credit to debit cards.
They are also seen on prepaid cards, but not all of them. If the card does not have the chip, you will have to swipe the card to make your payment. This can be easier for fraudsters to take your details, as the information can be duplicated easily. It is often a favorite method for financial fraud and costs people thousands of dollars every year.
The strip cards also allow thieves to spend your money easily, by simply swiping your card. That is why it is vital to cancel any card if it is misplaced or stolen to prevent your money from being spent by anyone else.
Now that we have covered what these chips are, let’s find out if Netspend uses them or not.
List of Prepaid Cards With EMV Chips
For those that would prefer the added security of a prepaid card with a chip, we did some research to see what is available for you!
It’s worth noting that this list could change, so be sure to contact the card provider directly to confirm that the card comes with a chip before applying for one. The last thing you want to do is apply for a card and end up with another chipless card!
You will also need to enter a PIN when using the card to process the payment. The PIN will be a unique 4 digit number provided to you by the card provider when you apply for the card.
Below is a list of prepaid cards that come with an EMV chip and will need to be inserted into a card reader to make a payment.
- Wells Fargo EasyPay Card
- Walmart MoneyCard
- TD Go Reloadable Prepaid Card
- TD Connect Reloadable Prepaid Card
- Starbucks Rewards Visa Prepaid Card
- RushCard Prepaid Visa
- PNC Smart Access Prepaid Visa
- Greenlight
- Gohenry Prepaid Mastercard
- Fifth Third Access 360 Prepaid Card
- Current Prepaid Visa
- Akimbo Prepaid Mastercard
- AccountNow Gold Visa
As you can see, there are plenty of prepaid cards available with the chip technology if you want to use one of them. Be sure to contact the card provider directly who can provide you with more information about applications and chances of being accepted for the card.
Final thoughts
And there you have it, Netspend cards do not come with a chip on the front. To use these cards to make payments you will need to swipe the card with the magnetic strip on its side.
These cards often come with a higher risk of fraud, so be mindful when using them.
If you do wish to use a card with an EMV chip, there are plenty of options out there for prepaid cards that come with a chip. Be sure to look into these directly with the card provider for more information and help to apply.
