Review

The AccountNow™ Vantage Prepaid Visa® Card, issued by Palm Desert National Bank, is a stored value card designed for those who may have difficulty in obtaining a standard unsecured credit card.

Although the card does not require a bank account to be opened, it does require payments in advance, which are then used to offset future purchases made with the card.

Advance payments can be funded directly from the cardholder's paycheck and automatically loaded to the card every pay period. The card can also be loaded by wiring money from an established bank account or through Green Dot® Money Pak.

It is important to note that there are some fees associated with this card that include an activation fee of $9.95 (waived with direct deposit loads) and a monthly participation fee of $9.95, which amounts to $119.40 annually. There are no additional transaction fees for U.S. purchases. So, in the first year alone, a cardholder can expect to pay a minimum total of $129.35 in fees.

It is common for stored value cards to lack benefits; however, this card does offer a free bill pay service (for the first seven transactions each month) and access to a free credit builder service, which reports bill payment information to a national credit reporting agency.

Therefore, those who are looking for a stored value card with flexibility to pay in advance for purchases, do not mind paying upfront fees, and would like the opportunity to participate in the credit builder service will find the AccountNow™ Vantage Prepaid Visa® Card to be a beneficial option.

This card offers cardholders their choice of three unique plans, which differ in terms of the fees and the services offered, so cardholders should review the terms and conditions before applying to see which plan will fit their needs the most (the current card review reflects the plus plan).