Bluebird From American Express: Everything You Need to Know

Bluebird^® American Express^® Prepaid Debit Account is a prepaid card that cuts fees and offers banking and shopping features that beat many competitors.

You get the convenience of a prepaid account with banking features like direct deposit. Plus, you get access to money-saving Amex Offers that otherwise are only available with credit cards. Smart customers living debt-free are making Bluebird a top choice to manage their finances.

Let’s dive into what the Amex Bluebird Prepaid Debit card/account offers!

All information about the Amex Bluebird Prepaid Debit card has been collected independently by Upgraded Points.

What Is Bluebird?

Many prepaid debit cards come with tons of fees that end up costing the cardholder an enormous amount of money. The Amex Bluebird Prepaid Debit card/account is a clear winner in this category as it does not have an annual fee or any monthly fees to keep the account open.

How to Get the Amex Bluebird Prepaid Debit Card/Account

You can request an Amex Bluebird Prepaid Debit card/account online for free or purchase at participating retails stores for $5.

Unlike applying for a credit card, your credit report will not be pulled when you order an Amex Bluebird Prepaid Debit card/account.

How to Deposit Money Into Your Account

There are several ways to add money to your Amex Bluebird Prepaid Debit card/account. Some require you to visit Walmart, while others can be done online or through a mobile device.

Regardless of the method you use to deposit money into your Amex Bluebird Prepaid Debit card/account, the maximum amount that you can add is $100,000 per year and $10,000 per month.

Direct Deposit

If your employer pays you via direct deposit, you can link your Amex Bluebird Prepaid Debit card/account so that your paycheck will automatically be deposited into it.

The payment must come from a U.S. bank account for Bluebird to accept the deposit. You will not be charged a fee to deposit money with this method.

Tax Refunds

You can designate your Amex Bluebird Prepaid Debit card/account to receive your tax refund if you will be receiving one. You will not be charged a fee to deposit money with this method.

Debit Card

You may also deposit money into your account through a bank debit card. Deposits may be made via your Amex Bluebird Prepaid Debit card/account online or through the Bluebird mobile app (iOS, Android).

You may deposit up to $200 per day and $1,000 per month. You will not be charged a fee to deposit money with this method.

Cash

Cash may be deposited into your account at Walmart Money Centers. You can also deposit money with your debit card in person at Walmart. These deposits are considered cash deposits.

You can deposit up to $2,500 ($1,999 at Walmart) per day and a total of $5,000 per month. You will be charged a fee of $3.74 to deposit money with either of these methods beginning July 1, 2023.

You can also deposit cash at other retail locations, but the fee to do so could be up to $3.95.

Checks

If you need to deposit checks, you can do so through the Bluebird mobile app thanks to its Mobile Check Capture ability. You can deposit up to $2,000 per day and $10,000 per month.

Like most deposit methods with Bluebird, this one does not have a fee.

How to Spend, Withdraw, and Transfer Cash

There are several ways to spend money, pay bills, and withdraw cash with Bluebird.

Pay Bills

Your Amex Bluebird Prepaid Debit card/account comes with a bill pay feature that makes it easy to pay rent, utilities, car payments, and more. You can make payments online or through the mobile app.

When you use Bluebird’s bill pay feature, a check will be sent on your behalf. If Bluebird does not already have your payee listed, you can add a new payee.

However, you are limited to payments of $5,000 per month to payees you add, while you can send listed payees up to $10,000 per month.

Transactions — Merchant and Online

You may use your Amex Bluebird Prepaid Debit card/account to make up to $15,000 in purchases per month. Your Amex Bluebird Prepaid Debit card/account can be used anywhere American Express is accepted.

Peer to Peer Transactions

You can send up to $2,500 per month to friends and family.

Withdraw Cash

Your Amex Bluebird Prepaid Debit card/account can be used to withdraw cash at any of the over 24,000 MoneyPass ATM locations across the U.S. You may also withdraw cash from out-of-network ATMs, but there is a $2.50 fee for each withdrawal (plus any fees required by the ATM’s network).

You can also get cash from Walmart through what is called Cash Pickup Powered by Ria. Here’s the fee schedule for Ria:

Money Transfer

Bluebird2Walmart Money Transfer Powered by Ria allows you to transfer up to $2,500 per month. Here are the fees associated with these transfers, which can be picked up at any Walmart location in the U.S. or Puerto Rico:

Checks

You can request paper checks to use, but there is a $19.95 fee plus shipping and taxes. If you want to write a check for $2,000 or more, you are required to get pre-authorization to do so. This process can take a couple of days.

Bluebird Benefits

Amex Offers

A Bluebird feature unlike other prepaid cards is that you can save money shopping with Amex Offers.

Amex Offers are limited-time offers that update regularly and different from account to account. You can find discounts at a variety of retail stores, restaurants, and more. These offers are time-limited and new ones are added regularly.

Purchase Protection

Shopping with your Amex Bluebird Prepaid Debit card/account with confidence thanks to purchase protection that helps protect eligible purchases made with the card against accidental damage and theft for up to 120 days from the date of purchase.

Roadside Assistance

In case of emergency, you can call Bluebird customer service for assistance services to help you get on your way. Cardmembers are responsible for third-party service costs.

Fraud Protection

If your Amex Bluebird Prepaid Debit card/account is lost or stolen, or your account is compromised, you’ll be protected against any fraudulent purchases made with your card.

Does Bluebird Earn Miles?

Bluebird does not earn miles or points. Its focus is on daily financial management rather than travel rewards.

Final Thoughts

If you prefer to manage your finances with a debit card rather than a credit card, Bluebird is a great option.

Bluebird has many of the features of a traditional bank account such as direct deposit. Fees are low compared to competitors. Plus, you get access to money-saving Amex Offers that otherwise require an American Express credit card.

Those who want to live debt-free or are repairing their credit will find Bluebird a compelling product.