Using Prepaid Cards with PayPal: A Quick Guide

Any type of Visa, MasterCard, Discover or American Express credit or debit card, including prepaid credit cards, can be used with a personal or premier PayPal account and used as a payment method. Creating a PayPal account and linking a prepaid card to it requires basic personal information and about 10 minutes of your time.

Convenient Payment Method

Prepaid cards are rising in popularity as a convenient way to make purchases for goods and services. A bank account does not have to be tied to the card and if the card is lost or stolen, it can be replaced. Your name is not embossed on the front of the card so using it has no effect on your credit score. PayPal makes it easy to use a prepaid credit card with your PayPal account. No confirmation process is needed. Once the prepaid card is linked to your account, you can use it to make online purchases.

Link the Prepaid Card

All that is needed to set up a PayPal account and receive money is your name, address, phone number, email address and a password. A payment method, such as a prepaid credit card, is required to be able to send money. Log into your account and click the Wallet button on the top toolbar. Hit Link a Card and enter the required information such as the card number, expiration date and security code. PayPal will validate the card immediately.

Tip

Make sure the prepaid card is activated before linking it to your PayPal account. The activation process can usually be completed online. Check the card’s packaging for the activation website and any directions that specifically apply to your card.