Walmart gift cards have become a popular gift item and payment method for millions of Walmart shoppers. However, if you try to add more funds onto an existing Walmart gift card, you‘ll quickly find that standard Walmart gift cards are not reloadable.
This article provides an in-depth analysis on Walmart‘s policy of disallowing gift card reloading. We‘ll cover:
- How Walmart gift cards work
- Reasons why reloading was disabled
- Differences vs Walmart MoneyCards
- Alternatives for reloadable prepaid cards
- Tips for maximizing your existing gift cards
So if you‘ve ever wondered "can I reload my Walmart gift card?" or you‘re exploring options for a reloadable card, read on for the full guide!
Overview: How Walmart Gift Cards Work
First, let‘s briefly explain how standard Walmart plastic gift cards function, before contrasting them with reloadable alternatives.
Walmart gift cards operate much like any other retailer gift card:
- They can be purchased at Walmart stores or online with preset values from $10 up to $500
- The card contains an account number, security code, and the gift balance value in USD
- This balance is deducted as customers use the card for Walmart.com purchases or in retail stores
- They do not require activation and balances never expire
So in essence, a Walmart gift card allows the holder to make future purchases up to the card‘s stored value. It provides flexibility for the recipient to buy what they prefer rather than the giver choosing a specific gift item.
Gift cards also make useful financial gifts for holidays, birthdays, or other events.
Now clearly this functionality differs quite a bit from actual Walmart prepaid debit cards, which work more like a standard bank card with a flexible reloadable balance linked to an account. We‘ll explore those key differences next.
Walmart MoneyCards and Prepaid Cards Are Different
The main type of prepaid reloadable card offered by Walmart is the Walmart MoneyCard. This functions similarly to bank debit cards, with some key benefits:
Walmart MoneyCard Features:
- Can have funds directly deposited or transferred to the MoneyCard account
- Allows cardholders to add funds easily for reloading as needed
- Works anywhere Mastercard/Visa debit is accepted – stores, online, bills etc.
- Provides services like cash withdrawals, balance checking, digital wallet
In contrast, as we‘ve established, Walmart gift cards:
- Store the exact gifted monetary value directly on each card
- Have funds that can only be used at Walmart stores/site
- Cannot have balances replenished or added onto
So in summary, while MoneyCards operate through an account allowing flexible reloads, gift cards have a fixed one-time value.
This key difference in flexibility and wider usability is why many customers get understandably confused about reloadability!
Why Did Walmart Stop Allowing Gift Card Reloading?
Up until around 2014, Walmart gift cards used to be reloadable! So why did this suddenly change?
The decision stemmed largely from fraud prevention concerns:
| Year | Major Changes |
|---|---|
| Early 2010s | Growing prevalence of gift card scams, causing widespread retail losses |
| 2012 | Walmart begins placing daily reload limits ($500) and monthly limits ($2,500) on gift cards to mitigate fraud/abuse |
| 2014 | Walmart eliminates reloading altogether for gift cards, citing inability to control criminal exploitations effectively under previous policy |
Unlimited or high-frequency reloading of gift cards opened major vulnerabilities for criminals to launder money or resell cards unethically.
For example, fraudsters could:
- Repeatedly load funds from stolen bank accounts onto cards then quickly spend down the balances
- Acquire discounted/free gift card codes then resell at higher prices
- Load large amounts in cash then exchange cards for goods resold at profit
One key data point illustrates how extensive losses were getting: Aite Group estimated $6 billion in gift card fraud occurred in 2012 alone across major US retailers.
With millions in direct losses and immeasurable reputational damage, Walmart ultimately decided tightening control was necessary – culminating in the 2014 policy still in place today banning gift card reloading.
How Consumers Are Impacted
While vital for protecting company interests, Walmart‘s policy shift restricting gift card flexibility has some consumer impacts to consider as well:
1. Shoppers wanting a "reloadable Walmart card"
Obviously consumers intending or hoping to regularly add funds onto Walmart plastic for future shopping purposes cannot fulfill this need with standard gift cards anymore.
For instance, families trying to provide a reloadable card for college students, seniors wanting a reusable card between social security checks, or anyone on a fixed income may be disappointed to learn reloads are no longer allowed.
2. Issues for leftover balances or irregular spending
Shoppers tend to spend gift cards soon after receipt, with 67% using theirs within the first 2 months as per a 2021 survey. However inevitably some gift cards end up with balances under $10 that go ignored in wallets or drawers.
If these plastic cards could have balances consolidated, the leftover amounts would get more use. Without reload capability, cumulatively millions get abandoned annually.
Likewise, those who only periodically shop Walmart may similarly lose track of small unused balances remaining on cards stashed away.
3. Environmental impact
In recent years, sustainability has become a greater public concern and company priority. Unlike virtual eGift cards, physical plastic adds to landfill waste – so limiting ability to recycle cards via reloading may increase environmental costs as well.
Alternatives: Where to Get a Reloadable Card Instead
Since Walmart gift cards themselves are no longer reloadable, what other comparable options exist for customers still wanting this capability?
Below we‘ll overview your top alternatives:
General Purpose Reloadable Prepaid Cards
Open-loop network branded prepaid cards that can work anywhere like debit are your best bet for flexibility. Major providers include:
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GreenDot – Offers reload at over 70,000 US retailers in person and online. Widely available at Walmart and CVS branches as well.
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Netspend – Reloads available for $5 or less in-store, online, or via mobile, with direct deposit acceptance. Can use nation-wide.
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American Express – Serve cards allow cash reloads at retailers. Higher monthly fees but solid functionality.
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PayPal – Both their gift cards and prepaid debit cards have balance reload options. Funds pool in associated user account.
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Visa/Mastercard Gift Cards – Sold in retail locations, funds reloadable if enabled feature. Accepted for online, international, or general purchases.
The benefits of these types of prepaid Visa and Mastercard is they generally have free transacting and decent balance visibility. Just research fees for things like reloads, ATM use, etc – terms vary widely by provider.
Considering costs, supported features, security, etc will allow you to select the right fit for your needs and financial situation. Having withdrawal capability as well can be highly beneficial.
Retail Chain Alternatives
If wanting to strictly replace the Walmart gift card capability lost, other retail cards are likely your most direct option. For instance:
| Card Type | Key Benefits |
|---|---|
| Amazon Gift Cards | Fully reloadable online or in-store, 5% back available |
| Home Depot Gift Cards | In-store reloads under $500, larger amounts via website |
| Target GiftCards | Mobile app allows easy instant reloading |
| Starbucks Card | Frequent rewards program, mobile reloads, autocurrency conversion |
What makes these strong Walmart gift card alternatives is the ability to reload balances as needed. So funds can be consolidating into existing accounts rather than having various individual cards.
The catch is that balances can then only be spent at the respective retailer. So participants in loyalty programs like Starbucks Rewards may find high perceived value, while more general spenders would prefer broader prepaid cards.
Tips for Using Your Walmart Gift Cards
Even though reloading Walmart gift card isn‘t possible anymore, you can still follow some best practices to maximize their use:
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Treat it as cash: Since you can‘t get the value back or transfer it out, avoid registering cards to preserve anonymity and prevent issues
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Use for savings: Designate a gift card for a specific expense category like gas or groceries to mentally separate the budget
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Buy other brands: Cards can be used to purchase other gift cards sold at Walmart locations for added flexibility
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Exchange carefully: Technically it is possible to sell a gift card whether privately or via third-party sites, but risks exist
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Consolidate cards: Use up cards with under $5 on them to clear out cash drawers and wallets for easier tracking
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Re-gift strategically: Rather than having cards expire, gift your leftover balance to others who frequently shop at Walmart
Following best practices allows Walmart shoppers to maximize the utility of standard gift cards. Pairing them with alternative reloadable options covers any remaining flexibility shortcomings.
The Bottom Line
The key takeaways around Walmart gift card reloadability include:
- Walmart gift cards no longer allow reloading due to fraud control and risk policy changes
- Prepaid debit cards like Walmart MoneyCards do support reloads and balance visibility
- Consumers needing fundraising capability should explore alternatives like retail chain or prepaid Mastercards
- Practicing sound usage habits makes non-reloadable gift cards still worthwhile for occasional Walmart shopping
Hopefully this guide has covered all you need to know around adding money to Walmart gift cards. Though reloading the exact plastic is off the table, plenty of consumers can still benefit from having gift card value on hand for in-store purchases or on Walmart.com.
Just be sure to invest the balance sooner rather than later!