Many users wonder if they can use their cards with Zelle because not all of them are compatible with the platform. For this reason, we need to know what debit cards work with Zelle and what is related to credit and prepaid cards.
It is convenient for both new and existing Zelle users to know which cards work with the platform. It is due to restrictions on some types of cards that will not work with the platform.
Does Zelle accept prepaid cards?
The answer to this question is no, as the platform will not accept the vast majority of prepaid cards. The only cards the platform can accept are those issued by banks in the Zelle network, which may be the Chase Liquid Card or the PNC Smart Access Card.
For this reason, most users will not be able to use their Zelle prepaid card to send or receive money. When adding a prepaid debit card, we will receive an error message indicating that the card used is not eligible.
Green Dot cards are also prepaid debit cards, so the application will not accept these. Thus, we will always get an error when trying to add it to the application.
Is it possible to use Zelle without a debit card?
If we do not have a debit card, we can use the platform as long as we have a bank account. The platform works with over a thousand banks, but if our bank is not on the list of banks accepted by Zelle, we will have no choice but to use a debit card.
When we do not have a bank account or a debit card, we will be able to create an account on Transferwise, which will give us an online account. When we sign up with Zelle, we will be able to use our MasterCard debit card, which is acceptable for using the Zelle application.
Does Zelle accept credit cards?
Credit cards cannot be used with Zelle because the application is intended to transfer money between bank accounts. Therefore, we can only use a debit card associated with a bank or a bank account directly to send and receive money with Zelle.
Please note that Zelle will accept only Visa and MasterCard debit cards, which have to be linked to a bank account in the U.S. Any other card will not work, and we will always receive an error message informing us that it will not be eligible for use.
What types of cards will we not be able to use?
There are different types of cards that Zelle will not accept due to their conditions, among which are:
- Commercial debit.
- Credit cards.
- Cards linked to international accounts.
- Gift cards or prepaid cards that are outside the Zelle network.
If we try to link any of these cards to our account, we will not be able to complete the process because it will always be rejected.
What errors can we have when adding our card?
If our card complies with Zelle’s conditions for use, some errors may still occur when we try to add it. The most common ones can be:
Entering the wrong credentials
It is a common reason we will not be able to link our debit card to Zelle because we are entering the wrong card details. For this reason, we always need to enter the details correctly.
Ensure we correctly enter details such as cardholder name, zip code, expiration date, and CVV number. Any inconsistencies in the information may cause errors when trying to add our bank account.
Our card does not allow fast fund transfers
Some debit cards will not be able to receive money or funds within minutes, so these cards will not be enabled for rapid funds transfers. It causes them to not work properly with the Zelle application.
When we use this type of card, we will have to make sure that we have the fast funds transfer enabled, or else we will have inconveniences.
The card is associated with accounts in U.S. territory
The associated account mustn’t be in U.S. territory for a card to work correctly with the platform. It means that accounts in American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands cannot be added to the Zelle account.
If our card is linked to any of these territories, it simply will not work with the app. For the card to work, it must be issued by a bank located within the United States.
Technical issues
Some technical issues arising when adding our debit card with Zelle may be technical glitches. Some of the main reasons that may arise in these cases will be:
- The internet connection is not working.
- Our version of the application is out of date.
- The platform servers are down.
In either case, we can try again later, or we can even try uninstalling and reinstalling the application.
It may solve most of the problems, but if they persist and our card meets all the required conditions, the best thing to do is to contact technical support directly for assistance.