Points and miles collectors like the option to earn points by loading Vanilla Reload cards to an American Express Blue Bird account. What’s not to like, you meet minimum credit card spend and can earn miles purchasing reloads for reloadable gift cards that can be used to pay everyday bills.

I shared my trouble finding a store that would sell a Vanilla Reload card. But what I didn’t share was I bought a My Vanilla Pre-Paid Visa card before I found a store that would sell the Vanilla Reloads for my Blue Bird card. Instead of purchasing a Vanilla Reload, which the clerk told me was cash only, I purchased a starter kit for the My Vanilla Pre-Paid card and loaded it with $500 with a credit card. It was a simple process that only took a few moments and then I was on my way.

I had read about the My Vanilla Pre-Paid card a few times and was interested to understand how difficult or not it was to use.

My Vanilla Pre paid card

My Vanilla Pre-Paid Visa Card Benefits

The My Vanilla Pre-Paid Visa card comes with the benefits outlined below:

  • No Credit Check
  • Direct Deposit
  • ATM Withdrawal
  • Deposits FDIC insured up to $250,000
  • Personalized card
  • More than 50,000 reload locations
  • Vanilla Reload Network
  • Track spending online
  • Set up recurring payments
  • Manage your money
  • See here for the full FAQ on the My Vanilla card

Experience With My Vanilla Pre-Paid Visa Card

Since my local CVS wouldn’t sell me a Vanilla Reload card, I thought I’d experiment with the My Vanilla Pre-Paid starter kit. I picked up a starter kit and loaded it with $500. The starter kit comes with a gift card that you can reload, but it doesn’t have your name on it. So when I returned home I logged into the My Vanilla website and ordered my personalized card. Next up was to learn how to use it.

The My Vanilla card can be used everywhere a debit card can be used. In addition, you can use it at ATMs, but there is a $400 withdrawal limit. You could purchase something at a store and then select the cash back option to save a trip to the ATM. Instead, I headed into a local bank and asked for a cash advance on the card. I was first asked to present my ID which matched my personalized card. Next, the clerk went to the machine and swiped my card to process the cash advance. Within a few moments the clerk was asking if I’d like my $500 in small or large bills. The process was quick and smooth.

Bottom Line

My experience with the My Vanilla Pre-Paid Visa card worked well. The total cost was $3.95 to load the starter kit card and no additional cost to obtain a personalized card. I can’t say I enjoyed or think it was worth it to process a cash advance in a bank. And there are many risks to using this card. For example, if I lost or had my starter kit card stolen which didn’t have my name on it, the My Vanilla site advises customers to call customer service to eliminate or reduce loses. That isn’t very reassuring.

What’s your experience with the My Vanilla Pre-Paid Visa card?

Pionts Miles Martinis Logo transparent

Join others by Signing up for Email || Follow Us On Twitter || Like Us On Facebook

Hotel Offer Page || Airline Offer Page || Flexible Offer Page || Tips & Tricks Page

Tags: ,

  • RK said,

    I have a q..It’s useful for the first time. How do you reload money onto your Personalized card again? Can we buy the prepaid card again and Reload it on to the personlized card?

  • thalha said,

    was there a charge for the cash advance?

  • Jiml said,

    I use the my vanilla quite a bit. I have found it useful since I can load my vanilla cards after I max out loading bluebird. I believe you can get a cash advance to 2500, though I usually do 2400. There is a 50 cent fee for the cash advance. At, can be pricey. I haven’t had much success getting the 400 limit, mostly there is an imposed 200 limit. It’s easier to go to Walmart, buy something small and get 100 cash back. Again a 50 cent charge. I found some other uses that work for me as well.

  • DavidAL said,

    This video seems appropriate. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rY0WxgSXdEE

  • FreeTravelGuys said,

    Watch out with the cash back option. I’ve personally selected this option at Publix and it rang up as an ATM withdrawal. In that case there was a $1.95 ATM withdrawal fee.

  • Ravi said,

    Hi Jiml, can we just buy another one at CVS and load on personalized card?

  • PhatMiles said,

    @ DavidAL: So true, but funny. It is all in the part of the game. You have to move on.

  • The Weekly Flyer said,

    The cards can be reloaded with the generic vanilla reload cards.

    I had a zero ($0.0) fee for a $500 cash advance.

  • Kalboz said,

    The most important question, can you buy & load using a credit card?

  • The Weekly Flyer said,

    Hi Kalboz – Yes

  • Jiml said,

    Ravi
    You can buy a vanilla reload at cvs and load it onto my vanilla debit card. I do this routinely as well as loading the vanilla reloads onto bluebird.

  • chuck said,

    1) Can you use the My Vanilla Visa Prepaid Debit card to load a Bluebird at Walmart registers using the PIN? If so, I presume there would be a 50 cent fee, is that right?

    2) Also, can you buy the starter kit and choose not to register it and not receive a card with an embossed name on it? If so, to what practical use would the card be until it the 500.00 is used up (and presumably not refillable since a permanent card was not ordered)?

  • Bald Army Guy said,

    Most importantly can you get 5x? Until then it’s not worth it.

  • Randall said,

    @Bald Army Guy – How is not worth it to buy points for less than 1% and use them for international FC travel?

  • Twodawgs said,

    Can you reload this card with a credit card at CVS or elsewhere or do I need to use vanilla reloads?

  • The Weekly Flyer said,

    You need to use Vanilla reloads.

  • JP said,

    Is there any bill pay feature built into the card? I am guessing “not” if people are hitting ATM’s and cash advances…but their policy states….

    “MyVanilla Card helps keep you in check whether you’re paying bills, shopping at the mall or having dinner with friends. Simply load the amount you want to spend and never blow your budget!”

    As I said, I am guessing “no”, but it states that paying bills is a big piece of the card, so I wanted to ask those that are using it. Thanks – jp

  • SgFm said,

    My Vanilla debit (MVD) cards can be loaded with $9999/mo. I have loaded up to $8K/mo and done cash advances of up to $5K at one time for $.50 fee from MVD. I use this, along with Bluebird, monthly.

  • Bryan said,

    Do the bank make money by doing CA on the MVD card?

  • hsinaz said,

    I think I made a mistake. I bought the black reload Visa gift card (also with 3.95 fee) at CVS. I don’t see any kit with it :( How do I drain the card out? I signed up online and it said I will get a personalized card in 10 days. When it comes, can I load this gift card money to that and do what you did?

  • The Weekly Flyer said,

    I think you can use the same approach, but without seeing the exact card can’t be sure.

  • Mountainmanduy said,

    I do not know how you guys do it. I been shutdown at walgreens,CVS, and even 7-11. They all tell me cash only. Am I doing something wrong?

  • TY said,

    Sound like it is good for the 1st $500. Then I still have to buy Vanilla Reload to load this prepaid Visa card.
    If I can buy VR using CC, I would rather load it in my Bluebird account instead of this card.

    It is really not that useful unless you maxed out loading BB account and need another place to load.

  • My Vanilla Pre-Paid Visa Card Experience – Points Miles and Martinis | Gift Card Malls said,

    [...] the original post: My Vanilla Pre-Paid Visa Card Experience – Points Miles and Martinis Be Sociable, Share! [...]

  • joane estevez said,

    how much can i have direct deposited to my vanilla what the max?

  • http://www.abstracts-on-line.com/gary-barlow-1971-a-modern-day-hero/ said,

    The video below gives more information about how the slime mold U.
    “Let each one of us build bridges rather than barriers, openness rather than walls. “As always,
    there are the usual ‘nominees’ and some newcomers, some famous and some unknowns, hailing
    from the four corners of the world.

Add A Comment

home top

Some of the links within Points, Miles & Martinis will pay a small commission. Points, Miles & Martinis may be compensated if consumers choose to apply for these links and ultimately get approved for them. Points, Miles & Martinis takes no responsibility for any decisions and / or outcomes resulting from consumer's own actions. This proprietor of this site is not a financial adviser, nor should be relied upon for individual advice. This site should be considered for entertainment purposes only.

Disclaimer: This content is not provided or commissioned by the credit card issuer. Opinions expressed here are author’s alone, not those of the credit card issuer, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the credit card issuer. This site may be compensated through the credit card issuer Affiliate Program.