Personalized Visa gift cards with your name on them can make buying money orders much easier. These gift cards resemble debit cards, so you’ll have an easier time using them to buy money orders than if you were using regular gift cards. That’s because most merchants don’t allow you to buy a money order with a Visa gift card – even though these gift cards are processed like debit cards.
While most Walmart stores stopped accepting gift cards for money order purchases, some regions still allow it (at least if the FlyerTalk posts are to be believed). Besides Walmart, there are still places where you can buy money orders with a Visa gift card – you just have to be a bit more discreet about it.
While you don’t need to have your name on Visa gift cards, it certainly makes them easier. Here’s how and where you can buy personalized Visa gift cards with your name on them:
Reload your Bluebird cards at the kiosk
This sounds like a no-brainer. Yes, I’m aware that some people don’t have access to a working Bluebird kiosk, but it would be worthwhile to find a location that does—even if you have to make occasional trips out of town.
Reloading Bluebird cards at the kiosk is easy – nobody asks to see the card and you can unload several cards without drawing attention to yourself. This way, you don’t need personalized Visa gift cards with your name on them to buy money orders or reload your card.
Avoid the money center
Years ago, Walmart sent a memo to their Money Center employees instructing them not to accept “debit cards” without names on them for money orders or Bluebird reloads. Enforcement of this rule seems to be hit/miss depending on the location.
That’s why you should avoid the Money Center altogether. Head to the register for Bluebird reloads and the cashiers likely won’t even look at your card. If you go this route, I suggest you reload one card at a time.
The last thing you want is to draw attention to yourself by asking the cashier if you can reload your card with two different debit/gift cards. One Bluebird, one gift card, and you’re done.
Simon Mall Visa’s personalized Visa gift cards
buying a Simon Mall Visa gift card is a better alternative to Vanilla Reload cards. You can buy these at the information desk of your local Simon Mall or online. When you purchase them online, you can have them personalized with your name.
This way, when you have no choice but to reload your card at the Money Center, you can present the cashier with a card that has your name printed on it.
Simon Mall Visa gift cards cost $2.95 per $500 when purchased at the information desk. However, when purchased online, you pay this fee along with a $5.95 standard shipping fee.
However, you also get a code for $2 off your next purchase. So you’ll pay $9.90 per $1,000 as opposed to $5.90 at the information desk. Steep, yes, but if this is your only option for loading Bluebird, it may be worthwhile.
Personalized Visa gift cards from GiftCardMall.com
GiftCardMall sells Visa gift cards at most grocery and office supply stores. But if you buy them from GitCardMall’s website, you can have your name printed on the card.
Of course, the giant “Gift Card” text on the top of the cards may be a hindrance at the Walmart Money Center. It’s still one step above those gift cards without a name on them.
The Gift Card Shop
The Gift Card Shop is a lesser-known site that allows you to buy personalized Visa gift cards with your name printed on them.
This story was originally published on June 23, 2014. It has been updated with the most current information.
Thanks for the information about Simon Visa cards. If you are just loading Bluebird with them and not making any purchases at Simon malls, is there a way to still .get the $2 off per 1,000?
The $2 off is only if you’re buying the card online.
The issue starting last week was not about Walmart cashiers or money centers not accepting gift cards, it was that NO Walmart register or kiosk would accept gift cards from Bancorp (e.g. Vanilla network). So the workarounds you suggest for Walmart WILL NOT WORK.
There are conflicting reports that Simon Cards won’t work either.
Not the case here. I unloaded one $500 Vanilla Visa gift card and about $1,500 in Simon Mall gift cards over the weekend.
Thanks for the info. I found several other sites online, as well. You can search “personalized gift cards” and shop around. There is a variation in prices, and some charge more for shipping if the totals are over $250. But, Simon sounds like the way to go for now. Thanks again for your valuable help.
Dear Ariana,
Unfortunately I bought $1000 of Vanilla One Visa from CVS on Sunday—and WalMart declined them.
So WHAT CAN I DO with the gift cards??
Vanilla One said they could refund the money by check—but it takes 4–6 weeks to process. I NEED that money NOW to pay my Monthly Rent + Health Insurance + Utilities + Credit Card bills. Is my ONLY choice to wait for a Refund Check??
Thanks for your kind help!
Sorry to hear about your trouble. You can head over to Evolve Money and use those gift cards to pay the bills you mentioned. It’s fast, free, and completely within Evolve’s rules.
On Sunday I tried without success to unload my $1000 worth of Vanilla One Visa at WalMart. There was NO talk of name on card—this was a computer problem—the system would simply NOT accept my Gift Cards.
I was thinking of using my Vanilla One Visa to buy Ariana’s suggestion of Simon Mall Gift Cards—But you said you heard that that does NOT work either. Where did you hear that??
There are many of us that are stuck with Vanilla One Visa Gift Cards—and don’t know what to do with them…
The issue with One Vanilla is different and has been going on for a while. There was a workaround that involved pressing “change payment” right after swiping your card, then choose “debit” and your PIN. Not sure if this is still working, but it’s what people were previously doing to get around the issue.
If you have no other options, this post covers alternative ways to unload your cards.
Kim, I would say that although “fun” and at times lucrative, this is not a game for those that can’t afford to have a thousand locked up for a few months from time to time. That said, I wish you well in unloading via evolve/money order/whatever.
Very true, Kristian. Thankfully this isn’t like that situation where people bought home improvement gift cards by the sound ands and had no way of unloading them.
Kim, the One Vanilla debit card can be used to load the AMEX for Target card, for $3 load per $1000 load, no issues; did it AFTER WM started their block of OV. The AFT card can be used to withdraw cash from ATM. Also, many large supermarkets will allow you to but MOs with the OV card still…like Safeway. Just have to look around. Happy hunting.
Ariana, having your name on the debit card, can you load more credit on to the card at the mall after you unload at WM ?
Ref: Simon Mall gift cards are worthless for min spend if they can’t be converted into debit cards with a PIN>
Since Simon Mall gift cards can be converted to debit cards with a PIN, that is not a problem.
My main concern is Walmart no longer letting you buy money orders with a debit card, That was my way of meeting min spend,
Walmart now accepting debit cards for money orders but money center clerks haven’t all been informed. Lazy supervisors.
They’ve always accepted debit cards. It’s PIN-enabled gc’s they have a problem with.
Went to 3 Simon Malls in Boston on 4th of July Weekend. ALL of the Simon Mall Gift Cards are NOW AMEX!! Can I use the AMEX Simon Mall Gift Cards to load my BlueBird at WalMart?? Is this a problem ONLY in Boston??
Hopefully I can buy the VISA Simon Mall Gift Cards online? Where is the BEST ONLINE place to buy them? I just applied for the Lufthansa Card and need SPEND! Thanks for your reply!
I’ve heard of this happening on the east coast. You can buy the Visa version online, though you’re restricted to $500 per day. You can find the website by doing a Google search for “Simon Mall Visa gift cards.”
Yesterday, 07/07, I charged 6 VISA gift cards in the Simon Mall here in Dallas, Texas. (Only $2 fee for each.) Are AMEX gift cards (converted into debit cards with a PIN) really a problem in buying money orders for bank deposit? #ASK.# I don’t waste time with silly Bluebird, Serve, and Amazon (needs two persons). I went home to call for PINs, went to Walmart, went to bank. Quick recycling of funds for min spend.
subscribing
I’ve purchased two $500 Simon GC in the last few days (two separate times) and successfully loaded to BB. Each time I got the GC, I was asked for my license and the CSR entered my # into the computer. Is this typical? Seems excessive to me for just $500.
Don’t sweat the small stuff. Such procedures make it safer for all of us.
It is, unfortunately. That’s one of the major hassles of buying Simon Mall gift cards.
I don’t see any way that is a “hassle”.CVS does the same .
It’s not so much a hassle as a privacy issue. Why does anyone need to know I’m buying a gift card? In fact, about a year ago, before MS, I bought a family member a $500 gift card as a wedding gift. I don’t recall if I had to show ID then, but I think I would’ve been equally surprised.
If you don’t want to play by the rules, don’t play. What privacy? My drivers license is public record.
I understand that. At some Walmarts, they actually write down your SSN and DL number in folder rather than electronically. With the incompetence of most Walmart employees, I would be concerned about my privacy and identity theft as well.
At my Walmart, they merely look at the Drivers license to compare me with the picture. I would never give my SSN. Tell them it is against the law. (actually true.) Same at Simon mall.
Can Metabank and US Bank Gift cards bought at a grocery store be used at walmart to buy money orders? If so what is the dollar limit on money orders daily?
If a Walmart money center clerk says you you need a debit card with your name on it, the clerk is giving obsolete information. Get a supervisor. I don’t know of any place you can get one with your name on it other than from Simon malls and outlets.
Yes, at CVS and grocery stores. No daily dollar limit. Limits on number of MOs and debit cards in one transaction. If you need more, you must make another transaction. Don’t let a clerk tell you otherwise. No daily limit on transactions.
You can get GCM gift cards with your name on them as well. Not true RE clerks giving obsolete info. It’s now Walmart policy. And getting a manager involved is a huge no no.
Yes, they can. You should limit yourself to $2,900 in mo’s a day. Anything over that will require you to give them your personal info, including SSN. Considering they keep that info in a binder where any employee can see it, I wouldn’t recommend doing this.
As before, no place in Dallas, TX area will sell money orders with a gift card. Local Simon mall does not have the ability to put names on cards. Walmart cashiers cannot sell money orders–only money centers can.
They do. And you can buy cards with your names on them online.
Just purchased a VGC from Simon but it didn’t come pre-printed with my name. It said “GIF CARD RECIPIENT”.. Any ideas why? I put in my name in the from & to so I was shocked to see it not there. Does it matter which VGC you pick on Simon? (I did this online). I liquidated it OK, but was hoping for my name on it. Simon is a bit cheaper than GCM so I figured I’d try to stick with them. Any idea what happened? All the DP’s seem to suggest they print the name, but not sure why mine didn’t.