Why wont my Visa gift card work on venmo?

Yes, having this exact same problem.

Several attempts failed on October 31. My bank's fraud department contacted me because I kept trying to use the card in Venmo. I verified it was me and expected it to work after the bank knew it was me. Still didn't work.

I tried again on November 2nd. No fraud department call but I did call customer service and they said there was no hold in the card and there was sufficient funds on my card. They then told me the Venmo doesn't support prepaid cards. So I go to Venmo FAQ and per Venmo:

"We allow credit, debit and prepaid, network branded (e.g. American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Visa) cards registered under your name to be added to Venmo. Cards may be declined by the card issuer or Venmo for funds availability or fraud prevention reasons. Also, some payment cards may require a zip code to be linked to your account."

My card is also Visa, issued through my bank.

I tried to do this again today hoping there's been a problem and maybe it's resolved now. I was almost certain I've used this card to pay via Venmo in the past but maybe I'm wrong. Again, after several attempts I'm still getting the declined message.

I contacted Venmo just now through the chat in the app and explained all I'd done. The rep pretty much copy pasted what the FAQ says. I wish I could post screenshots here, but basically nothing's been resolved and I told them about that this question was posted on reddit two days ago so obviously I'm not the only one experiencing issues. I know they're just a customer service rep, he's not the tech department, but I asked him if he could at least bring this up to the proper people to look into.

Super frustrating. I told him if Venmo says something is supported, Venmo users should be able to reasonably expect that it will work and it is apparent it does not. If he didn't see it as a known issue then I'd assume no ones aware of it to look into. Let's hope that "Ron C" does us a solid and the "it is noted" actually gets forwarded 😑

Last updated: Sep 24, 2022 • 6 min read

Nowadays, there are many financial options for users all over the world.

Sending money to your friends, and receiving payments from someone, is now easier than ever before.

Google Pay, Cash App, and, of course, Venmo, are just some of the top choices for those who want to receive money, request money, and transfer money to other persons.

But it’s not a secret to anyone that gift cards and prepaid cards are also a valid payment method in our digitalized world.

Maybe you are a Venmo user that received a Visa gift card or a Mastercard prepaid card these holidays and wonders if Venmo accepts them - you are about to find out.

In today’s article, we will give you all the information you need about the following matters:

• Can you use prepaid cards on Venmo?;
• How to connect a gift card to Venmo;
• What can you use a prepaid card on Venmo for?

Can You Use Prepaid Cards on Venmo?

So, does Venmo accept prepaid cards or gift cards? The answer is yes, it does!

Venmo users can link bank accounts, debit cards, credit cards, and almost any preferred payment method in order to send money or perform transactions.

There isn’t an exception with a Visa gift card or a classic prepaid card - you can add them to Venmo as well.

Using a bank account, a credit or debit card as your primary payment method is the common rule, but that doesn’t mean you are limited to them.

Pro Tip: After adding payment methods to your Venmo account, you’ll be able to purchase goods with it.

Nonetheless, you can still pay with your Venmo balance in case you receive a direct deposit from someone. Learn how to Pay With Venmo Balance by reading our related article.

What Prepaid Cards Work With Venmo?

First of all, the card needs to be network branded (American Express, Discover, Mastercard, Visa, etc.).

Luckily, most prepaid cards are issued by American Express, Discover, Mastercard, or Visa, so you shouldn’t have major problems using one of them.

Depending on the card issuer, you will receive some benefits.

Since most card issuers have a prepaid or gift card option, choosing one is not easy.

Among the best ones, we have the following:

How to Add a Prepaid Card or a Gift Card to Your Venmo Account

Now that you know that it is possible to use a Mastercard or Visa gift card in your Venmo account, it’s time to understand how to add one to Venmo!

Firstly, keep in mind that if you want to add bank accounts, credit, prepaid, or debit cards, you need to complete Venmo Identity Verification - there’s no way around it.

Step 1: Open the Venmo App and go to Settings

Firstly, open your Venom account as you usually do.

You need to tap the menu button, which is a three horizontal lines menu icon at the top left corner of the screen, next to the single person icon.

There, you will find plenty of options in the settings menu.

Step 2: Select “Payment Methods”

After you tap on “Payment Methods,” you’ll see a list with your current payment methods verified on your account.

Remember that you can add a savings or checking account to Venmo if you verify your identity.

Step 3: Tap on “Add Bank or Card”

Tap on add a new payment method and the app will give you the options to add either a bank account or a card.

Step 4: Tap “Add Card to Venmo”

Here, you must select “add card” to your Venmo account.

A screen asking you for the card’s zip code, number, and more info, will appear.

Step 5: Type in the Prepaid Debit Card Details

Now, it’s fundamental to carefully type the prepaid card’s information.

Don’t confuse the numbers, expiration date, zip code, and more - otherwise, you won’t be able to add the card.

Alternatively, Venmo provides you with the option to use your phone’s camera to take a picture of the card and add it faster.

Prepaid Cards Registered Not Working

A prepaid card or a gift card might be declined by Venmo for funds availability or fraud prevention reasons.

Among the conditions for using a prepaid or gift card, Venmo clearly states that the card must be registered under your name.

If you fail to comply with this requirement, then the platform will simply reject the card.

Thus, it’s important to take this into account before trying to link a card to Venmo.

There you go! You can now use that gift card that your coworker gave you for Christmas in your Venmo account.

For more Venmo topics, keep tuned in GrowFollowing!

Prepaid Cards on Venmo FAQ

How Does Adding a Bank Account to Venmo Work?

You can add money using your bank, and doing so is elementary.

Firstly, verify your account - then, just add your bank.

Learn how to do it by reading this blog post: Add Money to Venmo.

Can You Delete Your Venmo Card Payment History?

The history related to payment cards, whether we are talking about Visa Gift Cards, a debit card, or a classic credit card, can’t be entirely deleted. Learn more about Deleting Venmo History here.

Why is my prepaid Visa not working on Venmo?