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JHVEPhoto/Shutterstock May 31, 2022 René Bennett is a writer for Bankrate, reporting on banking products and personal finance. David Schepp is a wealth editor for Bankrate, focusing on deposits and consumer banking content. Bankrate logo The Bankrate promise
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PayPal is available in more than 200 countries. That massive network also offers the ability to conduct transactions in 25 different currencies. Users link their PayPal Balance accounts to a credit card, a checking account or a savings account. PayPal also offers two credit cards, a debit card and a prepaid card managed by Netspend, all of which can be accessed from a PayPal Balance account. No matter how a PayPal account is funded, the basics of using an account are rooted in three functions: Shop online. Merchants like Target, Walmart, Walgreens and many others let you pay with PayPal when checking out online. Send money. If you’re paying for a product or service, the seller pays a small fee for the transaction. If you’re paying a friend — for example, reimbursing someone for splitting a check at a restaurant — there’s no fee. There is, however, a 5 percent fee for international transactions. Request money. You can also request money from other PayPal users. If you’re a freelance worker, for example, you can request to be paid for your services through PayPal. In addition to digital payments, PayPal has expanded to include other unique financial services like . Users who have a PayPal debit or prepaid card can withdraw cash from ATMs in the MoneyPass network, make in-person purchases and receive . The prepaid card even lets users open an interest-earning savings account. Funds for the debit and prepaid card accounts are not held by PayPal, but rather by one of its partner banks in a custodial account. Because PayPal is not a bank, it is not directly covered by the , but users’ funds are still FDIC-insured up to $250,000 through the partner banks that hold them. PayPal accounts for bank customers
Products PayPal offers that can be used for banking include: PayPal Cash Card, a debit card PayPal Cashback Mastercard, a credit card that earns cash rewards on eligible purchases PayPal Extras Mastercard, a credit card that earns points, which can be redeemed for cash, travel vouchers, gift cards or merchandise PayPal Credit, a digital and reusable credit line PayPal Prepaid Mastercard, a reloadable prepaid card Savings account, offered for those with the Prepaid Mastercard PayPal’s savings account option through its prepaid card offers a rate that comes close to some of the offered. The highest rate is paid on up to $1,000 of the savings account balance, with amounts more than $1,000 earning the standard rate, which is competitive. That earning potential can be a strong selling point for keeping money with PayPal’s prepaid card. Plus, customers with the card can get access to direct deposited funds up to two days early. One downside to PayPal’s all-digital approach, however, is the lack of brick-and-mortar locations. “One of the largest drawbacks for a consumer looking to make their primary financial relationship is the lack of personal connection via branches,” says Rachel Huber, competitive strategy manager of Marqeta, a fintech company that develops cards and payment services. A majority of consumers — 68 percent — consider branch location convenience to be a very important factor when choosing an account, according to a 2021 study by Cornerstone Advisors. Huber also says that although PayPal does offer several payment options, the company still falls short of what big banks have to offer in terms of choice. Chase, for example, has more than 30 credit cards available, and Citibank has six different checking account options. PayPal also doesn’t offer other services you may need one day, such as or . Better banking alternatives
If you’re unable to open a bank account due to a , PayPal can be helpful. The company’s prepaid card has a $4.95 monthly fee, which can be a better alternative to paying extra fees for check-cashing services. Those with access to a traditional account or savings account may be better off using PayPal alongside an account at a federally insured institution. There are more options offered by traditional banks, plus consumers can find high and savings account rates. Sometimes, using your PayPal account with a linked bank account can come with bonus features. For example, Chase Bank customers can redeem Chase reward points on purchases when they check out using PayPal. Still, rewards and other additional features are just one factor when determining where to keep your money. The type of financial account consumers use depends on convenience, price and features, says Rob Levy, vice president of research for Financial Health Network. “The question we should be focused on is not bank versus nonbank, but rather what company is going to address a consumer’s financial health needs best — across spending, saving, borrowing and planning,” Levy says. “Who can do it most reliably, most affordably and with an eye towards helping that consumer improve their financial well-being over time.” –Freelance writer David McMillin contributed to a previous version of this article. SHARE: René Bennett is a writer for Bankrate, reporting on banking products and personal finance. David Schepp is a wealth editor for Bankrate, focusing on deposits and consumer banking content. Related Articles