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Using Your Account

How do I add money to my Bluebird account?

There are many ways to add money to your Bluebird account. You can add money to your account using any of the following methods:

  • Direct Deposit - Setting up Direct Deposit is free and helps you get your paycheck or government benefits up to 2 days faster.1

  • Cash - You can add cash fee free2 to your account at Family Dollar, or directly at the register at thousands of participating retailer locations for a fee of up to $3.95. Just give your Bluebird card and the cash you want to add directly at a register, and your money will be available in your account.

  • Checking or savings accounts – You can add money to your Bluebird account by transferring from an external bank account.

  • Debit card – You can add money to your Bluebird account by linking and transferring from an external debit card. Please note this feature is only available to Bluebird® American Express® Prepaid Debit Account customers.

  • Check – Conveniently add money from a check using the Bluebird Mobile App on your iPhone®, or an Android device.3

  • Money Request – You can send a request for money to another Bluebird accountholder.

Read on in the FAQs for additional information regarding each of these features.  

How do I set up Direct Deposit?

Get your paycheck up to 2 days faster when you sign up for Direct Deposit.1 Just make sure that: 

  • Your Bluebird account is active. 

  • Your employer or payroll department offers Direct Deposit. 

  • Your Direct Deposit comes from a U.S. bank account. 

  • For Federal tax refunds via Direct Deposit, the information on your refund, including your Social Security Number, must match the information we have on file. If you are filing jointly, please make sure that your Social Security Number is listed first on your Tax Return. Please note that there is a limit of two tax refunds per calendar year per Bluebird account.

 

To set up Direct Deposit, follow the steps below: 

  1. Log in to your Bluebird account and go to Money In.

  2. Select Direct Deposit to view your Bluebird Account number and Bank Routing number.

  3. Print out and complete the Bluebird Direct Deposit Form and submit it to your employer or benefits provide to process the request. Certain employers may require you to use their own form or process. It may take one or two pay periods before your Direct Deposit will take effect.

Please see the Deposit Account Agreement for more information about Direct Deposit.

How do I add cash to my Bluebird account at Family Dollar?

Once you have received your personalized Bluebird® Bank Account card, you can add cash for free2 directly at a Family Dollar register. Please tell the cashier that you want to add money to your Bluebird account and the money you tender at the register will be available in your Bluebird account immediately. See the Deposit Account Agreement for more details.

How do I add money to my Bluebird account from an external bank account?

You may be able to add money to your Bluebird account from your external checking or savings account by initiating a transfer from your bank account into your Bluebird account. Consult with your bank for any bank origination fees that may apply.

For the Bluebird® American Express® Prepaid Debit Account:

If you linked your bank account prior to October 28, 2015, you can add money to your Bluebird account by following the steps below to transfer money:

  1. Log in to your Bluebird account and go to Money In.

  2. Select Add Money from Bank Account.

  3. You will see a screen that confirms the linked bank account information and will be prompted to enter a dollar amount that you want to transfer to your Bluebird account. You will also see your new projected balance of your Bluebird account once the transfer is made.

  4. Select Add Money.

  5. You will then see a confirmation screen. You can either select Add More Money to conduct another transfer or select Done to return to the Money In screen.

Note: If you were previously enrolled in recurring transfers from an external bank account, as of October 28, 2020, that functionality is unavailable. You may continue to make one-time transfers. 

Which ATMs can I withdraw money from?

Once you receive and activate your personalized Bluebird card and set up a PIN, you can use your personalized Bluebird® Bank Account card for ATM withdrawals anywhere Visa debit cards are accepted, including at international ATMs.4

 

Visit bluebird.com/atm-withdrawals for more details.

Can I use my Bluebird card for online, mail order, or phone purchases?

Online, in store, over the phone or through the mail – how you shop is up to you! When you aren’t making in store purchases, be sure to have your full Bluebird card number, security code (or CVV) and expiration date. The Visa®  debit card issued with your Bluebird® Bank Account can be used at merchants that accept Visa debit cards. The CVV is a 3-digit code on the back of the card next to the signature strip. The card is good through the “Card Expires” date on the front of the card.

Can I use my Bluebird card internationally?

Yes. At home or abroad,  the Visa® debit card issued with your Bluebird® Bank Account can be used anywhere Visa debit cards are accepted internationally, including at international ATMs.4

Why is there a hold on my account?

Certain types of transactions where the full amount is not known at the time of payment come with a preauthorization hold – which means that until the transaction clears, the merchant will hold additional funds to make sure you have enough funds to cover the transaction.

The funds subject to the hold will not be available until the transaction has fully completed or after the hold time expires (typically 7 days but could be up to 30 days with rental car agencies).

These merchants/types of transactions include:

  • Paying for gas at the pump

  • Travel reservations (hotels, motels, etc.)

  • Restaurants

  • Rental car agencies

  • Cruise lines

  • & other similar merchants

When this happens, your available balance may look lower than you were expecting, and you may wonder if you were overcharged. If the transaction was one of the above or something similar, wait until the transaction clears as it is likely that the merchant has placed a “preauthorization hold” on your account for more than the purchase amount until the transaction has closed out. If after the transaction has cleared, you still feel the amount is more than you were expecting, contact the merchant directly or contact customer service.  

When using your Bluebird card for the above transaction types, there is no way to avoid the preauthorization holds.

For travel and reservation-related transactions, you can avoid having excess funds held on your account by always completing the transaction with the same card you used to make the reservation. If you use your card to make a reservation, but then use a different card to close it out, it could put a hold on your funds for up to 30 days. However, if you use your card for the reservation and to complete the transaction, the hold on your card will be much shorter.

To avoid a preauthorization hold when purchasing gas with your Bluebird card, be sure to know your balance and always go inside to pay before you pump your gas rather than paying at the pump. This will complete the transaction immediately and additional funds will not be held.

How do I change my ATM PIN?

If you need to change the ATM PIN associated with your account, follow the steps below:

1. Log in to your Bluebird account and go to My Profile.

2. Select Change ATM PIN, located under the Settings section.

3. Confirm the current ATM PIN associated with your account.

4. Now choose a new ATM PIN and enter it in the form fields provided. Your new ATM PIN must meet the following requirements:

  • Cannot be the same four numbers, i.e. 1111, 2222, etc.

  • Cannot be four sequential numbers, i.e. 1234, 9876, etc.

  • Cannot be the last four digits of your Social Security Number

  • Cannot be the year you were born

5. Confirm your new ATM PIN and select Save Changes to save your new ATM PIN. The ATM PIN will be updated and you should use this ATM PIN moving forward. 

How do I fill out my tax forms to have my refund added to my Bluebird account?

Follow the steps below to successfully add your tax refund to your Bluebird account:

  1. Ensure that the primary name and Social Security Number on your tax return matches the name on your Bluebird account exactly.

  2. In the Refund section of the tax return:

         - Fill in your Bluebird Routing number

         - Fill in your Bluebird Account number

         - Select "Checking" as the type of account

 

To find your Account and Routing Numbers, log in to your account and click/tap “My Profile.”

 

Visit bluebird.com/tax-refund for more details on tax refunds. 

How do I close my account?

You can close your account online. Please note: In order to close your account, and all Subaccounts, your balance, including all Subaccounts and Goals, must be $0 and all pending transactions must be cleared.

One of the fastest ways to withdraw the balance of your account is by ATM. You have access to free ATM withdrawals4 at over 40,000 ATMs in the MoneyPass® ATM network in the US.  

Follow the steps below to close your account online:

1. Log in to your Bluebird account

2. On the Home screen, select your main account

3. Click or tap the gear icon  

4. Select Close Account

5. If you need to take any actions prior to closing your account – review the checklist to do the following:

  • Close any Subaccounts (see “How do I close a Subaccount” FAQ below)

  • Transfer any money in your Goals to your account 

  • Clear or cancel any pending transactions

  • Remove all funds from your account. You must have a $0 balance.

6. Once all the items on the checklist are complete, you can select Close Account. You can still log in to your account for up to 90 days after your account is closed to access past statements. 

If you need additional assistance, please call us at 1-833-926-3922.

How do I close a Subaccount?

Only the main accountholder can close a Subaccount. Please Note: In order to close a Subaccount, all pending transactions must be cleared and once you close a Subaccount you will not be able to reopen it. When you close a Subaccount the remaining balance will be automatically transferred back into the main account.

1. Log in to the Bluebird Subaccount

2. On the Home screen, select the Subaccount

3. Click or tap the gear icon to access Subaccount Settings

4. Click or tap Close Subaccount

5. Select Close Subaccount

6. You will return to the Home screen and the Subaccount is now permanently closed

 

If you need additional assistance, please call us at 1-833-926-3922.

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