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In the United States, you can add cash to a PayPal Balance account at participating stores including CVS Pharmacy, Walmart, Dollar General, Family Dollar, 7-Eleven, Walgreens, and Kroger. In the PayPal app, choose Add Cash, select a retailer, and show the generated barcode with your cash at checkout. PayPal says it has more than 90,000 US reload locations; check the app for a participating store near you. The service adds money to your PayPal Balance account, not directly to any card branded with PayPal.
What “loading a PayPal card” means
PayPal’s in-store cash reload puts money into a PayPal Balance account. That is the balance associated with a PayPal Debit Card; the balance account receives the cash. A PayPal Balance account is required to use cash reloads. See PayPal’s US Add Money page and its in-store cash reload page.
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Where you can add cash
PayPal advertises more than 90,000 US cash reload locations. Its listed retailers include Walmart, CVS Pharmacy, 7-Eleven, Dollar General, Walgreens, Kroger, Meijer, Family Dollar, GameStop, H-E-B, Office Depot, Speedway, and many others. The network list does not mean every branch participates, so check the PayPal app for the specific retailer and location available in your area.
These locations, fees, and limits are from PayPal’s US service information and should not be assumed to apply in other countries.
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- Cards are shipped active and ready for use.
- This card is non-reloadable. No cash or ATM access. Funds do not expire. If available funds remain on your card after the valid thru date has passed, please call customer service for a replacement card. A one-time purchase fee applies at the time of checkout. No fees after purchase.
- Double check if the URL/website is genuine before entering card details online. Do not provide any gift card details (example: claim code) to someone you do not know or trust. There are a variety of scams in which fraudsters try to trick others into paying with gift cards.
- If you believe that your Card has been lost or stolen, notify Mastercard immediately by calling 1-833-791-7288. You will be asked to provide the Gift Card number and other identifying information.
- Use your Mastercard Gift Card in the U.S. everywhere Mastercard debit cards are accepted, including online. Your Amazon.com Balance cannot be used to purchase Mastercard gift cards.
How to add cash at a store
- Open the PayPal app when you are at a participating retailer.
- Go to your balance or account area, choose Add Cash or Add Cash at Stores, and select the retailer.
- Generate the barcode and show it to the cashier with the cash. The barcode expires after 15 minutes; if it expires, generate a new one.
- Alternatively, present your cash at the register and swipe your PayPal Debit Card, or give the card to the cashier to swipe.
- Keep your receipt and check your PayPal Balance. PayPal says funds are usually available within minutes; its help page says the balance is added within 15 minutes, so treat that as an expectation rather than a guarantee.
PayPal’s instructions are on its Add Cash at Stores help page.
Fees, transaction amounts, and reload limits
| Rule | PayPal US information |
|---|---|
| Fee per cash reload | Up to $3.95; the fee can vary by store. |
| Amount per transaction | $20–$500. |
| Daily total | $1,500 maximum. |
| Monthly total | $5,000 maximum. |
| Reload frequency | No more than four store reloads per day, seven per week, or 20 per month. |
| Store-specific limits | A store may set a lower limit. |
These limits and the fee are stated on PayPal’s US cash reload page and help article. Check the app and store before making a trip, since local participation and store limits can differ.
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- Mastercard Virtual eGift Cards are designed for online use only. Gift Cards are subject to Terms and Condition: a.co/9V5i70m
- When you access your Mastercard Virtual eGift Card for the first time, you’ll need to register your name, address, phone number, and email address via activationspot.com. These details should also be used as your billing address for online purchases, as many merchants require address verification for purchase authorization.
- This Mastercard Virtual eGift Card is non-reloadable. No cash or ATM access. - Mastercard Virtual eGift Cards are emailed active.
- Funds do not expire but your Mastercard Virtual eGift Card has a ‘valid thru’ date (9 years from date of purchase). If funds remain after this date has passed, please call Mastercard customer service for a replacement card. A one-time purchase fee applies at the time of checkout.
- This item is not eligible for refund, resale, or return. Available for sale within the United States only. Not available to residents of Puerto Rico, Hawaii, New Mexico, South Dakota, West Virginia and the US Virgin Islands.
Can you add money without going to a store?
Yes. If you have an eligible funding source, PayPal also documents adding money from a confirmed bank account or an eligible Visa or Mastercard debit card. PayPal says bank transfers can take up to five business days, while eligible debit-card transfers typically take seconds. The cited instructions do not establish that these transfers are always free, so review any fee information shown for your account before confirming.
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Which funding method should you use?
| Method | What you need | Typical timing | Cost or limits to check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cash at a store | Cash and a PayPal Balance account; use an app barcode or PayPal Debit Card at a participating location. | Usually within minutes; PayPal help describes completion within 15 minutes. | Fee up to $3.95, transaction and aggregate limits apply, and a store may impose a lower limit. |
| Eligible debit card | An eligible Visa or Mastercard debit card linked to PayPal. | Typically seconds, according to PayPal. | Confirm eligibility and any fee shown for your account. |
| Confirmed bank account | A confirmed bank account linked to PayPal. | Up to five business days. | Review PayPal’s transfer details for any applicable fee. |
| Direct deposit | An employer or government payer that supports direct deposit, plus PayPal account and routing details. | Timing is not stated in the cited PayPal instructions; it depends on the payer. | Availability depends on payer support. |
If a cash reload does not work
- Check that the location participates and that you selected the correct retailer in the app.
- If the barcode has been open for more than 15 minutes, generate another before reaching the register.
- Check that the amount is within PayPal’s per-transaction and account limits; the store may have a lower cap.
- If PayPal will not let you add money, check your account status for verification requests or limitations, then consult PayPal’s current cash reload help page.
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