How it Works

Card Overview

Control For Parents. Freedom For Teens.

Easy to load from any account or digital location

Parents can now fund their teen's SpendSmart Card in a number of ways, in a matter of seconds: From a bank account, credit card or online.

Perfect for allowances

Whether your teen lives at home or is off at boarding school or college, SpendSmart allows you to set up recurring allowance on your teen's SpendSmart Card. Learn how you'll save money by doing so.

Download the SpendSmart app for free

Available for iPhone, the SpendSmart smartphone app is another simple way to keep up with your teen's balances and purchases when you're on the go. More than one teen? The app even allows you to manage multiple accounts.
Message and data rates may apply from your wireless carrier.

Teachable moments happen

Just sitting down with your teen to review their daily and monthly spending will go a long way in forming the right type of spending habits. It's all available and accessible to both you and your teen online.

Alerts & Tracking

Stay Connected, 24/7.

Instant text alerts* keep you connected as purchases happen

The SpendSmart Card texts your phone in real-time, notifying a parent of their teen's most recent purchases and their available balance. It also tells you when, where and at what time your teen used their card.

* Message and data rates may apply from your wireless carrier.

Lock and unlock their card via text

It's easy to prevent future purchases or lock the card if misplaced, all with a text message. Instantly lock and unlock the card: text a 1 to block the card, or a 2 to unlock it.

The card keeps you informed of their available balance

The SpendSmart Card keeps everyone updated on how much money is left on the card at all times, letting parents and teens know where the money went or when it's time to load more funds.

The SpendSmart Card always listens to you

Ultimately, while your kids may not respond to you right away, the SpendSmart Card always does. It adheres to the messages you send and always communicates the truth back to you.

Safe & Secure

Keeps Your Teen Safe.

Lock the card from anywhere

Whether it’s carelessly being used or if it’s lost or stolen, lock your teen’s card in an instant with the push of a button or simple text. You can just as simply unlock the card in a matter of seconds.

Add emergency funds in seconds

Is your teen out of money or on a school trip a few states away? Now, you can instantly add funds from virtually anywhere if they run out of money. It’s just another way the SpendSmart Card is smarter and safer than cash.

Blocked at bad places

The SpendSmart Card is equipped with built-in blocking features to keep your teens from buying in places they shouldn’t such as liquor stores, online gambling, etc. SpendSmart works both online and offline to protect your teen.

No credit risk. No overdraft. Safe online.

Since the reloadable SpendSmart Card is prepaid, there is never any risk of them spending more than what is on the card. There is never any credit risk to either the teen or parent, it keeps everyone’s personal information secure and it’s safe to use for online purchases.

Any Questions?

Checkout our extensive Frequently Asked Questions section to get answers to any additional question you might have.

If you still cannot find the answer you are looking for, don't hesitate to contact us.