Starbucks will announce today a new Starbucks prepaid Visa card to be launched before year’s end, in conjunction with Chase, which will allow customers to earn Starbucks Rewards for purchases made anywhere Visa is accepted. Currently, ‘stars’ are only earned on purchases made at Starbucks.
Starbucks spokeswoman Linda Mills said in a statement to US News that details will come later on how stars will be earned for purchases made using the prepaid card. She added that Starbucks is considering other possible debit or credit card partnerships.
This announcement was made at Starbucks’ annual shareholders meeting. It comes on the heels of the news that Starbucks will change their rewards program in April from an item-based earning program to a revenue-based system. Some interpret the prepaid launch as a way to mollify upset customers over that change.
The new prepaid card will not have any monthly fees or reload fees, a Chase representative said to ABC News. The card will have just three fees: a $5 fee for a rush card replacement, a 3 percent foreign transaction fee, and a $75 legal processing fee, which would be triggered if the bank was required to hold or pay out funds from the account as a result of a legal action.
Chase already has their Liquid prepaid card, and the Starbucks card issued by Chase may piggyback on that system. The Liquid card does not have a reload fee but does have a $4.95 monthly fee.
What happened to this?
No idea, actually.
years ago, Chase had VGCs which were “abused” by MSers so if they come up with this, I’m not too sure if they have enough safeguards for “abuse”. I won’t be surprise if this can be loaded with cash ONLY and no B/P feature. I’d be glad to find out later I was wrong and they’ve forgotten what happened to CVGCs.
Bluebird, Redbird, how about Starbird?
I suspect this is a way for SB to attempt to eliminate CC fees. Today most people pay with Sb cards, which are loaded by CC (meaning SB eats the interchange fee). These cards will be cash load only but can be used for any purchase, not just at SB. SB gets part of the interchange fee from non SB purchases and gives you some token stars to incentive you to do so.
It’s a very cynical play IMHO.
Nope. Your average SB customer isn’t going to start carry around a bunch of cash for reloads. If anything, it’ll have some max monthly reload limit and be debit only.
The reality is that Chase and SB would love the business. Also, I acutally believe a division of JPMorgan handles CC processing for SB now, so that is likely the reason why Chase was announced as the partner for this.
The only thing Chase would care about is if you are reloading with one of their cards (they lose on the reward payout) or fraud. Fraud being the first and biggest reason for reload limits.
Yea, I’m not thinking about the earning stuff, I’m wondering about loading, then doing Billpay. Like the Redcard, the 5% off was nice, but obviously the draw was load, billpay, repeat. Any chance that happens?
Exactly
This could be amazing. If you can reload at a Starbucks (restraurant) with a credit card for free! Think of the possibilities!
Sure, assuming that you want to be rewarded via shitty, overpriced coffee.
If you can load money with a CC for free at SBUX and do a BP or MO at WM, who cares about the rewards.
Yeah, if you can easily liquidate a MO. I’d totally go through the hassle of using a 3% or 5% or 10% (when available) for rent. But I’d like to avoid cashing large MOs addressed to me due to the increased scrutiny.
What makes this more interesting to me is an unlimited 3% (or more) cash back opportunity.
Plus free bill pay is much better
The card is from Chase. When they see you abusing it they will shut you down across the board.
Does prepaid still have 5/24 rule?
Any ms possibility?
Only if you want to be paid out in 1000+ calorie Frappuccinos
Can I load it at Starbucks and does it have bill pay options 😉