Target Kills Redbird for Good

Those of us who’ve been around this hobby for a while remember the REDbird days when it was possible to load your American Express prepaid product directly with a credit card at any Target store. They stopped allowing credit card loads in October 2015. 

Target REDcard, a.k.a. REDbird, just sent out an email telling users that the card will be discontinued on August 13th. You can billpay out or withdraw all funds, or you can wait until it’s closed and they’ll mail you a check. Image below.

Not clear if this is related to Incomm buying out Amex prepaid and gift card business or it’s an unrelated business decision from Target. As far as we know, the Serve line is still intact, and the Bluebird/Walmart partnership remains as well.

Serve and Bluebird can still be loaded at Walmart with some prepaid debit/gift cards while Target stopped allowing debit card entirely way back. The only usefulness of REDcard prepaid that I’m aware of was to get 5% off at Target. You can apply for a REDcard debit or credit card instead and get that 5% discount.

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AL
AL (@guest_606812)
June 18, 2018 15:41

I have been paying my mortgage with the prepaid redcard by reloading it with my PayPal debit card, and basically getting 1% cashback from paying my mortgage 🙂 That is too bad…. gonna miss the hundreds of $$ of free cash back every year! RIP Redbird!

Joel
Joel (@guest_605628)
June 14, 2018 14:13

Any idea whether they would allow a product change to Serve or Bluebird?

Justin
Justin (@guest_605193)
June 13, 2018 14:57

They did not stop “allowing credit card loads in October 2015.” They stopped debit loads then, they stopped credit card loads earlier that year, April I think. Just FYI Lol.

Duke I.
Duke I. (@guest_605005)
June 13, 2018 09:19

I like Cardinals better.

milesmaximiser
milesmaximiser (@guest_604942)
June 13, 2018 02:04

oh man I remember those ol’ good days when a couple of trips to target were enough to get one night at a hyatt worth of points, racked so many hyatt and spg points.

Glt
Glt (@guest_604941)
June 13, 2018 02:02
Riya
Riya (@guest_604902)
June 13, 2018 00:06

Can one individual get both Bluebird and Serve under his/her name or one can hold only one product brand?

John
John (@guest_605525)
June 14, 2018 10:21

Thanks, i already have BB. I am in TX, which Serve would be best to get?

RF
RF (@guest_604894)
June 12, 2018 23:17

Those were some very good days. I miss this card, and it’s predecessor – American Express for Target. That one I loved reloading with Target GiftCards bought at the grocery store, which earned higher cash back and earned fuel reward points. I sure miss getting $1 off every gallon of gas.

Chex Party Mix
Chex Party Mix (@guest_604887)
June 12, 2018 22:24

What a time that was. I had 5 Redbirds overlapping with the uncapped 5% Wells card. Would often take my 2 year old (who loved Target) with me on a Target run before visiting a park. I would ask her where should we go? She would say “Feed the Bird!” Good times, those. MS is still worth it, but doubt it will ever be this profitable again.

DT
DT (@guest_604934)
June 13, 2018 01:36

lol that’s cute

Snorlax
Snorlax (@guest_605127)
June 13, 2018 12:57

Hehe, Kids are so easy to entertain.

scott
scott (@guest_604885)
June 12, 2018 22:19

The good ol’ days! Can’t believe it’s been 3 years. It was so much nicer loading at Target than Walmart. It was like going to the Park Hyatt vs. a Motel 6.

Phill Sims
Phill Sims (@guest_604890)
June 12, 2018 22:35

+1

andy
andy (@guest_605096)
June 13, 2018 12:00

So true!