Netspend is definitely one of those services that have served as a banking alternative offering numerous banking services, including a money transfer service.
Talking of money transfers, it'd be great to have your funds transferred to PayPal for better management, and if you're wondering how to go about doing this, this guide compiles all the steps you need.
Can I Send Money from Netspend to PayPal?
Netspend doesn't directly work with PayPal, meaning you cannot open the Netspend or PayPal app, and see a feature that lets you integrate one service with the other.
This already makes it directly impossible to transfer money from Netspend to PayPal—and yes, that's the fact.
However, there are a couple of indirect methods you can use to transfer your funds from Netspend to your PayPal wallet, which I've discussed in the next section.
How to Transfer Money from Netspend to PayPal (Using the Netspend Card)
The Netspend card offers one of the best ways to transfer money from Netspend to PayPal(that's if PayPal supports your card).
Transferring money from Netspend to PayPal through the card is typically the same process as transferring money from a prepaid card to PayPal.
To do so:
Step 1: Link Your Netspend Card Account to PayPal
Before you may start transferring money from one account to the other, you must first link your Netspend and PayPal accounts together which can be done as follows:
- Login your PayPal account.
- Tap on "Wallet".
- Select "Link a Bank account" and wait for the prompt.
- Next, provide the routing number and account number of your Netspend account.
- Tap on the "Continue" button to proceed.
- Review the information one last time before you click on Add Bank Account. This would complete out first step.
Alternatively, you can link your Netspend card directly to PayPal and transfer the funds.
- Go to the Wallet tab.
- Tap "Link a Card or Bank" tab.
- After that, tap on the "Link a Debit or Credit Card" tab.
- Enter your card information, and click the "Link Card" button.
Step 2: Verify The Netspend Card By Making a Micro-Transaction
After you've linked your Netspend and PayPal accounts, you'll need to verify the connection by sending a small sum from one account to the other.
This is referred to as a micro-transaction. Depending on your local currency, this sum can be more or less than $1.
- Login your PayPal account.
- Select "Transfer Money" from the "Wallet" option.
- Choose to Add Money Online.
- Next, select Netspend Account on the next page as the source of funds. Choose to transfer $1 or less.
- Wait for up to 3 days to ensure you receive the funds successfully.
Step 3: Use Your Netspend Card for Transactions on PayPal
The final step is definitely the easiest part, and while it isn't what you'll expect, you need to stick to this one if you really need to use your Netspend funds for your PayPal transactions.
So you should be ready to use your Netspend card on PayPal after you've verified the card with PayPal. In my opinion, I can say its a great way since you won't always have to transfer funds from Netspend to PayPal all the time because the funds are already made available on PayPal for transactions.
How to Transfer Money from Netspend to PayPal (Using a Linked Bank Account)
Both Netspend and PayPal allow you to link external bank accounts for transfers, and knowing this already gives a lead for an indirect transfer method between the two services.
That said, Netspend has a feature (called the Bank Transfer feature) that lets you send money from your Netspend account to your personal bank account, and once you have the funds ready in your bank account, you should be able to add them to your PayPal balance.
Let's cover the process step-by-step.
Step 1: Send Money from Netspend to your Bank Account
Netspend's Bank Transfer feature lets you send money from your Netspend account to another account or the other way round, and we'll be using this feature to transfer our funds. But first, you'll have to link your bank account to Netspend.
According to Netspend, this feature isn't available for all accounts, and you can check its availability for your account through your Online Account Center. If you see it there, follow the required steps to link your bank account to Netspend. You'll need your routing and account numbers so get them before beginning the process.
After linking your bank account, you can still use this same Bank Transfer feature to transfer funds from your Netspend card to your bank or use the Debit Card Transfers feature to transfer your funds instantly to your US debit card.
Step 2: Add the Funds to Your PayPal Balance
Once your funds reflect in your bank account, you can add them to your PayPal balance on the go. You'll, however, need to make sure that you have linked the same bank account you used to receive the funds from Netspend.
If you haven't done so yet, you can link your bank to PayPal through these steps:
- Go to Wallet.
- Click Link a card or bank.
- Click Link a bank account.
- Search for your bank or select it from the list.
- You can link your bank instantly by entering your bank login details. If the instant option isn't available, enter your bank account details manually and click Agree and Link.
Now that you have your bank account linked to PayPal, you can add the funds from Netspend to your PayPal balance as follows:
- Still in the Wallet section, click Transfer Money.
- Choose "Add money from your bank or debit card" and enter the amount.
- Choose either "In seconds with debit" or "in 3-5 days with your bank".
Know that you'll be charged a service fee depending on the method you choose, and the fee that typically goes up is with the instant transfer option. So, unless you need the funds urgently, I'll recommend you use the 3-5 days method.
Step 3: Wait for Your Funds to Reflect
Now comes the difficult part of the process, the wait. One thing you should always know when transferring money over the internet is to exercise patience—do not rush with the process because any mistake can lead to the loss of your funds. So just wait patiently for your funds to reflect in your PayPal account.
How Long Does it Take to Transfer Money from Netspend to PayPal?
The time it takes to transfer money from Netspend to PayPal depends on the method you use.
That said, it shouldn't take more than a couple of hours for you to transfer money from Netspend to PayPal if you used your Netspend card. On the other hand, if you used the method involving a linked bank account, the process should take between 3 to 5 business days to complete.
How to Send Money from PayPal to Netspend
The best way to send money from PayPal to Netspend will be to use a linked bank account, since PayPal doesn't support the Netspend card for withdrawals.
Just as we saw in the Netspend to PayPal method, the PayPal to Netspend is just the clear opposite of the latter, which involves three steps: linking your bank account to Netspend and PayPal, transferring from PayPal to your bank account, and then topping up your Netspend balance with the proceeds.
PayPal and Netspend: — How Do They Work Together?
Customers of Netspend and PayPal can purchase prepaid, daily cards.
As a result, the two financial networks may appear to be competitors in the business, but they also collaborate closely to ensure that transfers between the two cards are as seamless and comfortable as possible for cardholders.
You may top up your PayPal card at one of over 100,000 Netspend refill locations around the United States, and vice versa.
If you have both, linking them together is definitely a smart idea, especially if you need to transfer money between them frequently.
When you transfer money from Netspend to PayPal, there are no additional fees, and because the two companies work closely together, your funds should be on the other side quickly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I transfer money from NetSpend?
Yes, you can send or receive funds[2] with other Netspend Cardholders, as well as ACE Elite, Control, and Purpose cardholders. To send money, all you need is the other person's name and their FlashPay ID.
How can I transfer money from Netspend to Cash App?
At first just open your Cash app and then follow the icon at the bottom left of the screen. A page opens now click on "Add Bank" option. Fill required details. All you need is your Netspend account and routing number, which you can quickly find from your Netspend account.
Can I transfer money from Netspend to venmo?
Yes, you can transfer money from Netspend to Venmo, by linking your Netspend card directly to Venmo.
Final Thoughts on How to Transfer Money from Netspend to PayPal
Netspend doesn't work with PayPal, making a direct money transfer between the two platforms clearly impossible. However, you can always use your Netspend card or a linked bank account to transfer the funds, as seen earlier.
This guide compiles the best methods you need to transfer money from Netspend to PayPal and the other way around, so make sure you follow them step-by-step so you won't get confused along the way.