Zelle is an online payment service for sending money across various platforms. Zelle works as a standalone app too, and you can send money without the need for a bank account. However, the standalone app limits you to $500 of the total amount of money you can send in a week. Therefore, the best option remains to use Zelle with a bank account to send money. Various banks support Zelle, as we shall see later. But does Zelle work with Green Dot?
We shall see later whether you can use Zelle with Green Dot. You might be wondering whether Green Dot is a bank or a credit union. For your information, Zelle also supports credit unions. Credit unions work almost the same as banks, although they are member-owned. People with a common bond join together to form a credit union, which is the main difference between credit unions and banks.
Now back to our Green Dot bank. Is it an actual bank? Green Dot is a real bank and operates online. The institution offers competitive rates through its savings account, which has high yields. Green Dot also gives you unlimited cash-back rewards when you use its spending account. The bank has been operating since 1999 and is part of the Green Dot Corporation. The institution allows you to access your online account 24/7.
How to open a Green Dot account
You can open a Green Dot account online using a supported device such as a smartphone, tablet, or computer. Before opening a Green Dot account, you need to make sure that you have all the requirements. The following are the things you require to open a Green Dot account.
- Mobile number.
- Social Security Number.
- Personalized debit card issued by GO2bank, Member FDIC.
- Identification document.
- Email address.
You should decide the kind of bank account you want from Green Dot. This can be a savings or a spending account. To open a Green Dot account, you need to connect to the internet and visit Green Dot’s account opening page. There, you will begin by entering the last four digits of your Social security Number and clicking next. Follow all steps as per the guidelines to complete your account application.
How to get a Green Dot debit card

You can get a Visa or Mastercard debit card from Green Dot for various transactions. Cards that you can get from the bank include;
- Visa Debit Card.
- Pay As You Go Visa Debit Card.
- Cash Back Visa Debit Card.
- GO2 Bank Visa Debit Card.
You can get any of the debit cards when you apply online at the Green Dots website. When registering for a card account, you should visit the website and activate the card once you receive it. You can even get the temporary Green Dot card to use as you wait for the tangible plastic card. If you wonder how to get money off a temporary Green Dot card, then you should not worry as the process is easy. To get money off your temporary card, you can use it to purchase goods online or pay for your bills.
Green dot debit cards have various advantages. First of all, most of them don’t charge monthly fees. Therefore, you can enjoy card usage without waiting for any maintenance fee deductions on your card. Also, all the cards come with overdraft protection. If you run out of funds, your transactions are covered in full.
Another advantage of the Green Dot cards is that you get your direct deposits early compared to traditional banks. One does not have to wait for those many days to get their salary or government benefits. You also benefit from a mobile check deposit, a feature that saves time that you could have wasted when walking to a bank to deposit it.
Other benefits you can get with Green Dot debit cards include online bill payment, mobile wallets, and sending money. You can even transfer money from a Green Dot card to a bank account using your online account.
Does Zelle work with Green Dot?
Since I mentioned that Zelle operates with many banks when it comes to transferring money, the question remains, Is Green Dot one of the banks that work with Zelle? The answer to our query is that Zelle does not support Green Dot bank.
Moreover, Zelle does not support Green Dot cards. However, there are numerous banks and credit unions that work with Zelle. Some banks and credit unions that Zelle supports include the following.
- ABCO Federal Credit Union
- Abington Bank
- ABNB
- Academy Bank
- ACCESSbank Omaha
- Achieva Credit Union
- ACNB Bank
- B-M S Federal Credit Union
- BAC Community Bank
- Banc of California
- BancorpSouth
- Banesco USA
- Bank Central
- Capital Bank
- Capital Community Bank
- The Capital Credit Union
- Capital One
- Capon Valley Bank
- Carolina Federal Credit Union
- Carrollton Bank
- D.L. Evans Bank Mobile
- Dairy State Bank
- Dallas Capital Bank, NA
- Dane County Credit Union
- Dannemora FCU
- Dean Bank
How do I open a Zelle account?
You can open a Zelle account online when you visit the Zelle website. To open a Zelle account, you require a US phone number, email address, and a Mastercard® or Visa® debit card associated with a U.S.-based account.
You can also open a Zelle account on your bank or credit union website. You only have to log into your account and follow a few steps to complete your online application. If your bank or credit union works with Zelle, you will be able to see Zelle in your account.
How do you add a debit card on Zelle?
Zelle allows you to add a debit card to aid in your transfers. If you are using Zelle as a standalone app, you will need to add a debit card as a source of funds for your transaction. The following is the process to add a debit card to your Zelle account.
1) Download the Zelle app
The first step to adding a debit card to your Zelle app is downloading the standalone Zelle app on your device. You can get the app from the Google Play Store if you are using an Android OS or from the App Store if you are using iOS smartphones. Remember that Zelle accounts in your banking app cannot allow you to add a debit card to your Zelle account.
2) Go to the app settings
After downloading the Zelle app, you can sign in to your account and navigate to the app settings to add your debit card. Tap the settings icon to open the page with options to add a debit card.
3) Select Account option
The next step after tapping the settings icon is to select the account option. If you add an account, such as a bank or credit union account, you will need to select “Switch accounts” if you have never added any account on Zelle, you will only see the add account option.
4) Add your card credentials
Next, you will need to choose to add a new card or bank account. Select to add a new card if you have never added one. If you are switching account, you will need to enter the details of the new card
5) Add your personal details
Once you add your debit card, you can then proceed to add your details. Zelle will then verify your account to authorize the card on your account.
How to send money on Zelle
Sending money on Zelle is easy since you only need to log into your online bank and choose to send money with Zelle. You can then enter the phone number of the recipient and the amount to send and then follow the details. And you cannot see the account number of the recipient.
You can also send money using the Zelle standalone app, whereby you will need the exact recipient details to transfer money. Funds sent via Zelle can reach the recipients immediately or within a few minutes. As I mentioned earlier, the maximum amount you can send on the Zelle App is $500 per week.
Can I transfer money internationally using Zelle?
Zelle only operates in the United States. That means you cannot transfer money internationally. Also, as I mentioned earlier, you cannot use a non-US bank account on Zelle. If you want to make an international transfer, you can opt for Wells Fargo, Bank of America, Chase, and many others.
You can also use mobile wallets such as PayPal, Payoneer, and Skrill to transfer money to other countries.
Is it Safe to use Zelle and Green Dot?
Zelle is safe to use. Even Green online bank is safe to use. Remember that you have to log into your account to start any transaction. There is also an issue of data encryption in both Green Dot and Zelle. Green Dot debit cards have PIN to ensure that no unauthorized person can access your funds. However, Zelle advocates sending money only to the people you trust.
Bottom line
Zelle is an online money transfer that allows instant transfer of funds between banks. The app allows you to eliminate the lengthy time taken to transfer money across banks. You can use Zelle with various banks in the US. However, Zelle does not support the Green Dot online account or the Green Dot debit cards. It is safe to use Zelle online since the platform has adequate security.