A stored-value card is a payment card associated with money paid in advance and spent from an available balance. Depending on the product, that value may be recorded on a chip in the card or tracked in a remote account or database. Because “stored-value card” is also used broadly for prepaid cards, the label alone does not tell you how the balance works or what the card can do.
What “stored value” means
In a U.S. statutory context, 12 U.S.C. § 5481 defines “stored value” as funds or monetary value represented electronically and stored, or capable of being stored, on electronic media so it can be retrieved and transferred electronically. The definition includes prepaid debit cards and similar products whether or not they can be reloaded, with exclusions for certain special-purpose cards or certificates. This is a definition for that statute, not a universal legal definition. Read 12 U.S.C. § 5481.
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| 1 |
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Visa Physical Gift Card $200 (plus $6.95 Purchase Fee) | $206.95 | Buy on Amazon |
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Visa Physical Gift Card $100 (plus $5.95 Purchase Fee) | $105.95 | Buy on Amazon |
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![$100 PlayStation Store Gift Card [Digital Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41O+bDxzGKL._SL160_.jpg)
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$100 PlayStation Store Gift Card [Digital Code] | $100.00 | Buy on Amazon |
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Amazon eGift Card - Happy Birthday | $50.00 | Buy on Amazon |
Where the balance is kept
The term has a narrower technical use as well as its broader consumer use. In its historical overview, the Federal Reserve distinguishes value recorded on the payment instrument from prepaid value recorded in a remote database that is accessed to authorize a purchase. Many products consumers call stored-value cards use the broader prepaid-card meaning; their balance is not necessarily stored on the physical card. The Federal Reserve’s overview of stored-value products.
- Chip or instrument-stored value: The card itself contains an electronic record of the available monetary value. The U.S. Treasury describes its federal Stored Value Cards as smart cards that store value on an embedded computer chip. Treasury’s Stored Value Card FAQ.
- Remote-account prepaid value: The card identifies or accesses a balance held in a remote system; payment authorization relies on that system. The card is the means of accessing the funds, rather than the place where the balance is physically stored.
The FTC uses “prepaid card,” “prepaid debit card,” and “stored-value card” in consumer-facing explanations, reflecting this broader everyday usage. FTC: Prepaid Cards.
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- Gift Cards are shipped active and ready for use.
- This card is non-reloadable. No cash or ATM access. Funds do not expire. If available funds remain on your card after the valid thru date has passed, please call customer service for a replacement card. A one-time purchase fee applies at the time of checkout. No fees after purchase.
- To access your card information safely, type the complete website address shown on your Gift Card (MyGift.GiftCardMall.com) directly into your browser's address bar. Don't use search engines or shortened versions of the website address, as these may lead you to fake or fraudulent sites. Do not provide any Gift Card details (example: Card Number) to someone you do not know or trust. If you believe you've reached an illegitimate website, contact cardholder service at 1-888-524-1283. Be cautious of phishing sites, there are a variety of scams in which fraudsters try to trick others into paying with gift cards.
- To report your Lost or Stolen Physical Visa Card, call Customer Service 24/7 at 1 (888) 524-1283 to cancel your Gift Card as soon as you can. You will be asked to provide the Gift Card number and other identifying information.
- Use your Visa Gift Card in the U.S. everywhere Visa debit cards are accepted, including online.
How stored-value cards work
The card is funded before the holder spends. A purchase then reduces the available value: the update may be made to an on-card record or to a remote balance, depending on the design. Products can be reloadable or non-reloadable, and may be restricted to a particular program or support additional uses. A card’s name alone does not establish its acceptance, whether it can be reloaded, or whether it supports cash access.
Treasury notes that some federal Stored Value Cards also have a branded debit-card feature for retail purchases or ATM access. That feature can coexist with value on a chip; it does not mean every transaction uses the chip-stored balance. Treasury’s Stored Value Card FAQ and Treasury’s EZpay program page.
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- Gift Cards are shipped active and ready for use.
- This card is non-reloadable. No cash or ATM access. Funds do not expire. If available funds remain on your card after the valid thru date has passed, please call customer service for a replacement card. A one-time purchase fee applies at the time of checkout. No fees after purchase.
- To access your card information safely, type the complete website address shown on your Gift Card (MyGift.GiftCardMall.com) directly into your browser's address bar. Don't use search engines or shortened versions of the website address, as these may lead you to fake or fraudulent sites. Do not provide any Gift Card details (example: Card Number) to someone you do not know or trust. If you believe you've reached an illegitimate website, contact cardholder service at 1-888-524-1283. Be cautious of phishing sites, there are a variety of scams in which fraudsters try to trick others into paying with gift cards.
- To report your Lost or Stolen Physical Visa Card, call Customer Service 24/7 at 1 (888) 524-1283 to cancel your Gift Card as soon as you can. You will be asked to provide the Gift Card number and other identifying information.
- Use your Visa Gift Card in the U.S. everywhere Visa debit cards are accepted, including online.
Common examples
Stored-value and prepaid cards can be used for different purposes. The Federal Reserve’s historical overview gives examples including:
- Gift cards and employee reward cards
- Payroll, government benefit, and flexible spending account cards
- Insurance claim, travel, and remittance cards
- Transportation cards
Those are examples, not guarantees about a current product. The overview describes payroll, government benefit, and transportation cards as examples that can be reloadable, while travel, insurance claim, and most gift cards generally are not. Terms vary by issuer and program. Federal Reserve overview.
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Stored-value cards and gift cards are not always interchangeable
Gift cards can fit within broad everyday uses of “stored-value card,” but the FTC distinguishes gift cards from prepaid cards in consumer guidance. Do not assume that rules, protections, fees, or features described for one category automatically apply to another. Check the card’s terms and the protections that apply to that specific product.
For prepaid cards, the FTC advises registering the card to access important legal protections, including limits on losses from unauthorized use. The exact protection depends on the card and applicable law. FTC guidance on prepaid cards.
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- Amazon.com Gift Cards never expire and carry no fees.
- Multiple gift card designs and denominations to choose from.
- Redeemable towards millions of items store-wide at Amazon.com or certain affiliated websites.
- Available for immediate delivery. Gift cards sent by email can be scheduled up to a year in advance.
- No returns and no refunds on Gift Cards.
What to check before relying on the label
To understand a specific card, look at its terms or ask its issuer about the details that the phrase “stored-value” does not settle:
- Is the balance recorded on the card’s chip, or held in a remote account?
- Where is the card accepted: only in a particular program or across a broader payment network?
- Can you reload it, and what transactions are supported, such as purchases, transfers, or ATM withdrawals?
- What fees and consumer protections apply to this card?
These distinctions matter because a stored-value feature can be paired with a separate or linked debit function, and the card’s mechanics—not its label—determine how each transaction works.
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- Amazon.com Gift Cards never expire and carry no fees.
- Multiple gift card designs and denominations to choose from.
- Redeemable towards millions of items store-wide at Amazon.com or certain affiliated websites.
- Available for immediate delivery. Gift cards sent by email can be scheduled up to a year in advance.
- No returns and no refunds on Gift Cards.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
