Gift cards and checking accounts are separate things, and most gift cards cannot be added as account holders
A gift card is a prepaid card issued by a retailer or payment network. Your checking account is a deposit account at a bank or credit union where your paycheck lands and your bills come out. They work on different systems and serve different purposes, so you cannot add a gift card as an account holder the way you would add a person.
What you might actually want to do falls into one of three categories: move money from a gift card into your checking account, use a gift card to pay a bill from your checking account, or link a gift card as a backup payment method. Each one works differently, and some are easier than others.
Key Takeaways
- Gift cards cannot be added as account holders on a checking account because they are prepaid cards, not bank accounts or people.
- You can transfer money from a gift card to your checking account by using the card to buy a money order or by depositing cash at an ATM or branch.
- Some banks let you link a gift card as a backup payment method for overdraft protection, though this is less common than linking a savings account.
- Retailers' gift cards (Target, Amazon, Walmart) cannot be linked to checking accounts at all, but payment network gift cards (Visa, Mastercard) sometimes can be.
Moving money from a gift card into your checking account
The most straightforward way is to spend the gift card on something you would buy anyway, then deposit the cash you would have spent into your checking account. If the gift card has a balance left over that you cannot use at that retailer, you have a few options.
One option is to use the gift card to buy a money order at a grocery store, pharmacy, or post office. You then deposit the money order into your checking account at an ATM or branch. This costs a small fee — usually between $0.50 and $2 — but it moves the full balance into your account. Check whether your bank charges a fee to deposit a money order, since some do.
Another option is to use a third-party service that converts gift cards to cash, though these typically take a percentage of the balance. Websites like Raise or CardCash buy unused gift cards, but they pay less than face value. This is useful if you have a gift card you will not use, but it is not the fastest way to get money into your checking account.
Linking a gift card as overdraft protection
Some banks and credit unions let you link a backup account or payment method to cover overdrafts — when you spend more than your balance. A few institutions accept gift cards for this purpose, though it is uncommon. Most prefer a savings account at the same bank, a credit card, or a line of credit.
If you want to explore this option, contact your bank directly and ask whether they accept gift cards as overdraft protection. Be specific about the type of gift card: a Visa or Mastercard gift card (a payment network card) is more likely to work than a retailer-specific card like a Target gift card. Your bank will tell you whether they can link it and what information they need from you.
Keep in mind that overdraft protection is not automatic. You have to set it up in advance, and your bank will only use it if you overdraft. If the gift card runs out of money, the protection stops working.
Why retailer gift cards cannot be linked to checking accounts
A Target gift card or Amazon gift card only works at that retailer. It has no connection to the banking system and no routing number or account number the way a checking account does. Banks cannot link to it because there is no infrastructure to pull money from it or verify its balance in real time.
Payment network gift cards — Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover — work differently. They function like debit cards and connect to the payment system that banks use. This is why a payment network gift card has a better chance of being linkable to a checking account, though even then it depends on your specific bank's policies.
What happens if you try to add a gift card as an account holder
If you attempt to add a gift card to your checking account through your bank's website or app, the system will reject it. Account holders must be people with Social Security numbers or tax identification numbers. A gift card has neither, so it cannot be added.
If you are trying to give someone access to your checking account and you thought a gift card might be a way to do that, the right approach is to add them as an authorized user or joint account holder instead. That person would need to provide their name, date of birth, and Social Security number, and you would both have full access to the account.
Using a gift card to pay bills from your checking account
If you want to use a gift card to pay a bill that normally comes out of your checking account, you first need to convert the gift card to cash or a form your biller accepts. Most billers only accept bank transfers, checks, or credit cards — not gift cards directly.
The easiest route is to use the gift card to buy something you would normally pay cash for, freeing up cash to put toward the bill. Alternatively, if the bill is with a retailer that accepts that specific gift card (for example, paying an electric bill at a store that sells that retailer's gift cards), you might be able to use it directly. Otherwise, converting the gift card to a money order and mailing it is an option, though it takes longer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I add a Visa gift card to my checking account?
A Visa gift card cannot be added as an account holder, but some banks let you link it as overdraft protection or a backup payment method. Contact your bank to ask whether they accept Visa gift cards for this purpose. The process varies by institution.
What if I want to give someone a gift card but also access to my checking account?
These are two separate things. To give someone access to your checking account, add them as an authorized user or joint account holder through your bank. To give them a gift card, purchase one separately. You cannot combine them into one account.
Can I deposit a gift card directly into my checking account?
No, but you can convert it to cash or a money order and deposit that. Use the gift card to buy a money order at a grocery store or post office, then deposit the money order at your bank's ATM or branch.
Will my bank charge me to link a gift card as overdraft protection?
Linking itself is usually free, but your bank may charge an overdraft fee if the gift card is actually used to cover an overdraft. Ask your bank about their overdraft fees before you set it up.
What is the difference between a gift card and a prepaid debit card?
A gift card is prepaid money at a specific retailer or on a payment network. A prepaid debit card is a card you load money onto yourself and use like a debit card. Prepaid debit cards are more likely to be linkable to a checking account, but gift cards generally are not.