How To Check Your Visa Gift Card Balance

Prepaid Visa gift cards can be used at most stores or to even pay your bills. But they're different from store gift cards in that a cashier can't check the balance before you make a purchase.

It's important to know the balance before making a purchase or you may be stuck paying out-of-pocket to cover the remaining balance on a transaction. Unfortunately, there's no one-size-fits all answer, as the method of checking your balance depends on who issued the gift card. Fortunately, you can check your balance in several ways.



Where To Start 
First look at the back of the prepaid gift card for information on how to check the balance for that particular card. Visa gift cards are issued by many different banks and entities, so you'll have to follow instructions specific to that card. Many have websites or toll-free phone numbers you can call for detailed information. You'll need both the PIN that came with the gift card packet and the number of your account. If you've lost your PIN, check with the vendor from whom the card was purchased. A representative can look up your account number and tell you the balance.

Most Common Visa Gift Cards
Three of the most popular prepaid Visa gift cards are the Vanilla Visa Card, Simon Visa Card and the prepaid Visa gift card. Balances for all three cards are available online:

• Vanilla Visa gift card: Visit www.vanillavisa.com or call customer service at 1-800-571-1376
• Simon Visa gift card: Visit www.simon.com/giftcard
• prepaid Visa gift card: Visit https://usa.visa.com/support/consumer/gift-card-balance.html

Check Your Visa Gift Card Balance at the Point of Sale
Not all merchants have the ability to check your balance at the point of sale, but the following can provide this service:

• A.J. Wright
• Abercrombie & Fitch
• Barnes & Noble
• Big 5 Sporting Goods
• Boscov's
• Dillard's
• Kmart
• Kohl's
• Marshalls
• Nordstrom
• Office Max
• Ross Stores
• Target
• T.J. Maxx
• Toys R Us

If you make a purchase for an amount greater than the gift card balance, you'll need a second form of payment to cover the balance such as cash or a credit/debit card. Before you make your purchase, tell the cashier the amount you would like applied to your Visa gift card.

Some merchants can apply your remaining prepaid Visa gift card funds to a transaction, even when you're unsure of the balance. They should also be able to prompt you to complete your purchase with a second payment method if necessary. These merchants include:

• AT&T Wireless
• Banana Republic
• Bed Bath & Beyond
• Chevron
• CVS
• Exxon
• Gamestop
• Gap
• HEB
• Kroger
• Macy's
• Mobil
• Old Navy
• Publix
• Safeway
• Shell
• Starbucks
• Walgreens
• Winn Dixie

Lastly, visit the Visa Gift Card Balance page or Buy a Visa Gift Card page right here on Gift Card Granny for more information on VISA gift cards.