Update: Many folks are reporting AMEX has shut down their Bluebird and Serve accounts with no notice.
Folks with American Express Serve now have 2 new options to add money to their accounts!
You’ll now be able to load your eligible Serve account for free at Dollar General and Rite Aid stores.
While the press release refers to adding cash, folks have been able to load their accounts with certain PIN-enabled Visa and MasterCard gift cards at some other locations in the American Express network, like Family Dollar and Walmart.
I have NOT tried loading Serve at either location with a PIN-enabled gift card, so I’m NOT sure if it works. But I’m looking forward to trying!
For example, CVS is also part of the AMEX cash reload network. But you can NOT use a PIN-enabled gift card to add funds to your Serve account at CVS.
If PIN-enabled gift cards DO work, this could make it more convenient for many folks who aren’t near a Walmart or Family Dollar, but have a Dollar General or Rite Aid close-by.
Read my post on how to decide which AMEX prepaid account is right for you!
And remember, you can still get the (almost) fee-free version of Serve if you sign-up for a OneVIP Serve card.
I’m traveling right now so I won’t be able to test this right away. But if you’re near a Dollar General or Rite Aid and decide to try loading your Serve account with a PIN-enabled gift card, please share your experience in the comments!
Good luck!
Again why not just load with cash if you have cash so lost need help lol
I have been loaded gift cards at my area Rite Aid since this cam out in December. Today their systems went to cash only. I was always cautious and would only load 1 gift card per store each visit so as not t draw questions from the cashier. Today the manager said they got a memo yesterday that it would soon be implemented for cash only because of fraud. He was cautious to check my drivers license with the name on my debit card I was using which I had my bank debit card out like I was going to use that as my form of payment. But when I went to swipe the card it would not go through. Luckily my local Family Dollar is still taking the gift cards but there are fewer stores so not as convenient and can only load 1 per day per store.
Thanks for posting your experiences in NYC. I live in Queens and so far the Rite Aid on Steinway Street is cash only for One VIP Serve.
my experience in NYC and upper Westchester county,where I go on weekends.
Rite aid at 100th and First Ave
two categories,one with free load green ,one with $3.95 blue
two different lines on “load” menu on front reload kiosk on counter
they will load V VCGs for a fee of 3.95 each
Rite Aid at 96 and Second Ave
hostile management but only one try, cashier staff is ignorant
Duane Reade
Vanilla GC up to $500, varying policy re number to purchase, may vary day to day, suggest not to try over two. I bought them with Easter Cards to send to grandchildren for their college funds
ACME supermarket, don’t sell much in the way of Vanillas, none over $200
very friendly, loaded 5 vanilla VGC @$500 to get money orders, total cost $4.95
CVS has Vanilla VGC at $500 at $4.95 each, don’t think that they would load
but that was my impression
NYC is a tough place for M$ and very inconsistent policy
I cant load at any Rite Aid’s onto the new Blue Serve card from Vanilla GC’s. FD and DG want 3.95 to reload. Will the ONE VIP serve card be free to load at FD and DG?