TD Connect Card Review
The TD Connect prepaid debit card might be an option for existing TD Bank checking account customers. But its restrictions make it of limited value for anyone else.
TD Connect -- At-a-Glance
Pros
- Simple fee structure
- Free ATM withdrawals (only at TD Bank ATMs)
Cons
- Restrictions on cash loads and bank transfers
- Limited 17-state service area
- High out-of-network ATM fees
TD Connect Card Overview
One of the advantages of prepaid debit cards issued by brick and mortar banks is access to some of the services of a checking account debit card. Services like free ATM withdrawals and deposits and free check deposits.
The disadvantage is geography. Many of those checking account-like benefits are of little value outside the bank’s service area.
Unfortunately, the TD Connect Card has the limitations but is missing some of the benefits of other traditional bank cards.
The TD Connect Card doesn’t allow ATM cash or check deposits to the card, and its mobile app doesn’t allow check deposits either. The only way to add cash or checks is to go to a TD Bank teller.
Of course, like all prepaid cards, the TD Connect card has direct deposit. But unlike other cards, you can’t load the card through a bank transfer–unless it’s from a TD Bank checking account.
TD Connect Card not what you are looking for? Check out other options in our Best Prepaid Debit Cards list.
For those with a TD Bank checking account, the TD Connect Card is a more attractive option. The regular monthly fee of $5.99 is reduced to $2.99 for TD Bank customers with a checking account. Although the same restrictions apply to the prepaid card, a TD Bank checking account customer would likely be funding the card with the account and would be able to make ATM deposits to the checking account.
Still, other prepaid cards offer better card features and even lower fees. The Chase Liquid card, for example, has no monthly fee for its account holders. The Walmart MoneyCard® Visa® also offers a no monthly fee option by loading the card with $1,000 each month.
Features
The TD Connect Card is a Visa-branded debit card and can be used for purchases anywhere Visa debit cards are accepted, just like a checking account debit card. The card has features common among prepaid cards like free direct deposit.
It’s missing one common feature, however–free bank account transfers to the card unless the transfer is from a TD Bank account. Otherwise, the card can’t be funded with a bank account at all.
The TD Connect card also offers:
Mobile App: TD Bank has created a mobile app separate from the app used by its bank account customers. It’s called TD Alert. It has some of the typical features such as viewing transaction history and balances and setting email/text alert preferences. However, it’s missing a check deposit feature that is pretty typical among prepaid card apps.
Free ATM Transactions: With the TD Connect Card, you can withdraw cash or check balances for free at TD Bank ATMs. The service area covers 17 states, mostly on the East Coast. You can check for ATM and branch locations here.
Limits
The maximum balance that you can have on your TD Connect Card is $10,000–the median across prepaid cards. The ATM and spending limits are higher than many other cards. The daily ATM withdrawal limit is $750, and the daily spending limit is $5,750.
The cash load limit is $5,000 for a 24-hour period.
Fees
The TD Connect Card has no activation fee. The monthly maintenance fee is $5.99, but it’s reduced to $2.99 for those with a TD Bank checking account.
The card offers free ATM transactions at TD Bank ATMs, and the card has no transaction fees for purchases.
ATM transactions at other non-TD Bank ATMs are costly. Withdrawals and balance inquiries both cost $3.00–higher than most prepaid cards. Out-of-network ATM transactions will also have an additional fee charged by the ATM owner.
The card has no inactivity fee. The charge for a replacement card if your card is lost or stolen is $5.00.
How to Load Money on the TD Connect Card
Direct Deposit: Like most prepaid cards, payroll checks and government benefits checks can be directly deposited to the card without a fee.
Checks: You can only deposit checks to the card at a TD Bank branch. Those deposits are without charge.
Online Bank Transfer: You can transfer funds to the TD Connect Card only from a TD Bank account. Those transfers are free.
Cash Reload: You can load cash to the card only at TD Bank branches, but there’s no cost to do so.
Getting Cash
You can get cash at any ATM with the Visa logo with your TD Connect Card. There is no fee when using TD Bank ATMs. Other ATMs will cost $3.00 plus any charge by the ATM operator.
Like other prepaid cards, you can also get cash at many retailers when making a debit purchase using your PIN.
Where to Get the TD Connect
The TD Connect card is not available online or in stores. You can get the card only at TD Bank branches.
Summary
The TD Connect Card can be a relatively inexpensive prepaid card for TD Bank customers. The monthly fee is $2.99 when you have a TD Bank checking account and offers free ATM withdrawals.
Unfortunately, the unusual restrictions of the TD Connect Card, such as the inability to transfer funds from other banks, limits its appeal to existing TD Bank customers. Even one of its best benefits–free ATM access–loses some appeal given that ATMs can’t be used for cash or check loads to the card.
The short of it–the TD Connect Card is a “maybe” for TD Bank customers. It’s a “no” for everyone else.
Best For: Existing TD Bank checking account customers
Not So Good For: Those without TD Bank checking; those outside the bank’s service area; and those that want more convenient cash and check load options.