Note: On January 8, 2016 American Express sent out a notice to a large number of Bluebird & Serve cardholders informing them that loading capabilities on their accounts had been terminated. For more information, see: Amex kills Bluebird and Serve for manufactured spend
American Express Serve and Bluebird are two nearly identical products. Both are nearly no-fee alternatives to checking accounts. Both can be reloaded with Vanilla Reload cards. Both support bill pay by check. Both support transferring funds to your own bank account.
Unfortunately, each person is only allowed to have one or the other. Bluebird or Serve.
Bluebird has a few advantages:
- No monthly fee (Serve has a $1 monthly fee unless you load at least $500)
- Reload at Walmart with debit cards (via “Swipe Reloads”)
- Paper checks
Serve has a few advantages:
- Online credit card loads (up to $1000 per month)
- Eligible for Amex Sync offers
- Reload at CVS or 7-11 at the register
Has anyone tried cash reloads with Serve at CVS or 7-11? Do they allow credit card payments?
Which card is for you?
I don’t like the $1 per month fee that Serve charges if you don’t load $500 to your card. Otherwise, Serve looks really attractive. Have you thought about which one is best for you? Comment below.
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I tried to get a Serve for my friend using his ITIN but the number starts with 9 and didn’t accept as SSN. I had a “involuntary Typographical error” and put a 6 instead of 9,went throuhg but received an email requesting a copy of SS card and a photo ID. I don’t think I will insist since they are clear about it.
[…] Dec 24 2013: Serve or Bluebird? […]
hi – i was at CVS trying to purchase a Serve. They said it is cash only for the purchase. I’m in NYC. I thought we could purchase it and load it with up to $500 per transaction? and $1k per day? thanks
CVS has gone cash only across the country for reload cards and related products
Is there a limit on backup funding using credit card? If I pay someone $400 and I only have $200 balance.
I don’t know
Well no doubt this topic moves to the top of the list to update I think………Obe-Wan Kenobi what say you?
Yes indeed. For those with Walmart nearby: Advantage Bluebird.
Jonathan: No, you can’t use gift cards to load Serve. I suppose you could change the credit card every couple of months. I don’t know if that would raise a flag or not. Good question.
Greg can you unload multiple gc to serve without shutdown? What about using a new cc every couple months?
This seems like a better option now IF VR goes away, yeah?
Without VR: Serve has the edge for allowing $1k/month of credit card loads. Bluebird has the edge for allowing Walmart reloads
OK,
You all have me intrigued about the Serve card. But, like others, I already have Bluebird which is working well for me, and I’m reluctant to cancel it. I did confirm with AMEX that I would have to cancel it.
I tried to get a Serve account using a different email address, but they key in on SSN, and only allow BB or Serve, as others have pointed out. I’m wondering about getting an alternate form of ID(such as an ITIN) to sign up with Serve. Anyone have any experience with this?
The points others have made are quite enticing:
-No fee reloads at CVS & 7-11
-No fee reloads using AMEX gift cards allowing additional % back if purchased through sites like TopCashBack or BigCrumbs, resulting in transaction fee of 0.3%, or even a small net gain after % back(AND shipped to your door via 2 Day UPS).
-1K online load and $5K in store loads for total of $6K monthly
Any other benefits I’m missing?
I tried once to sign up with an EIN but that didn’t work. one add to your list: 1K debit online debit loads on top of 1k credit loads
Hi FM,
So with the additional $1K debit, Serve allows $7K per month#%^? I’m curious whether you’ve relinquished your BB for Serve, and if not, why not? Is it possible to reinstate a BB account if one desires?
Yes, this month I loaded up $5K to my Bluebird and unloaded it before cancelling. I’m now working on loading my new Serve card! As others have mentioned, I had to call to get my Serve card activated since it had only been a couple days since cancelling my Bluebird account.
I’m in the process of doing the same. I note that Serve temp cards are often promoted with no fees. I tried buying one, then buying walmart money orders without success. I think the best use of Serve is going to be in conjunction with AMEX gift cards as you’ve described in other posts. The fees are so negligible & with the cards mailed to your house, seems like a no-brainier. I look forward to hearing your Serve experience.
Do you have a link to the information about being able to load Serve with Amex Gift Cards?
Thanks.
As far as I know, it can’t be done anymore now that CVS has gone cash only
Given the recent changes, Serve seems to have lost its luster. Is it still valuable? I’m probably reinstating my Bluebird.
There are pros and cons either way. Please see this post: https://frequentmiler.com/2014/04/09/bluebird-vs-serve-once-again/comment-page-1/
Globetrotter…you from Bakersfield? Sjgrado@yahoo.
I Love using my serve card just hope that one day I can get a real American Express credit card…. But I love my card, plus loading this card at cvs is very easy and convient u don’t need to pay no addition fee to load ur money on ur card so if u think about it that 5 dollars or 10 those other card charge it’s not worth it….
I used amex at CVS store to reload Server card. But amex charged me with cash advance fees and daily interest. Reload with Chase Ink card does is good. They do not treat it as Cash advance!! Better use some card from Chase.
That’s strange. Amex did not charge a cash advance to me. I’ve been successful with two Citibank cards as well
Which type of AmEx CC was charged with cash advanced?
[…] Serve or Bluebird? […]
Thanks everyone for sharing
Can you confirm Serve online load limit using CC is $1000 a month ($200/day) and in store $5000 a month ($1000/day) totaling $6000 a month?
Also I heard that you do not get any CC reward for using AmEx CC to load Serve account. In this case are we are restricted to use only VISA and Master Card?