What Is a Gift Card?

A gift card is a prepaid debit card that contains a specific amount of money available for use for a variety of purchases. Store gift cards are designed to be used at specific merchants or retailers, while general-use prepaid gift cards are not affiliated with any specific merchant and can also be used to withdraw cash at automated teller machines (ATMs).

How a Gift Card Works

Gift cards are a form of 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:prepaid debit card that’s loaded with funds for future use. There are generally two types of gift cards: open-loop and closed-loop. Both types typically can be used online and in person.

Many gift cards—also known as 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:stored value cards—will have a minimum and maximum initial loading amount. For example, there may be a minimum of $10 and a maximum of $500. In some situations, gift cards can be used to pay for a portion of a purchase, with cash, debit, or credit used to balance the expense. As a precaution to mitigate the💙 risk of losses, many gift cards can also be registered online—a procedure that allows the remaining balance to be tracked and frozen if a card is lost. In this way, some gift cards are safer than cash.

Closed-Loop Gift Cards

Closed-loop gift cards are often marketed by stores, allowing a cardholder to purchase anything from that specified retailer. Closed-loop cards generally can be used only with a single merchant, either at the store or on its website. However, if one company owns several different retailers, it might issue gift cards that can be used at any of them. Gap Inc. (GPS) is one such corporation: Its cards usually can be used interchangeably at any of its affiliated stores, including Gap, Banana Republic, Old Navy, and Athleta.✤

Closed-loop gift cards usually will not require any activation fees. Also, these gift cards will not include a processor’s logo (the financial services company that actually handles the transaction mechanics), though they do inღclude the merchant’s logo; in a sense, they act as advertising for the store.

Closed-loop gift cards usually are not reloadable, so once the balance is spent, they have no further use. Also, funds on a closed-loop gift card may have a specified ex🦩piration date, which requires the user to use the card within a set time frame. Closed-loop cards are popular gifts for wedding and baby registries. Many merchants also offer closed-loop gift cards as a boꦦnus for individuals who sign up for their registries.

Open-Loop Gift Cards

Open-loop gift cards offer the equivalent of cash—or more precisely, a credit or debit card that can be used at any merchant where that card is accepted, as well as online. Many of the major charge or credit card issuers/processors, such as American Express, Visa, Discover, and MasterCard, offer open-loop gift cards. These cards will display the payment processor’s logo and can be used to make all types of electronic payments nearly anywhere.🌊

Open-loop gift cards also have the advantage of serving as a standard prepaid card. These cards𒐪 are usually reloadable, allowing the user to add funds on the✅ir own as well.

Digital Gift Cards

Gift cards debuted in 1994, according to , an extension marketplace of the open source commerce platform Magento. Increasingly, merchants are opting to offer digital gift cards to customers as an incentive to 💜encourage spending.

Upscale department stores, such as Saks Fifth Avenue and Bergdorf Goodman, send bonus gift cards to their loyalty program members (who have spent a certain amount during a promotion or over a certain time period). However, 75% of the volume in gift card program redemptions is still in physical cards vs. 25% for digital gift cards, according to a industry survey.

Gift Card Scams

Gift cards are increasingly a target for scammers. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), consumers reported gift card scam losses of $148 million in the first nine months of 2021.

These 🌸scams primarily revolved around scammers asking consumers to purchase gift cards as a form of payment. The consumer provides the gift card number to the scammer based on the assumption that they’re making a legitimate payment. The scammer then makes off with the money.

Another scam involves the compromise 𒁏of physical cards in store. Scammers tamper with cards to obtain the gift card number. When a consumer purchases the card and loads money to it, the scammers are then able to steal those funds by using the card to make purchases.

Target gift cards are particularly popular among scammers, accounting for $35 million of the losses reported in 2021.

The Bottom Line

Gift cards can be useful for shopping online or in stores. You may purchase them to give as gifts to friends and family, or it’s possible that you might earn gift cards as a reward when shopping with a particular merchant. Understanding how gift cards work and where you can use them is important for avoiding fees o꧂r the risk of having a gift card expire. At the same time, it’s important to be on the lookout for gift card scams—especially during the holiday season, when more people are buying them and using them to shop.