Netspend Blog

The Treasury Department and IRS have announced more information around the distribution of the government stimulus package/checks, or, as they’re calling it, economic impact payments (EIP). For the most up-to-date information go here.

We understand these are tough times as we adjust to staying home more and social distancing from each other. It can be even tougher for those without bank accounts, but Netspend can help.

Each year, the IRS releases the Dirty Dozen – a list of the largest tax scams they saw for that year's taxes. The IRS scams list reads like a playbook from the past, with phishing, identity theft, and fake charities making the top 12. These common scams are increasing in complexity, so they require a careful look. In addition to expected appearances, the list is dominated by private, white-collar fraud, including abusive tax shelters, partially-fraudulent business credit applications, and falsified credit claims.

Going digital has certainly changed the way we listen to music and watch TV, so it should come as no surprise that it’s changed the way we pay for things too. Now you can make purchases using what’s called your digital wallet. And don’t worry, if you’re not really sure what a digital wallet is or how to use it, we’ll get to all that and more.

With the holiday season upon us, most U.S. consumers are creating gift lists and hitting the store aisles. However, this time of year proves more financially challenging than cheerful for a significant portion of the population. Despite economic growth and the availability of online financial services, nearly 27% of U.S. households remain unbanked or underbanked, according to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. Additionally, even though the poverty rate in the U.S. is slowly improving, the general cost of living it is still a problem in many areas of the country – including Georgia and Texas, home to two of Netspend’s national offices.

Phishing, Nigerian letter fraud, and ransomware are scamming tactics that have been used for years, but they’re capturing new victims through an ever-increasing degree of sophistication. This year, phishing – an attempt to get your sensitive information through seemingly trustworthy electronic communications – accounted for 90% of all data breaches, having grown by 65% in just 12 months.

“Small business” means different things to different people. It may be a side business or side hustle that grew out of a passion or hobby. Some people make crafts or do consulting work for extra income, but also have a full-time job.

Often when people think of prepaid card holders, the unbanked and underbanked of America, they think of lower income households. It’s a long-held belief that to save you have to rely on traditional banking, but millennials are looking to disrupt the system. In fact, according to Business Insider, the two youngest adult generations in the US accounted for 80% of prepaid card owners in August 2013. This has led to an increase in prepaid card issuers in recent years offering consumers more choices, meaning it’s easier to find the best prepaid card for your lifestyle.

You never really know someone until you walk around in their shoes. That’s why every December, instead of throwing a holiday party for ourselves, we ask every employee to go out and walk in the shoes of our customers. Its part scavenger hunt, part pay it forward, all teamwork and empathy. We call it Community Connect.

It's hard to believe that it's been five years. I've learned a lot in my time here. The most important thing that I have learned is that it's all about you, our customers. I ask my team every day, “What customer problem are we solving?” We stay focused on you, your needs, and your goals because it's your money and your life. We're just here to make it a little easier.