I brought in a group of cards to my Credit Union so they could try to cash them for me with the following results:

*Staples Rebates VISA Debit Card (Issued by Metabank)
Silver Metalic VISA "Rebate Card" (from Staples rebates), first four numbers 4754
These cards can be cashed out doing a VISA Cash Advance (I just deposit them direct to my checking acct).

<From Threeuncle>
For Staples rebate card:
1. Wait for the rebate card to arrive
2. Call 866-496-6189, pressing 0-0-tracking number-4-2 to get customer service
3. Request a check replacing the rebate visa card


*Norton/Symantec VISA Debit Card (Issued by Metabank)
Yellow/Gold "Norton from Symantec" VISA, First four numbers 4754
Also McAfee Rebate cards, first four 4754
*Update* These cards can be cashed out doing a VISA Cash Advance


Discover Branded Rebate Cards
Green "Goods Cards" by Discover, 6011
My Credit Union can not do cash advances from Discover Network, they only have the manual CC machine for VISA/MC


Citi debit Visa Cards (like the Dodge Test Drive GCs) First Four numbers 4074
Cash Advance Not Allowed - Unauthorized Transaction


SanDisk Rebate VISA Debit Card (Issued by Metabank)
Grey VISA "SanDisk store your world in ours", first four numbers 4634
Cash Advance Not Allowed - Unauthorized Transaction

Lowes Delivery Rebate Cards (Metabank issued), First Four numbers 4634
Cash Advance Not Allowed - Unauthorized Transaction


*Note* For doing VISA cash advances from rebate cards - The bank teller has to use the CC machine with the keypad on it. It takes a lot of keypad inputs to put the charge through as a VISA cash advance, if they just slide the card through and enter an amount it will not be approved.

If anyone has any other verified success or failures with other Rebate Cards for cashing them out please post so we can figure out some of the easiest strategies for getting these converted back to cash.


On a side note, the cash registers at CVS are able to authorize just the remaining balance on the SanDisk cards swiped as "Credit" without any customer input. I was able to use up the small balances on two of them tonight without having to know what funds were still available on them. (I did check when I got home and it had authorized the correct amount remaining).

Updated 4/23/09 to add that Norton VISA rebate cards can be cashed out using VISA Cash Advance.

Updated 11/9/09 added Citi issued Dodge Rebate card and Lowes delivery rebate card.

Good thing to know. I have a few that expire soon myself.

I use my rebate debit cards on small purchases, and then use the remainder to buy Amazon.com GCs.

that's great news. I've been sort of steering clear of staples rebates because the value can add up.

but if you can cash advance at the bank, that makes it much more palatable

Sounds very similar to how I used up the CompUSA prepaid cards way back when.

For Staples rebate card:

1. Wait for the rebate card to arrive
2. Call 866-496-6189, pressing 0-0-tracking number-4-2 to get customer service
3. Request a check replacing the rebate visa card

thanks for the heads up threeuncle. Looks like i might start doing a few more staples deals. Didn't realize they made the card that flexible.

Updated OP

Excellent thread idea. Thanks for putting this together Wings.

Good info.

How long does it take to get a check, though? It doesn't take 4-6 weeks, does it?

I did it yesterday and was told they would arrive in 10 to 15 business days. It was reported in some other thread that it could take as short as 5 business days.

BTW, as a bargain shopper, I checked the balances of the cards with the tracking numbers on the back of them. They became invalid immediately after I hang up. I believe the checks were proceeded immediately.

damn .

so no double dipping

I found another easy way to empty these quickly. Go to Victoria's Secret and purchase anything you'd like. When you are paying, it will automatically check the balance on your card and empty it out. I've used up all four rebate cards in one payment!

i've been having pretty good luck with this at the bank. I think the last few I cashed were Norton rebates.

I've got a mcafee with 4754 that I expect should be cashed out pretty easily.

cashed out just fine at the bank.

now if only we could find some ways to cash out the sandisk cards.

I've been applying mine towards my monthly Sprint cell phone bill online. Do you simply just walk up to the bank teller and ask them to do a cash advance on the prepaid card?

yes, "cash advance" for the amount on your card.

My local bank has had no trouble cashing them out. They just ask to see my drivers license and process the transaction.

That's a great tip. I didn't know you could do that.

I have 2 Norton prepaid cards ending in 4754, a $20 and a $50 card, and I much rather have the cash than apply it towards my bills especially when I can get cash back when paying through my credit card.

How does the ending of prepaid CC affect the cash advance?

it's the first four digits. Basically some cards like the sandisk one's starting in 4634 don't allow a cash advance.

Cards from Staples/Symantec/Mcafee/Norton starting with 4754 will allow it.

It's basically trial and error to see which one's allow it or not.

I have both a $20 and $50 Norton prepaid debit card. Tried the cash advance feature this morning in my nearby HSBC bank. You'll need photo ID and fill out a 'cash disbursement draft' form with your full mailing address and the minimum cash advance they'll do is $50. I walked over to a Chase bank a block away and handed my photo ID along with the $20 debit card. They asked if my mailing address was correct and just swiped it and handed me a receipt and a $20 bill. Seems much quicker @ Chase than in HSBC. Thanks again.

What's also cool about it is that you DO NOT need to be a bank customer in order to do a cash advance in that particular bank. This beats calling up the rebate center to request a physical check in the mail which may take anywhere from 5-10 business days.

Citi Dodge VISA rebate card (Citigroup), 4074, Cash advance not allowed.
Lowes Free Delivery Reward VISA card (Metabank), 4634, Cash advance not allowed.