The short answer: not directly, but you have real options
You cannot deposit a gift card itself into a bank account the way you would a check or cash. A gift card is a stored-value product—the money lives on the card, not in a bank system. But you can move that money into your bank account through a few concrete routes, depending on what kind of gift card you have and which bank you use.
The most straightforward path is to spend the gift card at a retailer or online, then transfer funds from your checking account to cover it—but that does not move the gift card balance into your account. What actually works is converting the card's value into cash or a bank transfer, which takes a few extra steps and sometimes costs you a small percentage.
Key Takeaways
- Visa, Mastercard, and American Express gift cards can be transferred to a bank account through your card issuer's website or app, though the process and fees vary by card type.
- Retail gift cards (Target, Amazon, Walmart) cannot be moved to a bank account directly; you must spend them at that retailer or sell the card to a third party.
- Third-party resale sites like CardCash and Raise will buy your gift card for cash, usually 70 to 95 percent of face value, and deposit funds to your bank account within days.
- ATM cash-out is not an option for most gift cards, and attempting to use a gift card as a debit card at an ATM will decline.
- PayPal and Square Cash can sometimes receive transfers from certain gift cards, but this depends on the card issuer and your account setup.
How Visa, Mastercard, and American Express gift cards work with banks
Open-loop gift cards—those branded Visa, Mastercard, or American Express—are the easiest to move into a bank account because they function like debit cards. These cards have a card number, expiration date, and CVV, just like a regular debit card. Some card issuers allow you to transfer the remaining balance to a linked bank account through their website or mobile app.
The process varies by issuer. Visa gift cards issued by banks like Chase or Bank of America may allow balance transfers through their portal; you log in, select the transfer option, and choose your linked bank account. Mastercard and American Express gift cards have similar features, but not all issuers offer this. Check the back of your card or the issuer's website for a customer service number—call and ask whether balance transfer to a bank account is available on your specific card.
If your card issuer does not offer a direct transfer, you can spend the card at any merchant that accepts that brand, then move money from your bank account to cover the purchase. This does not move the gift card balance into your account; it straightforward lets you use the card's value. The balance stays on the card until it is spent down.
Retail gift cards and why they cannot go directly into a bank account
Closed-loop gift cards—those issued by a specific retailer like Target, Walmart, Amazon, or Best Buy—are locked to that merchant's system. They have no card number or routing information that connects to the banking system. Because of this, there is no mechanism to transfer the balance to a bank account. The money exists only within that retailer's network.
Your only paths forward are to spend the card at that retailer, or to sell it. Spending it is straightforward: use it in-store or online at that merchant until the balance is gone. If you do not want to shop there, selling the card to a reseller is the practical alternative.
Selling a gift card for cash through resale platforms
Third-party resale sites buy unused or partially used gift cards and deposit cash to your bank account. The most established platforms are CardCash, Raise, and Decluttr. Here is how the process typically works:
- You visit the site and search for your gift card (by retailer and amount).
- The site shows you the cash offer—usually 70 to 95 percent of the card's face value, depending on demand for that retailer.
- You accept the offer and follow the site's instructions to send the card (usually by mail or by providing the card number and PIN).
- The site verifies the balance and deposits funds to your bank account within 3 to 10 business days.
The percentage you receive depends on the retailer. Popular cards like Amazon or Target typically sell for 85 to 95 percent of face value. Less popular retailers or seasonal cards may sell for 60 to 75 percent. The site takes a cut as commission.
Be cautious with cards you mail: use a tracked shipping method and photograph the card before sending it. Some platforms allow you to provide the card details digitally instead, which is faster and safer. Read the site's terms about what happens if the card balance does not match what you reported.
Using PayPal, Square Cash, and other payment apps
Some payment apps can receive transfers from certain gift cards, though this is not a universal feature. PayPal, for example, allows you to add a Visa or Mastercard gift card as a payment method, but this does not transfer the balance to your PayPal account—it straightforward lets you spend the card through PayPal's system.
Square Cash (now called Cash App) works similarly: you can link a gift card to your account and use it to send money or make purchases, but the balance stays on the gift card. The app does not pull the money into your Cash App balance.
If your goal is to move money into a bank account, these apps are a middleman step, not a solution. They are useful if you want to spend the gift card value without visiting the retailer, but the money does not end up in your bank account.
What does not work: ATMs and debit card tricks
You cannot withdraw cash from an ATM using a gift card, even if it is a Visa or Mastercard. Gift cards are not linked to a PIN-protected bank account, so ATMs will decline the transaction. Some people attempt to use a gift card at a point-of-sale terminal to withdraw cash (a feature called "cash back"), but most retailers block this for gift cards.
Do not attempt to use a gift card as collateral for a loan or to open a bank account. Banks require a Social Security number, proof of identity, and a funding source (usually a paycheck or existing account). A gift card does not meet these requirements.
Fees and what to expect when converting gift card value
Direct balance transfers from Visa or Mastercard gift cards to a bank account are usually free if your card issuer offers them. Check your card's terms or call the issuer to confirm.
Resale platforms charge a commission by paying you less than face value. If you sell a $100 gift card for $85, you have effectively paid a $15 fee. Some sites charge an additional processing fee on top of the discount; read the terms before you accept an offer.
Spending the gift card at the retailer and then transferring money from your bank account costs nothing in fees, but it requires you to make a purchase you might not otherwise make.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I deposit a gift card at an ATM?
No. ATMs only accept cash, checks, and cards linked to a bank account. Gift cards have no bank account behind them, so an ATM will not recognize them. You cannot deposit a gift card the way you would a check.
What if my gift card has a small balance left on it?
Resale sites usually accept cards with any balance above a minimum (often $5 or $10). The offer you receive will reflect the actual remaining balance. If the balance is very small, the resale value may be too low to be worth the effort; in that case, spending the last few dollars at the retailer is simpler.
Do I have to mail my gift card to sell it?
Most resale platforms offer a choice: mail the physical card or provide the card number and PIN digitally. Digital submission is faster (usually 1 to 3 days) and safer, since there is no risk of the card being lost in transit. Check whether your chosen platform offers this option.
Can I transfer a gift card balance to someone else's bank account?
No. Gift card balances are tied to the card itself, not to a person or account. You can give the physical card to someone else, or sell it to a resale platform, but you cannot move the balance to another person's bank account directly.
What happens if I sell a gift card and the balance is lower than I reported?
This depends on the resale platform's terms. Most require you to verify the balance before sending the card. If the balance is lower than you stated, the platform will typically pay you the lower amount or reject the card. Read the site's policy on discrepancies before you submit a card.