Most gift cards cannot be transferred directly to a bank account, but you have several workarounds depending on the card type and issuer
A standard gift card issued by a retailer (Target, Amazon, Starbucks) is not a bank product and has no connection to your bank account. The money on it lives in the retailer's system, not in the financial network that connects to your bank. You cannot log into your bank and pull the balance over. However, you can spend the card's value and use the money you save to deposit into your bank, or in some cases use a third-party service to convert the balance to cash.
The path forward depends on what kind of gift card you have. A Visa or Mastercard gift card (the ones with a logo and a card number) behaves more like a debit card and has more options. A store gift card (Target, Best Buy, Whole Foods) is locked to that retailer and has fewer paths. A digital gift card code (sent by email) cannot be transferred at all, but you can spend it online.
Key Takeaways
- Visa and Mastercard gift cards can be used to buy things online or in stores, freeing up your own money to deposit into your bank account.
- Some Visa and Mastercard gift cards allow you to transfer the balance to a linked bank account through the card issuer's app or website, but this varies by issuer and is not universal.
- Store gift cards cannot be transferred to a bank account, but you can spend them and use your own money elsewhere for banking.
- Third-party services that claim to buy gift cards for cash often charge high fees (10 to 40 percent) and may not accept all card types.
- Selling a gift card on a resale platform is legal but carries fraud risk — the buyer may dispute the transaction after receiving the code.
Transferring a Visa or Mastercard gift card to your bank
If your gift card has a Visa or Mastercard logo, check the issuer's website or app first. Some issuers (including certain banks that issue their own Visa gift cards) allow you to link the card to your bank account and transfer the remaining balance. This is not a standard feature — it depends entirely on who issued the card. The issuer's customer service number is usually on the back of the card.
To learn about your card supports transfers, visit the issuer's website and look for "transfer balance," "move funds," or "link bank account." You will need your card number, the security code on the back, and your bank account details. If the option exists, the transfer usually completes within one to three business days. If it does not exist, the issuer will tell you directly, and you will need to use one of the other methods below.
Some card issuers allow you to set up the card as a payment method in your bank's bill-pay system, which lets you pay your own bank account from the gift card. This is indirect but works: you pay your bank account from the gift card, the money lands in your account, and the gift card balance is gone. Check your bank's bill-pay settings to see if you can add the gift card as a payment source.
Spending the gift card and depositing your own money instead
The simplest and safest method is to use the gift card to buy things you would normally buy with your own money, then deposit that money into your bank account. If you have a $50 gift card to Amazon and you were going to spend $50 on groceries anyway, use the gift card for the groceries and deposit the $50 you saved into your bank. The net result is the same: the gift card value is now in your bank account.
This works for any gift card, including store cards. It takes longer than a direct transfer because you have to make the purchase first, but it carries no fraud risk and no fees. The only catch is that you have to actually spend the card — you cannot straightforward convert it to cash without buying something.
Using a gift card resale platform
Websites like CardCash, Raise, and Decluttr buy gift cards from individuals and pay out via bank transfer, PayPal, or check. You list your card, a buyer purchases it, and you receive payment. The payout is usually 70 to 90 percent of the card's face value, meaning a $100 card might net you $70 to $90.
The process is straightforward: you create an account, enter your card details, and the platform holds the funds while the buyer tests the card. Once the buyer confirms the balance is correct, the platform releases payment to you. This usually takes three to seven days. However, some buyers dispute transactions after receiving the code, claiming the card was already used or the balance was wrong. The platform may reverse your payout while they investigate, which can take weeks.
Resale platforms are legal, but they do carry this dispute risk. Use them only if you are comfortable with the possibility of a delayed or reversed payout. Read the platform's dispute policy before you list the card.
Third-party cash conversion services
Services like Raise, CardCash, and Gameflip also offer "when ready" cash conversion where you receive payment when ready instead of waiting for a buyer. The catch is the fee: these services typically take 10 to 40 percent of the card's value. A $100 card might yield $60 to $90 after fees. The exact fee depends on the card type, the issuer, and current demand.
These services are legitimate but expensive. Use them only if you need cash urgently and cannot wait for a buyer. Read the fee structure carefully before you proceed — some services charge a flat percentage, others charge a flat dollar amount plus a percentage, and some charge differently depending on the card type.
What does not work
You cannot transfer a store gift card (Target, Walmart, Best Buy) to a bank account through any official channel. These cards are not connected to the banking system and have no transfer feature. Anyone claiming they can transfer a store gift card to your bank for a fee is running a scam.
You also cannot use a gift card to directly fund a bank account by depositing it like a check. Gift cards are not checks and banks will not accept them as deposits. Some people attempt to photograph a gift card and deposit it through mobile banking — this will be rejected.
Fees and what to watch for
Direct transfers from Visa or Mastercard gift cards (when available) usually have no fee. Resale platforms typically take 15 to 30 percent of the sale price. Cash conversion services take 10 to 40 percent. Selling on a resale platform is cheaper than using a conversion service, but it takes longer and carries dispute risk.
Watch for services that ask you to pay a fee upfront to "unlock" your gift card balance or that claim they can transfer any gift card to your bank for a small fee. These are scams. Legitimate services take their cut from the payout, not from you in advance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a gift card to pay my credit card bill and then withdraw the money?
Yes, if your credit card issuer accepts gift cards as a payment method. You pay your credit card bill with the gift card, then withdraw cash from the credit card's available credit. This works but is inefficient — you are paying interest on the withdrawal. Use this only if you have no other option.
What if my gift card has a very small balance left?
Resale platforms usually have a minimum balance requirement (often $5 or $10) and will reject cards below that threshold. Spend the remaining balance on anything — a coffee, a digital read, a donation — rather than trying to convert it. The effort is not worth the payout.
Is it legal to sell a gift card I received?
Yes, it is legal to sell or trade a gift card you own. The person who gave it to you no longer has any claim to it. However, some retailers' terms of service prohibit resale. Check the card's terms before you list it. If you violate the terms, the issuer may cancel the card after the buyer reports it.
Can I transfer a digital gift card code to someone else's bank account?
No. A digital gift card code is tied to the email address it was sent to. You can forward the email or share the code with someone else, and they can spend it, but you cannot transfer the balance to a bank account. The recipient would have to use the same methods described above (spend it, resell it, or convert it) to move the value to their bank.
What happens if I sell a gift card and the buyer claims it was already used?
The resale platform will investigate by checking the card's balance. If the balance is zero, the platform will likely reverse your payout and may suspend your account. If the balance matches what you claimed, the buyer's claim is denied and you keep the payment. This is why you should always verify the balance yourself before listing the card.