VISA® Gift Cards - FAQ's
General FAQ's
- What is a Visa Gift Card?
- How does the California Bank & Trust Visa Gift Card work?
- What makes a California Bank & Trust Visa Gift Card different than a store gift card or gift certificate ?
- If I return merchandise purchased with my Gift Card can I get a refund?
- How do I activate my California Bank & Trust Visa Gift Card?
- Do I need a PIN to make a purchase with the Visa Gift Card?
- How can I check the balance on my California Bank & Trust Visa Gift Card?
- My California Bank & Trust Visa Gift Card doesn’t have my name on it. Can I still use it?
- My California Bank & Trust Visa Gift Card doesn’t have my name on it; do I still sign my name on the receipt?
- Do I have to accept the Terms & Conditions?
- How will I know the original value of my California Bank & Trust Visa Gift Card?
- How do I register my California Bank & Trust Visa Gift Card?
- Why should I register my California Bank & Trust Visa Gift Card?
- Do I need an e-mail address to use my California Bank & Trust Visa Gift Card?
- Can I make purchases for more than the amount remaining on my California Bank & Trust Visa Gift Card?
- Can I use my California Bank & Trust Visa Gift Card at more than one place?
- Can I use my California Bank & Trust Visa Gift Card online?
- Can I use my California Bank & Trust Visa Gift Card at an ATM?
- Can I use my California Bank & Trust Visa Gift Card for online gaming?
- Can I use my California Bank & Trust Visa Gift Card to get cash at a banking center?
- Can I use my California Bank & Trust Visa Gift Card to get cash at the check-out?
- Can I add more money to my California Bank & Trust Visa Gift Card?
- What should I do if my California Bank & Trust Visa Gift Card is lost or stolen?
- How long can I use my California Bank & Trust Visa Gift Card?
- What do I do if I have a remaining balance on an expired California Bank & Trust Visa Gift Card?
- What happens when I spend all of the money on my California Bank & Trust Visa Gift Card?
- Can I request a refund on the remaining balance on my card?
- What can I do if the remaining balance on my card is less than the processing fee to request a refund?
- Can I use my California Bank & Trust Visa Gift Card to buy a new Visa Gift Card?
- Will I be charged a monthly service fee?
- Are there other fees that I should know about?
- What is the difference between a “pending transaction” and a “posted transaction”?
- Why is my Available Balance different than my Actual Balance?
- Can I use my California Bank & Trust Visa Gift Card at gas stations?
- What should I do if my California Bank & Trust Visa Gift Card purchase is declined?
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General FAQ's 1. What is a Visa Gift Card?
The California Bank & Trust Visa Gift Card is a prepaid debit card – not a credit card. You determine how much money you want to put on the card when you purchase a Visa Gift Card. You can buy a Gift Card for yourself or for someone else. Once you have purchased a Gift Card, the cardholder can use it to make purchases everywhere Visa debit cards are accepted.
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2. How does the California Bank & Trust Visa Gift Card work?
Recipients use the Gift Card just like any Visa debit card for purchases at millions of merchant locations that accept Visa debit cards. Simply sign the receipt at the point of sale. The Gift Card cannot be used to withdraw cash at an ATM or for “cash back” at a merchant checkout.
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3. What makes a California Bank & Trust Visa Gift Card different than a store gift card or gift certificate?
Unlike store gift cards or gift certificates, the Visa Gift Card enables you to choose where you spend the money on your card. You are not limited to just one store. You can use it at any store that accepts Visa debit cards, even online and over the phone.
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4. If I return merchandise purchased with my Gift Card can I get a refund?
You must present your Visa Gift Card and receipt at the time of a merchandise return. The merchant’s return policy dictates whether the item can be returned, if they credit the amount back on the card, or if they offer a cash refund for the amount of the purchase.
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5. How do I activate my California Bank & Trust Visa Gift Card?
You may activate your Gift Card by calling the 1-866-798-2112, or by visiting our card page at ww.visaprepaidprocessing.com/calbanktrust/Gift
6. Do I need a PIN to make a purchase with the Visa Gift Card?
No. The Visa Gift Card does not come with a PIN. Simply sign the receipt at the point of sale .
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7. How can I check the balance on my California Bank & Trust Visa Gift Card?
You may check the balance on your Gift Card by visiting the gift card page on www.visaprepaidprocessing.com/calbanktrust/Gift or by calling Customer Service at 1-866-798-2112. Fees may apply for phone support. You will need your Gift Card number and expiration date.
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8. My California Bank & Trust Visa Gift Card doesn’t have my name on it. Can I still use it?
Yes, you can still use your Gift Card even though your name doesn’t appear on the card. Make sure you sign the back of your Gift Card because merchants may validate your identity by comparing the signature on the back of your Gift Card with the one on your receipt.
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9. My California Bank & Trust Visa Gift Card doesn’t have my name on it; do I still sign my name on the receipt?
Yes, even though your Gift Card has a greeting, like “California Bank & Trust Gift Card,” instead of your name, you will still sign your name on the receipt when you make purchases. Make sure you sign the back of your card, so that merchants can validate your identity by comparing your signature on the receipt with the one on your Gift Card.
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10. Do I have to accept the Terms & Conditions?
Yes, using your California Bank & Trust Visa Gift Card signifies that you accept the Terms & Conditions.
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11. How will I know the original value of my California Bank & Trust Visa Gift Card?
The original value of your Gift Card will be noted on the card carrier if you order your Gift Card online. If your card is purchased at a branch, your receipt will contain the Gift Card amount. You can also check your card balance by visiting the Gift Card page on www.visaprepaidprocessing.com/calbanktrust/Gift . You will need your Gift Card number and expiration date.
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12. How do I register my California Bank & Trust Visa Gift Card?
You can register your card by visiting the Gift Card page on www.visaprepaidprocessing.com/calbanktrust/Gift or by calling the toll free number on the back of your gift card.
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13. Why should I register my California Bank & Trust Visa Gift Card? Registering your card enables you to make purchases online or over the phone. Most online and phone order merchants do not accept payments without a valid “billing” address. Your registered address will serve as the “billing” address that these merchants require. You can register your card by visiting the Gift Card page on www.visaprepaidprocessing.com/calbanktrust/Gift or by calling 1-866-798-2112.
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14. Do I need an e-mail address to use my California Bank & Trust Visa Gift Card?
No, you are not required to have an e-mail address to make purchases with your Gift Card. However, your e-mail address is useful if you ever forget your web site username or password we can send it to your e-mail address we have on file.
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15. Can I make purchases for more than the amount remaining on my California Bank & Trust Visa Gift Card?
Yes, however, you must let the merchant know in advance that you will be using two methods of payment. Present the Gift Card and state the specific amount to be deducted. Then pay the difference through another means – cash, check, debit/credit card. If you don’t tell the merchant and try to make a purchase for more than the amount available on your Gift Card, the transaction will be declined.
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16. Can I use my California Bank & Trust Visa Gift Card at more than one place?
Yes, that’s the advantage of a California Bank & Trust Visa Gift Card! You can use your Gift Card anywhere Visa debit cards are accepted.
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17. Can I use my California Bank & Trust Visa Gift Card online?
Yes, you can use your Gift Card to make purchases online. We suggest that you register your Gift Card before making purchases online. Some online merchants will not process your purchases without a valid address registered to the Gift Card. You can register your card by visiting the Gift Card page on www.visaprepaidprocessing.com/calbanktrust/Gift or by calling the toll free number on the back of your Gift Card.
18. Can I use my California Bank & Trust Visa Gift Card at an ATM?
No, you cannot withdraw cash from an ATM with your Gift Card.
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19. Can I use my California Bank & Trust Visa Gift Card for online gaming?
No. Your Gift Card cannot be used for online gaming.
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20. Can I use my California Bank & Trust Visa Gift Card to get cash at a banking center ?
No, you cannot use your Gift Card to get cash at a banking center.
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21. Can I use my California Bank & Trust Visa Gift Card to get cash at the check-out?
No, your Gift Card cannot be used to receive cash back when making a purchase.
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22. Can I add more money to my California Bank & Trust Visa Gift Card?
No, you cannot add more money to your Gift Card.
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23. What should I do if my California Bank & Trust Visa Gift Card is lost or stolen?
If your Gift Card is lost or stolen, contact Customer Service immediately to report it. You can contact us by calling our toll free Customer Service Department at 1-866-798-2112.
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24. How long can I use my California Bank & Trust Visa Gift Card? Your Gift Card expiration date is embossed on the front of your card. You can use your card through the end of the month of the year it expires.
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25. What do I do if I have a remaining balance on an expired California Bank & Trust Visa Gift Card?
If you have a remaining balance on an expired Gift Card you can request to have a replacement card mailed to you.
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26. What happens when I spend all of the money on my California Bank & Trust Visa Gift Card?
Once you have used up the funds on your Gift Card, your card account will be closed. You can keep it in case you need to return an item you have purchased using the card, which will reopen your card account if it has not passed the expiration date. You can also discard it once you have spent all of the available funds.
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27. Can I request a refund on the remaining balance on my card?
Yes, a check can be sent to you for the remaining balance on your card minus a processing fee.
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28. What can I do if the remaining balance on my card is less than the processing fee to request a refund?
If your card is not expired, we suggest that you try to use up the balance of the card at a merchant that will allow you to use two forms of payment. You can then ask the merchant to take the amount left on the Gift Card and pay the difference of the purchase total with your other form of payment.
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29. Can I use my California Bank & Trust Visa Gift Card to buy a new Visa Gift Card?
No, Gift Cards can only be purchased with cash, a check drawn on a California Bank & Trust Account, a California Bank & Trust debit card, or with a California Bank & Trust credit card. Note: Gift Cards purchases with a California Bank & Trust Credit Card will be treated as a Cash Advance transaction .
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30. Will I be charged a monthly service fee?
No. you will not be charged a monthly fee for using your Gift Card. However, if the card is inactive for 13 months and there is a remaining balance, the card will be assessed a monthly inactivity fee each month that it remains inactive. See fee schedule for additional details.
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31. Are there other fees that I should know about?
To see a list of fees associated with purchasing and using a California Bank & Trust Visa Gift Card please review our Terms and Conditions Agreement .
32. What is the difference between a “pending transaction” and a “posted transaction”?
Pending transactions are authorized transactions with a hold on your balance for the purchase amount until the transaction clears your account. Posted transactions are purchases that have cleared on your card and funds have been removed to pay the merchant. You may see pending transactions that are more or less than the amount you have spent. This is because some merchants place a pre-authorization amount on your card to ensure the account is active and that you have enough money to cover the purchases. In some cases, such as restaurants, a pending amount is charged a percentage higher (typically 15-20%) than the amount of the transaction is shown in case you pay a tip on your card. Once the transaction posts to your account, the pending transaction will be removed, generally within a few business days.
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33. Why is my Available Balance different than my Actual Balance?
Typically, your Available Balance is less than your Actual Balance because your Available Balance reflects purchases you have made that have been authorized (pending transactions), but have not yet cleared on your card. Your Actual Balance reflects all purchases that have cleared your card.
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34. Can I use my California Bank & Trust Visa Gift Card at gas stations?
Yes. If you pay at the pump for gas, the pump terminal may check to see if you have funds to pay for up to $75 worth of gas because the station doesn’t know how much you are going to buy. If you do not have $75 available on your card, your transaction may be declined. If you plan to buy less than $75 worth of gas, it is recommended that you give your card to the station attendant and state exactly how much gas you want to purchase, instead of swiping your card at the pump.
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35. What should I do if my California Bank & Trust Visa Gift Card purchase is declined?
Make sure there are sufficient funds on your Gift Card before making a purchase by checking your balance by visiting the Gift Cards Page or by calling the number on the back of your card. You may inform the merchant of the remaining balance on the card and use another form of payment to pay the difference, subject to the policy of the merchant. Also, please be aware that many restaurants, hotels, and other merchants may factor in an automatic tip, or other expenses above the purchase amount, when authorizing card purchases. If your bill, plus the estimated tip or other expenses exceeds the amount on the Visa Gift Card, it may be declined.
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