 | Mark Kolarik is the President of the Kansas Teachers Community Credit Union, located in Pittsburg, KS, since 10-2002 and is a board member of the Kansas Corporate Credit Union located in Wichita, KS . He has been employed in the financial service industry for the last 31 years, having worked in several credit unions for 21years and 10 years in the banking industry. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse and is a Certificated Credit Union Executive. |
Banking & Finance
2010-12-01 14:26:00
Giving money for the holidays
Question: For simplicity, this year I am thinking of gifting money to family members & friends as Christmas presents. What is the easiest way to do this?
Answer: Visa Gift cards are a simple and secure way to gift money this holiday season. Visa gift cards are accepted at millions of locations across the world and online and are used in the same way as a debit card would be.
There are two types of gift cards you may want to consider:
Gift Cards:
The purchaser loads the gift card with the amount of cash that they wish to gift. The card can then be used as a debit card anywhere Visa is accepted, whether it is to buy gifts, or at a gas station. They are much safer than cash, and very simple to use.
Though gift cards are not re-usable, it is wise to hold on to them for a time. If you purchase something using the gift card and want to return it, the store may require the card in order to refund the full purchase price of the return.
Re-loadable Pre-Paid Visa Cards:
Another option is the re-loadable Visa card. This is especially helpful if you plan to give money for subsequent gifts, such as for birthdays. These work like debit cards with a set amount on the card. The user cannot go over the amount on the card. Once the funds are exhausted, the card is saved. When the need or occasion arises, a gift giver can add more funds to the card.
