You cannot add a gift card directly to a bank account, but you can convert it to cash or use it to fund a transfer

A gift card is not a bank account number or routing number, so your bank has no way to pull money from it. What you can do instead is turn the gift card into money that lands in your account. The most common routes are loading it to a digital wallet (like Apple Pay or Google Pay), transferring it to PayPal or a similar service, or selling it to a gift card marketplace. Each method takes a different amount of time and may cost you a small percentage of the card's value.

The method that works best depends on what you want to do with the money. If you need it in your bank account specifically—not just accessible through your phone—you will need an extra step after converting the gift card, because most digital wallets do not automatically deposit to a bank account.

Key Takeaways

  • Gift cards cannot be linked to a bank account the way a debit card can, because they are not connected to any bank routing or account number.
  • You can load most gift cards to a digital wallet like Apple Pay or Google Pay, then use that wallet to make purchases or transfer money to your bank account.
  • PayPal, Square Cash, and similar money transfer services accept gift card numbers and can send the balance to your bank account, though some charge a small fee.
  • Gift card marketplaces like Raise or CardCash will buy your card for cash, usually at 80 to 95 percent of face value, and deposit the money to your account.
  • The fastest route to your bank account is usually a money transfer app, which can complete the transfer in one to three business days.

Loading a gift card to a digital wallet

Most major gift cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Target, Walmart, Amazon) can be added to Apple Pay, Google Pay, or Samsung Pay. This does not put the money in your bank account, but it makes the card accessible from your phone and lets you spend it anywhere that accepts contactless payment. To add a card, open your wallet app, select "Add Card," and enter the gift card number, expiration date, and CVV. The process takes about two minutes.

Once the card is in your wallet, you can use it to pay in stores or online. Some digital wallets also let you transfer the remaining balance to a linked bank account or PayPal account, though not all do. Apple Pay, for example, does not have a built-in transfer feature, but Google Pay does allow transfers to a bank account in some cases. Check your wallet app's settings to see whether a transfer option is available.

Using PayPal or Square Cash to move the balance to your bank

PayPal and Square Cash both accept gift card numbers and can send the balance to your linked bank account. With PayPal, log in to your account, go to your wallet, and select "Link a Card." Enter the gift card details and the system will verify the card. Once verified, you can transfer the balance to your bank account by going to "Transfer Money" and selecting your bank as the destination. The transfer usually takes one to three business days.

Square Cash (now called Cash App) works similarly. Add the gift card to your account, then use the "Cash Out" feature to send the balance to your bank account. Cash App charges a small fee (usually 1.5 percent) for instant transfers, but standard transfers (one to three business days) are free. PayPal does not charge a fee for this type of transfer, but some gift card issuers may decline the transaction if they detect it as a cash-out attempt.

Selling the gift card on a marketplace

If you do not want to spend the gift card at its original retailer, you can sell it on a gift card marketplace. Raise, CardCash, and Decluttr are the largest platforms. You list the card, a buyer purchases it at a discount (usually 80 to 95 percent of face value), and the marketplace deposits the cash to your bank account. The discount varies by card type and current demand—popular cards like Amazon or Target sell closer to face value, while niche retailer cards may sell for less.

The process takes about one to five business days from the time a buyer claims your card. You will need to provide the card number and PIN (if it has one), and the marketplace will verify the balance before releasing payment. This method costs you money in the form of the discount, but it is useful if you have a card you will never use or if you need cash quickly and do not want to spend the card at the original retailer.

Why banks cannot accept gift cards as account funding

A gift card is a stored-value card issued by a retailer or payment processor, not a bank. It has no routing number, no account number, and no connection to the banking system. Your bank's deposit system is designed to receive money from other banks or from employers via ACH transfers, not from retail payment networks. That is why you cannot simply enter a gift card number into your bank's website and have the balance appear in your account.

The same limitation applies to prepaid cards, store credit, and other non-bank payment methods. They exist outside the banking system, so moving money from them to a bank account requires an intermediary—either a digital wallet, a money transfer service, or a marketplace that can convert the card to cash.

What to do if a gift card will not transfer

Some gift cards, particularly store-specific ones or older cards, may not be accepted by digital wallets or money transfer services. If a card is declined, try these steps in order: first, verify that the card number and expiration date are entered correctly, because even one wrong digit will cause a rejection. Second, check whether the card has a PIN or security code that needs to be entered separately. Third, contact the card issuer (the retailer or payment processor) to confirm the card is active and has not been flagged for fraud.

If the card still will not transfer, your remaining options are to spend it at the original retailer, give it to someone else, or contact the issuer to ask whether they offer a cash-out option. Some retailers, like Target and Walmart, will exchange a gift card for cash at customer service, though they may apply a small fee or only offer store credit instead. Check the retailer's policy before visiting a store.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a gift card to make a bank transfer?

No, but you can use a money transfer app like PayPal or Square Cash to convert the gift card to money in your bank account. Add the gift card to the app, then transfer the balance to your linked bank account. The process takes one to three business days and is free on most platforms.

Will adding a gift card to Apple Pay or Google Pay put the money in my bank account?

No. Adding a gift card to a digital wallet makes it spendable from your phone, but the money stays on the card itself. To move it to your bank account, you need to use a money transfer service or sell the card on a marketplace.

Do I lose money when I convert a gift card to cash?

Not if you use PayPal or Square Cash—those services transfer the full balance. You only lose money if you sell the card on a marketplace, which typically pays 80 to 95 percent of face value depending on the card type and demand.

What happens if my gift card has a small balance left on it?

Most money transfer services and digital wallets will accept a partial balance. If the card has less than a dollar or two, some services may decline it. In that case, you can spend the remainder at the original retailer or contact the issuer to ask about a cash-out option.

Can I add a gift card to my bank account if it is a Visa or Mastercard gift card?

Not directly, but Visa and Mastercard gift cards are easier to convert than store-specific cards. You can load them to Apple Pay or Google Pay, add them to PayPal, or sell them on a marketplace. Many banks also let you link a Visa or Mastercard gift card as a payment method for bill pay, which effectively lets you spend the balance.