Skeptics who saw the seeds of an eventual bank charter in the advent of American Express and Walmart had a change of heart and last week and announced that the jointly sponsored Bluebird prepaid card will carry FDIC deposit.

Dan Schulman, group president, enterprise growth at American Express, said, "Bluebird is designed to help make their everyday financial lives easier, more convenient and less expensive. Today's announcement, which reflects feedback from consumers, advocacy groups and government officials, represents the next set of enhancements that further distinguish Bluebird from other financial services options."

Not seeking FDIC insurance was one reason the companies used  in October to dampen criticism of the card as a way Walmart was seeking to be able to offer the services of a financial institution without getting a bank charter.

Complete your profile to continue reading and get FREE access to CUTimes.com, part of your ALM digital membership.

  • Critical CUTimes.com information including comprehensive product and service provider listings via the Marketplace Directory, CU Careers, resources from industry leaders, webcasts, and breaking news, analysis and more with our informative Newsletters.
  • Exclusive discounts on ALM and CU Times events.
  • Access to other award-winning ALM websites including Law.com and GlobeSt.com.
NOT FOR REPRINT

© 2024 ALM Global, LLC, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to [email protected]. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.