FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Hello offers three prepaid card programs, all issued by Peoples Trust Company under licence from Visa International. None of them are credit cards — spending is limited to available funds, and card use does not affect your credit file.Hello’s proprietary technology transforms a single Visa card into a powerful multi-wallet experience, combining flexibility with universal Visa acceptance.

Classic CardInstant CardFlex Card (Coming Soon)ReloadableYesYesNoOpen WalletYesNoDetermined at issuanceMerchant-Restricted WalletsYesYesDetermined at issuanceIdentity VerificationYesNoNoCard FormatPhysical OnlyPhysical OnlyVirtual OnlyApple Pay / Google PayNoNoYes

The Classic Card is a reloadable Visa prepaid card with a full Open Wallet, allowing purchases at any Canadian Visa merchant, and support for Merchant-Restricted Wallets. Identity verification is required to obtain one.

The Instant Card is a reloadable prepaid card that works only at participating merchants through Merchant-Restricted Wallets. No identity verification is required. It cannot be used at arbitrary Visa merchants.

The Flex Card is a non-reloadable virtual card — there is no physical card. It must be added to Apple Pay or Google Pay before it can be used at merchants. It may carry an Open Wallet, Merchant-Restricted Wallets, never both — which type is determined at issuance.

Look at the front of your card:Classic Card — your name is printed on the front of the card.Instant Card — no name is printed on the front of the card.Flex Card — there is no physical card. If you received a virtual card to be added to a mobile wallet, you have a Flex Card.

The Open Wallet holds funds that can be spent at any Canadian Visa merchant (except pay-at-the-pump gas stations, lotteries and financial services). It is available on the Classic Card and on Flex Cards issued with open wallet access.

Merchant-Restricted Wallets hold coupons redeemable only at specific participating merchants. They are available on all three card programs.

Unlike a credit card, there is no line of credit and no monthly bill. Unlike a debit card, it is not linked to a bank account. You load money onto the card in advance and spend only what is available.

The Hello Card works at any merchant in Canada that accepts Visa — in store (tap to pay or chip-and-PIN), online, and by phone, except pay-at-the-pump gas stations, lotteries, and financial services. However, funds loaded into a Merchant-Restricted Wallet can only be spent at specific participating merchants, not at all Visa-accepting locations. It cannot be used for international transactions or transactions in currencies other than Canadian dollars.