Walmart Pay with Checking Account: Does it Work?

By Jim Marous 10 Min Read

Shopping has never been easier or more convenient, thanks to the advancements in technology. Whether you’re shopping online or in-store, paying for your purchases has never been more seamless, and this is true for almost every retailer out there. With digital wallets like Walmart Pay, you can leave your credit and debit cards at home and still have the means to pay for your purchases. But does Walmart Pay with checking account work? This mobile wallet allows you to make payments by simply clicking a button, eliminating the need to carry cash, cards, or even touch a potentially germ-infested payment terminal.

Curious about how Walmart Pay works and whether you can link it with your checking account? Keep reading to learn more about this payment option that can make your shopping experience a lot more convenient.

What is Walmart Pay?

Walmart Pay with checking account

First things first, Walmart Pay is a mobile wallet designed to simplify your shopping experience by storing your credit and debit card information, unlike paying in a store with Cash App..

While there aren’t many standout features to explore, one significant benefit is that you can still use paper coupons when you pay for your purchases with Walmart Pay. All you need to do is hand your coupons to the cashier as usual.

Walmart Pay is a feature of the Walmart mobile app, and it’s available for both Android and iOS users. And the best part? It’s completely free to use.

No, you cannot link Walmart Pay to your checking account due to some security reasons which you will find out about later on in this article.

Even though you can’t connect Walmart Pay with checking account, you can still use it for various credit cards, including Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover, as well as Walmart gift cards, eGift cards, and prepaid cards.

Walmart Pay vs. the Walmart app: What’s the difference?

Although it’s quite easy to confuse both of these digital payment services for one another, it helps to know the difference between Walmart Pay and the Walmart mobile app to avoid any nasty surprises when it comes to making payments later on.

While the Walmart app lets you shop online for millions of items and pay for them using your checking account, Walmart Pay, unfortunately, doesn’t allow you to do so. The Walmart app provides you with the convenience of using your checking account to pay for your virtual purchases. You can even use the app to set up grocery pickup or delivery or buy household essentials.

However, Walmart Pay, which is a part of the Walmart app experience, only stores your credit and debit card information and doesn’t support linking with your checking account.

Therefore, if you’re looking for a mobile payment solution that lets you pay using your checking account, you should use the Walmart app instead of Walmart Pay.

Read also: hotels that allow check bookings

How to set up Walmart Pay

Getting started with this mobile wallet is a piece of cake, as long as you have the right device and a payment method that works seamlessly with it.

So, here’s how you can set up Walmart Pay:

  1. Download and open the Walmart app
  2. Tap on “Services” and then on “Walmart Pay”
  3. Follow the on-screen instructions to “Get Started”
  4. Log into your Walmart.com account or create a new one
  5. Add a payment method – whether it’s your debit card, gift card, or rewards credit card
  6. Wait for the confirmation and tap on “Got It”

And there you go! Walmart Pay is now ready to use when you shop at any Walmart store. You don’t have to carry your wallet around anymore, and you can make secure and hassle-free payments no matter what you buy.

Is it safe to use Walmart Pay?

Walmart Pay is like a virtual fortress with layers of protection to keep your information safe. Walmart promises to keep up with the latest security measures, encrypting your information with Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) and never sharing your credit card details with stores.

Now, you may be wondering why it’s not possible to link your checking account to Walmart Pay like you can with the Walmart App. It may sound like a bummer, but it’s actually a good thing.

Since debit cards pull funds directly from your account, they don’t offer the same level of protection as credit cards. In the event of fraud, credit card companies are required by law to reimburse you for any unauthorized purchases. But with a debit card, you may not get your money back, and even if you do, it could take longer to resolve.

In addition to this, the Fair Credit Billing Act (FCBA) limits your liability to $50 for any fraudulent purchases made with your credit card. So, it’s safer to link a credit card with an almost zero percent fraud liability to Walmart Pay instead. This way, you can shop at Walmart with peace of mind, knowing you’re protected against fraud. Again, Walmart Pay with checking account doesn’t work.

Why should I use Walmart Pay?

If you’re a frequent shopper at Walmart stores and prefer contactless payments, then Walmart Pay is a must-try. This feature available on the Walmart app won’t cost you anything, and you can link it to any debit card, credit card, or Walmart gift card that you own. That way, you can shop at Walmart without carrying your wallet and have a digital record of all your Walmart receipts.

Walmart Pay does not use near-field communication (NFC). Instead, you use your phone to scan a secure QR code displayed on the same PIN pads at checkout.

One of the best things about Walmart Pay is that it can help you earn more rewards with your Capital One Walmart Rewards Mastercard during your first year of membership.

This rewards credit card has no annual fees and gives you 5% cash back when you buy on Walmart.com, 2% cashback when you shop at Walmart stores, restaurants, travel, and Murphy USA Fuel Stations, and 1% back on any other purchases. Plus, during your first year, you can earn 5 percent back on Walmart purchases made in stores if you use Walmart Pay. Seems like a good deal if you ask me.

With that being said, it’s pertinent to ask the next logical question- can I get cash back with Walmart Pay?

Can I get cash back with Walmart Pay?

No, you won’t be able to use Walmart Pay to get cash back when you shop at physical Walmart stores. Sadly, the two just don’t play together.

But the good news is, if you link a rewards credit card to your Walmart Pay account, you can still earn cashback.

This is because Walmart Pay is just a mobile wallet that stores your payment information, so you’ll still get your usual cash-back or rewards points on your purchases. A win-win situation.

FAQs

Can I pay for gas with Walmart Pay?

No, you won’t be able to use Walmart Pay to pay for gas. Also, keep in mind that there are a few other purchases you can’t use Walmart Pay for. These include purchases made at Sam’s Club, as well as purchases made with EBT, WIC, or SNAP.

Read also: Walmart and some other allow bank account transactions

Final thoughts

Although Walmart Pay with checking account is not yet supported but with Walmart Pay, shopping is easier and more convenient than ever. You can securely pay for your purchases without the hassle of carrying around cash, or cards or worrying about touching a contaminated payment terminal.

Linking your checking account to Walmart Pay, unfortunately, isn’t an option due to security concerns. However, you can link a credit card to earn rewards on your purchases and enjoy the peace of mind that comes with multiple layers of security.

Try out Walmart Pay the next time you shop and experience the convenience for yourself.

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Jim Marous is a Top 5 Retail Banking Influencer, Global Speaker, Podcast Host and Co-Publisher at The Financial Brand. I am a co-author here at Finance and Pay, writing on a lot of topics regarding payments, banking software, cards, and investing.
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