Google today announced it’s adding new ways to add money to its Google Wallet service in addition to some new features that will make keeping an eye on your balance easier.
First up, you will now be able to setup automatic bank transfers that will ensure there is always money to spend in your Google Wallet account. The recurring transfers allow you to schedule weekly, bi-weekly or monthly deposits and can be cancelled at any time:
To set up a recurring transfer, go to “Add money” then select “Set up a recurring transfer”
The Google Wallet app is also adding a new low balance alerts feature that will send notifications when a Google Wallet balance gets below a certain amount. You can turn on the notifications and select which amount they want to trigger the alert: To set up Low Balance alerts, open the Google Wallet app and touch“Low Balance alert” from the Wallet Balance screen.
Google’s Wallet payment service available for both iOS and Android is still limited to the US, allows users to send and receive money, but only offers contactless NFC-payments on supported Android hardware. Google also offers a physical Wallet Card that lets users spend their balance at any location MasterCard Debit cards are accepted.
Google is rolling out the new features to both the iOS and Android versions of the Google Wallet app starting this week for users in the US.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
Wait, so Google Wallet is like Paypal, with an intermediate account of funds you use for purchases? Does Google Wallet (with NFC) not pull funds straight from your CC?
I’m still confused on this too. I havn’t tried it but have credit card on file, I guess you just have to add funds with credit card or bank account so I guess it doesn’t pull directly from card. The good thing is you get the physical card and you can use it if the place doesn’t take nfc, but even the card just uses your wallet ballance so if you put all your credit cards on google wallet, you still have to add funds from each separately? Plus you get charged 2.9%….
I think it is just simpler to use regular credit/debit card or pay with cash than use nfc… Cash is the safest method of paying. No one can steal your info :)
Oh hooray, as I really want merchant transactions to be withdrawing directly from my bank account where there are few legal protections for me.
Credit cards may be expensive, but at least I have some pretty decent legal rights when it comes to fraudulent charges.