How to still use Evolve without access to Reloadit’s

For people who can buy Reloadit’s with a credit card, let me just say I’m jealous of you.  For the rest of us, using Evolve is a lot more complicated, especially when they started to charge 3% on the UFB debit cards.  So here’s how you can still use it, but just know you’ll have to do your own legwork.

Step 1 – Find a bank or credit union

Google all of the banks in your city (or even within an hour radius.)  Write them all down in an Excel spreadsheet.

Step 2 – See if they are on Evolve

Now search each of those banks one-by-one to see if they are listed on Evolve.  Don’t stop at one; go through your entire list in case you need backups.

Step 3 – Now find a bank or credit union that has a rewards earning debit card

Now search each of those banks to see who has a rewards earning debit card (some may have 1 point per $2 or even 1 point per $3.)  What?  You expected 2%?  Get out of here!

Step 4 – Go open some bank accounts

Now get off your couch and open up some bank accounts.  Usually, they’ll run a Chexx report on you; some may hit you with a soft pull and rarely they may ask you for a hard pull.  I think the rule of thumb is no more than 2 Chexx pulls within 90 days, so don’t go AOR on bank accounts.

Step 5 – See if said rewards earning debit card isn’t charged 3% on Evolve

Usually smaller local banks’ debit cards aren’t on Evolve’s 3% list, so you should be fine.  There’s really no way to test it until you actually have the card in hand.  Worst case, you go buy money orders with them.

Step 6 – Don’t tell anyone about what you just found

And when a blogger outs what you spent HOURS researching, remember to bring a pitchfork and torches!

Conclusion

And there you have it, a way to still use Evolve to generate a slow roll of points.  What you expected circles and arrows?  You’ve come to the wrong site for that.  I’d rather teach you to fish than give you fish, because you never know when one lake gets over-fished and you need to move to the next one.  And hey, while you’re researching your local banks, maybe you’ll find a unicorn there.  If you do, then you’ll have to do this: