The decision to grow the program followed the enthusiastic response from consumers and financial institutions during an in-market pilot program conducted through financial institutions in Arizona.

Better ATM® Services enabled ATMs at participating pilot financial institutions to use on-screen options and minor hardware adjustments to allow customers to purchase Visa prepaid cards directly from the ATM. Menus allow consumers to select between cash or Visa prepaid cards. While the pilot program allowed the selection of fixed value cards, menu options now allow account holders to designate the value to load on each card they purchase. ATM-dispensed Visa prepaid cards are made of a durable yet thin material, allowing cards to easily pass through the cash mechanisms of ATMs. These cards meet Visa's rigorous standards for reliable, secure acceptance.

Better ATM® Services CEO Todd L. Nuttall said, "ATM networks are secure distribution channels that are already in place in high traffic areas throughout the U.S. and are ideal for new features and services such as Visa prepaid cards. This joint market pilot has demonstrated that they are the perfect vehicle to deliver value-driven products that meet consumer needs."

The prepaid market is estimated to be $549.7 billion in 2012. According to Mercator Advisory Group, by 2013, consumers will load $117 billion onto prepaid cards, which would mark a 200 percent usage increase in just three years.

"ATM-dispensed Visa prepaid cards are another example of prepaid serving as a platform for innovation," said Hyung Choi, head of US prepaid, Visa Inc. "By supporting this new distribution channel, Visa is providing consumers with convenient prepaid card access via a familiar, well established and secure interface."

The Visa prepaid cards will be issued by Visa member financial institutions under license from Visa U.S.A. Inc.