PPP has long been one of the easiest manufactured-spending (MS) methods in Canada — but the old black reloadable card has been gone for a while. The new green digital reloadable card works, yet newcomers still hesitate, and the community keeps asking about it. So we asked Lexie to share how she applied for and uses the new PPP digital card.

Related reading:
A Quick Look at Manufactured Spending (MS)

Using the new PPP

Step 1️⃣: Register a PPP account and apply for the reloadable digital card (the green one)

Step 2️⃣: Load funds

If you register for PPP and apply for the digital card directly, you need to load $20 online (⚠️ online loading has no Amex option)

After that, choose in-store → other locations for reloads. That generates a barcode, and you use it the same way as the old physical card.
⚠️ The barcode does not change — take a screenshot and save it.

Step 3️⃣: Use Bill Pay, or add the card to a digital wallet and spend

PPP limits

Limits Details Non-Reloadable PayPower Digital Reloadable PayPower
 Linked Cards (Digital+Physical)
Maximum Card Balance $500 $10,000 Shared Balance $10,000
First Load Limit $20 $20 $20
Maximum Load to Card per transaction $500 N/A $500 $500/card
Online credit/debit N/A $500 $500/total
Interac e-Transfer® N/A $3,000 $3,000 total
Direct Deposit N/A $10,000 $10,000 total
Maximum daily combined load limit $500 $10,000 $10,000 total
Maximum daily spend at point-of-sale $500 $10,000 $10,000 total
Maximum daily ATM withdrawal N/A N/A $500 total
Maximum number of daily ATM withdrawals N/A N/A Unlimited for physical card
Maximum daily combined spend and cash withdrawal $500 $10,000 $10,000 total
Bill Pay 5 N/A 5 5 total
Maximum daily Bill Pay cumulative amount (per 24 hours) N/A $1,000 $1,000 total
Maximum number of Bill Pay transactions per 7 days N/A 10 10 total
Maximum cumulative Bill pay amount per 7 days N/A $2,500 $2,500 total
Maximum number of Bill pay transactions per 30 days N/A 15 15 total
Maximum cumulative Bill pay amount per 30 days N/A $5,000 $5,000 total
Maximum Card-to-Card transfer limit per transaction Up to $500 N/A N/A

PPP fee schedule

Fees1 Details Non-Reloadable PayPower Digital Reloadable PayPower
Card purchase fee $9.95 + applicable tax $2.50
Monthly Inactivity Fee. If your card is not converted to be reloadable and a balance remains after the 12th month from the date of activation, this fee will apply. N/A N/A
Monthly Maintenance Fee N/A $1
Load Funds $6.95 N/A $6.95
Online credit N/A $4.95
Online debit N/A $3.95
Interac e-Transfer® N/A $1
Direct Deposit N/A FREE
Spend funds 3% of the converted transaction amount 3% of the converted transaction amount 3% of the converted transaction amount
Bill Pay N/A $1.95
Card to card transfer (from my non reloadable card to my reloadable card) FREE N/A
Withdraw funds $1.95 N/A $1.95
ATM2 (International) N/A N/A
Card Inquiries FREE FREE FREE
via ATM2 N/A N/A
via IVR FREE FREE
via live agent (per call) FREE FREE
Card replacement (lost, stolen or damaged) $10 $2.50
Card refund / cancellation cheque balance fee $10 $10

Discussion

From the tables above, the new digital card has a $10,000 balance cap, a $1 monthly fee, a $6.95 load fee each time, and a $1.95 Bill Pay fee each time. Compared with the old reloadable card, the monthly fee is cheaper.

Based on community reports and Lexie’s own use, loading the digital card works. Recently at Save-On-Foods, a cashier said they had never seen it, but after Lexie insisted it was the new version and asked them to scan it, the reload went through. Some DPs say certain stores still refuse digital barcode reloads. Share your own DPs — and feel free to discuss anything PPP-related.

Credit cards that pair well with PPP MS

If you want to dig in yourself, see our summary of 🇨🇦 Canadian credit card bonus spending categories

For a ready-made shortlist, the blog recommends these cards:

Keywords: Canadian credit cards, Canada PPP, PPP new green card, PPP digital reloadable card