[jmts]

I'm not 100% clear on your point. Where does this dependence on megacorp come in? Granted I haven't read the terms and conditions for one of these cards, but I would be surprised if anybody's savings should be held at ransom if they decide to leave. A preliminary search certainly doesn't suggest that you can only spend vault money at Walmart [1].

So, you've listed her two options. One is a bank that is far, far away. The other is Walmart. She's chosen Walmart. So what are the downsides to the Walmart thing? There are no fees for most things you might care to do with it [2]. The money stowed in the vault does not accrue interest [1]. How about the upsides? She may be encouraged to save more. She may learn more about managing her money. And when she learns enough about the fees to realise that the $25 prize only covers 5 months worth of fees, she may reconsider. But in the meantime, she's learned more about managing her money, and that's useful. The alternative is that perhaps the prizes may play to an addictive personality, in which case there are bigger issues anyway.

So, she's made a silly decision. But she's made one none-the-less. Walmart is most definitely making more money out of this than she is. But everyone makes decisions based on what they know and what is available to them. If this is her best option now, at least it may be a driver to find a better one in the future.

[1] https://www.walmartmoneycard.com/account/faqs [2] https://www.walmartmoneycard.com/account/legal-info-page?pro...