By: Bob Haegele
August 25, 2021Stash is one of the growing numbers of online stockbrokers that empower ordinary Americans to get into Wall Street without big deposits, high management fees, and ridiculous commissions.
In our Stash review, it would be easy to compare Stash vs. Robinhood or Stash vs. Acorns and assume them to be essentially the same product. What separates them is the presence of the Stash Stock-Back Card.
This is a legit debit card backed up by Green Dot Bank. It’s also tied to your checking account, which is FDIC protected up to $250,000.
So, what do you need to know about the card if you’re going to stash wealth with the app?
What is Stash Stock-Back Card?
To obtain the Stash Stock-Back Card, you don’t need a credit check like most traditional credit cards. It’s a debit card, so all you need is a Stash Invest account, which is the standard brokerage account offered by the app.
Any purchases you make with the card don’t accrue any interest charges, since all purchases are debited immediately. With the average American holding $6,194 in credit card debt, it’s a great way to begin getting your finances in order.
The Stash Stock-Back card doesn’t come with any fees and there’s only a short application process, so it’s a handy backup card to have.
Earning Stock-Back When You Make a Purchase
The main attraction of the Stash Stock-Back Card is your ability to earn 0.125% in stock with every purchase. This is the rate you earn if you own an ordinary Stash Invest account, which costs $1 per month.
For Stash+ members, you earn 0.25% in stock with each purchase. Your rewards will be credited immediately.
What’s exciting is your stock is purchased in the form of fractional shares with the publicly traded company you purchased with. For example, if you make a big Amazon purchase you’ll receive stock in Amazon.
It’s also an easy way of diversifying your portfolio. Regular shoppers will soon have a big collection of stocks in their portfolios.
Earning Bonus Stock-Back
To make things even more exciting, there’s the potential to earn bonus stock-back.
Certain participating merchants will offer you additional stock every time you purchase with them. You have the potential to earn up to 5% in stock when you buy.
Note that the list of participating merchants changes all the time, so you should look up the terms and conditions for the latest list.
Features of Your Stash Bank Account
The Stash Stock-Back Card also gives you a standard checking account. The main features of the Stash checking account include:
- Early payday with participating payers
- Separate your cash into sub-accounts
- Automatic savings tools
- No overdraft fees
- No minimum balance required
- Spending tracker
- Free withdrawals with more than 19,000 ATMs
As you can see, it offers the vast majority of features you would expect to find with a traditional bank.
Stash Stock-Back Card Fees
There are no monthly fees associated with the Stash Stock-Back Card. However, you will still need to open a Stash Invest brokerage account before you can access the card.
The cheapest plan is just $1 per month, but it’s well worth paying $3 per month just because of the double stock-back rate with Stash+.
Who is Stash Stock-Back Useful For?
You’re won’t get rich from using the Stash Stock-Back card; it’s merely a card aimed at everyday spending. While we would never recommend using an online brokerage like Stash as your primary bank card, it’s well worth using it as a backup.
If you’re shopping with a participating merchant, it’s good to shift your spending to this card. 0.125% might not sound like much, but if your underlying stock spikes, it suddenly becomes much more valuable.
Plus, you get the chance to begin building an investment portfolio alongside your new banking option. With 1% of Americans controlling 38% of all stocks, it says that millions of Americans have no access to Wall Street.
Stash is opening all that up and empowering ordinary Americans to begin building their financial futures.
Pros and Cons of Stash Stock-Back Card
Let’s take a look at the main pros and cons of taking out this card.
Pros
- No interest on purchases
- Eligible purchases pay 5% in stock
- Good banking option
- No credit check required
Cons
- Must pay $1 a month for a Stash Invest account
- Stock rewards may decline in value
- Bonus stock not available from all merchants
The Bottom Line
Stash Stock-Back Card is a solid debit card and banking option with a cool twist. Stash’s competitors offering similar products don’t give these types of rewards simply for using your card.
With no credit check and a short approval period, this could be the easiest banking option you’ve ever added to your portfolio.
Sign up to Stash to open your brokerage account. If you create an account with Good Credit Info, you can get a $5 free signup bonus, so just click on this link.
