Years ago, people didn’t have much choice when it came to their bank; most everybody was stuck with the big banks with their low interest rates and exorbitant fees. But if you’re like me and think that in 2019 you deserve a modern banking platform that gets you, it may be time to ditch the big Wall Street banks. As an entrepreneur who’s always catching flights, I don’t have time to visit branches, nor can I afford all of the silly fees that big banks chuck at me. I don’t need to be on the phone with a banker everyday. I really don’t even need to visit my bank’s branch at all. I just want a no-frills account that has my best interest in mind. That’s why I was stoked when I discovered Aspiration. With no hidden fees, no monthly minimum deposits, and no hoops to jump through, Aspiration is accessible worldwide, 24/7, with just a tap on your phone. Plus, it offers a savings account in which you’ll actually be able to EARN and SAVE money! With a mind-bending 2.00% APY (which is over 100x what the big banks are paying right now), this California start-up is not only changing the way people bank but how we think about banking in general. In recent years, I’ve become more conscious about my personal spending power and how my money can really make a positive or negative impact. Why I Love This AccountBig banks try to force our hands by offering more branches, better hours, and free checks (how archaic, I don’t need those!)…but behind closed doors, they’re investing our money into causes that may go against everything we believe in. Backed by the likes of avid environmentalist Leonardo DiCaprio, Aspiration reinvests money into causes that matter and projects that bring good into this world. Granting all of your wishes for banking made easy, this bank allows its customers to reach their financial goals in a stress-free, sustainable manner. With just $10, no matter what your ambitions, dreams, goals, and intentions are, you can open an online account with Aspiration. Plus, the founders created a model in which customers pay a monthly fee they believe is fair. That could be as little money (think: no fee whatsoever) or as much as you’d like to pay. With Aspiration, customers no longer wait with bated breath as they check their account balances. Get Started in Less Than Five MinutesAh, I know what you’re thinking. This all sounds great, but I don’t have time to set up a new bank account! I’ll surely need a bunch of information, documentation, and time to get started. Not with Aspiration! For any U.S. Citizen over the age of 18 with a Social Security Number and a checking or savings account, signing up with Aspiration couldn’t be easier. You’ll start by simply entering your email address and creating a password for your account. Once you confirm the validation code sent via email, you can dive in and get started. Aspiration will ask for your full name and date of birth. While banking can be serious business, Aspiration makes it fun. When inputting my date of birth on the application, I received a pleasant little message that said, “Hi! We love Libras!” Aw, shucks! From there, you’ll input your Social Security Number, which is protected through encryption, as well as your permanent address and phone number. All super simple! Next, you’ll input the amount of your initial deposit – this is before you enter any banking information. Aspiration reminds you that you’ll receive up to 2.00% APY interest on the entire balance in your Spend & Save Account (the national average is just 0.09% on savings accounts!). Plus, you’ll get unlimited, immediate transfers between your Spend account and your Save account. Awesome! Once you input a deposit amount, you’ll be asked to choose a monthly fee. Done via a sliding scale, you can choose to pay anywhere from $0 to $20 per month – and you can change the amount at any time. Finally, you’ll be asked to choose your bank account, login through a secure server, and submit your application. There was no having to search for routing numbers or account numbers. With the click of a button, my account was open: “Your opening deposit will be in your new account in 2 – 4 business days and your new debit card will arrive by mail within the next two weeks.” Sounds good to me! No ATM Fees
Aspiration’s Mastercard-branded debit card offers cash back on every purchase and can be used fee-free at any ATM in the world! Perfect for someone on the go like myself! No matter where you are in the world, if you need quick cash you no longer have to worry about forking over the green to access your money. Not only that but Aspiration will actually reimburse you for any ATM fees you end up having to pay! Aspiration also makes it easy to link to third-party apps including Venmo, Apple Pay, Mint, and more. Plus, you can always chat online or via phone with a customer service rep who can assist you with any account questions you may have – no matter where in the world you are! Aspiration’s Got You Covered$600 Cell Phone ProtectionOther perks of opening an Aspiration account include $600 in cell phone protection. That is, if you charge your monthly phone bill to your Aspiration Mastercard, you’ll get $600 in coverage against any phone damage or theft! Plus, all Aspiration customers receive identify fraud protection; if your identity is stolen, Aspiration may reimburse you with up to $1,000 per claim. That’s a pretty sweet deal if you can’t afford a separate identity protection plan. Unlimited Cash Back, Plus Endless RewardsAs an Aspiration customer, not only will you receive unlimited cash back on purchases you make, but you’ll earn extra rewards when purchasing from businesses who promote positive environmental impacts! Through Aspiration’s user-friendly mobile app (for both Android and iOS users), you’ll actually be able to see a breakdown of the people/planet impact score called the Aspiration Impact Measurement (AIM) rating. For every place you shop, you’ll see a score of 0-100. Some of the highest-ranking scores according to Aspiration include Athleta, Sephora, Target, Delta, and more. According to Aspiration, the people score reflects company metrics like employee pay, access to healthcare, workforce diversity, and more, while the planet scores are based on metrics such as greenhouse gas emissions, energy efficiency, and renewable energy use. Each Aspiration customer is also given a personal AIM score based on their unique purchasing behavior. Do Good With Your GreenAspiration incentivizes its customers to make more thoughtful purchases and to realize that where you save your money is just as important as where you spend it. In fact, the company has also pledged to donate 10% of their earnings to charities that help Americans succeed. Charity Referral Program Plus, Aspiration offers a charitable referral program. For every person you refer who signs up for an account, the company will not only donate $25 to a charity of your choosing, but they will donate $25 to your friend’s charity of choice as well. You can choose from one of seven cause areas, including poverty, water, education, environment, health, human rights, or Aspiration’s opportunity fund. Aspiration’s opportunity fund provides microloans of $5,000 and less, as well as mentorship and support, to Americans looking to start new small businesses. Through this fund, Aspiration and its customers have donated over a quarter million dollars in microloans to these hard-working Americans around the nation! Investing with AspirationWhile Aspiration doesn’t offer CD accounts, this online-only bank offers unique mutual fund investments, including its sustainable Redwood Fund and its Flagship Fund. The Aspiration Redwood Fund only invests in environmentally responsible companies and absolutely no fossil fuel or firearm companies. The Redwood Fund is also offered as an IRA and requires a minimum deposit of just $10. If you choose to invest in one of the funds, Aspiration guarantees no front or back load fees, no per transaction fees, no performance fees, and no redemption fees. The Aspiration Redwood Fund is managed by Thomas Digenan who is the head of the U.S. Intrinsic Value Equity team at UBS Asset Management and Bruno Bertocci who is the head of UBS Asset Management’s Sustainable Equities Team. Speaking of investments, other high-profile folks who back Aspiration include Los Angeles Clippers basketball coach Doc Rivers, actor Orlando Bloom, and philanthropist Jeff Skoll. Putting Your Money Where Your Mouth IsDid you know that each year $100 billion worth of pipelines, drilling and other fossil fuel-extraction projects are funded with money that’s deposited at traditional banks? According to the 2019 Fossil Fuel Finance Report Card, Wells Fargo and JPMorgan Chase are the biggest bankers of fracking overall. Aspiration uses your green to focus on another type of green…the environment! The bank assures its customers that all deposits are fossil fuel-free, meaning your money isn’t being fed back into pipeline or oil drill projects that ultimately hurt the planet. Should You Sign Up for Aspiration?By banking with Aspiration, you’ll not only earn higher interest rates and pay less fees, but you’ll be choosing to be part of positive world change moving forward. Many people fail to think of what big banks are actually doing with the money they’re depositing each and every day– it’s finally time for that mindset to change! Join the 1.5 million others and start banking with Aspiration today. from https://moneydoneright.com/free-checking-account-aspiration/
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
The REAL Laptop Lifestyle
If you're fed up of the rat race and feel that you would like to upgrade your lifestyle, then the work from home laptop lifestyle might just be for you. Archives
July 2019
Categories |