Curve, the new app that connects your debit and credit cards to one Curve Mastercard, launched for UK consumers today.
With over 50,000 people on the waitlist ahead of launch, Curve aims to simplify money management by connecting customers’ accounts, cards and services to one card and one secure mobile app.
New research by Curve has revealed that Brits are optimistic about getting their finances on track in 2018 - but more than half say losing a wallet or purse is still one of their ‘greatest fears’ when out of the house. Consumers now carry an average of eight cards in their wallet, and are steadily adding more apps and products as a host of new ‘fintech’ services take a foothold in the UK. Curve simplifies this disconnected approach to spending and budgeting - meaning Brits can purge their purse and feel better about their finances, with one card for spending and one app to keep them on track.
The Curve card works like a normal bank card anywhere in the world that accepts Mastercard cards - for contactless, chip & PIN, magstripe and ATM withdrawals. New customers can download the Curve app, securely add their existing cards, and start spending from all their card-linked accounts with one Curve card. Users set a default spending card and change it any time with a swipe in the app. More than 100,000 people signed up during Curve’s Beta phase, spending over £100m in more than 100 countries.
“Most consumers want the benefits of using multiple banks, cards and services, so they can make the most of their money”, says Shachar Bialick, Founder and CEO of Curve. “But managing it all and keeping on top of your spend isn’t easy. Now, it’s as simple as downloading the Curve app and getting started - with one card for all your spending, and one app to help you stay on track. It’s like having a ‘mission control for money’, in your pocket.”
Curve’s mobile app also helps customers to be safer and savvier with their spending. It protects users with instant spend notifications, a ‘lock card’ feature, in-app and 24/7 support; makes budgeting easier by showing spending and insights across all card-linked accounts in one place; makes travelling simpler by allowing customers to use their regular bank cards overseas without hidden fees - and removes the hidden currency exchange fees they would usually pay. Users can even switch payments between cards with a tap, up to two weeks after a purchase, with Curve’s world-first ‘Go Back in Time’ feature.
Mariano Belinky, Managing Partner at Santander InnoVentures - one of Curve’s early backers, explains: “Services like Spotify, Citymapper and Amazon Echo are bringing together data and services to make it easier for people to manage different aspects of their life - from travel to getting a better deal. We will soon see people managing their money in a similar way - using a single intelligent platform to connect all their accounts and services. Curve’s launch is an important milestone in the evolution of consumer finance and we are delighted to have supported its development. The philosophy of the Curve team complements that of Santander Group, where we seek to challenge the financial services landscape in order to make meaningful leaps in how customers are served.”
In addition to the app’s security features, Curve protects its users with bank-level encryption and works with trusted partners, Mastercard and Wirecard Card Solutions Ltd. Its investors include global banks, leading Venture Capital funds and renowned figures from the finance and technology industries including Deutsche Bank, Credit Suisse, Lloyds, Groupon and Google Wallet.
Curve is currently free for new users; Curve Premium, which offers additional Curve Rewards benefits; is a one-off £50 cost. Curve will begin shipping cards to consumers this week; new customers will join the Curve waitlist, currently at just over 50,000, but can jump up the queue by referring friends.