Stash Launches Stock-Back™-- First-Ever Rewards Program To Bridge Banking & Investing

NEW YORK, March 12, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- STASH, one of the fastest growing financial platforms in the U.S., simplifying how millions of Americans save and invest, today announced the official launch of its mobile-first banking services in partnership with Green Dot Corporation and its subsidiary bank, Green Dot Bank. The launch follows on the heels of the company's Series E fundraise of $65M. The funding will be used to increase product growth and propel brand awareness.

As part of the launch, STASH is rolling out its game-changing feature, Stock-Back^TM2—the only rewards program that invests for customers as they spend. Stock-Back rewards are like points, but they can actually grow. While most points programs are designed to make you buy/spend more, Stock-Back helps customers build a stronger financial future as they spend on life's necessities. Customers will automatically earn fractional shares of stock on qualified purchases by simply using their STASH debit card, building portfolios that reflect their spending habits by investing directly in the companies they shop, eat, watch, listen, and live with.

Now, everyone can truly invest in what they buy. For example, if you buy a meal at a local restaurant, make a purchase at a local bookstore, or pay your parking meter, you'll earn Stock-Back in a STASH-approved ETF³.  When customers buy a burrito at Chipotle, pay T-Mobile bills, or shop at Amazon or Walmart they'll earn a piece of each companies' publicly traded stock (i.e., CMG, TMUS, AMZN, WMT). All Stock-Back rewards will be invested in customers' STASH personal investment accounts.

"80% of Americans are living paycheck-to-paycheck…. Stock-Back is our way of utilizing STASH's smart, patent-pending technology to help people build better financial habits and invest in their future. Our ability to give customers the opportunity to save and build portfolios that mirror their spending behavior and preferences is incredibly powerful. During the testing period, we saw an overwhelmingly positive response from users as they pay ordinary bills like Netflix, and in return received Netflix stock as well as access to dividends, educational resources and financial advice. It's a winning combination for our over 3 million customers," said Co-Founder and President, Ed Robinson.

"I have invested in and served on the Board of many leading companies, and it's clear how a program like Stock-Back can power immense brand loyalty," said Jim Breyer, Founder and CEO of Breyer Capital. "The early data shows unequivocally that share ownership drives increased sales and customer appreciation. This innovative new technology from STASH will have CEOs and CMOs knocking on their door."

The program will quickly ramp up in rewards when layered with exclusive offers and partner deals—some up to 5% Stock-Back. At launch, the Stock-Back Rewards program will give customers a base reward of .125% for every qualifying purchase in the respective publicly-traded stock or an investment in a STASH-approved ETF. 

"Beyond democratizing access to the stock market, we're trying to upend an ecosystem where financial services companies continue to take from the masses, and pile on fee after fee. At STASH, we believe the customer should keep more of their money, which is why we built a unique rewards program that invests in them when they spend.  Now, with Stock-Back Rewards, we can really deliver on the holistic experience we set out to achieve, helping our customers maximize their financial power," said Brandon Krieg, CEO & Co-Founder of STASH. "We've truly built a full-service financial platform for investors. STASH customers will become investors and own stock in companies and sectors they support—with each qualified swipe of their STASH debit cards."

STASH's banking services⁴, powered by Green Dot's Banking as a Service Platform, includes a debit account with no overdraft or monthly maintenance fees, access to large network of free ATMs nationwide, as well as ASAP Direct Deposit™ which enables customers to get paid up to two days early. Every STASH customer also receives personal guidance across every aspect of their finances—from spending to saving and investing‚ with actionable advice to help them get the most out of their money.

"It's been incredible watching this product come to life and to experience all the collaboration and ingenuity that went into its design. We're proud to partner with STASH to provide an innovative banking solution for all Americans, demonstrating the versatility of Green Dot's Banking as a Service platform, and enabling a simplified banking and investing experience for STASH's millions of customers," said Dov Marmor, Head of Banking as a Service, Green Dot.

ABOUT STASH
STASH, one of the fastest growing consumer investing apps in the U.S., simplifies the financial services experience, offering education and access to help improve the financial well-being of millions of people across the U.S. Through a curated selection of over 200 stocks and ETFs, STASH clients can build personalized portfolios that reflect their investing interests, beliefs, and goals. The platform's full suite of products includes personal investment accounts, Traditional and Roth IRA's, custodial investment accounts. Additionally, in partnership with Green Dot Bank, STASH offers banking services (including checking accounts and debit cards). Based in New York City, STASH launched in October 2015 by Wall Street veterans, Brandon Krieg and Ed Robinson.

Stash Financial, Inc. is a digital financial services company offering financial products for U.S. based consumers. Advisory products and services are offered through Stash Investments LLC, an SEC registered investment advisor. Stash Capital LLC, an SEC registered broker-dealer and member FINRA/SIPC, serves as introducing broker for Stash Clients' advisory accounts. Apex Clearing Corporation, a third-party SEC registered broker-dealer and member FINRA/SIPC, provides clearing and execution services and serves as qualified custodian for advisory assets of Stash Clients. Products offered by Stash Investments LLC and Stash Capital LLC are Not FDIC Insured, Not Bank Guaranteed, and May Lose Value. See our disclosures page for more information.

ABOUT GREEN DOT CORPORATION
Green Dot Corporation, [NYSE: GDOT], is a financial technology leader and bank holding company with a mission to power the banking industry's branchless future. Enabled by proprietary technology and Green Dot's wholly-owned commercial bank charter, Green Dot's "Banking as a Service" platform is used by a growing list of America's most prominent consumer and technology companies to design and deploy their own bespoke banking solutions to their customers and partners; while Green Dot uses that same integrated technology and banking platform to design and deploy its own leading collection of banking and financial services products directly to consumers through one of the largest retail banking distribution platforms in America. Green Dot products are marketed under brand names such as Green Dot, GoBank, MoneyPak, AccountNow, RushCard and RapidPay, and can be acquired through more than 100,000 retailers nationwide, thousands of corporate paycard partners, several "direct-2-consumer" branded websites, thousands of tax return preparation offices and accounting firms, thousands of neighborhood check cashing locations and both of the leading app stores. Green Dot Corporation is headquartered in Pasadena, California, with additional facilities throughout the United States and in Shanghai, China.

MEDIA CONTACT
Ally Federbush, STASH
917-601-4367
[email protected] 

¹ Other fees may apply. Fee-free ATM access applies to in-network ATMS only. For out of network ATMs and bank tellers a $2.50 fee will apply, plus any additional fee that the ATM owner or bank may charge.
² Stash Stock-Back™ is not sponsored or endorsed by Green Dot Bank, Green Dot Corporation, Visa U.S.A, or any of their respective affiliates, and none of the foregoing has any responsibility to fulfill any stock rewards earned by this promotion.
³ If publicly-traded stock of the merchant is not available or capable of being fulfilled for any reason, the stock reward arising from a qualifying transaction will be in shares of Vanguard Total World Stock ETF (VT), an ETF available on the Stash Platform.
⁴ Debit Account Services provided by Green Dot Bank and Stash Visa debit card issued by Green Dot Bank, Member FDIC. Investment products are services are offered by Stash Investments LLC, not Green Dot Bank, and are Not FDIC insured, Not Bank Guaranteed and May Lose Value.

SOURCE STASH