But how does Stock-Back®¹ stack up to a rewards credit card? Let’s compare.

Stock-Back in a nutshell

Here’s how it works: If you make a purchase with your Stash Stock-Back® Card card¹, at more than 11 million businesses in the U.S, and you can get rewarded in the form of a fractional share of stock for every qualifying purchase. Pretty simple. You can get a small percentage of stock for every dollar you spend—and you can get stock in well-known brands..

Note: You’ll need a Stash account that you’ve added money to in order to earn Stock-Back® rewards¹.

Rewards credit cards are cards that earn users—you guessed it—rewards. Those rewards are typically doled out in the form of proprietary “points” or “miles,” which can be redeemed for cash, prizes, airfare, etc.

In practice, earning credit card rewards is similar to earning Stock-Back®¹—you swipe your card, and you can watch the rewards points pile up.

Stock-Back® Rewards vs. credit card rewards

You can earn Stock-Back® and credit card rewards in virtually the same way. So, when it comes down to it, consumers are choosing between what they’d rather accumulate: stock, or points/miles.

Here are a few things to consider, and or ways to compare them:

1. Stock-Back® Rewards are fractional shares.

It’s important to remember that Stock-Back® rewards are fractional shares of ownership in a company, and they can fluctuate in value. Remember, that there is an inherent risk when owning stock—but with Stock-Back®, you can truly own what you buy and build a portfolio that reflects your individual spending habits.

2. Expiration dates

One big drawback to rewards points or miles is that they often have expiration dates—if you don’t use or redeem them within a certain time period, you lose them.

Stock, on the other hand, is an asset. It doesn’t expire, and you own it until you sell it. Studies have shown that there are approximately $100 billion of loyalty points that sit unused. And the Covid-19 pandemic has kept more people at home, giving them more reason not to spend points.  Further, about 30% of credit card users never redeem their points—so, for many, rewards points are ultimately wasted.

3. Appreciation

Another thing to consider is whether or not your rewards, stock or otherwise, will appreciate with time. In the case of rewards points or miles, the answer is no; they will not gain value over time, and will likely depreciate as rewards systems evolve.

Here’s something else to think about: The average consumer had credit card debt of more than $6,500 as of 2021. In other words, most people don’t pay off their credit card balances each month. And the interest they have to pay on those balances can quickly erase the value of any points or rewards they may earn for credit card purchases. (Stash wants to help you get out of debt, and you can earn Stock-Back® based on debit card purchases², with funds that come directly from your banking account.)

And again, stock won’t expire—so, buy (or earn) and hold it!

4. Rewards that reward

Finally, think about what your rewards are doing for you. Are airline miles or reward points earning you dividends or interest payments?

Probably not. Stock can and usually does, though. That’s effectively using wealth to build more wealth.

And it’s smart.

You can start building your investment portfolio whenever you spend. Sign up for Stash to kick things off.

The post Credit Card Points vs. Stock-Back® Rewards appeared first on Stash Learn.

You might already have your own list of Black-owned businesses where you like to shop. If you don’t, we at Stash have asked our coworkers to compile a list of Black-owned businesses they love, and where you can shop this month. These companies are uplifting their communities by providing their expertise to make a difference: 

Naturallee Natural by Lisa Bailey

Lisa Bailey

Lisa Bailey is a highly sought-after editorial hair stylist in the beauty industry, specializing in natural hair care. If you’re not in the NYC area to experience her famous techniques in person, you can still benefit from her expertise. Bailey’s online store offers a range of natural hair products including balms, oils, and hair masks, formulated to deeply nourish your hair.

Recommended by: Terrie, Brand and Creative

Rugerks: Organic at its Best

Nadine and Kevin McLean

A love of cooking and healthy eating inspired the McLeans to start Rugerks Organic. The duo grows organic crops in their own backyard—and bring that passion for fresh produce to an online marketplace. Their goal? Providing more people with easier access to organic teas, herbs, spices, and more.

Recommended by: Beatriz, Human Resources

Posh Candle Co. 

Tay Watts

Posh Candle Co. is a one-woman show. Watts, who makes all her candles from 100% soy from American soy farms, also uses phthalate-free fragrances and colorful decorative phrases. Her hope is to inspire women to be their authentic selves and encourage a positive mindset. Watts also works to support projects from organizations and entrepreneurs that share the same passions.

Recommended by: Greg, AML Compliance

Invest as you shop

With Stash, you can shop with your Stock-Back® Card and earn pieces of stocks each time you make a purchase at a publicly traded company.¹ And when you support a small business using your card, you can earn pieces of a custom stock reward. You can build a portfolio that reflects your interests and values. 

So by using your Stock-Back® Card at Black-owned businesses you won’t just be celebrating Black History Month, you’ll also be investing and building your personal portfolio.

The post Celebrate Black History By Shopping at These Small Businesses appeared first on Stash Learn.

Less than two months ago I shared with you the exciting news that we launched Stock-Back^®: the first rewards program that gives you stock when you spend through Stash Banking.

Today I have an update: Stashers have already earned Stock-Back over 1 million* times!

That’s an incredible milestone for the more than three million customers who make up the Stash community, and we couldn’t be prouder of you. You’re showing us that not only are you building your portfolios to save for your future, you’re making smarter decisions about your everyday finances. And you’ll be leaving hidden bank fees behind, turning your spending into another opportunity to invest.

Stock-Back Explained

So if you don’t already know, what is Stock-Back? It’s our rewards program that lets you earn stock when you spend with your Stash debit card¹. Simply make a purchase at any of the 10+ million businesses where Visa is accepted and you can get rewards in the form of a fractional share of stock, on us².

For example, if you buy something from Amazon, you’ll earn AMZN Stock-Back as a reward. Buy burgers and fries at McDonald’s—MCD will hit your invest account. But it’s not just these businesses, you can earn Stock-Back if you spend at any company whose stock is currently available on the Stash platform.

And if you spend at a company that isn’t available as an investment on the Stash platform, you’ll earn Stock-Back in the Stocks Worldwide ETF.

We’re delighted to offer a debit account that not only charges zero overdraft and monthly maintenance fees³, but actually gives you rewards as you spend. While credit cards often give rewards, most debit cards do not.

Who’s earning what?

So what are the top places that Stashers are earning their Stock-Back? The top three places are Amazon, McDonald’s, and Walmart. Each of the places has been featured in our monthly Stock-Back bonus offers, which means that Stashers earned extra when they spent there during the bonus period. The Amazon and Walmart 3% bonuses are still live now, so you can start to earn some extra stock at these places and more once you’ve enrolled in the Stock-Back program. See all of the current bonuses here.

Also at the top of the Stock-Back list are gas stations, restaurants and grocery stores. It’s great to see Stashers pulling out their Stash debit cards to make these everyday charges, and get them with a side of stock.

The top investment Stashers have earned from Stock-Back though isn’t a big company stock, it’s the Stocks Worldwide ETF. Why? We give you a piece of this global fund when you spend at companies without a publicly traded stock on Stash—like your local car wash, florist, or pizza place.

More about Stock-Back

Once you enroll in Stock-Back, you’ll earn 0.125% of your purchase back in stock every time you spend⁴—or up to 5% when you spend at a bonus merchant⁵. Those small amounts can add up to real value as you use the card over time. The stock you earn on qualifying purchases will be added to your investment account automatically.

How to enroll

To earn Stock-Back, you need a Stash investment account and debit account. You can open a debit account in the Stash app in minutes—and there are no additional fees to open the account.²

Stashers want more from their financial institutions than unnecessary fees and charges for using their own money. We think Stock-Back is another building block to enable you to take control of your finances.

So happy Spring, congrats on reaching this milestone and keep on Stashing with Stock-Back! Together we are creating a banking revolution.

The post 1 Million Stock-Back® Rewards, and Counting! appeared first on Stash Learn.