Gone are the days of signing up for one bank account on your 18th birthday and staying for life.
These days it makes sense to open multiple accounts so that you can take advantage of different deals, promotions and savings offers. And then of course there are the credit cards – which can be a great financial tool if used sensibly – and loyalty cards that tend to get lost somewhere in the back of an overstuffed wallet.
It can all start to feel a little frantic. That’s where Curve comes in. We’ve recently discovered this new service, and we’re already pretty excited by what’s on offer.
At the simplest level, Curve combines all your existing cards into one. You download their app, load your details into the system and order a card to use for future payments. The basic version is free, and those who want more features can choose to upgrade to the premium black card (£9.99/month) or ‘ultimate’ metal (£14.99/month).
Dumb Funded exclusive offer: Sign up with Curve, add a card and make a transaction to get 1% cashback on every purchase along with a free £5!
Curve isn’t a bank, but will act as a conduit for your existing bank accounts and various payment options. Use the app to select your preferred payment option and make your purchase just like you usually would. The Curve card can also be hooked up to Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay if you prefer to pay using your phone’s contactless option.
We love this as a tool for helping to streamline modern life – but really that’s just the start of what Curve has to offer. They’ve also set up a bunch of different benefits to make using your new card a better experience than traditional banking. Here’s some of what’s on offer:
- Cashback. Who doesn’t love free money? Getting cashback is a fantastic way to start bringing in a little stream of additional customers, and Curve offers 1% back on the vast majority of purchase made for your first 30 days of use.
Once the month is up, you’ll still get one-off cashback offers for a range of high-street companies, plus those who go for either of the upgraded card options get unlimited cashback from selected retailers.
Using Curve solves one of our biggest issues with traditional cashback offers, which is the hassle involved with making a claim. Using sites, a cashback site is great, but means going through a whole extra process every time you want to buy something. This is far simpler and just as generous.
- Better protection. Customer protection of up to £100,000 is a huge perk which means you can feel a little more secure when making larger purchases. While credit card users already have some protection, this helps ensure that you’re not taken advantage of by dodgy merchants by offering more comprehensive cover.
- Backup cards. Choose a designated backup card, and Curve will automatically use it any time your primary payment doesn’t go through. Dubbed the ‘anti-embarrassment mode’, this helps protect you from those awkward moments when your card gets declined.
- Time travel. Okay, not quite time travel, but the next best thing. Curve’s ‘back in time’ feature lets you switch payments of £5,000 or less from one card to another if you’ve accidentally used the wrong account, up to 90 days after the payment was made. If you’re somebody who carefully manages their different pots of money through different accounts, this could be extremely helpful, and help you avoid messing up your budgeting for the month.
Those who opt for the subscription plans will also unlock additional benefits such as insurance packages and increased fee-free withdrawal limits for international transactions.
How secure is the system?
Security is important, and we appreciate that it’s a key consideration when thinking about using a new financial tool. Happily, Curve are very clear about the steps they’ve taken to protect customers’ information.
Here’s how it works:
- Multi-factor authentication – this is used to ensure that only you have access to your account. It means that you’ll need access to your verified mobile number for a one-time passcode when you log in, as well as your Curve password or fingerprint/facial recognition. It helps keep your account secure by stopping unauthorised people from signing in.
- 3D secure – Curve supports 3D secure (3DS), which is a system many online retailers are now using for added security. It means that customers are asked to authenticate payments, avoiding fraud.
- In app security features – use the app to quickly lock your account if your card is ever lost or stolen.
All in all, Curve seems like a really useful financial tool, helping to make everyday spending much simpler – and loading you up with rewards in the process. It’s another fantastic example of how young companies are challenging the financial status quo, and we look forward to seeing how the service develops.
