Whether you’re looking to improve your financial life, increase your net worth, or save for a rainy day, the Albert app could be a valuable tool to make your journey easier.
From automatic savings to commission-free investments, access to financial advisors, and everything in between, Albert has a lot to offer its customers.
What is Albert?
Albert is a financial app designed to help you manage and save money with very few fees. Although the Albert app works similarly to banking apps, it’s not a bank but rather a fintech company.
The app offers banking services and features, including an FDIC-insured account through Sutton Bank, which also acts as the card issuer for the Albert debit card.
There are no physical bank branches – everything you need is available through the Albert app that you can download to your Android and iOS mobile devices.
Albert Features
Albert comes jam-packed with features designed to improve personal finance. While not all features might be useful to you, Albert has managed to cover quite a lot in a single app.
As such, you should be able to find something that can help you improve your experience with money.
Cash
Albert Cash, also known simply as Cash, is Albert’s equivalent of a checking account. There are no minimum balance requirements to meet and no maintenance fees to pay either.
Balances are insured through the FDIC up to $250,000 – helping you rest easy knowing your money is secure should something happen to Albert.
If you set up your paycheck as a direct deposit with Albert, you can see funds coming into your account two days earlier. Of course, this depends on several factors and might not always be the case – however, it’s still an excellent feature.
Genius subscribers get a few extra perks. The biggest bonus is arguably cash back, which is available for gas and groceries purchases, deliveries, and a few others. According to Albert, eligible customers earn an average of $2.00 cash back on gas tank refills and $1.50 per food order.
Subscribers also get fee-free ATM withdrawals from over 55,000 AllPoint ATMs. If you’re not a subscriber, fees may apply.
Out-of-network ATM withdrawals may also incur fees. To avoid paying extra, use the Albert app to locate your nearest free ATM.
Instant
Instant is Albert’s answer to overdraft fees. With many racking huge overdraft fees, having a way to prevent them can save you a lot of money – while still being able to cover emergency costs if you’re short on cash.
Through Instant, Albert will spot you up to $250.
As the name suggests, you can have the funds instantly for a small fee. The cash advance is free if you don’t mind waiting two to three business days.
There are no interest payments or late fees due on cash advances. Furthermore, Albert will not run a credit check on you (yes, not even a soft inquiry), helping you avoid damaging hits to your credit score.
Any cash advances are automatically deducted from your next paycheck, making it akin to a payday loan without the associated exuberant fees.
Saving
Albert has a few ways to help you save as painlessly as possible. If saving money is not your forte, you can use Smart Savings to avoid manually setting money aside.
All you need to do here is to set up your savings goals, and Albert will take care of the rest. It analyzes your income, bills, and spending in the background and then sets money aside into your Albert Savings account automatically to help you reach your set goals. *note: you’ll only get 1 savings transaction a week unless you have the Genius subscription.
Alternatively, you can set your own savings schedule if you prefer to be more hands-on. You will also get an annual bonus of 0.10% on your savings. If you have a Genius subscription, this goes up to 0.25%.
If you’re worried that saving money means you won’t have free access to it, you’d be glad to know this is not the case with Albert. You can withdraw money from your savings at any time with no limits.
Investing
If you’re looking to grow your savings faster than the annual savings bonus allows, then investing might be the right option. Remember that investing is inherently risky as the value may go up and down. You need to have an active genius subscription to use the Investing feature.
Genius offers two investment options. The first one is stocks – which allows you to buy individual stocks right from your Albert app. Alternatively, you can invest in funds, a collection of different stores that Albert bundles together under a specific theme. Themes include anything from stocks of companies run by women to companies that focus on sustainability and much more.
You can use Genius to help you set up an investment portfolio. All you need to do is answer some simple questions, and Genius will take care of the rest. Portfolios are highly customizable and can accommodate different timeframes, goals, and risk appetites.
Budgeting
Purchases done through your Albert debit card are categorized, helping you get insights into your spending habits. Should things go out of whack, the app will alert you that you might be going over budget – helping you reign in spending to stay on budget.
Genius
Albert Genius is a paid subscription service that elevates the experience of using Albert. Not only does it offer access to features such as investments, but it also provides cash back and fee-free withdrawals, among other things.
One unique Genius subscription feature is the help on tap. Should you have a financial question or problem, you can reach out to Albert’s geniuses – a team of financial experts who’ll be more than happy to guide you through different financial questions and issues, be it budgeting, debt, student loans, and everything in between.
Bill Reduction
Albert works with Billshark to offer bill-reduction services to its customers. With customers experiencing an average savings of more than $250 – the service might be worth a shot.
It will alert you whenever Albert detects a bill it believes can be lower. The alerts include how much money you can save monthly and the chances of a successful reduction.
Should you opt to lower the bill, the experts at Billshark will use their expertise to negotiate a lower bill. If they’re successful, you’ll need to share a portion of your savings with them.
Insurance
While Albert does not offer insurance policies directly, it works with several partners to help you get insurance policies at the best price possible, right through the app.
It offers car, life, and renters insurance – working with partners to help you save money on your insurance policy. Different kinds of policies work differently, so follow the procedure for the type of policy you’re looking for should you wish to use Albert for your insurance requirements.
Albert Fees
Pricing and fees are often deciding factors when choosing a financial solution. To help you make the best choice, we will now cover the different fees you can expect when using Albert.
Monthly Fees
Albert does not charge any monthly fees the way big banks do. The app’s core functionality has no hidden fees. That means you can download and install the app and use features that don’t require a Genius subscription for free.
Genius Subscription
Albert uses a very different kind of pricing model for its genius subscription. Instead of offering a tiered subscription at a flat monthly rate, it leaves it in your hands to pay what you think is fair for the service you receive.
There is an $8.00 per month minimum; Albert claims that most customers choose to pay more than this. You can pay for the subscription monthly or yearly, whichever works best for you.
Cash Advance
Cash advances are free if you’re ready to wait up to three days or against a fee if you want the cash advance to arrive instantly.
If you want to receive the funds without a direct deposit, a fee of $3.99 applies on a $250 advance, going up to $6.99 if you want to deposit the advance to a non-Albert debit card. You can also leave a tip at your discretion.
Security
Albert is split into three affiliated companies – Albert Corporation, Albert Securities LLC, and Albert Investments LLC.
Albert Securities LLC, a company that offers securities products and services, is a member of FINRA (Financial Industry Regulatory Authority) and SIPC (Securities Investor Protection Corporation). Aberts Investments LLC, on the other hand, is an SEC Registered Investment Advisor).
Since Albert is not a bank, it cannot be insured by the FDIC directly. Instead, it must work with a conventional bank to offer its customers FDIC insurance on their deposits. Albert works with Sutton Bank.
Deposits are insured for up to $250,000, while securities are insured for up to $500,000.
Data in transit is secured via SSL (Secure Socket Layer), and you have a username and a password to enter your account. You can also enable FaceID/TouchID or a PIN (Personal Identification Number) to avoid entering your username and password whenever you want to access the app.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- FDIC Insured
- Cash Advances up to $250
- Aggregates all Financial Accounts
- $1 to Start Commission-Free Investing
Cons:
- No Phone Support
- No Retirement Investment Options
How to Get Started
You can download the Albert app for both iOS and Android devices. Apple device users rate Albert higher than those using Google’s Android operating system. The experience is similar across both devices, and you get access to the same features.
The app has a very clean interface and is easy to use and navigate through. You can also find plenty of tutorials and how-tos on Albert’s website should you get stuck or want more information about how a particular feature works.
Apple users can download the app from the App Store, while Android users must head to the Google Play Store. Downloading the app is free; however, you’ll need to make sure the app is compatible with your operating system version. In the App Store, it places 22nd in the Finance category, with over 5 million downloads in the Google Play Store.
Alternatives to Albert
While Albert is a great app for managing and growing your finances, it is not the only contender in town. Here are some alternatives you might want to consider with similar features, including savings and investment accounts.
Digit
Digit is a financial app that’s very similar to Albert. It costs $5.00 a month – and unfortunately, there’s no free plan. However, you can use the app for the first six months for free, which works as a long trial period.
In 2021, Digit was acquired by Oportun, thus increasing the portfolio of services it offers customers.
Digit Spend works like a checking account and comes with a Visa debit card. Once the money is in the account, Digit can help you decide on a budget by allocating funds to bills, savings, and investing.
On the other hand, Digit Spend works like a savings account and allows you to set unlimited savings goals. You can also automate savings with an option to pause saving at any time.
Digit also includes a budgeting feature, which allows you to link your accounts to stay on top of your finances. Investing is done through portfolios, set according to risk appetite to make sure you’re comfortable with how you’re investing your money.
Acorns
Acorn is a fintech app designed to help you save and invest money. There are two plans to choose from – Personal, which costs $3.00 per month, and Family, which costs $5.00 per month. Like other similar apps, Acorns is not a bank but provides bank accounts and debit cards through Lincoln Savings Bank or nbkc Bank.
Acorns have some interesting and unique features, such as Acorns Earn, which allows you to earn stock or money when shopping, finding a new job, or inviting friends. Acorns also will enable you to invest in Bitcoin-linked ETFs, IRAs, UTMA/UGMA accounts, and many others, helping you diversify your portfolio.
Of course, Acorns also offers spending and saving accounts and access to a financial wellness system to help you improve your relationship with money.
Stash
Stash is a fintech app designed with investing in mind. The basic plan is called Stash Growth and costs $3.00 per month. This package gives you access to financial advice, investments, banking, and a $1,000 life insurance policy. Alternatively, you can opt for Stash+, which includes additional features for $9 per month.
Stash Bank services are offered through Green Dot Bank, which is a member of the FDIC.
One thing that stands out is their Stock Back Visa Debit card. Instead of earning cash back, you earn a piece of stock when purchasing from eligible retailers. If the stock goes up, the value of your stock-back also increases, thus increasing the value of what you earn.
Stash also offers investment options with thousands of ETFs and stocks available. You can build a diversified portfolio and invest automatically. You can also choose to invest in a Roth or traditional IRA (Individual Retirement Account).
Cash App
Cash App is another contender that makes it to the list of Albert alternatives. It comes with a fee-free, customizable debit card, early paychecks, and three free ATM monthly withdrawals.
Like other apps in this category, it offers several investment options, including stocks and bitcoin. You can make investments for as little as $1.00. These fractional shares can be bought commission-free with funds also available to help you build your custom portfolio.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Albert app give you money?
Albert offers bonuses, cash advances, and cashback rewards. Here is how they work:
- Albert Instant: Get up to $250 in instant cash for a small fee.
- Cash back rewards: Genius subscribers can get cash back on eligible purchases
Is there a monthly fee for Albert?
The basic Albert subscription comes with no fees. You get access to basic features such as Albert cash but will miss out on perks such as cashback and access to Genius.
For this, you’ll pay a monthly or yearly fee. While there is a $6 per month minimum, Albert leaves it in your hands to pay what you feel is fair.
Is Albert a trustworthy app?
Albert’s B rating from the Better Business Bureau is not BBB accredited. It scored 3.9 out of 5 on the Google Play Store and 4.6 out of 5 on Apple’s App Store.
Savings and cash accounts are FDIC-insured up to $250,000 through Sutton bank. Investments are also insured for up to $500,000.
Albert Securities LLC is registered as a Brokerage Firm, while Albert Investments LLC is registered as an Investment Adviser Firm. Both companies are registered with FINRA and can be verified through BrokerCheck.
You can reach Albert by email or text, with customer service available Monday to Sunday. Overall they are pretty responsive, with complaints generally receiving a reply on the same day.
Overall, Albert is a trustworthy app. It works with regulators such as FINRA and Sutton Bank, ensuring a level of oversight. Your money is also insured, providing a safety net should something happen to the company.
