Unifimoney is a San Francisco-based fintech company that offers digital bank accounts, an investment platform, credit cards, and other financial services. Founded in 2019, Unifimoney aims to be an all-in-one banking solution that fundamentally changes how people manage money.
Chances are, your full financial picture is spread out between multiple apps, companies, and accounts.
Unifimoney’s goal is simple — take all of those platforms and consolidate them in one streamlined digital space.
In this post, we’ll take a close look at Unifimoney’s ambitious goals and how it goes about working toward them.
From each of its financial products to its pros and cons, you’ll get a full overview of everything Unifimoney is doing to challenge the current financial landscape.
Before we dive into Unifimoney's range of products, it's important to note that the app is still in live beta and isn't yet available to the general public. You can apply to be part of the beta test group or join the waitlist as it rolls out, but there's no timetable just yet for when it'll be widely available.
Unifimoney: Meet the man behind the FinTech
Our mission at BankBonus is to help you find the best bank for your needs, and we think meeting the people behind the tech can help. Listen to the interview now!
BankBonus Podcast
Interview with Ben Soppitt
In this episode, Grant Sabatier chats with Ben Soppitt, the Co-Founder and CEO of Unifimoney.
Hear how Unifimoney aims to reclaim some of the $20 trillion that millennials stand to lose over their working lives.
You’ll get an overview of the platform’s key features, how it compliments your big brand bank, insight into the company’s philosophy and growth strategies, and even learn how every swipe of your card helps support The Ocean Foundation.
Unifimoney Banking
High-Yield Checking Account
Unifimoney’s high-yield checking account is an interest-bearing hybrid that serves the role of both checking and savings.
It currently comes with a 0.20% APY, a Visa debit card made from recycled plastic, and a checkbook and auto-investing options.
High-Yield Checking lets you make bill payments to more than 20,000 merchants, and you can send and receive funds via ACH or wire transfers. You can also choose to enroll in direct deposit.
There’s no monthly fee for the account if you meet the relatively high threshold to get around it. The actual fee amount isn’t stated on Uniofymoney’s website, but you’ll need monthly deposits of $2,000 or a total balance of $20,000 to avoid it.
To open an account, you’ll need an initial deposit of at least $100.
Health Savings Account (HSA)
Unifimoney’s HSA is offered through UMB Healthcare services and has no monthly fee. You’ll get a 1% cashback reward (up to $100) on your first transfer, and the account has no minimum balance requirements. The account is interest-bearing and has a tiered interest rate based on your balance.
Here’s the current breakdown of each tier:
- Balance up to $4,999: 0.01% APY
- $5,000 to $14,999 balance: 0.07% APY
- $15,000 to $24,999 balance: 0.10% APY
- Balance of $25,000 or more: 0.15% APY
Unifimoney Investing
Unifimoney has a wide variety of investment options, allowing for a diversified approach to growing your income.
Self-Managed Trading
Unifimoney’s self-managed investment account allows for commission-free trading in US equities, ETFs, and ADRs. You can buy fractional shares with as little as $1, and Drivewealth, Unifimoney’s investing partner, executes all trades.
To help your investment portfolio along the way, Unifimoney’s team has composed a list of forward-thinking categories for suggested investments, covering everything from biotech to women-led organizations.
Robo-Advisor
If you prefer to automate your investments, Unifimoney partners with robo-investing service Tenjin AI. You can automatically transfer funds from your checking account each month or contribute lump sums whenever you want.
Portfolios are built with AI and managed based on your custom risk profile, allowing you to build a passive income at a pace that suits your comfort level.
Robo-advisory services come in two tiers — Tenjin AI Basic and Tenjin AI Advanced.
Here’s a look at the features and pricing of each option:
Tenjin AI Basic
- 15% advisory fee
- Yearly rebalance of investments
- Portfolio of Smart ETFs with ESGs (environmental, social, governance) equivalents
Tenjin AI Advance
- 30% advisory fee
- Quarterly rebalance of investments
- Portfolios of Smart ETFs and ESGs curated to match your risk profile
Cryptocurrency
Through its partner Gemini, Unifimoney also has an in-house cryptocurrency exchange. You can buy, sell, and store your crypto on the simple and secure platform, which currently supports over 70 cryptocurrencies.
The platform provides high-speed exchanges and easily links with your Unifimoney account.
Precious Metals
Possibly the most unique aspect of a Unifimoney account is the ability to trade in precious metals like gold, silver, and more. You can purchase metals in any quantity and have 24/7 access to the option for instant liquidity.
Precious metals trading is fully insured, and customers have direct ownership of any metals that are purchased.
This means that you can request delivery of your metals if you choose to, though you might have to move things around or consolidate if you’ve purchased fractional pieces.
Unifi Premier Credit Card
Another feature that makes Unifimoney relatively unique among fintech companies is the presence of a rewards credit card that was announced to be available in Q1 of 2022. You can redeem cashback in the form of Gold, Bitcoin, or Equity.
Unifimoney Refinancing
Student Loan Refinancing
If you’re looking to consolidate your student loans into a single monthly payment, Unifimoney provides a simple online solution.
Loans up to $250,000 are available, and you’ll get a 1% variable cash back bonus when you take one out.
You can see your options online in minutes and apply directly in the app. Refinancing is available exclusively to current Unifimoney customers, and loans are issued through its partner, LendKey.
Unifimoney Insurance
Home Insurance
Unifimoney money offers home insurance shopping through the online marketplace of its partner, Covered. You can easily pull quotes from more than 30 carriers that are tailored to your specific needs.
You’ll also have access to the counsel of licensed insurance advisors, and a $15 Bitcoin reward is up for grabs upon application.
Life Insurance
Unifimoney has partnered with Ladder Life offering term life insurance. You can purchase coverage from $100k – $8m for people ages 20 to 60 years old.
Applying for a policy can be done in as little as 5 minutes with affordable rates, and no hidden fees.
Unifimoney Features
Mobile App
The Unifimoney mobile banking app is currently only available in the App Store, so Android users will have to wait and see if it’ll be available for them down the road.
Unifimoney is entirely mobile-based, so the app allows you to do everything from mobile check deposits to cryptocurrency trading from your iPhone.
In addition, all of its products are consolidated in one place, so you’ll easily be able to move funds between them and stay on top of each aspect of the platform.
55,000 Free ATMs
Unifimoney checking accounts are part of the Allpoint network, so you can use your debit card at any of its 55,000+ locations nationwide.
Cash Back Rewards
Unifimoney has a wide variety of financial products, and it’ll reward you for taking advantage of them.
For example, current cashback offers cover everything from an insurance policy to refinancing and are paid out as a percentage of the service’s total cost.
Unifimoney Fees
To start, let’s get the disclaimer out of the way that any overview of Unifimoney’s pricing is incomplete at the moment — we just don’t have enough information yet when it comes to fees.
That said, let’s take a look at what we do know for sure and what we can reasonably expect.
- Monthly Account Fees: We know that the High-Yield Checking Account has a monthly fee associated with it, but it’s unclear exactly how much it is. The good news is that, whatever it ends up being, it’s avoidable. Just make sure that you hold a balance of at least $20,000 or receive monthly deposits of $2,000 or more, and you won’t have to worry about it.
- ATM Fees: Unifimoney partners with Allpoint, so in-network ATM use is fee-free. There doesn’t appear to be a Unifimoney fee for non-Allpoint ATM use, but there’s also no reimbursement for fees charged by the ATMs themselves.
- Advisory Fees: Robo-advisory services with Unifimoney come with a fee, which will vary based on which level of service you use. Tenjin AI Basic comes with a 0.15% annual fee, and it jumps up to 0.30% with Tenjin AI Advanced.
- Trading Fees: Another area where Unifiimoney is relatively vague at the moment is in trading fees, specifically for precious metals. The company states that fees are built into trades on its website, so it’s unclear if how much these fees add to the trade will become available later on.
Getting Started
Visit Unifimoney to sign-up for an account to manage all of your digital investing easily in one place.
Unifimoney Promotions
Unfortunately, there are currently no active Unifimoney promotions. Check out these bonus offers instead:
Bank | Bonus | Expires | Requirements | |
---|---|---|---|---|
BMO Personal Checking | up to $350 | October 31, 2024 |
|
Learn More |
BMO Relationship Checking | up to $600 | October 31, 2024 |
|
Learn More |
TD Bank Beyond Checking | $300 | January 1, 2025 |
|
Learn More |
Security
When it comes to security, checking accounts are FDIC-insured through UMB Bank, a Kansas City-based financial institution. Investment accounts are offered through DriveWealth, which is backed by the SIPC.
Though cryptocurrency doesn’t yet have an FDIC or SIPC equivalent, Unifimoney’s partner Gemini protects your investments with a $200 million insurance policy.
Customer Service
We won’t know for sure what the level of support looks like for Unifimoney customers until the platform is fully available.
At the moment, the only option to get in touch is to send an email from the website. Details like customer service channels and hours aren’t available yet.
Once the rollout happens, we’ll track user reviews and provide information on how you can get in touch when you need some help with your accounts.
Pros & Cons
Pros:
- One-stop financial platform
- Decent APY
- Tons of rewards and sign-up bonuses
- Commission-free trading
Cons:
- Still in beta
- Only available on iOS
- Fees are unclear
- No physical locations
Alternatives to Unifimoney
The sheer breadth of Unifimomney’s services makes it a potential competitor for everything from digital banks to crypto exchanges platforms.
But, since it’s still in beta, you’ll need alternative platforms to hold you over.
In the meantime, check out investing platforms like Robinhood and Wealthfront and online banks like Chime and Ally.
If you want to get an idea of what Unifimoney services will look like, you can always check out its partners like DriveWealth for brokerage services and Gemini for crypto trading.
FAQ
Is Unifimoney legit?
Yes, Unifimoney is a legitimate financial technology company, though it isn’t yet widely available. The app partners with a ton of established companies and will provide financial services on one platform.
Is Unifimoney only for people with a high level of income?
Unifimoney is positioned as an option for high earners, but the barriers to entry aren’t out of control. At the moment, the only aspect that could scare off lower-income individuals is the high threshold for getting around the monthly account fee, but since we don’t know what the fee is yet, it’s tough to say if it’ll make a significant difference.
Is Unifimoney Right For You?
If nothing else, Unifimoney is ambitious. While the consolidation of financial services is nothing new in the digital banking world, Unifimoney is looking to take it a step further.
With an unprecedented number of partnerships, Unifimoney seems ready to create a truly all-in-one app for banking, investing, crypto trading, insurance, and more.
The platform is low-cost and aims to serve the financial needs of high-income individuals, and its personal finance tools could be a good fit for almost anyone.
The biggest drawback at the moment is that there’s still a lot that we don’t know. From pricing to customer service, there’s plenty that remains to be seen.
The bottom line is that Unifimoney is an intriguing, up-and-coming app that deserves attention. Head over to the website to sign up for updates or join the waitlist, and be sure to check back here for all of the latest news.
Here’s to finding the best banking app that helps you grow your savings without charging hefty fees.
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