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Are you looking for the Zolve Credit Card but unsure whether it suits you? Do you want to know about the features and benefits of the card before you make up your mind?

This article dives deep into the details of the Zolve Credit Card and thoroughly investigates the features, benefits, fees, rewards, and drawbacks, which would help you make an informed decision.

Key Takeaways:


What is Zolve?

Zolve is a new-age fintech company that provides neo-banking services. Their cross-border financial services are seamless and offer every American and individual migrating to the USA an opportunity to open a US bank account and avail of various other financial services in a foreign country, from credit cards to loans.

Zolve was founded by Raghunandan G. in Bangalore in the year 2020. The idea to open Zolve struck him during a dinner at a restaurant when he witnessed his friends paying with debit cards instead of credit cards, as they were ineligible for credit cards in the US.

Moreover, 30% of Americans do not have access to banking services, especially laid-off workers and minorities. The macroeconomic factors have further worsened the situation. According to the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau (CFPB), 1 out of 5 people cannot qualify for loans.

Zolve was founded to address all these issues and make financial services to all sections of society.

It is the first Indian startup to receive funding from Founder Collective. It received a seed round funding of $15 million and then raised a Series A funding of $40 million from Lightspeed Venture Partners and others.

Company Details:

Company Name

Zolve Innovations Inc.

Founder

Raghunandan G.

Year Founded

2020

Headquarters

New York

Industry

Financial Software

Number of Employees

184+

Capital Raised

$55 million

Market Value

$210 million (as of 27 Oct. 2021)

Website

zolve.com

Services Offered by Zolve:

Zolve offers different kinds of financial services. They are as follows:

  • Zolve Credit Card

  • Zolve Azpire Credit Card

  • Zolve Account

  • Zolve Remittance

  • Zolve Loan

What is Zolve Credit Card?

A Girl holding laptop in one hand and Zolve Credit Card in the other to use it


Zolve offers a credit card called Zolve Credit Card as part of its wide range of financial products and services. However, they are a fintech company, not a traditional credit card company. They are not a bank or a lender, so they are not directly offering these credit services.

Its lending partners or partner banks offer it. Zolve Credit Cards are issued by Community Federal Savings Bank and Members FDIC pursuant to its license from Mastercard.

Zolve Credit Card Benefits

 

  • Zolve credit limit is as high as $5000. You can fulfill your shopping needs with the help of this card, as it has a high limit for eligible borrowers.

  • Offers 5% cashback on 5 brands. So, choose 5 brands of your choice and receive 5x rewards.

  • 1% unlimited cashback. Earn 1x rewards on all your other spends.

  • You can get cashback up to 10%, i.e., you will get exclusive access to premium offers (up to 10x cashback) in 10,000+ outlets.

  • No Annual Fee is charged.

  • No Upfront Account Fees or Subscription Fees are charged.

  • Per the cardholder agreement, they offer 0% entry APR for any late payments for 15 months from the date of joining. The standard interest rate is also one of the lowest at 16% APR compared to other credit cards.

  • It offers a great referral program. You can refer any person to the referral page to claim the reward. If the referred person takes the card and completes a $1 transaction, you get $10 for your referral.

  • SSN is not required. If you have moved to the US or are planning to move to the US, you can open a US bank account and get a credit card with just your visa or passport. You can even apply before leaving for the USA.

  • It can help you remit money internationally safely and securely at a very cheap price.

  • It is also an international card with no foreign transaction fees. So, you can use the Zolve Credit Card outside the USA like any other normal card and make payments to merchants without attracting any additional cost.

  • It offers amazing reward programs with partner stores.

  • It offers a powerful new-age online app. Zolve has both a dedicated Android app and an iOS app. The apps allow you to manage your account seamlessly; hence, one can avoid visiting a physical branch for daily banking needs. The app gives you features such as payment alerts, reminders, access to direct deposit, payment history, and other financial tools.

  • As the app sends you payment alerts, you don’t need to worry about checking the phone for due payment. You can also set Payment Reminders for making payments on time.

  • Timely payment will also help you build your credit score. Zolve reports to three credit bureaus, Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. This financial footprint helps you in building a strong credit profile. Zolve also gives you the option to increase your credit limit easily.

  • You can set Autopay for automatic payments of your monthly payment within the due date.

  • Connect this card to any payment app, such as Apple Pay, Google Pay, or Venmo.

  • You can freeze/unfreeze your card easily from the app in case of a lost card.

  • The credit card is not a secured credit card. It is an unsecured credit card where you don’t need to deposit any money as a security deposit to get hold of the credit card.

Zolve Credit Card Drawbacks

 

  • It is a basic credit card for people with no credit score in the US (Immigrants) or people with low credit scores.

  • Although it offers rewards and cashback, it doesn’t offer premium services like a concierge or provide any assistance if you need to avail of any services.

  • It doesn’t offer lounge access at airports or offers at hotels. It is not suitable as a travel credit card.

  • The late fees are quite high at $40.

  • ATM cash withdrawals are not permitted with Zolve Credit Cards.

What is Zolve Azpire Credit Card?

Zolve Azpire Credit Card

 

According to the FED, 50% of credit applicants with an income level less than $50,000 were either denied, or the loan amount was reduced from what they were asking for. It was owing to the prenotion that they are risky clients as they have no or limited credit history.

It is also true for the millions of immigrants who flock to the USA yearly. It is especially difficult for them to get hold of simple things like a mobile phone or a house despite having a credible credit history in their country of origin. They also do not have any option in case an emergency expense arises.

So, the perennial problem is that you need credit to apply for a credit card or other financing options, and you need a credit card for approval of credit products.

Zolve believes that access to money should not be a problem for these people. Hence, it solves this problem and introduces the Azpire Credit Card or the Azpire Credit Card Builder Card, which allows cardholders to build their credit by simply depositing the money in the associated Zolve account and using it for any transactions. Your credit keeps building as you use the card for every transaction.

 

Features of Azpire Credit Card Builder Card

  • Zero Annual Fee is charged.

  • Zero Application Fee is charged.

  • Zero Security Deposit is required to open the balance and get the credit card.

  • A very high credit limit of $10,000.

  • 5% cashback on 5 brands of your choosing.

  • 1% unlimited cashback on all your spending.

  • No Credit Checks are mandatory for getting the card.

  • It helps you build credit without debt by reporting your transactions to the top three credit bureaus with no additional hidden costs.

  • You can apply with SSN, ITIN, or even with your Passport.

  • You can earn up to 10% cashback on purchases from 10,000+ outlets.

  • With Zolve Azpire, you can easily remit money to your loved ones across the globe at nominal fees.

  • The card gives you access to Renter’s, Pet, Auto, and Health Insurance plans.

  • You can boost your saving by 2% if you deposit your salary in the Zolve Account associated with Zolve Azpire Credit Score Builder Card.


Zolve Azpire Credit Builder Card vs. Typical Credit Cards vs. Typical Debit Cards

Azpire Credit Builder CardTypical Credit CardsTypical Debit Cards
Credit Reporting & buildingIt is a secured card that helps to build strong credit by reporting all your transactions to the top three credit bureaus.Reports to major credit bureaus.Does not report, so it doesn’t aid in building any credit
RewardsUp to 10% cashback & Reward PointsUp to 10% cashback & Reward PointsUp to 10% cashback & Reward Points
APR or Late FeesNo APR or Late FeesUp to 29% or even more in some casesNo
Application FeeZero Application FeeYesNo
Annual FeeZero Annual FeeYesNo
Credit ChecksNoYesNo
Minimum BalanceNo Minimum Balance requirementsNoDepends on the card
Graduation to a high-limit cardZolve offers a simple and seamless way to increase credit limitThe Limit can be increasedNo

 

Eligibility for Zolve Credit Cards

The eligibility criteria for all types of Zolve Credit Cards are as follows:

  • A Student residing in the USA with a valid Student Visa.

  • An international student who is about to move to the USA to pursue education on a valid Student Visa.

  • A Working Professional residing in the USA with a valid Work Visa.

  • A Working Professional about to move to the USA with a valid Work Visa.

  • US Resident

Note: Eligibility criteria may change from time to time. Check the company website for the latest information.

How to Apply for Zolve Credit Cards?

The application for credit cards by Zolve takes less than five minutes.

Follow the steps:

 

Zolve Credit Card Home Page
Source: Screenshot from zolve.com

Step 1: Go to the Zolve website.

Step 2: Select the card type (Zolve Credit Card or Zolve Azpire Card) by clicking on the “Products” tab on the main menu

Step 3: Once Selected, click either “Get Started” or the “Apply Now” button.

 

Zolve Credit Card Sign Up Page
Source: Screenshot from zolve.com

 

 

Step 4: As the signup page loads, sign up with your choice of signing up method.

Step 5: Provide information as they keep asking.

Step 6: Upload all the necessary documents, and you are done.

Once your documents are verified, your credit card will be delivered to your correspondence address.

Note: You can use your Virtual Azpire Credit Card as soon as your application is approved and you activate your account and link the Virtual Azpire Card to a payment app like Apple Pay or Google Pay.

How Long Does It Take to Get the Credit Card?

The delivery of the credit card is subject to credit approval by the lending partner. It takes about 7-10 working days for the Zolve credit card to be delivered to your home after you have completed the application process and approved by the loan partners. If you are traveling from abroad, it takes 7-10 days after you have landed in the US and updated your correspondence address.

How Safe is Zolve?

Zolve is a very safe-to-use secured credit card. They have the following safety features:

  • The Zolve Accounts are FDIC insured up to a sum of $250,000.

  • It offers Mastercard Zero Liability Protection.

  • It also offers 256-bit AES military-grade encryption.

  • Accounts are constantly monitored, and the cards are immediately blocked in case suspicious activity occurs.

  • Cards can be reported after being stolen, and any post-reporting transaction is not charged to the cardholder.

  • The customer is safely stored and only shared with the partner banks.

How to Add Funds to Your Zolve Azpire account?

You can deposit money to your Zolve Azpire account in the following ways:

  • You can deposit money via Domestic Transfers (ACH and Wire).

  • You can deposit your Salary directly to the Zolve Azpire account.

  • You can also use Venmo, CashApp, PayPal, and Zelle wallets.

  • You can also deposit via International Wire Transfers.

Zolve Credit Card Customer Care

For any transaction-related disputes, you can contact them via the chat option on every website.

You just need to scroll down, click on the chat icon in the bottom right corner, and contact their representatives to convey your concern.

 

Zolve Credit Card Customer Care Page with Open Chat Box
Source: Screenshot from zolve.com

 

For credit report-related issues, you can talk to a representative through the chat option or call the Zolve Credit Card Customer Care number at +1 (213) 406-7896.

FAQs:

The most frequently asked questions are as follows:

Yes, Zolve is a fintech company that offers credit cards for US residents and immigrants moving to the USA. Their credit cards focus on people with no or low credit scores and help them build credit scores with their spending.

The USP of Zolve Credit Card is that your transactions are recorded and reported to the top three credit bureaus in the US. Credit utilization reporting helps you build a solid credit score from Day 1in the USA. A US resident with low credit or immigrants with no credit in the USA can use this service to build credit over time.

Zolve is partnered with Community Federal Savings Bank to offer lending and other banking services to Zolve’s customers.

Zolve Azpire Credit Card or Zolve Azpire Credit Score Builder Card is the best one as it provides a high credit limit or rewards and cashback and helps you build your credit with all the transactions made with this card.

Yes, Zolve helps you build your credit in the USA with the help of their Zolve Azpire Credit Card and the related Zolve Azpire Account. Everything that you spend with the help of this card or any money you deposit in this account is calculated and then sent to the top three credit bureaus, which help build credit for US residents and immigrants in the USA.

To Sum It Up

Zolve is a typical fintech startup that aims to solve a problem that needs some introspection. This chicken-and-egg problem of credit cards and credit scores has been there forever, but no one thought of resolving it until now.

With globalization and more people traveling to the USA from different countries, the problem has become more apparent as many of the society, including US citizens, do not have access to proper banking and financial services.

Zolve has successfully tried to address the problem and alleviate the restrictions by introducing its credit cards and loan offers.

Zolve Credit Card is a revolutionary product for those immigrants who must perform all the transactions with their debit card. Their Azpire credit card even helps to build credit, eventually giving them access to other financial products in the US.

It is not a luxury credit card with access to luxury services, but it does solve the problem it aims to solve: access to credit cards and building credit for immigrants and US residents.


 

Disclaimer: All the information presented in the article has been collected independently by BitMoneyAlpha and has not been reviewed or approved by Zolve or Community Federal Savings Bank. Although all the information, including card rates, rewards rates, and fees, as presented in this article, is accurate as of the date it is written, the product information may vary. Please check the issuer’s websites for the latest information. The statements and opinions expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of any credit card issuer. The content is for informational purposes only. It is not financial advice.

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