Tired of overdraft fees and waiting days for your paycheck to hit? Current offers early direct deposit, up to 4.00% APY on savings, and instant gas hold removals—all without monthly fees or credit checks.
Whether you’re managing everyday spending, saving for short-term goals, or setting up a teen with their first debit card, Current packs in features that go beyond what most banks offer. It’s fully mobile, easy to use, and built for how people actually spend and save today.
What is Current?
Current is a mobile-only banking app that helps you manage everyday spending, save faster, and avoid fees. It’s not a bank—banking services are provided by Choice Financial Group and Cross River Bank, both Members FDIC.
With over 4 million users, Current offers a clean, app-based experience with features like early direct deposit, savings pods, cash back rewards, and teen banking. It’s designed for people who want to make the most of their money without relying on a traditional bank.
Key Features of the Current Mobile App
Current includes tools to help you spend smarter, save faster, and build better habits—all from your phone.
Early Paycheck Access
Get your paycheck up to two days early when you set up direct deposit. As soon as your employer sends the payment file, your funds are deposited—no waiting for the scheduled payday.
Savings Pods With Up to 4.00% APY
Earn up to 4.00% APY on up to $6,000 by transferring funds into savings pods. To qualify, you’ll need a recurring direct deposit and must move money from your spending balance into a pod. You can also turn on round-ups to grow savings automatically with each debit card purchase.
Build Credit With Your Own Money
Current lets you build credit without a loan or credit card. Instead, your debit card transactions and ATM withdrawals count toward your credit-building activity—no credit check required.
Instant Gas Hold Removals
Some gas stations place temporary holds of up to $100 on your account during a fill-up. Current removes those holds right away, so you don’t have to wait days for the funds to be released.
Overdraft Protection
With Current’s Overdrive feature, you can overdraft up to $200 on debit card purchases with no fees. To qualify, you must be at least 18 and receive $500 or more in qualifying direct deposits every 30-day period.
A qualifying deposit can be an ACH transfer from your employer, payroll company, or Social Security. Mobile check deposits and peer-to-peer transfers don’t count.
Teen Banking
The teen account includes parental controls like spending limits, merchant blocking, purchase notifications, and automatic allowance transfers. You can instantly send money to your teen and assign chores directly from the app.
Cash Back Rewards
Earn up to 15x points on purchases at over 14,000 participating retailers. You can redeem points for cash back directly into your Current account. Premium members may earn more than Basic members.
Instant Cash Deposits
Add cash at more than 60,000 locations, including Walmart and CVS. Just show your barcode at the register and hand the cashier your money. You can deposit up to $500 per transaction, $1,000 per day, and $10,000 per month.
Budgeting and Spending Insights
Track spending in real time and set category-based budgets. You’ll see where your money is going and get alerts as you approach your limits.
Cryptocurrency
With Current, you can buy and sell cryptocurrency from the same app. Fortunately, you don’t have to worry about any trading fees or wait days for your trade to settle. You can purchase 27 popular coins, like Bitcoin and Ethereum. Once you sell a coin, you’ll notice the cash in your Current account immediately.
Current Pay
Send or request money instantly from other Current users with no fees. You just need their phone number or username—no waiting, no third-party apps.
Fees and Fine Print
Just be aware of third-party charges: out-of-network ATM withdrawals cost $2.50, and international withdrawals cost $3.
Current doesn’t charge monthly maintenance fees, overdraft fees, or minimum balance fees. You can also withdraw cash for free at over 40,000 Allpoint ATMs.
Current Pros & Cons
Just like any digital banking app or online bank, Current comes with several benefits and drawbacks, including:
Pros
- No monthly fees – No maintenance fees, overdraft fees, or minimum balance requirements.
- High APY on savings – Earn up to 4.00% on up to $6,000 with qualifying direct deposit.
- Cash back rewards – Earn points at 14,000+ retailers and redeem for cash back.
- Early direct deposit – Access your paycheck up to two days early.
- Teen account features – Parental controls, chore management, and instant transfers.
Cons
- Mobile-only access – No desktop platform or physical branches.
- No checks – Paper checks aren’t supported.
- Limited support – No phone support; help is available by email or in-app chat.
How to Use Current
Getting started with Current is quick and easy. Just download the app from the App Store or Google Play. You can also enter your phone number on Current’s website to get a download link.
Once you install the app, you’ll enter basic information like your name, phone number, address, and Social Security number. You can connect a bank account or debit card to fund your account right away, but it’s optional.
After signing up, you’ll receive a physical debit card by mail in about 7 to 10 business days. In the meantime, you can use a virtual card in your digital wallet as soon as your account is active.
Current Reviews
Current gets strong ratings overall, especially for its features and app design—but support is a common complaint.
- Apple App Store – 4.7 out of 5 stars from 84,000+ reviews. Negative feedback is mostly tied to customer service delays.
- Google Play – 4.8 out of 5 stars from over 89,000 users. Praise for functionality, but again, support response time is a concern.
- Trustpilot – 3.8 out of 5 stars. Most users like the app’s features, but some report issues resolving disputes.
While most users have a smooth experience, those who run into problems often say it’s hard to get help quickly.
Customer Support Options
Current doesn’t offer phone support. If you need help, you’ll have to use the in-app chat or submit a request via email. Response times vary and may take a few days depending on volume.
That said, the app is user-friendly and most basic questions are covered in the FAQ section on Current’s website. If you’re comfortable troubleshooting simple issues on your own, you likely won’t need much support.
Who Current Is Best For
Current is a smart pick if you want a mobile-first account with no fees and early access to your paycheck. It’s also great for parents looking to set up a supervised teen account, or anyone who can’t qualify for a traditional bank. And if you like earning cash back with a debit card, it’s hard to beat.
Current Alternatives
While Current is a solid online banking app for many adults, teens, and young adults, it’s not for everyone. If you find that Current isn’t right for you or are wondering about alternative options, here are a few to consider.
SoFi
SoFi, like Current, is a fintech company that offers a wide range of online financial services directly through its mobile platform. It features high-yield savings accounts with up to 3.80% APY and checking accounts offering a 0.50% APY.
Additional benefits include no account fees, automated bill pay, and competitive rates across its financial products. SoFi also provides unique extras like career coaching and financial advising to its members, enhancing its overall value as a comprehensive financial service provider.
Read our full SoFi review here.
Chime®
Chime is another financial technology company or fintech company with modern features you may not find at a traditional bank, credit union, or brick-and-mortar financial services company. It offers early direct deposit2, savings roundups, and no monthly fees.
Compared to Current, it’s more like a high yield savings account8 in that it lets you earn a better APY on your savings on your entire balance, rather than just up to $6,000.
Read our in-depth Chime review here.
See also: Chime vs. Current: Which Is Better?
Upgrade
Upgrade combines personal loans, rewards checking, and high-yield savings into one seamless platform. Customers benefit from up to 2% cash back on debit card purchases and can access their paychecks up to two days early with direct deposit.
Moreover, Upgrade’s savings accounts offer a competitive APY of up to 4.02%, significantly enhancing your ability to grow your savings quickly and efficiently.
Bottom Line
Current offers a long list of features that make it a smart choice if you want a digital banking platform with no monthly fees or hidden fees. You can enjoy early paycheck deposit, no overdraft fees, teen savings accounts, cash back rewards, savings pods, and more.
As long as you’re okay with limited customer service and don’t mind using the app on your mobile device, it’s certainly worth exploring.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are a few of the most common questions that many people ask about the Current digital banking app.
Is Current safe?
It’s a risk to use any type of mobile or online banking platform. But Current checking accounts and teen accounts are backed by FDIC insurance of $250,000 in the event of a bank failure. Plus, just like many reputable online banks, the app uses bank-level data security measures, and you can sign up to receive push notifications any time current detects account fraud.
Does Current have any physical branches?
At this time, Current does not have any physical branches. This means you won’t be able to receive in-person service. The good news, however, is it does offer fee-free cash withdrawals at over 40,000 Allpoint ATMs throughout the country.
Can you deposit cash into your Current account?
Yes, Current lets you deposit cash. However, cash deposits aren’t free, and you will have to pay $3.50 for every cash deposit transaction.
What happens if you overdraft your Current account?
Thanks to the Overdrive feature, it’s no big deal if you overdraft your account. You can enjoy a fee-free overdrive of up to $200 on any purchase you make in-store and online.
Can you earn rewards or bonuses with Current?
Absolutely! As long as you use the Current Visa debit card at participating retailers, you can earn cash back. Plus, you can earn $1 every time you refer a friend who signs up for a Current account.
Does Current have transaction limits?
Current does have a few limits to keep in mind: you can withdraw up to $500 from ATMs per day, spend up to $2,000 with your debit card daily, and send up to $5,000 per transaction through Current Pay.
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