Sign up & start saving!
Get our weekly newsletter for the latest in money news, credit card offers + more ways to save
Finder makes money from featured partners, but editorial opinions are our own. Advertiser Disclosure
Albert review
Get instant cash advances and early direct deposits, but you’ll need to pay a fee to access its investing feature.
finder.com’s rating: 4.5 / 5.0
★★★★★
Albert prioritizes your access to your money with its simple cash advance process and by letting you access your paycheck up to two days early. Earn cash back on certain spending and get rewarded for saving too.But you’ll need to pay a $0 monthly fee if you want to invest and get individualized financial advice through its Genius plan. Plus, many customers say it’s difficult to get in touch with Albert when an issue arises.
Not enough reviews
Write a review
From $0 per month
Fee
0.10%
APY
$0
Minimum deposit to open
Details
| APY | 0.10% 0.10% annual bonus with Cash Plan, 0.25% with Genius Plan |
|---|---|
| Fee | From $0 per month |
| To waive the fee | $0 with Cash Plan, $8 with Genius Plan |
| Minimum deposit to open | $0 |
| Intro or bonus offer | 30-day free trial for Albert Genius |
| ATMs | No access to ATMs |
| ATM transaction fee | $2.50 |
| Out-of-network ATM fee | $2.50 |
| Learn more | Apply now |
Review by
Matt Miczulski
matt.miczulski@finder.comMatt Miczulski is an investments writer at Finder, where he covers market news and digs into brokerages and investments to help readers make informed financial decisions. His expertise and writing have been featured on CBS, MSN, Best Company and Consolidated Credit, among others. Before joining Finder, Matt covered everything from finance news and banking to debt and travel for FinanceBuzz. He earned a BA in history from William Paterson University.
Expert review
Albert is best for those looking for an all-in-one digital account. It comes with almost no fees and early access to your paychecks, and its cash advance feature makes Albert a strong contender for anyone looking for flexibility when it comes to accessing their money.But to use Albert’s investing feature, you need to upgrade to Albert Genius and pay a $0 monthly fee. While this fee is in line with some other apps that offer similar services, some digital accounts are entirely free. Albert argues that the $0 fee “is the minimum amount [they] can reasonably operate the service” to pay their team of human financial experts, which is a strong argument. Similar services use bots to provide generic financial advice. If you want to see if the $0 is worth it, Albert offers the first month of Albert Genius free, so there’s no harm in giving it a try.
You might also find its deposit options limiting, especially when it comes to mobile check deposits. Albert doesn’t offer this feature, so you’d have to deposit your check into a separate bank account and transfer the money over once it clears.
Customers also consistently complain about Albert’s customer service, particularly that it’s difficult to get in touch with a representative when an issue arises. Overall though, Albert’s reviews lean positive. And since its core plan is free, there’s really no financial commitment to see if you run into similar issues.
As you compare digital bank accounts, look for things like minimum deposit requirements, monthly fees and ATM networks. Then, compare any unique features that best align with what you’re looking for in your banking experience.
How much does Albert cost?
Albert offers two plan options:| Plan | Monthly Fee | Savings cash bonus | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Core | Free | 0.10% annual bonus |
|
| Genius | $8 | 0.1% annual bonus | Everything in the core plan, plus:
|
How do I open an Albert account?
Apply for an Albert account online within minutes:
- Select Apply now.
- Enter your name, email address and a password, and select Agree and continue.
- Provide your phone number to receive a confirmation code and verify your identity.
- Enter your date of birth and whether you’re married and have kids. Then, select Continue.
- Provide your occupation, how you get paid, your primary source of income and your annual income amount.
- Provide your home address, confirm your details and enter your Social Security number to verify your identity.
- Link an existing bank account to set up Albert Instant and Albert Invest or choose to do this later. Then select a schedule for automated savings and choose whether to upgrade to Albert Genius.
Eligibility
Sign up for an Albert account when you meet these requirements:
- US citizen or permanent resident
- At least 18 years old
- Bank account with a US financial institution
- Mobile phone number and plan provided by a mobile carrier operating in the US
Required information
Share the following information during your signup:
- Personal information like your name and address
- Email address
- Existing bank account
- Social Security number
7 benefits of Albert
An Albert account lets you spend, save and invest your money under one roof and offers FDIC insurance up to $250,000, in addition to these benefits:
- Minimal fees. No monthly account fee or inactivity fees.
- Get your paycheck early. Access your paycheck up to two days early.
- Cash back. Add available rewards to your debit card and earn cash back at restaurants, delivery services, grocery stores and other retailers. But you can only receive rewards from a current activated offer. Once you’ve been rewarded, you can activate another offer.
- Cash bonus on savings. Earn an annual bonus of 0.10% on your savings, which increases to 0.1% when you upgrade to Albert Genius.
- Cash advances. Get an advance of up to $250 up to three times per pay period, and Albert will automatically deduct your repayment on your next pay date, with no interest and no need to worry about late fees.
- Expert advice. Get access to financial experts who can answer questions and provide advice related to your financial situation when you upgrade your account to Albert Genius.
- Commission-free and flexible investing. Invest commission-free with as little as $1 with Albert Genius. Choose individual stocks, invest automatically on a recurring schedule or let Albert build a customer portfolio based on your financial goals.
3 potential drawbacks to look out for
Albert offers a ton of benefits, but here are a few things to watch out for:- No in-person banking. Albert operates entirely online, so there are no physical branches anywhere. Instead, you’re limited to text and email support.
- No mobile check deposit. Albert doesn’t offer a way to deposit money into your account via mobile check deposit. You would need to deposit the check into a different bank account and transfer the money over to your Albert Cash account.
- Albert Genius plan required for more benefits. You need to upgrade to the Albert Genius plan at $4 per month to invest, earn a higher annual bonus of 0.1% and access personalized advice from financial experts.
Albert‘s ATM network and fees
Albert provides customers with a debit card and free access to the over 55,000 ATMs in the Allpoint network, which can be found in common retail stores like CVS, Walgreens and Target.If you use an out-of-network ATM, Albert will charge a $2.50 fee. Plus, the ATM operator may also charge its own fee.
Albert‘s reviews and complaints
Albert holds an A- rating with the Better Business Bureau (BBB), though the company is not BBB accredited. Customers rate Albert 1.06 out of 5 stars based on 18 reviews. Albert closed 242 complaints in the last three years, 107 of which have been closed in the last 12 months.Dissatisfied customers largely complain of poor customer service, particularly the inability to get in touch with an Albert representative to resolve issues.
On the Google Play store and Apple App Store, customers paint a different picture. On Google Play, reviewers rate Albert 4.0 out of 5 stars based on 31,523 reviews. Some customers complain of connectivity issues between their bank and Albert, while others complain of poor customer service. Those that praise the app highlight its helpful budgeting insights and its cash advance feature.
On the Apple App Store, reviews give Albert a 4.7 out of 5 stars based on more than 88,000 reviews. Complaints again center on poor customer service and the inability to reach an Albert representative, while those that favor the app praise its money management and cash advance features.
Compare Albert with other digital bank accounts
To help decide if Albert is for you, use this table to compare other accounts by monthly fees, minimum deposit requirements and ATM networks.
How do I deposit or withdraw my money?
Albert only offers a couple of ways to deposit and access your money:Deposit options
- Direct deposit
- Online transfer
Withdrawal options
- Online transfer
- ATM access
How to contact Albert customer service?
You have three options to contact Albert.
- Send a text to 639-37
- Email support@albert.com
- Message customer service within the app
Savings account ratings
★★★★★ — Excellent
★★★★★ — Good
★★★★★ — Average
★★★★★ — Subpar
★★★★★ — Poor
We analyze top savings accounts and rate them one to five stars based on factors that are most important to you. These factors include: interest rates, monthly fees, minimum deposits, customer service and account features.
