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Passbook
4.7
★★★★★
Finder score
Fee
$0 per month
Minimum deposit to open
$0

Summary

Free banking with no foreign transaction fees.

Discontinued product

This product has been discontinued, and it is not available on our site. Compare other checking accounts to find one that fits your needs.

In this guide

  • Review
  • Your reviews
  • Ask an expert

How do I open a Passbook account?

It only takes about 10 minutes to open a Passbook account:

  1. Go to the provider’s site and follow the steps to apply.
  2. Download and launch the Passbook app on your iPhone or Android device, then select Get Started.
  3. Choose to sign up through Remitly or with an email address.
  4. Enter your email address and create a password, then choose Sign Up.
  5. Personalize your card by choosing a flag you’d like printed on your card, then enter your name, birthday and phone number.
  6. Enter the verification code that Remitly sends to your phone.
  7. Complete the signup process by entering your address and uploading a photo of your ID.

It may take up to 10 business days to receive your Passbook Visa debit card.

Eligibility

You must meet the following eligibility requirements to open a Passbook account:

  • At least 18 years old
  • Valid US address

Required information

You’ll need the following documents to open a Passbook account:

  • Social Security number, Individual Taxpayer Identification number (ITIN) or a government-issued photo ID, such as a passport, visa or an identification card from your home country
  • A pay stub, utility bill, lease agreement or official piece of mail with your physical US address

What are the benefits of Passbook?

Like most bank accounts, you don’t need a Social Security number to open a Passbook account. And it’s possible to lock your card to help manage your account. Other perks include:

  • No fees or minimum balance. You won’t have to worry about monthly and overdraft fees or a minimum balance requirement.
  • Travel-friendly. Most bank accounts charge a 3% foreign transaction fee. But with Passbook, you won’t pay a dime.
  • Cash back with Remitly. Get up to $2 cash back when you use your Passbook debit card to send money through Remitly.

Passbook‘s ATM network and fees

Use your Passbook Visa card to withdraw cash for free at thousands of ATMs in Visa’s Plus Alliance network. Remitly doesn’t charge a fee for using your Passbook card at out-of-network ATMs, but third-party ATM operators might charge you.

What should I look out for?

There are a few drawbacks to consider before opening a Passbook account:

  • No check deposits. There’s currently no way to deposit checks into your Passbook account.
  • Cash loading fee. You’ll have to pay a $4.95 fee when you load cash onto your card at a retailer.

Is Passbook legit?

Passbook is not a scam. It’s a legitimate checking account operated by Remitly. It’s also FDIC insured for up to $250,000.

Passbook reviews and complaints

Passbook is not accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB), and it has no rating or reviews on the BBB’s website. However, the app has five reviews on Trustpilot, four of which are one-star reviews, while the other is a two-star review. Most of those reviews include complaints about the company’s business practices and some accuse the company of unjustly confiscating funds.

Compare Passbook with other checking accounts

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Earn a $400 cash bonus when you have a total of at least $4,000 in qualifying direct deposits within the first 120 days.
Earn a $400 cash bonus after $4,000 deposits in the first 120 days. Pay $0 monthly fees and no minimum balance. Access a large nationwide network of free ATMs. Member FDIC.
Cash Card by Cash App
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Cash Card by Cash App
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The Cash App Cash Card lets you pay for goods and services both online and in stores using your Cash App balance. Enjoy features like ATM access, direct deposit, instant discounts at select stores and a customizable card.
Chime Checking account
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Revolut
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Revolut
From $0 per month
$0
4.25% on balances of $0+
3.25% on balances of $0+
Use Revolut Premium for three months for $0 when you sign up for Revolut. Just make one qualifying transaction with your Revolut card during the promotion period. Terms and conditions apply.
Revolut is a global fintech that offers up to 40% off international transfers.
SoFi Checking and Savings
Finder Rating: 4.5 / 5: ★★★★★
Bonus
SoFi Checking and Savings
$0 per month
$0
4.60% on balances of $0+
0.50% on balances of $0+
1.20% on balances of $0+
Get up to $250 cash bonus with qualifying direct deposit. Terms apply. This offer is available until December 31, 2023.
Earn up to 4.60% APY on savings by meeting deposit requirements, and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Members without deposit requirements will earn 0.50% APY on both savings and checking balances. Turn on automatic savings or use the Roundups feature to help you reach your savings goals faster. Get up to $2M of additional FDIC insurance through a network of participating banks.
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How do I deposit or withdraw my money?

Although there’s currently no way to do deposit checks with Passbook, there are several other methods to fund your account and withdraw your money:

Funding

  • Direct deposit
  • Bank transfers
  • Transfer from PayPal, Venmo or a similar service
  • Deposit at any of the 90,000 retail stores. But you’re limited to $500 or $1,500 per deposit and a $4.95 fee may apply

Withdraw

  • ATMs
  • Cashback at retailers

Frequently asked questions

Checking account ratings

★★★★★ — Excellent

★★★★★ — Good

★★★★★ — Average

★★★★★ — Subpar

★★★★★ — Poor

We analyze top checking accounts and rate them one to five stars based on factors that are most important to you. These factors include: monthly fees, the ease at which monthly fees can be waived, the breadth of ATM access, ATM and overdraft fees, and customer service.

Read the full methodology of how we rate checking accounts.

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