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Sequin card review

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Sequin
3.7
★★★★★
Finder score
Fee
$0 per month
APY
3.56%
Minimum deposit to open
$0

Our verdict

A debit card that helps build your credit but you can’t withdraw money at an ATM.

The Sequin card is best for people with high credit usage who want to build credit without worrying about paying off interest or late fees you’d find with credit cards.

Sequin also stands out because it doesn’t report your credit utilization to credit bureaus. This helps responsible borrowers who spend a lot but can’t qualify for a high credit limit. But you’ll need to transfer your full credit limit into a Sequin account as collateral to get started.

Also, unlike other credit-building debit cards like Extra, Sequin doesn’t come with a monthly fee, making it a less costly option.

Pros

  • No monthly fee.
  • Builds credit.
  • No interest or late fees.
  • Set daily limits.
  • No credit check required.
  • Doesn't report credit utilization.
  • Anyone can join.

Cons

  • Sequin deposit required.
  • No ATM access.
  • Not available in all 50 states.
  • Limited support options.

In this guide

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finder.com's rating: 3.7 / 5.0

★★★★★

The Sequin card is a debit and credit card hybrid founded by Vrinda Gupta, who realized that women are usually given lower credit limits than their male counterparts — but tend to spend more. That will increase their credit utilization ratio and negatively impact their credit score.

While Sequin is marketed toward women, anyone can join. Sequin helps you build credit and doesn’t report credit utilization to credit bureaus. But you’ll need to transfer your full credit limit as a fully-refundable deposit before you can use it.

How do I open a Sequin card account?

Sign up for a Sequin card in five steps.

  1. Go to the provider’s site and follow the steps to apply.
  2. Choose Sign up today!
  3. Enter your personal details, including your legal first and last name, phone number and email. Hit Let’s Get Started.
  4. Input your bank account credentials to link your account.
  5. Follow the prompts to complete your account application.

Eligibility

You must meet the following requirements to apply for a Sequin card:

  • At least 18 years old
  • US citizen or permanent resident
  • US bank account

Required information

The Sequin application will ask for the following information:

  • Full legal name
  • Phone number
  • Email address
  • Social Security number
  • Bank account credentials

How does the Sequin card work?

The Sequin card operates like a debit card because it’s connected to your bank account. But you don’t fund or withdraw from it. Instead, Sequin fronts you the money like a credit card and withdraws the exact amount you’ve borrowed from your bank account on the same day.

At the end of the month, Sequin reports the transactions — but not your credit utilization — to credit bureau Experian to demonstrate that you’re a responsible borrower. It hopes to start reporting to Equifax and Transunion in the future.

7 benefits of the Sequin card

Check out the perks of opening a Sequin card:

  • No monthly fee. Unlike other debit cards that may help you build credit, the Sequin card doesn’t come with a monthly fee.
  • Builds credit. While traditional debit cards don’t help your credit, Sequin helps you build credit with each purchase.
  • No interest or late fees. Since Sequin debits your bank account directly, you’ll never incur interest or late fees like you would with a credit card.
  • Set daily limits. Specify a maximum withdrawal amount so no one can ever access your entire balance.
  • No credit check required. Sequin doesn’t initiate a credit inquiry when you open an account.
  • Doesn’t report credit utilization. Sequin doesn’t report credit utilization to credit bureaus to help prevent your spending from negatively impacting your credit score.
  • Anyone can join. Although Sequin is marketed toward women, anyone can sign up for an account.

4 things to look out for

While Sequin can help you build credit, it comes with the following drawbacks:

  • Sequin deposit required. Since Sequin doesn’t pull your credit, you’ll need to transfer a fully refundable Sequin deposit, which is equivalent to your Sequin credit limit, as collateral. You’ll get the full deposit back, less any unpaid balances, when you close your Sequin card.
  • No ATM access. Unlike most debit cards that let you withdraw cash, you can’t use your Sequin card at an ATM.
  • Not available in all 50 states. Sequin currently only operates in 36 states.
  • Limited support options. Unlike other digital banks that offer live chat and a support number, you can only reach out to customer service by emailing support@sequincard.com.

In which states is Sequin available?

  • Arkansas
  • Colorado
  • Connecticut
  • Delaware
  • Georgia
  • Hawaii
  • Iowa
  • Idaho
  • Illinois
  • Indiana
  • Kansas
  • Louisiana
  • Maine
  • Maryland
  • Michigan
  • Minnesota
  • Missouri
  • Montana
  • North Carolina
  • North Dakota
  • Nebraska
  • New Hampshire
  • New Jersey
  • New Mexico
  • Nevada
  • New York
  • Oklahoma
  • Rhode Island
  • South Carolina
  • South Dakota
  • Tennessee
  • Texas
  • Virginia
  • Vermont
  • West Virginia
  • Wyoming

If Sequin isn’t available in your state yet, email team@sequincard.com to express your interest.

Compare Sequin to other checking accounts

We’ve gathered similar debit cards and checking accounts to see how the Sequin card compares. Use the table to view different monthly fees, minimum opening deposits and ATMs to find a digital bank account that’s right for you.

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How to contact Sequin customer service?

When we called the phone number listed on Sequin‘s website, we couldn’t get through to customer service. Instead, we reached out to Sequin through email, and a customer service representative told us that emailing support@sequincard.com is the best way to get support.

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