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Cashplus review July 2020
A flexible current account that can help you improve your credit score.
What's in this review?
Cashplus is a next-gen current account changing the way we manage our day-to-day finances. Cashplus looks to provide customers with a quick and accessible alternative to traditional banks, using smartphone technology to deliver banking on demand. Its main focus is serving customers who have a poor credit score.
It also does credit cards (and you can read about them here), but this review only looks at its current accounts. Cashplus offers both personal and business current accounts; we’ve looked at them both, so pick which you want to read about.
What is Cashplus?
Cashplus offers digital-only personal current accounts, with all the services available through an app on your smartphone or directly online.
With Cashplus, you get all the standard features of a current account: a card, bank payments, ATM withdrawals, direct debits, an overdraft option and so on.
However, Cashplus’ main focus is helping people to improve their credit score, so it offers a “credit builder” feature that’s what really distinguishes it from other providers.
If you activate it, Cashplus “lends” you your monthly current account fee, and then treats your monthly payments as loan repayments, which are then reported to the credit reference agencies. If you keep up with the payments, your credit score will improve.
Cashplus accounts
Cashplus CEO Rich Wagner on “making banking right” for consumers and SMEs
The Cashplus app
The Cashplus app is simple and straightforward, although not quite as feature-rich as you may expect from a digital-only account (no spending categories or budgeting features here, sorry).
The home screen includes:
- A rundown of your account. Including your balance, spending allowance and account details.
- Activate a card. Request and activate your Cashplus bank card.
- View credit add-ons. If you have used any of Cashplus’s extra services such as credit cards, extended overdrafts or short-term loans, you can view them here.
- Make a payment. Make payments through the app.
There is also a drop-down menu where you can access:
- Overview. A complete summary of your account status.
- Statements. View your transactions and request a bank statement.
- Manage my card. View card details and manage activation status.
- Payments and transfers. Make and manage your payments, transfers and direct debits.
- Add-ons. View and select different add-ons offered by Cashplus.
You can also find FAQs, settings and access any messages through the dropdown menu.
Cashplus fees and limits
Unlike many challengers, banking with Cashplus doesn’t come for free. Fees and limits vary depending on the type of account.
Personal accounts come in three forms: Activeplus, Flexiplus and Deluxe.
- Deluxe accounts cost £9.95 per month and come with no extra charges on UK card payments and ATM withdrawals, bank transfers or direct debits.
- Flexiplus accounts are free but come with a £0.99 charge on UK card purchases, e-payments, bank transfers and direct debits. There is also a £2 charge on UK ATM withdrawals.
- Activeplus accounts cost £5.95 per month with no extra charges on direct debits and UK purchases. You also get nine free transfers or e-payments per month. ATM withdrawals cost £2.
For all the accounts, getting the card initially costs £5.95. There are no charges on Post Office deposits up to £1,000 per month.
Using Cashplus abroad
For all personal accounts, withdrawing cash abroad costs £3 a transaction.
Cashplus offers free prepaid currency cards in dollars and euros. The cards allow you to withdraw and spend money in Europe or America at no extra cost, and because they’re prepaid they also help you manage your budget.
Is Cashplus safe?
Cashplus takes security seriously and requires basic information alongside certified documents to register your account. Your account is kept behind a secure password and is locked if the wrong password is entered three times; additionally, after 15 minutes of inactivity you are logged out automatically.
Cashplus is registered with the Financial Conduct Authority as an electronic money issuer, but doesn’t have a full banking licence. This means that money deposited on Cashplus accounts isn’t protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS).
How does the app look?
Quick mobile-only application
It's quick and easy to apply for a personal or business account. As fast as 3 minutes in the app.
Manage your money better
Go to the homepage for all your basic banking features. See your budget and make payments.
Build your credit
Once approved, you can use credit add-ons to build up your credit score.
Simple payments page
Add news payees and set up faster payments.
Pros and cons of Cashplus
Pros
- Have an account running in 20 minutes.
- Optional overdraft to help you in a pinch.
- Currency cards help you spend overseas.
- Online service as well as mobile app.
- Short-term loans to help keep you financially secure.
- “Debit Protect” lets you know if you’ll be unable to pay your direct debits.
Cons
- Must pay a monthly fee to keep an account open, or face charges on a free account when you need to use your money.
- Must pay to have your bankcard issued.
- Attempts to upsell different loans and overdrafts, potentially dangerous if you are easily tempted.
- Not all services available via the app.
- Traditional banks are still necessary for anything more than a current account.
The verdict
Cashplus mostly focuses on helping people build up their credit score, and if you’re just looking for a digital-only current account, there certainly are cheaper options.
However, the credit builder feature may have something in it for you if you have bad credit and want to improve it. It’s an option if you don’t want to take out a credit card or won’t be accepted for it. However, make sure you also have a look at our bad credit page and compare your options first.
Compare Cashplus against its competitors
Cashplus business account review
Just like its personal one, Cashplus’ business account is a digital-only account that can be entirely managed online or from the app. It can be opened in a few minutes and without credit checks: Cashplus will only need to verify your company’s details. Cashplus has been featured as one of our best business bank accounts.
Cashplus business account features
Cashplus isn’t technically a bank, but the business account does all you can expect, from setting up direct debits to giving you a debit card to make payments and withdraw cash. In addition, you may also be able to get funding for your business if you need it, in three different ways.
- An overdraft. Cashplus calls it “iDraft”. You can get up to £2,000 of credit and using it costs £1.50 a day.
- Direct debit protection. The app will notify you when a direct debit is due and you don’t have enough funds to cover it; Cashplus will then give you a quote for a loan on that amount.
- Business cash advances. More on what they are and how they work on this guide. Cashplus offers them through a partner, Liberis.
You can also load cash on your account at every Post Office in the UK for free up to £1,000 a month.
Finally, if you need additional cards for your team, you can get them easily, set individual spending limits and track expenses through the app. If you need to go abroad, you can get a euro or dollar card for free and make card payments or ATM withdrawals without foreign currency transaction fees.
How much does it cost?
Aside from the cost of borrowing money through it, expect quite a few different fees even for using the Cashplus business account in a standard way:
- Annual fee. That’s £69 a year.
- Bank transfers. Only the first three each month are free. After that, it’s 0.99 each.
- ATM withdrawals. £2 each in the UK, £3 each if you’re abroad.
Cashplus business account review: the verdict
The Cashplus business account can be appealing if you’ve just started your business or if it has bad credit: you can open it easily and without credit checks, it offers a good range of features and you can also borrow money if you need it.
If you could easily qualify for a standard business account instead, it’s probably not the very best shout because there are cheaper options available, that either don’t charge a monthly fee or allow free unlimited bank transfers and ATM withdrawals.
Frequently asked questions
Ask an Expert
Hi there, why is there a limit to what you can receive? How much can I receive if I have business cash plus accounts?
Hi Michael,
Thanks for getting in touch with Finder. I hope all is well with you. :)
The amount of money you can deposit is up to £1,000 per month without incurring fees. This does not mean that you can only deposit more than $1000 per month. You can still deposit more than that however, you would need to pay a fee for that.
Both business and personal account allows you to deposit more than £1,000 per month. Please feel free as well to get in touch with Cashplus to learn more.
I hope this helps. Should you have further questions, please don’t hesitate to reach us out again.
Have a wonderful day!
Cheers,
Joshua
Just got my card through in the post, what happens if I don’t activate it?
Having read up on this card today it is not something I am looking for so have no use for it, has not been used or activated.
Hi Dan,
Thanks for your inquiry.
If you did not activate your card, it will automatically expire on the date visible on the card.
I hope this helps.
Kind regards,
Bella
Can any EU-resident with a UK company apply for an account with you?
Hello Sue,
Thank you for your comment.
According to the eligibility criteria of CashPlus for personal applications, only residents of the UK are eligible and must be at least 18 years old. You may want to verify directly with CashPlus if they can maybe consider your residency status.
Regards,
Jhezelyn
Why does a Cashplus business account have a max £15000 balance limit?
Hi Gary,
Thanks for getting in touch with finder. I hope all is well with you. :)
While I can’t tell you exactly why they have this limit in place, it is possible that you cancel this limit. What you can do is give their sales team a call and your request would then be subject to approval.
I hope this helps. Should you have further questions, please don’t hesitate to reach us out again.
Have a wonderful day!
Cheers,
Joshua
Why don’t the ATM machines in my area allow me to withdraw cash with my prepaid Cashplus card?
Hello Fin,
Thank you for your comment.
Sorry to hear about you not being able to withdraw cash using the prepaid Cashplus card. There have been reviews as well that they’re unable to withdraw cash using the same card. You may directly get in touch with the Cashplus support to report this matter.
Should you wish to have real-time answers to your questions, try our chat box on the lower right corner of our page.
Regards,
Jhezelyn
What is this annual fee of £69 for?
Hi Ty,
Thanks for getting in touch with finder. I hope all is well with you. :)
The £69 fee is your annual fee if you open a business account with Cashplus. Since it comes with more features and benefits, Cashplus charges an extra fee for this type of account.
I hope this helps. Should you have further questions, please don’t hesitate to reach us out again.
Have a wonderful day!
Cheers,
Joshua
I transferred funds from my normal bank to Cashplus account, I can’t find how long it takes? It doesn’t seem to be in the account yet and it’s been half hour.
Hi Helen,
Thanks for getting in touch with finder. I hope all is well with you. :)
When topping up your Cashplus account, it should only take within a few hours to one day before you see your money in your account. If you haven’t received your money after one day, you may want to directly get in touch with Cashplus’ customer support.
I hope this helps. Should you have further questions, please don’t hesitate to reach us out again.
Have a wonderful day!
Cheers,
Joshua
Hi
I would like to know if there’a any maximum amount I can have it on my personal cashplus MasterCard and also what’s the maximum amount I can deposit or transfer into my account?
Thanks
Hi Stella,
Thanks for getting in touch with finder. I hope all is well with you. :)
There’s no mention of the maximum amount of money you can hold in your Cashplus account. However, please note that you can deposit up to £1,000 per month at no extra cost through the post office. More than that, you might have to pay an extra fee.
I hope this helps. Should you have further questions, please don’t hesitate to reach us out again.
Have a wonderful day!
Cheers,
Joshua
Can I use to pay a monthly standing order?
Thanks.
Hi Kim,
Thanks for reaching out to finder.
Yes, you can use Cashplus for standing orders and for electronic payments and transfers as well. Cashplus pricing for standing orders are as follows:
Activeplus- Free up to 9 each month; a fee of £0.99 will apply thereafter
Flexiplus- £0.99 each
Deluxe- Free
If you need further information on this, please feel free to contact Cashplus directly. I hope this helps.
Cheers,
Charisse
What is the maximum daily withdrawal limit for my Cashplus business account?
Hello Kev,
Thank you for your comment.
According to the CashPlus terms and conditions, the Maximum ATM Withdrawal Limit Per Day is £500. For higher limits, it may be made available at Card issuer AFL’s sole discretion. Please see CashPlus’ website for details of their daily and individual minimum and maximum limits for paying-in funds to Your Account. Please note that the limits are subject to change without notice.
Should you wish to have real-time answers to your questions, try our chat box on the lower right corner of our page.
Regards,
Jhezelyn