Ready to take control of your finances?
Download the mobile app to start your Kudzu account today.
INTRODUCING KUDZU
Your guide to financial growth.
An easy-to-use online banking app with reliable tools and training to help every personal finance beginner get growing—and stay growing.
*Kudzu is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by The Bancorp Bank, N.A., Member FDIC.
No hidden fees. (No, really.)
We don’t believe in charging you for using your own money, so we’ve eliminated minimum balance fees, monthly fees, overdraft fees and in-network ATM fees. We’ll always be upfront about what we do charge, learn more on our fees page.
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No monthly fees
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No overdraft fees
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No in-network ATM fees
accounts overview
Your Journey to Financial Growth Starts Here.
Easily move and manage your money with a tap. Enable real-time, customizable updates on account activity with built-in Kudzu and SpendSense Alerts™, enjoy immediate access to your digital Kudzu Visa® Debit Card and load check funds remotely in the Kudzu mobile app.
Make your money work for you and thrive with you. Effortlessly grow your money with customizable Savings Habits, earn more than three times the national average Annual Percentage Yield (APY)1 on your savings balance, protect yourself from insufficient funds with automatic transfers and track your progress all in one place.
Branch out. With the Kudzu mobile app, you can fully customize your experience to create your own, personal Kudzu branch! Send and receive funds by linking external accounts, enable direct deposit and freely transfer money between your accounts to manage your money, your way.
built-in tools
Let your ambitions take root with Climb
Each element of this toolkit is designed to help you build money mindfulness and smart financial habits. Think of it as your travel bag — everything you might need for your journey ahead.
SpendSense AlertsTM
Practice mindful spending by creating daily and monthly thresholds for yourself. We’ll notify2 you any time you exceed your spending limits.
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Covered by KudzuTM
Protect yourself from insufficient funds by opting-in to set up automatic funds flows from qualified savings accounts for up to 10 charges per month3.
Savings Habits
Plan for the future at your own pace when you set up customizable automatic transfers from spending to savings.
financial literacy
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Let’s Grow Together
No Monthly Fees
Fee-Free Access to 55,000 Allpoint® ATMs
No Overdraft Fees
Let’s Grow Together
No Monthly Fees
No Overdraft Fees
Fee-Free Access to 55,000 Allpoint® ATMs
Let’s Grow Together
No Monthly Fees
No Overdraft Fees
Fee-Free Access to 55,000 Allpoint® ATMs
Let’s Grow Together
No Monthly Fees
No Overdraft Fees
Fee-Free Access to 55,000 Allpoint® ATMs
What to expect
Download the app
Search for “Kudzu Money” in your preferred app store.
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Enroll in a Kudzu account
Enter your personal information to sign up for a spending account (you can add savings, too!) and get started in minutes.
Add your card to your mobile wallet
You’ll have immediate access to your digital debit card and can start making purchases as soon as you have funds in your account.
Add funds to your spending account
Enable direct deposit, load check funds in the app, transfer money from an external account or add cash at participating Visa® ReadyLink merchants5.
Get your Kudzu card in 7–10 days.
Your physical debit card will be sent as soon as you add money to your spending account and will arrive within 7 to 10 days.
Open a new Kudzu account.
It takes a few minutes to apply and won’t impact your credit score.
Seriously Secure
We’re here to keep you (and the future you) safe. Kudzu protects your money and privacy so you stay insured and reassured throughout your entire financial journey.
safety
All deposits are FDIC insured through The Bancorp Bank, N.A., up to $250,000.
protection
Your private information stays private with the latest encryption technology.
control
Lock a misplaced card in seconds from your app. You’re also protected from unauthorized charges by Visa® Zero Liability Rules.
peace of mind
Real-time Kudzu Alerts2 help you stay on top of your account activity and spot anything suspicious.
Frequently Asked Questions
About Kudzu
What is Kudzu?
Kudzu is a customer-first online financial solution focused on helping you build strong roots by guiding and growing with you through your entire financial journey.
What is Kudzu’s mission?
Kudzu was sown from a simple idea—financial freedom should be accessible to everyone. Our mission is to enhance the financial awareness and independence of our customers and provide tailored financial products to set them on the path to growth and success.
Is Kudzu a real bank?
Kudzu is a fintech company, not a bank. Banking services are provided by The Bancorp Bank, N.A., Member FDIC. The Kudzu Visa® Debit Card is issued by The Bancorp Bank, N.A., pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A., Inc. and may be used everywhere Visa debit cards are accepted.
How is Kudzu different from other financial service providers?
Kudzu is an online-only financial solution that partners with The Bancorp Bank, N.A., to provide tech-focused, versatile and convenient money management services and make sure your funds are insured by the FDIC through The Bancorp Bank, N.A,. With Kudzu, you can start making purchases immediately with your digital Kudzu Visa® Debit Card, earn interest on funds in your savings account, leverage built-in tools to develop smart saving and spending habits and access gamified financial literacy learning modules to increase your awareness and be proactive with your finances.
Can Kudzu help me with budgeting and financial literacy?
That’s what we do best! Your Kudzu accounts come equipped with your Climb toolkit of built-in features to help you become more mindful of your spending and savings habits. Whether your goal is spending less or saving more, we’ll help you get on the right path. Kudzu customers also get exclusive access to our PayPerks library of interactive financial literacy tutorials.
What kind of account is my Kudzu account?
Your Kudzu account is a demand deposit account, or DDA. A demand deposit account allows you to deposit money and retrieve it at any time on demand. Demand deposit accounts require no advance notice to the financial institution that holds your money. You also have the option to open an interest-earning Kudzu savings account, which will allow you to accrue interest on funds that you don't plan to spend right away.
Does Kudzu charge any fees?
We only charge fees for out-of network ATM withdrawals and expedited card shipping. Third-party fees may apply for remote check deposits and cash loads. For the full details, please view your fee schedule or your Deposit Account Agreement.
Are my deposits insured?
Your funds are insured for up to $250,000 through our banking partner, The Bancorp Bank, N.A., Member FDIC.
How do you keep my information and accounts secure?
Rest assured, your funds are FDIC insured up to $250,000 through our banking partner, The Bancorp Bank, N.A., Member FDIC. Your accounts and information are protected with 256-bit encryption and advanced AI fraud detection tools. Your Kudzu account comes equipped with additional security features including locking capabilities for misplaced cards and real-time Kudzu Alerts to help you stay informed of all the activity happening on your account.
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Who can apply?
Anyone over the age of 18 is eligible to open an account. You must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, have a valid Social Security Number and a valid U.S. address.
Can I still apply if I have bad credit?
Yes! We will not check your credit before opening an account. *The Kudzu Visa® Debit Card is not a credit card.
Do you require a credit check or will signing up affect my credit history?
No, signing up for Kudzu has no impact on your credit history. We do not check your credit, and we do not report to any credit bureaus. *The Kudzu Visa® Debit Card is not a credit card.
Where can I learn more about Kudzu's policies?
You can review all policies and disclosures associated with your Kudzu account at kudzumoney.com/policies.
What are Kudzu Alerts?
Kudzu Alerts are an added security feature that gives you 24/7 visibility into your account. These real-time notifications are sent to your preferred communication device and can alert2 you to any change in account activity. View the full list of Kudzu Alerts and configure your preferences from your Settings menu.
How do I opt-in to Kudzu Alerts?
To opt-in to Kudzu Alerts2, navigate to your Settings menu and choose “Configure Notifications.” Here, you will be prompted to opt-in and set your Kudzu Alerts preferences. If you’ve previously opted-out, you will be able to opt back in.
What is Climb?
Climb is a toolkit of customizable built-in features that build your money mindfulness and help you create smart money habits. The toolkit includes SpendSense Alerts, Covered by Kudzu and Savings Habits.
What are SpendSense Alerts?
Part of your Climb toolkit, SpendSense Alerts allow you to set daily, weekly and/or monthly spending limits for yourself. We’ll notify2 you once you’ve reached that spending threshold within your chosen time frame. While you will be able to continue spending once you’ve reached your limit, SpendSense Alerts help you take notice of your spending, get accustomed to setting and working within a budget and identify where you may be able to make some changes to your spending habits.
What is Covered by Kudzu?
Covered by Kudzu is another feature of your Climb toolkit. With this feature, you can enable automatic transfers from your savings account to your spending account to avoid declined transactions. If you’re making a purchase and there aren’t enough funds in your spending account to cover the cost, Covered by Kudzu will make sure you’re covered with funds from your savings. You can use this free coverage up to 10 times per month3.
What are Savings Habits?
Savings Habits are another feature of your Climb toolkit. Here, you can set up regular transfers to your savings account to grow your finances (and interest payouts!). You can choose to set monthly or weekly transfers of a specified amount, or you can opt to transfer a specified percentage of every deposit from your spending account.
What is PayPerks?
PayPerks is an interactive, gamified way to learn about financial topics and using your Kudzu debit card4. Learning modules walk you through quick, actionable and easy-to-consume tutorials before quizzing you on what you’ve learned. As you move through the modules and make purchases with your Kudzu debit card, you will be rewarded with points that serve as entries into our monthly sweepstakes for cash prizes. Topics range from budgeting and saving, privacy and security, using your Kudzu card and more. We draw over 100 winners each month! For full details, please review the Official Sweepstakes Rules.
How do I download the Kudzu app?
You can download the Kudzu mobile app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for no-cost. From there, simply search “Kudzu” and look for our leafy logo! When you first open the app or visit your account center, you’ll be asked to confirm and verify a few details, like your phone number, to connect to your Kudzu account. If you haven’t already, you’ll be prompted to create a username and password for your account.
What is Kudzu's ATM network?
Kudzu's in-network ATM is Allpoint®. As a Kudzu customer, you get fee-free withdrawals at any of Allpoint's 55,000 ATMs (third-party operator fees may apply). Visit the Allpoint ATM locator to find a location near you.
How do I add money to my Kudzu spending account?
You have multiple options for adding money to your account: direct deposit, wire transfers, remote check deposits and cash transfers at Visa ReadyLink. To set up direct deposit for your Kudzu account, you may need to locate your account and routing numbers. In the mobile app, tap the card icon behind the account name to view the account details. In your online account center, the account information will display below the account name. If your employer or payer does not have their own direct deposit form, you can generate one from the Spending Account Services menu. You can transfer money to and from other Kudzu accounts or external accounts. To add an external account, navigate to Settings from the menu options and select External Accounts. To transfer money, Select Account Services from the menu options, select Spending, and find Transfer Money. To load funds from a check, you can use remote check load by selecting Account Services from the menu, selecting Spending, selecting Add Funds and selecting Load Check Funds. From there, you will be able to take images and load funds from your check remotely. You can load cash using one of over 50,000 Visa ReadyLink merchants5.
Can I transfer money to/from external accounts?
You may add external accounts to your Kudzu account. To add an external account, select "Settings" from the menu options in your Kudzu mobile app or online account center. From there, select "External Accounts". You will need the account and routing numbers to add an external account and you can begin initiating transfers once your external account has been verified.
What do I need to know about my Kudzu savings account?
Your Kudzu savings account is a great way to start planning for your financial future. Our accounts make it easy to grow your funds with built-in tools to help you start saving effortlessly. And, any funds in your savings account will earn interest.
I’m transitioning from smiONE - what should I do?
You have the option to keep your child support payments on your smiONE Card account, or you are welcome to move them over to Kudzu. If you'd like to move your deposits to Kudzu, you can access your information for direct deposit or request a new direct deposit form to formally switch those payments. Otherwise, we recommend getting familiar with your new Kudzu account as it has some differences from smiONE. Learn more about your Accounts, Climb toolkit or PayPerks.
How do I activate my Kudzu debit card?
You can activate your physical debit card in the mobile app or your online account center. You will need to verify your identity through a text verification, provide the activation code from the card carrier your card was originally attached to and create a four-digit Personal Identification Number (PIN).
How long will it take to receive my debit card in the mail?
Your digital debit card is available in the mobile app and your online account center as soon as you open your account and add funds or request a replacement card. Your physical debit card will arrive within seven to 10 calendar days. To request expedited shipping for a fee, contact Customer Care at 1-855-751-0025. If you opted for expedited, your card will arrive within three to five business days. For details on fees associated with your account, please review your fee schedule or Deposit Account Agreement.
Where are Kudzu debit cards accepted?
Your Kudzu debit card can be used everywhere Visa debit cards are accepted.
Can I make purchases before I receive my Kudzu card?
Yes! One of the best parts about Kudzu is our digital-first debit card, which is available for mobile wallet use as soon as your Kudzu account is opened.
What can I do with my Kudzu digital card?
Your digital debit card is available for you to make purchases as soon as you open and fund your account. You can add this virtual card to your mobile wallet for use during online and in-person point-of-sale purchases.
Let’s Grow Together
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About Kudzu
Kudzu was sown from a simple idea—financial freedom should be accessible to everyone. We saw a need for a personal finance experience that goes beyond conventional services, focused on supporting and cultivating long-term growth for our customers. So, we created a virtual financial solution that empowers you to harness the unstoppable growth of kudzu.
Kudzu’s parent company, Systems and Methods, Inc. (SMI), has been building innovative payment solutions for over 50 years. Since 2011, SMI has provided prepaid debit card services for unbanked and underbanked populations to securely receive their government payments, proudly serving more than two million families in 16 states and 13 Tribes. Now, SMI is excited to expand and bring transparent account services and customized training to personal finance beginners across the nation.