Sequin: Banking designed with women’s best interests in mind - literally!

Tl;dr ✨The Sequin Membership✨ unlocks access to a personalized Sequin Rewards Visa® Debit Card, High-Interest Checking Account: 3.56% APY**** (HYSA rates on checking, so your money isn't locked away in order to grow!), and $1300+ in value with expert-led financial education, community, and discounts on Sequin Perks Partners like Parade, Flex, and more!

I was rejected from the credit card I built at Visa.

Hi everyone! We’re Vrinda + Mark, two payments experts (Visa & PayPal) on a mission to close gender-based financial gaps - more below. I developed the Chase Sapphire Reserve at Visa, and was rejected (!) because I lacked credit history due to heavy debit usage. Turns out, 70% of women’s spend is primarily on debit like mine was (Visa data).

__The financial world was designed to leave women out of the narrative. __

Women could be rejected from bank accounts, credit cards, and business loans until 1974 - not ancient history. Despite the fact that women control over $20T in consumer spending globally, women continue to be systemically disadvantaged when it comes to our finances:

-Women’s spend is disproportionately linked to traditional checking accounts, that earn low to no interest (Visa data).

-Women are 18% more likely to pay avoidable banking fees like overdraft fees and other “gotchas”, costing $218/yr on average.

-Women lack financial education which leads us to manage our finances suboptimally, including paying higher interest rates, carrying credit card debt, or being rejected from credit cards more often.

The original Sequin Card concept was a debit card that builds credit. However, we sunset that product to address gendered financial gaps when they start - with young women’s checking accounts.

*The Sequin Membership is designed with women’s best interests in mind - literally. *

✨The Sequin Membership✨ unlocks access to a personalized Sequin Rewards Visa® Debit Card, High-Interest Checking Account: 3.06% APY**** (HYSA rates on checking, so your money isn't locked away in order to grow!), and $1300+ in value with expert-led financial education, community, and discounts on Sequin Perks Partners like Parade, Flex, and more!

Our Sequin Membership model allows us to align with women’s interests:

1. Your checking balance earns high interest, while remaining accessible (3.06% APY**** as of 09/18/24).

2. Unbiased Recommendations: Sequin doesn’t rely on affiliates, so we can provide unbiased credit card recommendations as well as personalized debt payoff plans and credit-building recommendations!

3. No surprise fees, overdrafts, minimums, or “gotchas”.

*Banking built by women, for women (all genders welcome!). *

Women’s financial health is at a five-year low. Here’s how Sequin Members spark joy:

1. Financial education: workshops, how-to guides, and courses.
2. Community: talk money, woman to woman.
3. Personalized Coral-Colored Card: Write a favorite motto/affirmation “Who run the world!”
4. Fight the Pink Tax!: $500+ in savings on women’s health and wellness partners.

*Who is the Sequin Membership for? *

When products are designed with women in mind, they work better for everyone (all genders welcome). The Sequin Membership is especially powerful for heavy-debit users, those working towards a credit goal (building credit/paying off debt), or anyone who has had a negative experience with their traditional bank. Our ideal member is a young professional woman who is looking to step into her financial power with confidence and maintain confidence throughout her life’s financial goals.

__Our Ask 🙏🏼 __

• Become a Sequin Member (bonus: share your feedback with us at founders@sequincard.com).
• Share this post! Please help spread the word (women are less likely to talk about finances).
• Connect us with any women-focused brand partners!
• *quick blurb to copy & paste: Two Visa & PayPal experts launch the Sequin Membership geared towards empowering women financially. Learn more at www.sequincard.com!