Logo
Logo
  • Topics Icon Topics
    • AI Icon AI
    • Banking Icon Banking
    • Blockchain/DeFi Icon Blockchain/DeFi
    • Embedded Finance Icon Embedded Finance
    • Fraud/Identity Icon Fraud/Identity
    • Investing Icon Investing
    • Lending Icon Lending
    • Payments Icon Payments
    • Regulation Icon Regulation
    • Startups Icon Startups
  • Podcasts Icon Podcasts
  • Products Icon Products
    • Webinars Icon Webinars
    • White Papers Icon White Papers
  • Events Icon Events
    • Fintech Nexus Events
    • Fintech Meetup
  • Press Icon Press
  • Search
  • Sign in
Reading
Fintech Nexus Newsletter (December 14, 2023): Upgrade launches a new kind of secured credit card
ShareTweet
Home
News
Fintech Nexus Newsletter
Fintech Nexus Newsletter (December 14, 2023): Upgrade launches a new kind of secured credit card

Fintech Nexus Newsletter (December 14, 2023): Upgrade launches a new kind of secured credit card

Peter Renton·
Fintech Nexus Newsletter
·Dec. 14, 2023·4 min read

Upgrade continues to break new ground in consumer fintech.

When the Upgrade Card launched in 2019, it was the first credit card ever to marry the benefits of a revolving line of credit with a fixed-rate installment loan.

Yesterday, Upgrade launched another innovative new card product. The Upgrade Secured Onecard is a secured card backed by a savings account that pays more than 5% interest. It is also a generous cash-back card, users earn 1.5% to 3% depending on the category.

Upgrade also offers the ability for users to graduate to an unsecured card if they hit certain milestones. And when they do graduate they can keep the same card, it just transforms into an unsecured card.

The new card is designed as a loss leader of sorts as CEO Renaud Laplanche stated, “It’s not a product that is designed to make money. It’s a way to help consumers build their credit.” 

It is also a way to bring consumers into the Upgrade ecosystem who do not qualify for an Upgrade Card or a personal loan today.


Featured

Upgrade says its secured card has trifecta of differentiators

By Miriam Cross

The fintech is the second in two months to launch a secured credit card. Upgrade’s version will offer up to 3% cash back and elevate users to the unsecured version over time.



From Fintech Nexus

> E-commerce fintech SellersFi closes $300M credit facility from Citi

By David Feliba

E-commerce fintech SellersFi secured a $300 million credit facility from Citi, leveraging the increasing popularity of alternative payments.

> Long Take: Trusting Artificial Intelligence based on ZK Proofs, and the $10B fraud market

By Lex Sokolin

And a look at the recent controversy regarding Bridgewater Associates.

> The Threat of Serial Fraud

www.fintechnexus.com

We’re in a new age of fraud. What started as undetectable fraud through digitization now sees industrial-scale reproduction and distribution via automation in serial fraud. Learn how the digital shift of documentation brings opportunities for rapid customer onboarding but also unprecedented risks of onboarding fraud.


Podcast

Jason Bates_11:FS

Jason Bates, Co-Founder of 11:FS on a new framework for banking innovation

Jason Bates has co-founded two of the most successful digital banks in the UK. And his deep experience in financial innovation…

> Listen Now


Editorial Cartoon


Webinar

Payments Innovation is Hot: What to Expect in 2024

Dec 14, 12pm EST

Global payments revenue grew double digits in 2023 – wondering what the near future of the burgeoning payments space might… Learn More


Also Making News

  • USA: Neobank Dave’s new chatbot achieves 89% resolution rate, CEO says
    The neobank and personal finance app this month launched DaveGPT, a gen AI-driven chatbot that can respond to customer inquiries in real-time.
  • Global: How generative AI is changing Klarna’s work culture
    The Swedish payment company is using generative artificial intelligence to make its human workforce more efficient — but also expects the technology to fill in for roles it loses to attrition.
  • USA: Payitoff teams up with fintechs to lower student loan payments
    The debt guidance platform provides borrowers access to federal repayment plans as student loan payments resume after over three years.
  • USA: New survey: Consumer distrust and ignorance surround Gen AI’s use in financial services
    Consumers don’t care if their banks use Gen AI, at least that is what new data by FIS seems to suggest. 67% of consumers would make no changes if they found out their primary bank was using Gen AI, but at least 25% would consider discontinuing the relationship. 
  • LatAm: Mexican Fintech Kapital Raises Financing Led by Tribe Capital
    Financial technology firm Kapital raised funding in a round led by Tribe Capital to fuel expansion in Mexico and elsewhere in Latin America.
  • Global: Why Pave Bank Believes It Can Be The Future Of Digital Banking
    Pave Bank has raised $5.2 million as it secures its first banking license for a venture planning to pioneer digital banking services
  • UK: Revolut’s Storonsky claims second place in UK ranking of top ten billionaires
    Revolut’s Nik Storonsky has claimed second place in a new ranking of the UK’s youngest billionaires.

To sponsor our newsletters and reach 220,000 fintech enthusiasts with your message, contact us here.

  • Peter Renton
    Peter Renton

    Peter Renton is the chairman and co-founder of Fintech Nexus, the world’s largest digital media company focused on fintech. Peter has been writing about fintech since 2010 and he is the author and creator of the Fintech One-on-One Podcast, the first and longest-running fintech interview series.

    View all posts
Tags
Global newsletternewsNewsletter
Related

Fintech Nexus Newsletter (June 11, 2024): Apple introduces Tap to Cash for iPhone to iPhone payments

Fintech Nexus Newsletter (June 10, 2024): Jelena McWilliams finds $85 million missing in Synapse fiasco

Fintech Nexus Newsletter (June 7, 2024): US Bank and Greenlight team up for for teen bank accounts

Fintech Nexus Newsletter (June 6, 2024): Robinhood acquires Bitstamp in a $200m deal

Popular posts

Today:

  • BNPL-Originations-by-credit-score-categoryDebt Now, Report Later: BNPL’S Murky Data Morass May. 20, 2025
  • smartphone-593321_1280Rising digital spending among findings of Alkami, Cornerstone Advisors report May. 22, 2024
  • SEC-Fintech-Nexus-NewsletterFintech Nexus Newsletter (May 24, 2024): A SEC approves spot ETH ETFs May. 24, 2024
  • newsletterFintech Nexus Newsletter (June 3, 2024): Monzo revenue up 2x with first full year of profitability Jun. 3, 2024
  • Robinhood-Fintech-Nexus-Newsletter-1Fintech Nexus Newsletter (June 6, 2024): Robinhood acquires Bitstamp in a $200m deal Jun. 6, 2024
  • Members Buy The DipsHerd-Earned Cash May. 15, 2025
  • Study reveals half of Brits are now more wary of online banking, with online fraud a key concernStudy reveals half of Brits are now more wary of online banking, with online fraud a key concern May. 23, 2024
  • Breaking Down a Broken Healthcare Payments SystemBreaking Down a Broken Healthcare Payments System May. 29, 2024
  • Nium-Fintech-Nexus-NewsletterFintech Nexus Newsletter (June 5, 2024): Nium raises $50 million at a lower valuation Jun. 5, 2024
  • Tap-To-Cash-Fintech-Nexus-NewsletterFintech Nexus Newsletter (June 11, 2024): Apple introduces Tap to Cash for iPhone to iPhone payments Jun. 11, 2024

This month:

  • Expect to Apply for BNPL Loan (2)Fintechs Flouting Recession Vibes  May. 8, 2025
  • BNPL-Originations-by-credit-score-categoryDebt Now, Report Later: BNPL’S Murky Data Morass May. 20, 2025
  • Aidan CorbettWayflyer’s $5B Bet on Small Business Lending May. 1, 2025
  • Members Buy The DipsHerd-Earned Cash May. 15, 2025
  • Vesey Ventures – Julia HuangWhy agentic AI will spark commerce’s next PayPal moment Apr. 10, 2025
  • LoganAllinThe “Third Wave” Volatility Strategy for Fintech Investors Apr. 24, 2025
  • Climate Tech Funding Momentum Continues…For NowStormy Weather Ahead for Climate Finance? May. 1, 2025
  • USAID’s Role in Global Health FundingWith USAID in shambles, fintechs look to lend lifelines Apr. 24, 2025
  • Reimagining Overdrafts in the Age of Intelligent BankingReimagining Overdrafts in the Age of Intelligent Banking May. 8, 2025
  • Victor Fimbres, CoFounder and CTO, Forage(1)Amidst federal upheaval, lessons from 4 years of benefits-focused fintech May. 6, 2025

  • About
  • Contact
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms
Subscribe
Copyright © 2025 Fintech Nexus
  • Topics
    • AI
    • Banking
    • Blockchain/DeFi
    • Embedded Finance
    • Fraud/Identity
    • Investing
    • Lending
    • Payments
    • Regulation
    • Startups
  • Newsletters
    • Fintech Nexus Daily
    • The Fintech Blueprint
  • Podcasts
  • Products
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
  • Events
    • Fintech Nexus Events
    • Fintech Meetup
  • Fintech Blueprint
  • Advertise
    • Fintech Nexus
    • The Fintech Blueprint
  • Subscribe
  • Contact Us
Start typing to see results or hit ESC to close
lis digital banking USA Lending Club UK
See all results