BEST CREDIT CARDSBEST CREDIT CARDSJASPER CARD REVIEW: FROM SOLID TO LACKLUSTER TO GONE

Jasper Card Review: From Solid to Lackluster to Gone

(NO LONGER AVAILABLE) Launched as an option for people with no U.S. credit history, it has morphed into a cash-back card with a pedestrian rewards rate (unless you're a hardcore Jasper evangelist).
Melissa Lambarena Author Avatar
Mar 17, 2023 10:18 a.m. PDT
Edited by
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SOME CARD INFO MAY BE OUTDATED
This page includes information about the Jasper Mastercard®, currently unavailable on NerdWallet. The information about the Jasper Mastercard® has been collected by NerdWallet and has not been provided or reviewed by the card issuer.

2.9

NerdWallet rating
The bottom line:

When it was available to those with fair credit (a Vantage Score of 640 or higher), this card was worth exploring as a low-fee option. But if you have good credit, you’re likely to qualify for better offers.

Pros
  • No annual fee*
  • Qualify with limited/bad credit
  • Reports to the three major credit bureaus
  • Earns rewards
  • No foreign transaction fees
Cons
  • Longer approval process
  • Mobile-only account access
Jasper Mastercard® Image
Jasper Mastercard®
Annual Fee

$0*

Regular APR

15.49%-24.99% Variable

Intro APR

N/A

Rec. credit score

Jasper Mastercard®
Jasper Mastercard® Image

Annual Fee

$0*

Regular APR

15.49%-24.99% Variable

  • Annual fee

    $0*

  • Rewards rate

    1%-6%

  • Bonus offer

    None

  • Intro APR

    N/A

  • Ongoing APR

    APR: 15.49%-24.99% Variable

    Cash Advance APR: 24.99%-29.99% Variable

  • Foreign transaction fee

    0%

More details from Jasper
  • Get up to 6% cash back by referring friends!
  • Start with 1% and get an extra 1% for a full year for every friend you bring on board.
  • Cash back not limited to certain categories, earn on almost all everyday purchases.
  • No annual fee, no security deposit, no foreign transaction fees.
  • Simple, intuitive app to manage your account.
  • Unique auto payment options that help you build and maintain your credit score.
  • Receive cash back automatically every month as a statement credit after three on time payments.
  • Earn cash back as long as your account is in good standing.
  • Your cash back maximum varies based on your credit limit.
  • Issued by WebBank, Member FDIC.

Compare to Other Cards

ANNUAL FEE
$0
REGULAR APR
19.24%-29.24% Variable APR
Rates & Fees
INTRO APR
0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months
RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE
ANNUAL FEE
$0
REGULAR APR
17.24%-28.24% Variable APR
Rates & Fees
INTRO APR
0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers
RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE
ANNUAL FEE
$0
REGULAR APR
20.49%-29.24% Variable APR
INTRO APR
0% intro APR on purchases and Balance Transfers for 15 months
RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE
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Detailed review: Jasper Mastercard®

» This card is no longer available

The Jasper Mastercard® has been discontinued. The card served distinctly different audiences during its life cycle. It started out as a card to help people build credit; see our best credit cards for fair credit for other options in that vein. Later, it was positioned as a traditional cash back card for people with good credit or better; see our best cash back credit cards for other options along those lines. Below is our review from when the Jasper Mastercard®was still available.

• • •

The Jasper Mastercard®, issued by WebBank, falls short on value when compared with other credit cards in its class.

Launched in 2018, under the name CreditStacks, it originally targeted working professionals who were new to the U.S. and lacked a credit history. The startup company behind the card broadened its focus in mid-2020 to professionals with no credit history, but the card has since shifted its underwriting. As of summer 2021, the card requires a Social Security number and a traditional hard credit inquiry. It was once a valuable alternative credit card, but as a traditional credit card, it doesn’t hold up to the competition.

Back when it was targeted at people with fair credit (a Vantage Score higher than 640), its ongoing rewards rate of 1% on all purchases was attractive. But those with good credit can easily find stronger rewards on other credit cards.

Jasper Mastercard®: Basics

Card type: Cash back.

Annual fee: $0*.

Rewards: At least 1% cash back on every eligible purchase. (It's possible to boost this rate up to 6% back, but you have to refer the card to friends. More on that below.)

APR: The ongoing APR is 15.49%-24.99% Variable.

Penalty APR: None.

Foreign transaction fee: None.

Other perks:

  • Travel benefits, including a collision damage waiver for rental cars, insurance for lost or damaged luggage, travel accident insurance and trip cancellation/interruption reimbursement.

  • Safety benefits and other perks, including MasterCard ID Theft Protection and cell phone protection.

Drawbacks and considerations

Mediocre incentives

With the Jasper Mastercard®, you'll earn at least 1% back on all eligible purchases. You can increase that rate up to 6% back, but it isn't easy. On top of the base rate of 1%, you'll get an additional 1% back (up to 6% for the year) for each successful referral to the card. Essentially, you'd only attain 6% back if you had five friends who wanted and were approved for the card in the same year. Any successful referrals will also earn an extra 1%, for a total of 2% back, for a 12-month period. Terms apply. Rewards redeem for statement credit.

It's a decent offer if you have a lot of friends who will follow your recommendations, but you may qualify for bigger baseline rewards — that don't hinge on referrals — on other credit cards.

NerdWallet's list of best credit cards can also offer you some ideas.

A potentially long approval process

The approval timeline for the majority of Jasper Mastercard® applications is currently two to three business days. Contrast that with an application for a credit card from a major issuer, which will typically approve or deny an application within minutes. For a more streamlined process, you can apply for a credit card with an established issuer.

Mobile-only account access

With the Jasper Mastercard®, you can only manage your account via the Jasper app. If you need to access your account via a computer, you'll need to look for a different credit card that can offer that user experience.

Alternate Pick: Earn up to 2% cash back
Earn rewards while building credit

This card requires a minimum $200 security deposit upfront, but it offers rewards and a path to upgrade to an unsecured card. The annual fee is $0. A Social Security number is required.

How to decide if it's right for you

The Jasper Mastercard® was a decent option for people who have fair credit. But those with good credit or better will find better options.

Methodology

NerdWallet reviews credit cards with an eye toward both the quantitative and qualitative features of a card. Quantitative features are those that boil down to dollars and cents, such as fees, interest rates, rewards (including earning rates and redemption values) and the cash value of benefits and perks. Qualitative factors are those that affect how easy or difficult it is for a typical cardholder to get good value from the card. They include such things as the ease of application, simplicity of the rewards structure, the likelihood of using certain features, and whether a card is well-suited to everyday use or is best reserved for specific purchases. Our star ratings serve as a general gauge of how each card compares with others in its class, but star ratings are intended to be just one consideration when a consumer is choosing a credit card. Learn how NerdWallet rates credit cards.

About the author

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