Curve (payment card)

Curve, which owns and operates the card and for which the card is named, was founded in 2015 by Shachar Bialick.{{cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/the-cofounder-of-transferwise-has-invested-in-a-mysterious-fintech-startup-2015-12 |title=The cofounder of TransferWise has invested in a mysterious fintech startup |date=December 10, 2015 |first=Sam |last=Shead |work=Business Insider |access-date=15 January 2018}} The company secured seed funding of $2 million in December 2015. An open beta for iOS users in the "business community" was launched in February 2016.{{cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2015/12/10/below-the-curve/ |title=Stealthy London Startup Curve Raises $2M From Notable Fintech Backers |date=December 10, 2015 |first=Steve |last=O'Hear |work=TechCrunch |accessdate=15 January 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://venturebeat.com/2016/02/16/meet-curve-the-latest-london-fintech-firm-that-wants-to-simplify-your-digital-banking/ |title=Meet Curve, the latest London fintech firm that wants to simplify your digital spending |date=16 February 2016 |first=Paul |last=Sawers |work=VentureBeat |accessdate=15 January 2018}} In May 2016, Curve notified customers that it would no longer be able to support American Express after 31 May 2016, offering refunds.Kadhim Shubber, May 25, 2016 [https://ftalphaville.ft.com/2016/05/25/2163158/its-no-fun-when-amex-throws-your-startup-a-curve-ball/ It’s no fun when Amex throws your startup a Curve ball], The Financial Times In December 2016, Curve announced that the app was made available for Android users.{{cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2016/12/16/curvergence/ |title=London fintech startup Curve brings mobile wallet and all-your-cards-in-one app to Android |date=December 16, 2016 |first=Steve |last=O'Hear |work=TechCrunch |accessdate=16 January 2018}}

At Wired Money in 2017, Curve was judged the winning startup by a panel of three judges.Bonnie Christian, June 11, 2017 [https://www.wired.co.uk/article/wired-money-2017-startup-stage Meet the next generation of fintech startups set to revolutionise the world of finance], Wired In July 2017, it was still in beta testing.Jemima Kelly, Anna Irrera, July 3, 2017 [https://www.reuters.com/article/us-payments-curve/uk-startup-curve-launches-financial-time-travel-idUSKBN19O2HO UK startup Curve launches 'financial time travel'], Reuters

It launched in Ireland in January 2018. At that time, it remained based in London. When it launched in the UK, it had a waiting list of 50,000.Charlie Taylor, January 17, 2018 [https://www.irishtimes.com/business/technology/connected-finance-start-up-curve-launches-services-in-ireland-1.3358923 ’Connected finance’ start-up Curve launches services in Ireland], Irish Times Curve went live in the UK in January 2018.Jon Fingas, January 1, 2018 [https://www.engadget.com/2018/01/16/curve-payment-card-launches/ Curve's payment-switching smart card goes live in the UK], Engadget In December 2018, it had a US expansion planned.Oliver Smith, December 6, 2018 [https://www.forbes.com/sites/oliversmith/2018/12/06/curve-hits-300000-users-with-us-expansion-planned-but-this-all-in-one-card-is-still-too-clever-for-its-own-good/#7798c4d22178 Curve Hits 300,000 Users With U.S. Expansion Planned, But This All-In-One Card Is Still Too Clever For Its Own Good], Forbes Support for American Express was reintroduced in late January 2019 on a top-up basis.Steve O'Hear, January 2019 [https://techcrunch.com/2019/01/28/curve-amex/ Curve, the all-your-cards-in-one app, adds support for Amex], TechCrunch When Amex blocked several thousand customers from using Curve's services that week, on February 1, 2019, it was reported that Curve was considering suing Amex,Nikou Asgari and Martin Coulter, February 1, 2019 [https://www.ft.com/content/81db1232-2620-11e9-8ce6-5db4543da632 Fintech firm Curve threatens Amex with legal action], Financial Times alleging anti-competitive action.Steve O'Hear, January 2019 [https://techcrunch.com/2019/01/30/amex-throws-a-curveball/ Amex blocks Curve as the fintech startup vows to fight 'anti-competitive' decision], TechCrunch In 2019, Curve launched a metal card. The card was made of 18 grammes of stainless steel, and came in three colours: Blue Steel, Rose Gold, and Curve Red Limited Edition. Only 5,000 Limited-Edition Curve Red cards were printed in a single run.{{Cite web|date=2021-04-28|title=Curve brings back Red Metal card|url=https://www.finextra.com/pressarticle/87332/curve-brings-back-red-metal-card|access-date=2022-01-07|website=Finextra Research|language=en}}

Using the mobile app, users link their debit and credit cards to the Curve card.{{Cite news|url=https://www.which.co.uk/news/2018/01/curve-card-review-is-this-smart-card-worth-going-for/|title=Curve card review: is this 'smart' card worth going for?|last=Sewraz|first=Reena|date=28 January 2018|work=Which?|access-date=29 January 2019}} A default card from which to make payments or withdrawals can then be set, while users can also switch between cards on the app prior to making payments or withdrawals. Transactions on the card are processed through the MasterCard network and can be made using EMV (chip), magnetic stripe or contactless payment.

The Curve app works for iOSLewis Painter, April 5, 2016 [https://www.macworld.co.uk/review/ios-apps/curve-card-review-interesting-apple-pay-alternative-3637745/ Curve Card review: An interesting Apple Pay alternative], MacWorld and Android.{{Cite web|url=https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.imaginecurve.curve.prd&hl=en_GB|title=Curve: The Right Way To Pay – Apps on Google Play|website=play.google.com|language=en|access-date=2019-08-06}}

In July 2017, Curve rolled out a feature on the app allowing users to retroactively change their selected payment card for a transaction as old as 14 days.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.wired.co.uk/article/curve-time-travel |title=Mobile wallet Curve launches 'time travel' tool to let you 'shop in the past' |date=18 May 2017 |first=Bonnie |last=Christian |magazine=Wired UK |accessdate=16 January 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2017/07/03/curve-go-back-in-time-change-account-you-pay-with-after-purchase.html |title=Fintech app Curve lets you change the account you pay with after you've made a purchase |date=3 July 2017 |first=Arjun |last=Kharpal |publisher=CNBC |accessdate=16 January 2018}} In 2018, it added a "zero fees" feature for spending internationally.Steve O'Hear [https://techcrunch.com/2018/09/20/ahead-of-the-fx-curve/ Curve, the all-your-cards-in-one app, adds 'zero fees' when spending abroad], TechCrunch

In October 2018, the company said it was aiming to become "the Amazon of banking."Arjun Kharpal, October 5, 2018 [https://www.cnbc.com/2018/10/05/fintech-firm-curve-looking-to-raise-50-million.html Fintech firm Curve looking to raise $50 million to become the ‘Amazon of banking’], CNBC

For a time from January 2019 Curve supported American Express,{{Cite news|url=https://techcrunch.com/2019/01/28/curve-amex/|title=Curve, the all-your-cards-in-one app, adds support for Amex|last=O'Hear|first=Steve|date=28 January 2019|work=TechCrunch}} but this was later discontinued.{{Cite web |title=I can't add a card to the Curve app |author= |website=Curve Help Center |date=3 January 2022 |url= https://help.curve.com/i-can't-add-a-card-to-the-curve-app-SJefrdhIu }}

In April 2020, Curve launched the first numberless card in Europe.https://www.curve.com/blog/first-numberless-cards-in-europe/ {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2024}}{{Primary source inline|date=February 2024}}

In September 2021, Curve launched a new Buy Now Pay Later feature branded Curve Flex.{{Cite web |title=Curve joins in on the "buy now, pay later" pie - Latest News |url=https://fintechcompass.net/news/curve-flex/ |access-date=2022-05-07 |website=Fintech Compass |language=en}}

In January 2022, Curve partnered with Huawei to enable contactless payments on HMS enabled Huawei smartphones with AppGallery via Huawei Wallet in Europe.{{cite web |last1=Ro |title=Huawei partners with Curve to enable contactless payments on its phones |url=https://www.gsmarena.com/huawei_partners_with_curve_to_make_contactless_payments_possible_on_hms_phones-news-52758.php |website=GSMArena |access-date=6 July 2023}}

In October 2022, Curve partnered with Fidesmo to enable contactless payments with Fidesmo Pay wearables.{{cite web |title=Curve and Fidesmo unveil wearable payments partnership |url=https://paymentexpert.com/2022/10/05/curve-fidesmo-wearables/ |access-date=5 February 2025}} This makes it possible to use Fidesmo wearables like rings, bracelets and keyrings with any Mastercard or Visa card.cite web |title=Fidesmo Support |url=https://fidesmo.freshdesk.com/en/support/solutions/articles/79000125913-can-i-connect-any-payment-card-to-my-wearable- |access-date 5 February 2025

In November 2019, Business Insider reported Curve had failed to disclose to crowdfund investors that just 14% of its customers were using Curve once a month or more;{{cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/curve-fintech-startup-leaked-active-users-crowdfunding-2019-11?r=US&IR=T |title=Leaked numbers show $200 million fintech startup Curve has far fewer active users than the number of 'customers' it has claimed |date=November 27, 2019 |first=Martin |last=Coulter |work=Business Insider |accessdate=28 November 2019}} Curve had raised more than $7 million through crowdfunding in September 2019. According to the article, only 72,000 of Curve's stated 500,000 customers were using its product even once a month. The company did not respond when approached by Business Insider for comment. The issue was reported in Wikipedia's Curve (payment card) article, Controversy section (this section) on 28 November 2019, but the section was blanked on 2 and 3 December 2019, and fully reinstated with additions on 9 February 2020. The Telegraph reported that day that Curve was accused of removing details of the Business Insider story from the Wikipedia article.{{cite web |last1=Cook |first1=James |title=Top banking apps Starling Bank and Curve accused of editing their Wikipedia pages |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/2020/02/09/top-banking-apps-starling-bank-curve-accused-editing-wikipedia/ |website=The Daily Telegraph |date=9 February 2020}}

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Category:Payment cards

Category:Products introduced in 2015