99.8%
Previously unscored users obtained a credit score
671
Average credit score for members with no previous credit score
81 pts
Members’ average credit score increase within the first six months of using the Build card
Our partner: Current
Current is a premier U.S. fintech platform offering technology-driven, mobile-only financial solutions with a mission to improve financial outcomes for its members.
The opportunity: Tackling credit invisibility and high costs of credit card debt
For millions of Americans, building credit and accessing affordable financial tools remains an uphill battle. 67% of Americans are living paycheck-to-paycheck.2
According to the FDIC’s National Survey of Unbanked and Underbanked Households4, millions of Americans remain outside the traditional financial system. In 2023, 4.2% of U.S. households—about 5.6 million—were unbanked, and many more are underbanked or lack sufficient credit history to generate a score. This gap underscores the need for innovative credit-building solutions that help consumers establish a financial footprint and access affordable credit products.
By late 2025, financial strain became the “new normal” for many households. NFCC reports that credit card delinquency rates are climbing, and unsecured debt defaults are projected to rise as consumers struggle with persistent economic pressures5.
The secured credit card emerged as a product that could help consumers, providing a safe way to build credit while minimizing the risks of debt.
The solution: A credit-building, secured charge card
In 2023, Current leveraged Cross River’s proprietary, API-based operating system and banking infrastructure alongside it’s own core technology to address the complexity of managing multiple accounts on the backend. This collaboration led to the launch of the 'Build Card', an innovative secured charge card unlike anything previously seen in the market. It offered consumers a first-of-its-kind, accessible way to build credit responsibly—seamlessly integrating spending, saving, and repayment without debt, fees, or the need for a traditional credit check. To support this solution, Cross River and Current designed an autopay settlement flow, ensuring that payments qualified as credit-building transactions which would be recognized by the credit bureaus.
Cross River hosts the deposit accounts within COS (the Cross River Operating System) and connecting the accounts to Current via API. Additionally, Cross River provides a warehouse line of credit for daily settlements at favorable rates, benefiting cardholders. Cross River’s team’s expertise in banking and credit reporting ensured that the Build Card was not only secure and reliable but also fully compliant with regulatory standards.
Features of the Build Card:
Issued by Cross River Bank, Member FDIC: This card is a reliable and widely accepted financial tool.
Connected to members' existing spending balance: Current’s six million members have a single balance to view and manage across credit and debit on its platform. Members can build their credit histories as they make payments, while minimizing the risk of debt.
Secured funds that can be used to pay a member’s bill each month, with Current subsequently reporting their on-time payments to TransUnion and Equifax.
The Build Card offers an affordable way for more people to safely build their credit history. Among other features, the card does not impose annual fees, and does not require deposit minimums, which can drain many everyday Americans of much-needed liquidity.
The impact and prospects
The Build Card's initial entry into credit reporting has been incredibly successful in boosting credit scores for its users. On their first TransUnion credit report after using the Build Card, nearly all previously unscored users (99.8%) received a credit score, and 95% of them received a “Good” rating. This demonstrates the Build Card's effectiveness in helping users establish strong credit foundations.
Build Card members increased their credit scores by an average of 81 points within the first six months of using the Build card1. Members with no previous credit score achieved an average credit score of 672. These results demonstrate Build Card's potential to empower individuals on their credit journey, offering a clear case for accessible and affordable credit building.
By providing a straightforward and inclusive way to build credit history, Current and Cross River are opening doors to better financial futures for what was previously an underserved segment of Americans.
References:
1 How Current's long game built a consumer fintech growth engine
3 Report - Technical correction and update to the CFPB's credit invisibles estimate_FINAL
4 FDIC National Survey of Unbanked and Underbanked Households
5 Financial Strain is the New Normal for American Households
Disclaimer:
Current is a financial technology company, not an FDIC-insured bank. FDIC insurance only covers the failure of an FDIC-insured bank. FDIC insurance up to $250,000 is available on customer funds through pass-through insurance at Choice Financial Group, Member FDIC, and Cross River Bank, Member FDIC where we have a direct relationship for the placement of deposits and into which customer funds are deposited, but only if certain conditions have been met. There may be a risk that FDIC insurance is not available because conditions have not been satisfied. In such cases, funds may not be fully insured in the event the insured depository institution where the funds have been deposited were to fail.
