Varo Bank Integrates Upside to Drive Debit Card Engagement and Expand Cash Back Benefits

WASHINGTON, D.C., April 6, 2026 – Upside, a leading digital marketplace dedicated to empowering individuals and businesses financially, today announced a strategic partnership with Varo Bank, the first nationally chartered all-digital consumer bank in the U.S. Through this integration, Upside’s cash back offers will be available directly to Varo’s customers via its banking app.

“Helping customers make progress with their money is at the center of everything we build because Varo is a bank that puts more money into our customers’ pockets when they need it,” said Wajiha Ahmed, Head of Cashback and Engagement at Varo Bank. “Embedding Upside in the Varo app gives people a simple way to get more from their everyday purchases, with relevant offers in categories such as fuel, groceries and dining. It’s a seamless way to deliver meaningful value without adding complexity.”

The partnership also expands how consumers discover Upside retail partners, introducing the marketplace to more customers through the Varo app.

“Mobile banking partners like Varo are an important part of how we scale demand for the retailers we serve,” said Chad Crutchfield, Head Of Strategic Partnerships at Upside. “By embedding Upside within banking apps, we increase card engagement for our partners and deliver new, incremental traffic to brick-and-mortar businesses.”

Varo joins a growing ecosystem of financial partners using Upside to connect cardholders with brick-and-mortar retailers in categories such as fuel, grocery, and restaurants. As distribution expands, the marketplace becomes more valuable for both retailers seeking efficient customer acquisition and consumers looking to get more from their everyday spending. Learn more about Upside’s partnerships at upside.com/partnerships. 

ABOUT UPSIDE

Upside is a digital marketplace that connects millions of consumers with brick-and-mortar retailers nationwide. Since 2016, Upside’s personalized offers have empowered individuals to gain greater purchasing power for their essential needs while helping businesses achieve measurable profits. Billions of dollars in commerce run through the Upside platform annually, directly benefiting retailers, consumers, and sustainability initiatives. For more information, visit www.upside.com.

ABOUT VARO BANK

Varo Bank is the first nationally chartered all-digital consumer bank in the U.S., built from the ground up with a focus on the needs of everyday Americans. From credit building to savings to faster payments, Varo has a complete solution to help people make progress in their financial lives. Varo combines the capabilities and nimbleness of a technology company with the security and oversight of a regulated financial institution, enabling agile product design that provides technology-first solutions such as Varo Believe, a secured card to help build credit; Varo Advance, to help stretch hard-earned dollars between paychecks; and a high-yield savings account, offering one of the nation's highest APYs. Varo has been named as one of the Inc. 5000’s 2025 fastest growth companies in the U.S., CNBC's 2023-2025 list of the World's Top Fintech Companies, one of Forbes' World's Best Banks, and Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies. For more information on Varo Advance, Varo Believe, and other offerings such as Perks, visit www.varomoney.com, like Varo Bank on Facebook, and follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and X @varobank. ©2026 Varo Bank, N.A. Member FDIC.

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