Stash

Stash was founded in New York in 2015 by Brandon Krieg and Ed Robinson around a simple pitch: automated, fractional-share investing for people starting with a few dollars. The regulated machinery sits in two subsidiaries: Stash Investments LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser, and Stash Capital LLC, a FINRA and SIPC member broker-dealer. Banking and the Stock-Back debit card run through Stride Bank, with FDIC insurance on deposits.

The company's ownership is changing. In February 2026, Grab Holdings, the Singaporean super-app group, agreed to acquire a 50.1% stake at a $425 million enterprise value, with the rest to follow over three years and closing expected in late 2026. Grab has said Stash will keep operating as a standalone US brand under its founders, so for account holders the practical effect so far is none, but it is worth knowing who will own the platform.

Stash charges a monthly subscription rather than commissions. The old Growth and Stash+ tiers are gone: the pricing page now sells a single plan, The Stash Plan, at $12 a month ($108 billed annually). That flat fee is the main drag on small accounts, since it applies no matter how little is invested. Managed Smart Portfolios add a 0.25% annual advisory fee on balances above $1,000.

The Stock-Back card is the distinctive feature: everyday debit purchases earn fractional shares instead of cash, at 1% on the first $1,000 of monthly spend, then 0.125% (or one cent minimum) after that, with rotating bonus merchants up to 3% capped at $10 of bonus value per month. Card rewards vest immediately and can be sold at once, unlike the signup and referral bonuses.

The signup offer pays $25 for opening a personal brokerage account through the promotion and investing at least $5, credited up to 10 days after qualifying. Retirement and custodial accounts do not qualify. The referral program, Stash It Forward, rewards both sides when the referred friend opens a personal portfolio and deposits the minimum; the commonly advertised figure is $30, but the official terms define ranges of $5 to $100 in cash or $20 to $100 in stock per offer, with Stash setting each campaign's amount. Stock rewards must be claimed within 7 days or they convert to cash, and referral earnings cap at $1,000 per rolling 12 months. A low-profile $5 promo also exists for opening a UGMA/UTMA custodial account, with no deposit required, though the money belongs to the child until they come of age.

Every one of these bonuses shares the same catch: a 90-day hold from the deposit date. Withdraw the money, or close the account, before the window ends and the bonus is forfeited. Combined with the monthly subscription, the arithmetic deserves attention: three months of the $12 fee come to about $36, more than the $25 signup bonus itself, so the offers only make sense if you would use Stash anyway.

Bonuses may be treated as taxable income, and Stash reserves clawback rights if account information turns out to be inaccurate.

Stash is US-only: promotions require US residency and a personal brokerage account in good standing. The Stock-Back card additionally requires both an open brokerage account and an active Stash banking account.

As a bonus proposition, Stash is honest but small. The $25 signup and $30-ish referral rewards are real and the requirements are low, but the subscription model means the platform quietly reclaims value every month. It suits people who want the app's habit-building structure; pure bonus hunters will find better arithmetic elsewhere.