How do I open a Flare Account

Are you ready for a bank account with features that fit your lifestyle?

The Flare Account^® offers various features designed to give you a convenient and accessible banking experience.

The Flare Account online banking account offers you the tools you need to take control of your money if you live life on the go. Best of all, it’s simple to apply.

Banking services provided by Pathward^®, National Association, Member FDIC.

How Do I Open a Flare Account?

Applying for a Flare Account is as simple as completing an application and providing the information we need.¹ Follow the steps below to access all of the exciting benefits offered by our online bank account.

1. Gather your identifying information

We’ll need you to provide some specific information to help us confirm your identity during the application process. To make the process smoother, gather the following information before filling out the application. You’ll need:

A valid residential address in the U.S. that isn’t a P.O. box
Your Social Security Number
Proof of your U.S. citizenship or permanent resident status

Once you have what you need, you can start completing the application.

2. Complete our online application

Every part of our Flare Account is designed with convenience in mind; this is why the Flare Account has made it possible for you to open a deposit account that will give you access to our optional savings account² online using any mobile device. Access our online application and enter the information required. If you’ve already gathered the items mentioned above, you should be able to complete the process.

If you don’t have internet access or don’t feel comfortable applying online, you can always visit your nearest ACE Cash Express location to apply for the Flare Account in-store.

3. Choose your card

When you open a Flare Account, you also get the chance to support a great cause. Along with our regular debit cards, we offer four Flare Account^® Charity Debit Cards. Each card features one of the following organizations:

Every time you make a purchase using your Charity Debit Card, we will donate to your chosen charity without any additional cost to you.³

When Will I Get My Debit Card?

If approved, you will receive your debit card in the mail within 7-10 business days.

Why Choose a Flare Account?

We are committed to making our customers’ lives better. That’s why we offer mobile banking features through the Flare Account to help you take control of your money in a way that works for you. For example, once you enroll in Direct Deposit, you will have access to unique features, including:

No-fee⁴ cash withdrawals - With qualifying Direct Deposit activity, you can withdraw up to $400 per day at any participating ACE Cash Express store without paying any transaction fees. You can also add cash into your account at any ACE location.
Overdraft⁵ option - If you qualify, you can opt-in to our optional debit card overdraft service.
Payback Rewards⁶ - Earn credits through the special offers found in your mobile app or Online Account Center.
Mobile alerts - Get real-time alerts on account activity, helping you track purchases and catch fraud early.
Send funds⁷ - If your friends and family have a Flare Account or an ACE Elite^® Visa^® Prepaid Debit Card, you can send and receive money through FlashPayID! This also applies to other Netspend products.

Ready to simplify your finances with convenient mobile banking? Apply for your Flare Account here.

This blog is not intended to provide any tax, legal, financial planning, insurance, accounting, investment, or any other kind of professional advice or services. To make sure that any information or suggestions in this blog fit your particular circumstances, you should consult with an appropriate tax or legal professional before acting on any suggestions or information that we provide.

Disclaimers

1. IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR OPENING A CARD OR DEPOSIT ACCOUNT: To help the federal government fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering activities, the USA PATRIOT Act requires us to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person who opens an Account. WHAT THIS MEANS FOR YOU: When you open an Account, we will ask for your name, address, date of birth, and your government ID number. We may also ask to see a copy of your driver’s license or other documents at any time. All Accounts are opened subject to our ability to verify your identity by requiring acceptable types of identification. We may validate the information you provide us to ensure we have a reasonable belief of your identity. If we are not able to verify your identity to our satisfaction, we will not open your Account or we may close the Account if it was previously funded. Your Account is subject to fraud prevention restrictions at any time, with or without notice. Residents of Vermont are ineligible to open a Card Account.

2. The optional Savings Account linked to your Flare Account is made available to Accountholders through Pathward, Member FDIC. To open a Savings Account, consent to receive communications from us in electronic form is required. Interest is calculated on the Average Daily Balance(s) of the Savings Account and is paid quarterly.

• If the Average Daily Balance is $2,000.00 or less, the interest rate paid on the entire balance will be 5.87% with an annual percentage yield (APY) of 6.00%.

• If the Average Daily Balance is more than $2,000.00, the interest rate paid on the portion of the Average Daily Balance which exceeds $2,000.00 will be 0.49% with an APY of 0.50%, and the interest paid on the portion of the Average Daily Balance which is $2,000.00 or less will be 5.87%. The APY for this tier will range from 6.00% to 0.60%, depending on the balance in the account.

The interest rates and APYs of each tier may change. The APYs were accurate as of 2/1/2025. No minimum balance to open Savings Account or obtain the yield(s). However, you must receive direct deposit(s) totaling at least $500 within one (1) calendar month to be eligible to open a Savings Account. Savings Account funds are withdrawn through the Flare Account and transaction fees could reduce the interest earned on the Savings Account. Funds on deposit are FDIC insured through Pathward. Once your identity is verified and your account is registered, your funds on deposit in your Savings account are FDIC insured up to $250,000 through Pathward, Member FDIC, subject to certain conditions including regulatory requirements for FDIC pass-through insurance and the aggregation of all funds held on deposit in the same capacity at Pathward. Pathward may place your funds at one or more participating FDIC-insured banks (www.pathward.com/programbanks). FDIC insurance protects against the failure of Pathward, not the failure of Ouro Global, Inc. (“Ouro”). Ouro, a financial technology company, is not a bank and is not FDIC insured.

3. ACE Cash Express donates $0.05 for each $100.00 in debit card purchase transactions (net of refunds and chargebacks) made with a debit card branded with your chosen charity: Homes For Our Troops, Inc., Humane Society of the United States, National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc., and AdoptAClassroom.org. ACE Cash Express will donate to each of Homes For Our Troops, Inc. and AdoptAClassroom.org up to $200,000 per year, after taking into account donations generated through Flare Account transactions and other debit card programs associated with ACE Cash Express. ACE Cash Express and Netspend will donate to National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc., up to $350,000 per year, after taking into account donations generated through Flare Account transactions and other debit card programs associated with ACE Cash Express. Each of the foregoing beneficiaries is a 501(c)(3) corporation. Pathward, Ouro Global, Inc., and Visa^® do not endorse or sponsor these offers.

4. Make up to $400 in fee-free cash withdrawals per day from your Flare Account by using your debit card at participating ACE Cash Express locations. $400 total is calculated based on all withdrawals performed at all ACE Cash Express locations visited in a day. A direct deposit (no dollar minimum) to the account within the immediately preceding thirty-five (35) days is required. See store for details. Although this feature is available at no additional charge with qualifying direct deposit, certain other transaction fees and costs, terms, and conditions are associated with the use of this Account. Offer subject to change. This optional offer is not a Pathward, or Visa offer nor does Pathward, or Visa endorse this offer.

5. The Debit Card Overdraft Service is an optional service made available to eligible Flare Account customers by Pathward. Once you enroll and meet the eligibility requirements, you will be charged $20.00 for each transaction that overdraws your account by more than $10.00, up to a maximum of five (5) fees per calendar month. To avoid that fee, you have twenty-four (24) hours from the time of the first transaction that creates the overdraft to bring your Account back to a zero ($0.00) or a positive balance. Overdraft protection and the overdraft fee applies solely to (i) signature and PIN purchase transactions and (ii) ATM withdrawals. ACH Debit transactions are not eligible for coverage. Any negative balance must be repaid within thirty (30) days. Whether we authorize an overdraft is discretionary, and we reserve the right not to pay. For example, we typically will not pay overdrafts if you fail to meet the eligibility requirements for this service or you attempt too many transactions or transactions that create too large of an overdraft. Additional Overdraft Service Terms and Conditions apply, including initial and ongoing eligibility requirements for the service. This service is expensive, so we encourage you to research alternatives before enrolling. Once enrolled, you may opt-out at any time; however, you are responsible to repay any overdrawn amounts on your account even if you opt-out of this service.

6. Payback Rewards is an optional program. You may opt-out at any time by visiting the Payback Rewards page in your Online Account Center. Reward offers are based on individual shopping habits. Cash back rewards are credited to your Account and are not available in the form of a check or other direct payment method. See the program FAQs and Terms and Conditions in your Online Account Center for additional details about how and when you get rewarded. Program sponsor: Ouro Global, Inc. Pathward, and Visa are not affiliated in any way with this program and do not endorse or sponsor this program.

7. No Account-to-Account Transfer Fee when completed online. Other transaction fees, costs and terms and conditions may apply. Use of Account is also subject to funds availability. See Deposit Account Agreement for details.

The Flare Account^® is a demand deposit account established by Pathward, N.A., Member FDIC, and the Flare Account Debit Card is issued by Pathward, N.A., pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. Ouro Global, Inc. is a service provider to Pathward, N.A.

Card can be used everywhere Visa^® debit cards are accepted.

The ACE Elite^® Visa^® Prepaid Debit Card is issued by Pathward, N.A., Member FDIC, pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. Ouro Global, Inc. is a registered agent of Pathward, N.A. Card may be used everywhere Visa debit cards are accepted. Use of the Card Account is subject to activation, ID verification, and funds availability. Transaction fees, terms, and conditions apply to the use and reloading of the Card Account. See the Cardholder Agreement for details.