The Safety Score, calculated by our research software from public sources, rates how safe a mobile banking, payment or credit-building app is to trust with your money and your credit, on a scale of 0 to 10. Every score uses the same five tests below, with sources you can check yourself.
The five tests
| Test | Points | What we check | Where the data comes from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deposit and license protection | 3 | Deposits held at a named FDIC- or NCUA-insured bank; lender or money-transmitter licenses | The company’s own disclosures, FDIC BankFind, NMLS Consumer Access |
| Fee transparency | 2 | Every fee and price shown on a public page before sign-up | The company’s pricing and terms pages |
| Regulatory record | 2 | Complaint volume and themes over the last 12 months; public enforcement actions | Consumer Financial Protection Bureau complaint database and enforcement actions |
| Security features | 2 | Two-step login, card lock, transaction alerts | The company’s security pages and app |
| User ratings | 1 | Average rating and rating volume | Apple App Store and Google Play |
How we keep scores current
- Every review shows a “Last verified” date.
- We re-check prices, fees and terms every month and complaint counts every quarter.
- When a fact changes, we update the review and the score on the same day.
What a Safety Score is not
A Safety Score isn’t a recommendation to sign up, a credit-score prediction or financial advice. A high score means the company is transparent and well protected. It doesn’t mean the product fits you.
Questions or a correction? See our editorial standards.