Level
The Challenge
Zero Financial set out to build something the banking industry said was impossible: a debit card with meaningful rewards. Traditional banks argued the economics didn't work—interchange fees on debit transactions couldn't support cashback programs.
They needed transaction infrastructure that could process payments in real-time, calculate rewards instantly, and maintain the security and compliance standards required for banking. The platform had to integrate with banking-as-a-service partners while delivering a consumer experience that felt native and immediate.
Technical Challenges
Banking-Grade Transaction Infrastructure
Building consumer fintech requires solving problems that traditional banks have spent decades and billions on—but doing it faster, cheaper, and with better UX.
Real-Time Processing
Every swipe needed instant feedback—transaction amount, merchant info, rewards earned. The system processed transactions, calculated cashback, and pushed notifications within seconds of card authorization.
Banking Partner Integration
Level operated through Evolve Bank & Trust for FDIC insurance and banking infrastructure. We built the integration layer that made partner banking rails feel like a native platform—seamless to users, compliant to regulators.
Rewards Economics Engine
The 1% unlimited cashback on debit required sophisticated transaction categorization, interchange optimization, and real-time balance calculations. The rewards engine had to be both generous to users and sustainable for the business.
Platform Architecture
Modern Banking Infrastructure
Level delivered features that made traditional banks look antiquated—real-time everything, no fees, and rewards that actually mattered.
Instant Transaction Visibility
Users saw transactions the moment they happened—not days later when the batch processed. Push notifications, map-based transaction history, and instant balance updates made money feel tangible and controllable.
Early Paycheck Access
Direct deposit detection let users access their paychecks up to two days early. The system identified incoming ACH transfers, verified the source, and made funds available before the official settlement date.
Card Control & Security
Lost card? Lock it instantly from the app. Found it? Unlock just as fast. Real-time fraud detection, instant card freezing, and granular transaction controls gave users security without friction.
High-Yield Savings Integration
The platform offered 2.10% APY on deposits—competitive with the best online savings accounts but integrated directly into the spending experience. Automatic savings rules and goal tracking made the interest meaningful.
Zero Financial's Level platform demonstrated that challenger banks could compete on product, not just marketing. The infrastructure we built processed real-time transactions at scale, maintained banking compliance, and delivered a user experience that legacy banks couldn't match.
The platform's success led to Zero Financial's acquisition by Avant, where the technology continues to power consumer financial products. The transaction processing architecture, rewards engine, and banking partner integrations we built became the foundation for Avant's expanded fintech offerings.
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