š Getting started
What is Treecard?
Treecard is an impact first business on a mission to plant 1 billion trees. Treecardās wooden MastercardĀ® Debit Card allows users to plant trees as they spend.
For more information, please take a look at the following article: What do I need to know about my Treecard account?
Is Treecard a bank?
Not exactly, but weāve partnered with a bank to provide the highest level of security for our debit cards and accounts. Weāve partnered with Sutton Bank, based in Ohio, to provide our US accounts. Sutton holds our customers' deposits and protects your money with Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) insurance.
How do I open a Treecard account?
Itās easy! All you have to do is download our app from the App Store or Google Play Store and then provide your contact information.
Apply today by downloading Treecard in the Apple App Store or the Google Play store.
For a deep dive into what opening a Treecard account looks like in the app, please take a look at the following article: How do I open a Treecard account?
Who can open a Treecard account?
In order to open an account with Treecard, you need to be a current full-time US resident over the age of 18, possess a Social Security number (SSN), and have a valid State ID or Driver's License.
For more information, please take a look at the following article: What are the requirements to open a Treecard account?
What type of account would I have with Treecard?
ā
With a Treecard account, you can access:
- A Treecard MastercardĀ® Debit Card
- An FDIC-insured checking account that can be managed entirely from your smartphone
Do you check my credit history when I apply to Treecard?
No, we don't check your credit history when you apply for a Treecard account. Applying for a Treecard account will not affect your credit score.
I am located outside of the U.S. When will I get my card?
We have recently launched a beta for our Treecard MastercardĀ® Debit Cards in the United States. š
In the future, weāre excited to expand to other countries as well. The exact dates for launches in other countries will depend on the speed of our US launch. You will be notified immediately once you have graduated from the waitlist to receive your wooden card. š³š³
Until then, we ask for your patience and that you stay tuned and follow us on our Instagram, Twitter or Facebook accounts for the most up-to-date information.
In the meantime, we highly recommend using Ecosia for all your searches (if you arenāt already) if youād like to plant some trees!
š³ How Treecard works
Isnāt it ironic that the cards are made of wood?
We use wood as a step to reduce plastic use. Plastics are extremely damaging for the environment when they are discarded.
Treecard uses only sustainably sourced cherry wood for our cards, and the plastic used in the core is from recycled bottles.
The great part is, that we can produce more than 300,000 cards from the wood of a single cherry tree. We will never need to use more than a few trees to produce all of our cards, and in return, we will plant millions of trees.
Do the wooden cards get easily damaged?
Our wooden cards have been tested and verified to withstand day-to-day use.
Because wood is an organic material, Treecards need to be treated more carefully than plastic spending cards. We recommend that you avoid soaking, bending, or rubbing your Treecard to maximize the card lifetime š
Does Treecard work with Venmo, PayPal, Cashapp, and other payment services?
Yes, you can connect your Treecard to your Venmo, PayPal, or Cashapp account (like you would with any other debit card). Please note that there are certain limits to transferring funds out via payment services, in order to assure that Treecard remains compliant with all federal regulations.
Can I use Treecard with my mobile wallet?
Yes, your Treecard can be added to Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay.
Can I use Treecard outside of the United States?
Yes, your Treecard will work anywhere where Mastercard is accepted, both in the United States and abroad. Treecard also doesnāt charge any foreign transaction fees.
For more information, please take a look at the following article: Can I use my Treecard card while traveling?
Can I use Treecard at ATMs?
Yes, Treecard can be used to withdraw cash from ATMs. Treecard charges no fees for using ATMs, but you may be charged a fee by the ATM operator, even if you do not complete a transaction.
How can I contact Treecard Customer Support?
Our team is always happy to help! š
Feel free to contact us by email if you don't have a Treecard yet.
If you already have a Treecard account, you can also contact our Customer Support team through the In-App Chat, by clicking the š¬ help icon.
š³ The trees
Why do you plant trees?
Trees are the superheroes of our planet. Apart from being the most effective CO2 absorbers we have, trees help mitigate climate change, restart water cycles, stop deserts from spreading and turn barren grounds back into fertile woods and farmland.
Who is Ecosia?
Ecosia is a tree planting search engine that has planted over 125 million trees to date.
Weāve partnered with Ecosia to plant trees in over 60 reforestation sites across 30 countries with the profits from Treecard.
What trees do you plant?
At each of our reforestation sites, we work with native species in order to restore the natural situation that existed before. There are occasional exceptions, such as planting non-invasive fruit or nut trees alongside native trees in agroforestry systems to provide income and food for local communities.
Where do you plant your trees?
Ecosia supports over 60 tree-planting projects in 30+ countries, including Peru, Brazil, Madagascar, Nicaragua, Haiti, Colombia, Spain, Morocco, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, and Indonesia.
In each of these countries, Ecosia works with local partners who are able to monitor the trees on the ground.
What tree-planting methods do you use?
When planting trees, we need to make sure the new forest ecosystem can function properly. Ecosia only plants trees in deforested areas where historically there have been trees ā often in the shape of a forest, but that could also mean widespread savannah trees.
How do you make the money to plant trees?
Whenever you make a purchase using your Treecard Debit Card, Mastercard collects whatās called an interchange fee from the merchant for processing your payment. A portion of this interchange fee is then paid out to Treecard, and we use this revenue to plant trees.
Where does the wood for the cards come from?
All of the wood for our Treecards are made from sustainably sourced cherry wood from the United Kingdom.
š Security & Fees
Is Treecard secure?
Yes, Treecard was designed to keep your information safe. We use encryption to protect your data in-transit and at-rest. We have built tools and processes to ensure your account and data cannot be maliciously accessed, and consider user privacy to be of the utmost importance.
Are Treecard accounts FDIC insured?
Yes, Treecard accounts are insured up to the standard maximum deposit insurance amount of $250,000 through our partner bank, Sutton Bank, Member FDIC.
Is my money safe with Treecard?
Yes! Money deposited in your Treecard account is protected by FDIC insurance, meaning all your money up to $250,000 is guaranteed by the US government.
How will the money I deposit in my Treecard account be used?
Our commitment to the environment goes beyond the trees planted with our cards. We have worked with our banking partner Sutton Bank to ensure that the money you deposit with us will never be used to undo the good that your spending is doing. That is why the money that you deposit into your Treecard account will never be used to fund any fossil fuels or deforestation.
Does Treecard charge any fees?
Treecard doesnāt charge any monthly fees, loading fees, foreign currency fees, ATM withdrawal or balance inquiry fees, customer support fees, or inactivity fees.
For more information please take a look at the following article: Does Treecard charge any fees?