Varo Visa® Debit Card review
Updated September 28, 2026 · HodlCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 26, 2026
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Our verdict
Varo's Visa Debit Card suits US adults who want an everyday bank card with no monthly charge, since the account fee is $0. It is a debit card issued by Varo Bank, National Association under FDIC and OCC regulation, so read it as plain spending, not a way to hold or move crypto.
Key facts
- Best for
- A no monthly charge US debit card for everyday spending.
- Monthly fee
- $0↗
- Card type
- Debit↗
- Card network
- Visa↗
- Legal entity
- Varo Bank, National Association↗
- Headquarters
- United States↗
- Founded
- 2015↗
- Support channels
- Chat, Phone, Email, Help-centre↗
- Features
- Virtual card
- Official website
- varomoney.com
Facts checked September 26, 2026, 5 sources
Apps and profiles
- Get the app
- App StoreGoogle Play
Pros and cons
Pros
- The account carries a $0 monthly fee.
- The balance sits with Varo Bank, National Association in the United States, regulated by the FDIC and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.
- It is a debit card on the visa network, with a virtual card also listed.
Cons
- It is a debit card from Varo Bank, National Association in the United States, so spending draws on a bank balance rather than on crypto.
- Every channel in chat, phone and email is remote, so no listed route reaches you in person.
- The $0 fee matches £0 and £0, so price does not separate it from the field.
Who it suits
- US adults who want a debit card with no monthly charge.
- Readers who weigh support access highly, since help runs on chat, phone and email.
- People who want a physical debit card and a virtual card side by side.
Who should look elsewhere
- Wise, if a £0 monthly fee on a different provider suits you better, since price is a tie.
- Monzo Flex, if you would rather hold a £0 monthly fee card than a US bank account.
- Bitpanda, if you want a card tied to crypto trading rather than to Varo Bank, National Association.
How Varo Visa® Debit Card compares
9.1 vs 9.4
9.1 vs 9.0
9.1 vs 8.2
9.1 vs 9.5
9.1 vs 9.6
9.1 vs 9.0
9.1 vs 9.1Bitpanda's €0 monthly fee also reads as no cost, and it sits on the crypto side of the card market.
9.1 vs 8.9
9.1 vs 8.1
9.1 vs 8.2
9.1 vs 9.5
9.1 vs 9.4
9.1 vs 9.2
9.1 vs 9.1
9.1 vs 9.0
9.1 vs 8.9- 9.1 vs 8.8
9.1 vs 8.8
9.1 vs 8.6
9.1 vs 8.5
9.1 vs 8.3
Where Varo Visa® Debit Card is available
- Available
- United States
- Licence in United States
- Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), checked September 26, 2026
- Licence in United States
- FDIC (FDIC cert 59190), checked September 26, 2026
Countries from the brand (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Frequently asked questions
How much does the Varo Visa Debit Card cost to hold?+
Varo Bank, National Association lists a $0 monthly fee, so holding the account costs nothing. Monzo Flex and Wise also list a £0 and £0 monthly fee, which means price on its own does not decide between the three.
Who regulates Varo, and where is the money held?+
The balance sits with Varo Bank, National Association, a US bank based in the United States. Both the FDIC and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency appear among its regulators, and the bank is registered as FDIC cert 59190.
Is this a debit card, and is there a virtual one?+
The card is a debit card running on the visa network, and a virtual card is listed among its features. That makes it a standard bank card for everyday spending, with an online version for card payments.
How do I reach Varo customer service?+
Support runs on chat, phone and email. Every channel in that list is remote, so account questions are handled by chat, phone, email or the help centre rather than face to face.
Where does Varo rank on monthly fee?+
Varo sits at 1 on monthly fee among the 379 brands compared, with a $0 fee. Its cost score is 6 and its overall score is 6.
Is Varo a crypto card?+
No. The card is a debit card from Varo Bank, National Association in the United States, and the card feature listed is a virtual card. Spending runs from the bank balance, so it is not a route for holding or moving crypto.
Should I choose Varo or Wise instead?+
Cost is a tie, with $0 at Varo and £0 at Wise. Varo is a US bank based in the United States issuing a debit card on the visa network, so it fits a US account rather than a single market abroad.
When was Varo founded?+
Varo was founded in 2015 and operates as Varo Bank, National Association, a US bank in the United States. The account runs on a $0 monthly fee, and the card is a debit card on the visa network.
Sources
- banks.data.fdic.gov/bankfind-suite/bankfind/details/59190 checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Headquarters, Legal entity, Licences
“CERT=59190; NAME=Varo Bank, National Association; WEBADDR=www.varomoney.com; ACTIVE=1”
- support.varomoney.com/hc/en-us/articles/360000334946-How-... checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Support channels
“Chat - Live, in-app support; Phone - Call 1-877-377-8276 for live, specialized support; Email - Visit varomoney.com/support”
- varomoney.com/about-us checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Founded
“We were founded in 2015 in San Francisco, California by Colin Walsh.”
- varomoney.com/bank-account checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Monthly fee
“KEEP MORE OF YOUR MONEY WITH A FREE BANK ACCOUNT. No minimum balance, maintenance, overdraft, or account fees”
- varomoney.com/debit-card checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Card type, Features, Card network
“VARO VISA DEBIT CARD. NO WEIRD FEES”
Compiled from 5 source pages, checked September 26, 2026. We did not open an account.
Not confirmed yet: Currency conversion fee, Free ATM withdrawals, Protection.