This is what I struggle with understanding. Maybe it's because I'm from a "slightly" older generation. But I've watched my younger colleagues one after another get Mondo(Monzo) cards and I've quizzed them on why they switched. The answers came in two categories a) because it has an app and b) dunno? because everyone else has one. So...I'm still stumped for a good reason to switch.
But kudos to the company behind this because I do appreciate the fact that it seems to have been a kick up the backside of ye olde guard.
I think an entire generation of students in England and Wales who now are paying up to £9000 per year of study would likely disagree with this.
While this is still less than many US examples, it's still a ton of debt for the average UK student who is unlucky enough to have an English or Welsh postcode (Scotland continues to offer free higher education). Especially so when you consider average graduate salaries in the UK.
i.e Government Issues some Bonds -> Bank buys the bonds with bonds at interest, Federal Reserve print more green paper using the instrument of debt and we all(world) stupidly buy American green paper(Dollar) thinking it has value.
Few cycles, a economic crisis and a purge later they print more notes and cycle continues.
I opened a secured card here in the US, but I never use it, because it just feels weird to "owe" the bank money and not to be able to pay it back as fast as I can. I usually have to wait for the end of the month, and if I mess something up then I have to pay huge fines (that you cutely call APR).
The more you get into this system, the more you seem to collect credit cards. I have friends with dozens of them. What happens if you lose one? Or if you get your wallet stolen? Or if you forget that after the first year you start paying fees on it? etc.
Most of us can live without the rewards if we get other benefits. For example with Monzo, you get added security, you can use it all over the world for free, you can send money to your friends or split the bill easily, you can track your finance, set limits on your budgets, see what was that 30$ you spent a month ago and where it was, round up your purchases to save money, etc. There's just so much benefits that you end up using it all the time as your default card. That's how they get you I guess. But it's so much more practical and easy to use that people have fell in love with their branding as well.