For reasons that are not immediately evident, this mobile app for MasterCard debit cardholders can only be used if the card number starts with 533248.
If your card starts with 511563, you are urged in capital letters not to download this app. Presumably, the sky falls in or something.
Instead, cardholders with 511563 are asked to download a separate app specifically for this card type. So save yourself a load of hassle and double-check your card number before downloading.
However, both mobile apps do pretty much the same, so this review applies to both Direct Express apps. There are no great differences between the two.
● Securely manage your Direct Express debit card on your phone
● Check balances, view transactions, deposits and create alerts
● Locate your nearest ATM
● Learn new ways to use your card
● Get chances to win monetary prizes
The apps bring together all the card management functionality you would want into a single app (card numbers permitting).
As well as the usual stuff, you can also activate a new card, check your balance, and download monthly statements. And a bunch of other things as well, such as reviewing all your transactions, logging in using biometrics, and going paperless.
The alerts are a valuable tool to help you keep track of card activity and improve the safety of your debit card.
Recent updates have seen the app loaded up with a raft of new beefed-up security measures to ensure mobile data traffic and sensitive account details are highly secure and don't leak out.
● It's free
● Easy to use
● Gain instant insight into your finances
● Manage your card securely from your phone
● Supports English, Spanish, and French
● They have added financial education resources recently
● No links in the app description to the other app. You have to go searching yourself.
● It does not explicitly say data traffic is encrypted.
Both Direct Express app flavors are available from Google Play and Apple's App Store. However, be sure to download the right one by checking your card number first.
Direct Express has a fresh, modern look and is easy to navigate around. If you have used other financial apps in the past, this one won't present any significant problems.
Starting with the Android apps:
533248 cards - You need Android 4.0 or later. The Google Play description states the app needs just 8.0 MB of storage space. This meager requirement looks suspiciously like a typo.
It's rated as 4.6 out of five.
511563 cards - This app needs Android 5.0 or later and 84 MB of storage space. It is rated as 4.3 out of five.
For iOS users:
533248 cards - You need 383.5 MB of storage and iOS 9.1 or later. The app gets a very healthy 4.6 out of five.
511563 cards - Identical storage and iOS requirements. And an identical rating from users as well.
Reviews of both apps on both platforms are generally very positive, which is always a good sign.
