# Step

> Source: https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/step
> research date 2026-05-30 · extracted at 2026-10-07
> Publisher: Barcoder — encyclopedia of QR, barcode and payment-code standards

Specifications:
- [Step — official](https://step.com/)

## Overview

**Step** is **US teen banking app for 13-18 year olds** + **FDIC-insured via partner bank Evolve Bank & Trust** + **Apr 2021 $100M Series C** + **~$920M valuation 2021 post-Series C** + **Steph Curry investor announcement** + **competes in teen banking market against Greenlight + GoHenry + Current** + **FDIC-insured bank accounts without fees + secured Visa card that helps teens establish credit before they turn 18** <sup>[1][1], [2][2], [United States report](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/US)</sup>. **2025 baseline**: Step US teen banking app for 13-18 year olds + FDIC-insured via partner bank Evolve Bank & Trust + Apr 2021 $100M Series C + ~$920M valuation 2021 post-Series C + Steph Curry investor announcement; **Step competes in a crowded market of mobile banking services aimed at a younger demographic, targeting teenagers ages 13 to 18, providing FDIC-insured bank accounts without fees and a secured Visa card that helps them establish credit before they turn 18** distinctive US teen banking + secured Visa card + credit history building before 18; **Global Teen Banking App market size USD 1.23B 2025 + USD 1.52B 2026 + USD 5.68B 2034 projected**.

**Distinctive Step positioning**:
- **US teen banking app for 13-18 year olds** (Step Mobile Inc; privately-held; FDIC-insured via partner bank Evolve Bank & Trust)
- **FDIC-insured via partner bank Evolve Bank & Trust** distinctive US teen banking BaaS partnership
- **Apr 2021 $100M Series C** distinctive US teen banking Series C funding
- **~$920M valuation 2021 post-Series C** distinctive US teen banking pre-IPO valuation
- **Steph Curry investor announcement** distinctive US teen banking celebrity backer
- **Competes in teen banking market against Greenlight + GoHenry + Current** distinctive US teen banking competitive landscape
- **FDIC-insured bank accounts without fees + secured Visa card that helps teens establish credit before they turn 18** distinctive US teen banking + secured Visa card + credit history building before 18
- **2020 Step launches as US teen banking app** distinctive US teen banking launch heritage
- **Step Mobile Inc founded by CJ MacDonald (CEO; formerly Gyft + Apple Pay)** distinctive US teen banking founder heritage

## History

**2018 — Step Mobile Inc founded by CJ MacDonald (CEO; formerly Gyft + Apple Pay)** distinctive US teen banking founder heritage.

**2020 — Step launches as US teen banking app for 13-18 year olds** distinctive US teen banking launch heritage.

**Apr 27 2021 — Step raises $100M Series C + announces Steph Curry investor + ~$920M valuation post-Series C** distinctive US teen banking Series C funding <sup>[2][2]</sup>.

**2025 — Step continues to compete in US teen banking market against Greenlight + GoHenry + Current + Current banking + Step Card targeting teens 13-18 + FDIC-insured bank accounts without fees + secured Visa card that helps teens establish credit before they turn 18** <sup>[1][1], [3][3]</sup>.

## Ownership & operator

**Operating entity**: **Step Mobile Inc** (privately-held; US teen banking app for 13-18 year olds; Stripe + Steph Curry + GGV Capital + Coatue + General Catalyst + Crosslink + Collaborative Fund + Will Smith + Eli Manning + others investors).

**Major shareholders**: **CJ MacDonald (founder + CEO) + Stripe + Steph Curry (NBA basketball player + investor since Apr 2021 Series C) + GGV Capital + Coatue + General Catalyst + Crosslink Capital + Collaborative Fund + Will Smith + Eli Manning + Justin Timberlake + Charli D'Amelio + Jared Leto + venture capital investors**.

**Regulators**: **FDIC + SEC (via partner banks Evolve Bank & Trust)**.

## Technical integration

Step mobile app (iOS + Android) + step.com online + Step Visa secured debit card (FDIC-insured via partner bank Evolve Bank & Trust) + Step Crypto + Step Invest; ACH + RTP + Zelle; **Step is a mobile banking service catered towards children between the ages of 13 to 18 and offers a completely free service with a bank account and a Visa Step Card + Step competes in a crowded market of mobile banking services aimed at a younger demographic, targeting teenagers ages 13 to 18, providing FDIC-insured bank accounts without fees and a secured Visa card that helps them establish credit before they turn 18** distinctive US teen banking + secured Visa card + credit history building before 18.

## Users & growth

Step US teen banking app for 13-18 year olds; Apr 27 2021 Step raises $100M Series C + announces Steph Curry investor + ~$920M valuation post-Series C; 2025 Step continues to compete in US teen banking market against Greenlight + GoHenry + Current.

## Use cases

US retail + family + teens (13-18 year olds) + parents + chores + allowance + savings + financial education + secured Visa card + credit history building before 18 via Step mobile + step.com online + Visa secured debit card; ACH + RTP + Zelle; **Step is a mobile banking service catered towards children between the ages of 13 to 18 and offers a completely free service with a bank account and a Visa Step Card + Step competes in a crowded market of mobile banking services aimed at a younger demographic, targeting teenagers ages 13 to 18, providing FDIC-insured bank accounts without fees and a secured Visa card that helps them establish credit before they turn 18** distinctive US teen banking + secured Visa card + credit history building before 18.

## Implementations & partners

**Operator**: Step Mobile Inc (privately-held; US teen banking app for 13-18 year olds; Stripe + Steph Curry + GGV Capital + Coatue + General Catalyst + Crosslink + Collaborative Fund + Will Smith + Eli Manning + others investors); CJ MacDonald (founder + CEO) + Stripe + Steph Curry (NBA basketball player + investor since Apr 2021 Series C) + GGV Capital + Coatue + General Catalyst + Crosslink Capital + Collaborative Fund + Will Smith + Eli Manning + Justin Timberlake + Charli D'Amelio + Jared Leto + venture capital investors.

**Evolve Bank & Trust partner bank**: **Step FDIC-insured via partner bank Evolve Bank & Trust** distinctive US teen banking BaaS partnership.

**Steph Curry partnership**: **Apr 27 2021 Step raises $100M Series C + announces Steph Curry investor** distinctive US teen banking celebrity backer.

**Major US + UK family fintech + teen banking + kids banking competitors**: [Greenlight](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/greenlight) (US family fintech for kids+teens+parents; 6M+ users Jan 2025; 33% market penetration in teen app category; $2.3B valuation post-Apr 2021 a16z Series D) + [GoHenry (Acorns Early)](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/gohenry) (UK + US prepaid debit card + financial education app for 6-18 year olds; Acorns subsidiary post-early 2023 Acorns acquisition + Acorns Early rebranding; 2.3M+ kids learned money skills with GoHenry Oct 2025) + [Current](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/current) (US neobank for Gen Z) + BusyKid (US chores + allowance app) + FamZoo (US family allowance + chores app) + [FamPay (FamApp by Trio)](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/fampay) (Indian kids and teens fintech; Y Combinator + Sequoia Capital India + Elevation Capital + General Catalyst investors) + [Chase Mobile (JPMorgan Chase)](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/chase-mobile) (Chase Bank Chase First Banking for kids) + [Acorns](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/acorns) (US micro-investing + family wealth; Acorns Early custodial accounts; GoHenry parent post-Apr 2023; Jun 2025 Zeta + May 2025 EarlyBird acquisitions) + [Fidelity Investments](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/fidelity-investments) (US Fidelity Greenlight + Fidelity Bloom + Fidelity Youth) + [Revolut](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/revolut) (Revolut <18 + Revolut Junior; UK global expansion).

**Regulators**: FDIC + SEC (via partner banks Evolve Bank & Trust).

## Fun facts

- **US teen banking app for 13-18 year olds** (Step Mobile Inc; privately-held; FDIC-insured via partner bank Evolve Bank & Trust).
- **FDIC-insured via partner bank Evolve Bank & Trust** distinctive US teen banking BaaS partnership.
- **Apr 2021 $100M Series C** distinctive US teen banking Series C funding.
- **~$920M valuation 2021 post-Series C** distinctive US teen banking pre-IPO valuation.
- **Steph Curry investor announcement** distinctive US teen banking celebrity backer.
- **Competes in teen banking market against Greenlight + GoHenry + Current** distinctive US teen banking competitive landscape.
- **FDIC-insured bank accounts without fees + secured Visa card that helps teens establish credit before they turn 18** distinctive US teen banking + secured Visa card + credit history building before 18.
- **2020 Step launches as US teen banking app** distinctive US teen banking launch heritage.
- **Step Mobile Inc founded by CJ MacDonald (CEO; formerly Gyft + Apple Pay)** distinctive US teen banking founder heritage.

## Comparison

| Feature | Step | [Greenlight](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/greenlight) (US family fintech for kids+teens+parents rival; 6M+ users Jan 2025; 33% market penetration in teen app category) | [GoHenry (Acorns Early)](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/gohenry) (UK + US prepaid debit card + financial education app for 6-18 year olds rival; Acorns subsidiary; 2.3M+ kids) | [Current](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/current) (US neobank for Gen Z rival) | [FamPay (FamApp by Trio)](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/fampay) (Indian kids and teens fintech rival; Y Combinator + Sequoia Capital India + Elevation Capital + General Catalyst investors) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operator | **Step Mobile Inc (privately-held; US teen banking app for 13-18 year olds; Stripe + Steph Curry + GGV Capital + Coatue + General Catalyst + Crosslink + Collaborative Fund + Will Smith + Eli Manning + others investors)** | Greenlight Financial Technology Inc (privately-held; $2.3B valuation post-Apr 2021 Series D from a16z) | GoHenry Ltd (Acorns subsidiary post-early 2023 Acorns acquisition; UK + US prepaid debit card + financial education app for 6-18 year olds) | Current (privately-held; US neobank for Gen Z) | FamPay (Indian kids and teens fintech; Y Combinator + Sequoia Capital India + Elevation Capital + General Catalyst investors) |
| Type | **US teen banking app for 13-18 year olds + FDIC-insured via partner bank Evolve Bank & Trust + Apr 2021 $100M Series C + ~$920M valuation 2021 post-Series C + Steph Curry investor announcement + FDIC-insured bank accounts without fees + secured Visa card that helps teens establish credit before they turn 18** | US family fintech for kids+teens+parents + 6M+ users Jan 2025 + 33% market penetration in teen app category + $2.3B valuation post-Apr 2021 Series D from a16z + 67k+ U.S. Bank parents and kids via embedded experience Jun 2025 | UK + US prepaid debit card + financial education app for 6-18 year olds + Acorns subsidiary + 2.3M+ kids learned money skills + 3M+ child accounts across UK region + Best Children's Financial Provider 2025 Moneyfacts | US neobank for Gen Z | Indian kids and teens fintech + Y Combinator + Sequoia Capital India + Elevation Capital + General Catalyst investors |
| Country | US | US | GB + US + EU | US | IN |
| Distinctive | **2018 Step Mobile Inc founding by CJ MacDonald (CEO; formerly Gyft + Apple Pay); 2020 Step launches as US teen banking app for 13-18 year olds; Apr 27 2021 Step raises $100M Series C + announces Steph Curry investor + ~$920M valuation post-Series C; 2025 Step continues to compete in US teen banking market** | 2014 Greenlight founding by Tim Sheehan + Johnson Cook; 2017 Greenlight launches mobile app + Greenlight Debit Card; Apr 2021 Greenlight Series D from a16z + $2.3B valuation; Jun 2024 U.S. Bank embedded experience | 2012 GoHenry founding by Louise Hill + Alex Zivoder in UK; 2018 GoHenry US market entry; Apr 2023 GoHenry acquired by Acorns + GoHenry → Acorns Early rebranding for US users + GoHenry maintains brand in UK + Europe | 2015 Current founding for Gen Z neobanking | 2019 FamPay founding in India; Y Combinator + Sequoia Capital India + Elevation Capital + General Catalyst investors |

## Status

**Active, US teen banking app for 13-18 year olds + FDIC-insured via partner bank Evolve Bank & Trust + Apr 2021 $100M Series C + ~$920M valuation 2021 post-Series C + Steph Curry investor announcement + FDIC-insured bank accounts without fees + secured Visa card that helps teens establish credit before they turn 18** <sup>[1][1], [2][2], [3][3]</sup>:
- **Step Mobile Inc (privately-held; US teen banking app for 13-18 year olds; Stripe + Steph Curry + GGV Capital + Coatue + General Catalyst + Crosslink + Collaborative Fund + Will Smith + Eli Manning + others investors)** since 2018 Step Mobile Inc founding by CJ MacDonald + 2020 Step launches as US teen banking app + Apr 27 2021 Step raises $100M Series C + announces Steph Curry investor + ~$920M valuation post-Series C.
- **Step competes in US teen banking market against Greenlight + GoHenry + Current**.
- **FDIC-insured bank accounts without fees + secured Visa card that helps teens establish credit before they turn 18**.
- **FDIC + SEC regulated (via partner banks Evolve Bank & Trust)**.

## Sources

[1]: https://step.com/ "Step – The All-In-One Money App"
[2]: https://techcrunch.com/2021/04/27/teen-banking-service-step-raises-100m-series-c-announces-steph-currys-investment/ "Teen banking service Step raises $100M Series C, announces Steph Curry's investment — TechCrunch"
[3]: https://www.bankingdive.com/news/step-challenger-bank-generation-z/591556/ "Teen-aimed banking app Step gets celebrity boost — Banking Dive"
[us-cro]: https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/US

- [1] [Step – The All-In-One Money App][1]
- [2] [Teen banking service Step raises $100M Series C, announces Steph Curry's investment — TechCrunch][2]
- [3] [Teen-aimed banking app Step gets celebrity boost — Banking Dive][3]
- <sup>[United States report](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/US)</sup> In-corpus: `reports/countries/US-united-states.md`

## Source

Biography extracted from [step.md](https://docs.barcoder.ai/source/wallets/step). See `matrix.md` for standards-support matrix if present.