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Maya Nijhawan is the Co-Founder & CMO of Finch. Finch supercharges your existing checking account, by letting you earn rewards, auto-invest, and build credit without debt – all without the need to switch bank accounts.

Can you tell everyone, who is Maya?

So many different things! I’m a loving partner, daughter, sister, aunt, friend, and momma to a sweet little fur baby. I’m the Co-Founder & COO of Finch, A financial wellness company building the best rewards card that helps you invest and build credit, without debt. Personal finance is my thing – I make videos on TikTok. I’m a dreamer, creator, and problem solver.  I laugh at my own jokes, and I like my puns intended.

What is Finch and its purpose?

Finch is a financial wellness company. We have built the best rewards card that helps you invest and build credit without taking on debt. This is a card that anyone can access and equally benefit from without worrying about credit checks, hidden fees, and predatory APRs.

Our purpose is to help our customers make the most of their money to live their best lives.

What inspired you to create Finch?

73% of Americans rank their finances as the number stress in life! While shocking, it’s unsurprising. Millennials in particular have had it tough, having faced the worst economic odds of any generation.

For me, this hit close to home.

Growing up as part of an extremely hardworking first-generation immigrant family, my parents worked tirelessly to give my sister and me access to opportunities and resources they didn’t have growing up. Thanks to them, I had a wonderful childhood – the only times I remember being unhappy is when I saw my parents under financial stress.

From a young age, I became passionate about personal finance, the role financial wellness plays in our lives, and how we can attain it. This passion manifested Finch.

Recognizing the financial obstacles and stresses that hold people back from achieving their goals, I’m building Finch to help people make the most of their money to live their best lives.

What type of world change are you planning to implement while heading the Finch team?

Our vision is to close the generational wealth gap.

As a WOC (woman of color) what obstacles did you feel you had to overcome?

A lack of funding is the greatest obstacle for WOC founders.

In 2021, Female founders secured only 2% of venture capital in the U.S, and WOC received less than 1% – 1%!! This is despite the fact that businesses founded by women and WOC are absolutely killing it!

If we’re not getting funding and support from the very beginning, this drastically limits our chance of success. WOC is pushing despite the odds being against us.

What fuels your passion to help people with low to bad credit?

When I moved from Australia to the US, I went from having near-perfect credit to no credit. I could only qualify for a $500 secured card, for which I had to fill out a mountain of paperwork, to prove my creditworthiness. I not only experienced the challenges that come with having no credit firsthand, but it also opened my eyes to the tens of thousands of dollars this costs people.

43% of millennials in the US have subprime credit scores.

Why? Credit card companies lure customers in with attractive sign-up bonuses, rewards, and introductory rates, make it incredibly easy to overspend, and then hit them with predatory APRs and penalties. Credit card companies do not incentivize behaviors that are in the best interest of customers. This did not sit well with me, and I was inspired to do something about it!

How does the rewards system work?

It’s simple. Finch gives you up to 5% cashback on all your purchases, anywhere! We don’t limit you to specific merchants or categories – Finch’s rewards system is designed to support your lifestyle.

On top of this, your cashback rewards are automatically invested to help your money grow! With Finch, your cashback rewards build your wealth.

What can we expect from Finch in the future?
We have a lot of exciting things in the works. We’re just getting warmed up – watch this space!

What would you like our viewers to gain from this interview?

I want viewers to feel empowered to take control of their financial future.

Companies like Finch are building the tools to support you on your journey. I’d love for you to check us out. Find out more at finchmoney.com

How can people connect with you to learn more, as well as continue to follow Finch?

You can follow me on
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mayanijhawan
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayanijhawan/

You can follow Finch on
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/finchapp/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/35700842/admin/