NEA Smart Money Account

The NEA Smart Money Account is an integrated banking, investment, and payments account—noting you have the option but no obligation to invest.  The NEA Smart Money Account provides immediate access to both your Federally Insured Account and investment accounts to create a unique, optimal form of cash management that empowers you to earn far greater returns on your money than the average bank account provides.

The traditional bank model invests your money and keeps the investment returns. The NEA Smart Money Account is simple but different: you invest your money—and you keep the investment returns. Your money generates wealth, and the NEA thinks you should keep it.

The NEA Smart Money Card uses patent-pending technology developed by the NEA’s partner, Investor Cash Management (ICM). A Smart Money Card is a debit card linked to both a Federally Insured Account and investment accounts linked to specific securities, such as ultrashort and short duration bond funds (for example mutual funds and/or ETFs (Exchange Traded Funds, which are collections of securities)). Accordingly, the NEA Smart Money Card provides you immediate access to both your FDIC and invested funds for routine debit card spending—all at no cost to you. You get both the convenience of a debit card and may receive significantly greater returns on your money.

Your funds in the Federally Insured Account are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). The Federally Insured Account pays a higher rate than the average checking or savings account.

Your accounts are linked to a Federally Insured Account and—only if you choose to invest—a brokerage account linked to specific investments such as ultrashort and/or short bond funds. The funds in your Federally Insured Account are federally insured. The funds in your investment accounts are invested and therefore are subject to market fluctuations; there is a risk of loss and these funds are not federally insured. Your first account is intended for funds that you plan to use for routine expenses, such as groceries, gas, utility bills, and mortgage payments. Your second account is suited for funds you can invest for 6-12 months. Your third account is suited for funds you can invest for 12+ months. You can access or transfer funds whenever you like and in the amount you choose without paying penalties or fees. You determine how much to put into each account depending on your spending and investing needs. You can access all of your funds in the event of an unexpected expense.

The NEA Smart Money Account empowers you to optimally manage your cash. Rather than leaving your money in no/low interest bank checking and savings accounts, the NEA Smart Money Account enables you to optimize your returns on your cash. Multiple accounts provide flexibility to move money among a Federally Insured Account and investment accounts.

A traditional bank benefits from paying you little to no interest on your money, and then lending that money at a higher interest rate: the bank makes a profit off your money. By contrast, the NEA Smart Money Account enables you to place your money in a Federally Insured Account and investment products, and you keep the higher returns.

1. Enroll in the NEA Smart Money Account by clicking the “Open an Account” button above. 
2. Use your existing bank account or set up direct deposit to fund your NEA Smart Money Account. 
3. If you like, transfer funds from your Federally Insured Account into investment accounts which may provide higher returns over time. 
4. Use your NEA Smart Money Card like you would any other debit card—at stores, online, and at ATMs.

You use your NEA Smart Money Account in the same way as a traditional bank. You can transact via your Smart Money Card, ATM, online bill pay, peer-to-peer transfers, and ACH payments. In all cases, you have immediate access to your funds.

You fund your NEA Smart Money Account in the same way as a traditional bank account: direct deposit, bank transfer, or wire transfer. Bank transfers are capped at $3,000 per transfer. Direct deposit and wire transfers are limited to $30,000 per transfer. Refer to the instructions in your app for direct deposit and wire transfers.

After you complete enrollment, you can expect your card to arrive in approximately 7 business days.

1. Determine your immediate banking cash needs; for example, you may want to keep 6 months of cash in the Federally Insured Account for routine expenses such as mortgage, rent, and utilities. 
2. Set aside money for annual savings goals; for example, you may want to keep 6-12 months of funds invested in the Short Duration Account for financial goals you want to achieve in the coming year such as special purchases and holidays.
3. Invest extra funds for a better future; for example, you may want to keep 12+ months of funds in the Long Duration Account for multi-year financial goals such as education and retirement plans.

Earnings credits are paid out on the first day of each month. These credits accrue and compound daily in the Federally Insured Account.

Under the Manage Your Account menu, click Transfer Funds. Select the account that you wish to transfer from, select the account you wish to transfer to, then enter the amount you wish to transfer. Click Next to review your transfer, then click Confirm to initiate the transfer.

Protecting your account information and privacy are the NEA’s priorities. The NEA Smart Money Account uses fraud prevention tools to help us verify your identity, which ensures that only you have access to your account. Furthermore, the NEA Smart Money Account also uses advanced encryption technologies to guard the information sent between you and ICM.

The NEA works with ICM to offer Visa Smart Money Cards issued by Sutton Bank. NEA Smart Money Account investments are managed by SEC-registered asset managers.

Funds held in your Federally Insured Account are insured by the FDIC. Funds swept into your investment accounts are not federally insured.

Only those funds in the investment accounts are invested.

There is no cost to you of placing funds into or taking funds out of the investment accounts.

Yes: all securities have a risk of loss; however, funds held in your Federally Insured Account are guaranteed against loss.

Your transferred funds will be available within 2-4 business days to accommodate the settlement of securities. Your funds will be reflected in your total balance but not in your available balance. Wires will become available on the day that we receive the funds.

Yes. When you pay at the pump with your card, the gas station may place a hold of $100 or more on your funds. The hold typically expires in less than 24 hours.

Please refer to the terms and conditions, which you can access by clicking “Open an Account” above. You won’t need to open an account to see the terms. Open the menu on the top left side of the page. Click on “Legal Disclosures” then “Bank Terms & Conditions.” Scroll down to see the fee schedule.

Contact us for help.