Cushion AI
Cushion · Virtual (bill history)
Cushion was an AI-powered bill-management and credit-building app (a software service, not a payment card) that analysed payment history to build credit without requiring a new card. Its credit-building and virtual-card services were discontinued on 15 October 2024, and Cushion ceased operating as a standalone product: the company was acquired by LendingClub in April 2025. It was historically available only in the United States, with subscriptions costing $4.99–12.99 per month.
Data & conditions
| Network | Virtual (bill history) |
|---|---|
| Card type | Credit card |
| APR | 0% |
| Issuance fee | Free |
| Annual fee | Free |
| ATM withdrawal | not declared |
| FX markup | 0% |
| Cashback | Not disclosed |
| Contactless | Yes |
| Virtual card | Yes |
| KYC | Full |
| Privacy | 5/10 |
| Supported countries | US · 1+ countries |
| Estimated net annual cost | €60/year |
| Regulator | Not disclosed |
| Segment | B2C |
| MiCA / License status | Not disclosed |
Plans & pricing
Strengths
- Trustpilot 4.8/5; AI-powered; built credit without a new card; bill-history analysis.
- No notable sovereignty advantage documented.
Weaknesses
- Service discontinued: credit-builder and virtual card closed since 15/10/2024, company acquired by LendingClub (Apr 2025); historically US-only with no physical card; $4.99-12.99/month subscription.
- Traditional credit card: not self-custody — the account requires full KYC, a credit check, and can be closed or reported to credit bureaus by the issuer.
- Full KYC required: verified identity, zero pseudonymity.
Verdict
It was software, not a card: it built credit by analysing bill-payment history via AI, with a high 4.8/5 Trustpilot and no debt risk, but it cost $4.99–12.99/month (about €60/year) without issuing any payment instrument. The decisive point today is that the service is no longer operational: credit-builder and virtual card were closed as of 15/10/2024 and the company was acquired by LendingClub (Apr 2025). Discontinuation, the lack of a card and historical US-only availability hold the score in tier C.
Through this lens it is worth almost nothing: it was a custodial, full-KYC service that needed access to the user's financial data to read their bills, the opposite of privacy and trustless logic. No self-custody, no on-chain component; and today it is no longer operational (discontinued and acquired by LendingClub in 2025).
Promp's editorial rating based on real fees and net annual cost. Promp reviews third-party products independently.
"Sovereignty" rating: score computed on privacy/anonymity (30%), fund control (20%), censorship resistance (20%), trustless/auditability (20%) and costs (10%). Same data, different weights.
FAQ
Is Cushion AI a safe card?
Cushion AI is not a card: it was a software app for bill management and credit building, not a payment instrument. The service has been discontinued (credit-builder and virtual card closed on 15 October 2024) and the company was acquired by LendingClub in April 2025, so it no longer operates as a standalone product.
How much does Cushion AI cost?
Cushion historically offered two subscriptions: BNPL Builder at $4.99/month and Cushion PRO at $12.99/month; it did not issue any payment instrument. The service is no longer active: it was discontinued and the company was acquired by LendingClub in April 2025.
Does Cushion AI offer cashback?
Cushion AI does not offer crypto cashback.
Is Cushion AI available in Italy?
No, Cushion AI is not currently available in Italy.
Is Cushion AI custodial or self-custody?
Cushion AI uses a custodial model. Funds are held by the issuer: you do not have direct control of the private keys.
Sources
- Official service page Founders · Variante credit builder.apr pct min · Variante credit builder.apr pct max · Variante credit builder.credit bureaus report · +10 Data verified on Jul 22, 2026
- finder.com Data verified on Jul 11, 2026
- prnewswire.com Latest funding round Data verified on Jul 11, 2026
- crunchbase.com Company type · Stock ticker · Stock listing · IPO date · +1 Data verified on Jun 14, 2026
Show 6 more sources
- ir.lendingclub.com Data verified on Jun 14, 2026
- pitchbook.com Valuation Data verified on Jun 14, 2026
- techcrunch.com Legal name Data verified on Jun 14, 2026
- bankingdive.com Past incidents Data verified on Jun 13, 2026
- cushion-ai.myprosandcons.com Trustpilot reviews · Annual cost Data verified on Jun 13, 2026
- cushionai.com Plans & pricing · Regulatory framework Data verified on Jun 13, 2026
Update history
- The service is no longer active: credit-builder and virtual card closed since 15 October 2024, company acquired by LendingClub in April 2025. Score adjusted to the service's status and official link updated to cushion.ai: the old cushionai.com domain is now a third-party domain for sale.