SmartyPig just got smarter, now offering iPhone app

As of this morning, the social component of the online goal-based savings startup SmartyPig just got better. Now, when on the go, users can open the SmartyPig iPhone app to update their Facebook friends and Twitter followers about their goals. This and a set of other features make up the free SmartyPig iPhone app, the…

As of this morning, the social component of the online goal-based savings startup SmartyPig just got better. Now, when on the go, users can open the SmartyPig iPhone app to update their Facebook friends and Twitter followers about their goals.

This and a set of other features make up the free SmartyPig iPhone app (left, screenshot courtesy of SmartyPig), the company’s foray into the mobile space.

“As people evaluate SmartyPig for the first time, having a solid mobile app that provides a ton of functionality is a definite plus,” said SmartyPig co-founder and COO Mike Ferrari in an email interview yesterday.

“Mobile accessibility is key to any online financial product or service. And adds yet another reason for our current customers to know that we are constantly working to enhance the SmartyPig experience both online and while they are on the go,” said Ferrari.

In short, the app provides SmartyPig users a fast and secure tool to manage their account when not behind their computer. If you’re not a SmartyPig user and you download the app, there’s a “Learn More” section which gives an overview of the service as well as provides a sign up form.

For SmartyPig users, the app provides the following functionality:

  • Add money to a goal
  • Pay a friend by adding money to their goal
  • Transfer funds from one goal to another
  • Get goal balances, details and transaction history
  • Review important account activity message notifications
  • Setup a secure 4-digit passcode for quick and easy access
  • Post a comment to linked Facebook and Twitter accounts

In the coming months the Android app and second version of the iPhone app, which will will incorporate SmartyPig’s new Cash Rewards Debit Card, will be released. Regarding the latter, the second version will allow a user to check their balance and add money to their card and a geolocation feature will locate participating cash-back merchants nearby.

“I’m really looking forward to the future of our mobile strategy. After [these releases], we will evaluate other platforms as well,” Ferrari said. “Our customers do a pretty good job of telling us what we are doing right, what we are doing wrong and what we can improve on. So as always, I’ll be listening intently via Facebook, Twitter, our blog and via our awesome customer support team.

Screenshots of the SmartyPig app with Michael Ferrari as the user, from left to right: Goals, Goal, and Add Money. Images courtesy of SmartyPig. 

To develop the app, SmartyPig worked with another Silicon Prairie-based company. “We leveraged the technology and consulting skills of Des Moines-based mobile development firm BitMethod,” said Ferrari. “The collaboration was fantastic and we look forward to our continued partnership as we continue to enhance the SmartyPig mobile experience.”

In my email interview with Ferrari I asked him for a comment about working with BitMethod and if it was a goal of his to work with another company in Des Moines. Here’s his full response:

It’s always a goal, yes. We’ve been incredibly fortunate to work with some truly talented folks out-of-state, like the super-talented folks at Happy Cog. But we absolutely love working with local folks. Before SmartyPig, I worked in the advertising and marketing industry in Des Moines and had the opportunity to work with some truly hyper-talented and creative folks. So I’ve always had a pretty good pulse on what is available in Des Moines. We continue to this day working closely with local design shop, RedDot. If you don’t know about them, please check them out. Love those guys and gals. BitMethod was a natural fit for our mobile strategy. They had the expertise we needed. I’ve been a longtime friend of Dan Shipton. You simply can’t beat working with someone that you can trust implicitly with your brand. I’m I’m a huge proponent of meeting face-to-face.

When asked about SmartyPig’s current user and active user counts, Ferrari was unable to release numbers, citing their relationship with their banking partners. “But to date,” Ferrari said, “our customers have created more than $1 billion in goals. Much if not all of our growth has occurred virally.”

This story is part of the AIM Archive

This story is part of the AIM Institute Archive on Silicon Prairie News. AIM gifted SPN to the Nebraska Journalism Trust in January 2023. Learn more about SPN’s origin »

Get the latest news and events from Nebraska’s entrepreneurship and innovation community delivered straight to your inbox every Wednesday.