Fintech Startup PerkStreet Financial to Close Operations

Unable to secure additional funding, PerkStreet Financial announced Monday that it is closing its operations on Sept. 26.

The Boston startup, which partners with banks, has been offering people checking accounts that reward customers for their debit card swipes.

The PerkStreet accounts issued by The Bancorp Bank, of Wilmington, Del., will remain open. The accounts issued by Provident Bank, in Montebello N.Y., will shut down. Customers with remaining perk balances are unable to redeem them.

"Today is a deeply disappointing and painful moment for our team. We started PerkStreet with the seemingly impossible goal of making banking more rewarding for the average person," the company said on its website. "We were able to give cash back for spending money that was already earned, not risking going into debt by spending on a credit card. We believed we could reward everyone, not just the people who would tell you it takes money to make money. The last five years were an incredible journey. We've given out over $4 million in perks and done groundbreaking things to create our amazing online community. We are deeply saddened to see it end."

PerkStreet posted the news on its Facebook page. More than 220 people commented on the post; dozens expressed concern and disappointment over not being able to cash out their perks.

Dan O'Malley, former Capital One executive, founded PerkStreet in 2008.

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