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Cash-back credit cards focused on housing-related rewards are gaining traction take Bilt, which offers points when you use the card to pay rent. But while those cards cater to renters, the Aven Home Equity Visa® Card targets homeowners. It blends the everyday convenience of a credit card with the borrowing power of a home equity line of credit. The result? A flexible solution that can unlock up to $400,000 for home improvements, debt consolidation, or major purchases, all while earning cash-back rewards.
Unlike traditional credit cards, the Aven Card is secured by your home equity, giving you access to a significantly higher credit limit. It’s a modern way to put your home’s value to work, instantly and on your terms.
In this review, we’ll explore when tapping into home equity through a credit card makes financial sense, what hidden costs to watch for (like cash-out or balance transfer fees), and how the Aven Card stacks up against a standard home equity line of credit.
So, is this a smart way to access liquidity, or a risky move? Let’s walk through the decision framework and help you determine if the Aven Home Equity Visa® Card belongs in your financial toolkit.
Card type: cash back, balance transfer
Annual fee: $0
Purchase APR: 17.99%–27.99%
Intro APR: None
Base rewards: 2% flat cash back, unlimited
Sign-up bonus: N/A
Recommended credit score: 680–850 (Good to Excellent)
The APR range is capped at a maximum of 18%, offering additional consumer protection against rising rates. Also worth mentioning is the 0.25% discount on the APR, if you enroll in Autopay before your first billing cycle. If you opt out, your APR will increase by 0.25%.
Low variable rate
Unlimited cash back
Credit limit of up to $400,000
Earn at least 2% unlimited cash back on all purchases and 7% cash back on hotels booked through the Aven Travel Portal
Only offered in 32 states
Borrow against your home
No zero-interest balance transfers or intro bonus
The Aven credit card is a unique card that's a credit card combined with a home equity line of credit. It's a secured card that's backed by your home equity. Unlike most credit cards, which are unsecured and offer credit limits that can typically max out at $10,000, you can have a credit limit of up to $400,000, lower-than-average interest rates, and earn unlimited 2% cash back. (Note, several states – Alaska, Arkansas, Idaho, Louisiana, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Wyoming – offer credit limits of only up to $100,000).
However, marketed toward "responsible homeowners," you'll need to check off specific eligibility criteria: not only do you need to be a homeowner with a combined loan-to-value (LTV) of 89%, and have a sufficient, steady stream of income, you'll need to offer your home to secure your line of credit.
Currently, there's a limited-time offer: Should you decide to refinance your existing home equity line of credit to the Aven card, you can scoop up a 10% cash back credit card on the first $15,000 purchases. If Aven can’t beat your current home equity line of credit rate, you can get $250.
Aven is transparent on how it calculates your minimum monthly payment on revolving lines of credit. It's 1% of your principal, plus the monthly interest rate on your outstanding balance. You can check your monthly payments on Aven's repayment calculator tool.
A main draw of the Aven credit is that you can earn 2% unlimited cash back. Unlike other cash back rewards cards, there's no quarterly or annual cap on how much you can rack up in rewards. However, there's no opportunity to earn additional rewards on bonus categories, nor is there an introductory bonus.
While not technically a reward, a perk for cardholders with a credit score of at least 700 and verified income is that you can score a free $5 gift card to put toward your coffee fix. You can claim this perk for up to 52 weeks. (Offer valid in select states)
Additionally, Aven’s Travel Portal offers higher cash back (7%) on hotel bookings.
Currently, Aven only offers two ways to redeem your cash-back rewards:
Statement credit
Aven Travel Portal
Your points don't expire as long as you have an account in good standing. Other credit cards offer a wider swath of redemption options – think gift cards and online shopping. According to Aven, the Aven Travel Portal features options to book travel and redeem points for hotel chains and airlines such as Four Seasons and the Ritz-Carlton.
While you might have some options to book travel with your points, Aven doesn't have a robust travel program, such as moving points to a transfer partner or enjoying a higher burn rate with specific airlines.
The Aven card has no annual fee and a low variable APR. The Aven card interest rates range from 17.99%–27.99%. The APR is capped at 18% maximum, even if benchmark rates rise.And what's particularly notable is that the APR is capped at 18% as long as you keep the account. This is on the low end, as the average interest rate on credit cards is 21.39%.
Here's the kicker: the cash-out APR matches the standard purchase APR at 17.99%–27.99%. Typically cash-advance APRs are much higher than the purchase APR.There are also no foreign transaction fees. If you decide to do a cash-out or balance transfer on the card, you're looking at a 2.5% fee of the amount you are taking out or transferring. If you fall behind on a payment, you'll get hit with a $29 late payment charge. There's also no fees if you go over your credit limit or for returned payments.
Beyond the unlimited 2% cash-back rate and a massively high credit limit, the Aven credit card benefits don't feature much in the way of perks and values. You won't see rotating bonus categories, opportunities to scoop up higher points, or an intro bonus. However, if you plan on using the Aven card for everyday purchases, you can rack up a steady rate of rewards points.
As it's a Visa branded card, the Aven card features built-in fraud protection and zero-liability.
To give you peace of mind, Aven offers security to protect your information and your account. You can opt out of Aven sharing personal and financial information and direct marketing efforts. Aven always requires you to have two-factor authentication and password requirements.
Specific to Aven and its product, it offers a Foreclosure Protection Guarantee. Should you find yourself with a job loss and if you qualify, Aven would not foreclose on your home for the first 12 months.
Aven also offers optional debt protection plans in partnership with Securian Financial that can protect up to $50,000 of outstanding balances in the event of involuntary job loss.
Mortgage expert Keith Gumbinger points out that you'll need to look closely at the conditions. For example, you'll need to complete the eligibility form within 14 days of the job loss, the job loss can't be due to a resignation or retirement, you can't have more than $10,000 on the outstanding balance on your card, and you'll need to have a credit score of at least 700.
"The reality is that second lien lenders can rarely initiate foreclosure proceedings without the consent of the first lien holder – who is first in line to get paid off from any such proceedings," he explains. "If the borrower is current on the first lien but not the second, the second lien holder likely has little recourse to pursue, except maintaining a lien until the property is sold – when the balance of the home equity line of credit/card must be repaid to convey clear title."
The Aven card mobile app has a Google Play rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars based on over 50,000 downloads and 2,000 user reviews. On the App Store, Aven boasts 4.9 out of 5 stars, and about 5,400 ratings.
Users can check your card balance, transaction history, set up notifications, review your payment history, and pay bills on the mobile app. Positive reviews reveal a quick, easy, and streamlined process, and simple payments.
Cardholders have used their line of credit for debt consolidation and to spruce up their home. They say it's a quick, easy way to tap into existing equity into their home. On the flip side, negative reviews are issues about the app itself – clunky navigation and wonky bugs, to name a few.
You can get a hold of Aven's support team in the following channels:
Email: support@aven.com
Schedule a callback on the website
Aven's phone number isn't publicly listed on its website. You'll need to schedule a callback. When we tried to book a 10-minute call, the earliest appointment was for the following week. If you need your questions answered, you can try asking a question with their chatbot.
Aven has a Trustpilot score of 4.9 out of 5 stars and is based on over 6,000 reviews. It has an A+ BBB rating and scant reviews on the BBB review site.
Redditors warn folks about making sure offering your home equity as collateral is something you feel comfortable with. You'll also want to be careful about carrying a high amount of debt on a card, given the high credit limit you could secure. Quora users point out that Aven works more like a home equity line of credit – or a home equity line of credit masked as a credit card, to be specific.
Mortgage experts like Keith Gumbinger point out that the main advantage is a lower interest rate on a revolving line of credit. Plus, the Aven equity card application process seems relatively fast and easy, points out Seattle-based mortgage originator Mike Carpenter. According to the Aven website, you can apply online and get approved for funding in as little as three days.
Behavioral finance experts also warn that easy access to a high credit limit can lead to higher spending and debt accumulation if not managed responsibly.
Fees: $29 late fee, no origination fees or closing costs or prepayment penalties.
APR: 17.99%–27.99% variable.
Application process: Online; can be as fast as 15 minutes.
Funding turnaround: As little as three to seven business days.
If you’re wondering whether tapping into home equity through a credit card is worth it, the real comparison comes down to convenience versus structure. The Aven Credit Card is built to feel like a traditional card at checkout, but the credit you’re using is tied to your home’s equity, which can make it easier to access a larger spending line and use it for everyday purchases, transfers, or cash-outs in a single account. A traditional home equity line of credit, on the other hand, is typically designed as a dedicated borrowing tool with more deliberate draw and repayment mechanics, which some homeowners prefer for larger, planned expenses like renovations. The tradeoff is that both options involve borrowing against your home, so the “better” choice depends on how you plan to use the funds, how much flexibility you need, and how comfortable you are using home-secured credit for day-to-day spending.
Easy application process. According to the Aven website, you can apply entirely online through a quick and easy application process. And you can receive approval and funding in as little as three days.
No appraisal or origination fees. Compared with many traditional home equity borrowing options, you won't have to worry about appraisal or origination fees. However, there is a 2.5% fee when you cash out or do a balance transfer with the card.
No redraw fees. There's a redraw fee of 4.9% on the first draw, but no redraw fees after that.
Lowest rate guarantee. This applies if you have a current home equity line of credit that you opened with another lender on or after January 1, 2023. Aven guarantees the lowest home equity line of credit rate. If they aren't able to beat your current home equity line of credit rate, they'll give you $250.
Higher interest rate. While the Aven credit card offers a lower interest rate than credit cards, it can be a higher interest rate than a traditional home equity line of credit, which has an average rate of 8.13%.
Can overspend. Having easy access to credit via a credit card can prove perilous. Studies reveal that you're twice as likely to spend with a credit card than with cash. If you're not mindful of your spending and practicing financial responsibility, you can find yourself racking up a high balance – and it could take a lot of time and effort to chip away at it.
Can lose your home. While this is the case with other home-secured borrowing options too, it's worth pointing out that unlike other credit cards, should you default on your card you risk giving up your home.
We analyzed and rated credit cards in the following categories. Here's how our review process works:
Rates and fees: We carefully looked at the main credit card rates. This includes the purchase and promotional APR. It also includes the main fees such as the annual fee, balance transfer fee, foreign transaction fee, late fees and overlimit fees.
Features and benefits: We consider features and perks that would be noteworthy. This includes benefits such as the rewards structure and ancillary benefits. The base rewards program, sign-on bonus, travel and entertainment perks are also factored in.
Security: Another consideration included security measures like fraud detection services, sophisticated security measures and card freezes. Also included in our analysis are ways to protect sensitive card and personal data—think card alerts and two-factor authentication.
User experience: While user experience also includes the website and app navigation, we also carefully looked over the ease of the application process, and how quickly you receive your card. It also included the seamlessness of using your card and making the most of its features and benefits, and how easy it is to close your account.
Customer service: We stacked the credit card issuer's Trustpilot score and BBB rates against its competitors and industry averages. We also folded in the company's different customer service channels (i.e., telephone, chat, email) and tested response times and quality of experience.
There's a lot to be intrigued by the Aven credit card. But just like any other financial product, you'll want to weigh the pros against the cons – and make sure you have the financial discipline to stay on top of your payments. And because it's somewhat of a mix between a HELOC and a credit card,compare your options with a home equity line of credit, such as getting preapproved from a mortgage lender to compare loan amounts, rates, and terms.
When it comes to the idea of a credit card secured by your home equity. It's also hard to gauge its value without checking if it's aligned with your specific goals, says Gumbinger. Be sure to compare it against available options – think a cash-out refinance with the lowest possible rates, longest available terms, and fees.
"So that's the consideration: What makes a home equity secured credit card a better option for your circumstances than traditionally-available options?" says Gumbinger. "What's the goal of taking out a credit card backed by the equity in your home? Debt consolidation? New spending? Access to a greater amount of funds than an unsecured line might offer?"
Aven will try to verify your income online and automatically. If that doesn't work, then you'll be asked to connect your bank account securely through Plaid.
Aven is a credit card that combines features of both a credit card and a HELOC. You can get a line of credit up to $400,000 which can be used for anything you'd like and the card is backed by your home equity. You'll enjoy a 2% flat unlimited cash back on all the purchases you put on the card.
To be eligible for the Aven credit card, you'll need a minimum credit score of 620. Other Aven credit line requirements include demonstrating steady income and a combined LTV (loan-to-value) of 89%.
Disclosures:
The credit card offers and information presented on this page are current as of the published date. However, credit card terms, including APRs, fees, and promotional offers, are subject to change without notice. Some offers listed may no longer be available or may have expired. Please refer to the issuer's website for the most up-to-date terms and conditions.
This content is based on the independent analysis of the publisher and/or its authors and has not been provided by or endorsed by any card issuer.
The BestMoney editorial team is composed of writers and experts covering a full range of financial services. Our mission is to simplify the process of selecting the right provider for every need, leveraging our extensive industry knowledge to deliver clear, reliable advice.