SoundSmart

SoundSmart tracks your spending and alerts you to the best card at each store. Saved dollars auto-invest in your SoundGrow Fund. We help you save, discover perks, and recommend better credit cards.

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Inspiration for SoundSmart

Many credit union members unknowingly miss out on hundreds of dollars in rewards, cashback, and perks each year. They use the wrong card at checkout, pay fees that could be waived, or forget benefits buried deep in 50-page PDFs. We wanted to create a system that recovers this lost value automatically — a financial assistant that helps members spend smarter without the mental math.

The Problem

  • Members lose rewards and perks by using the wrong card for purchases and not utilizing rewards.
  • Tracking which card or account offers the best benefit requires too much effort.
  • Spending insights are confusing
  • Hidden benefits like Visa Signature Concierge or Hotel perks often go unused.

The Solution

An AI financial co-pilot that connects securely via Plaid API, learns member spending patterns, and provides needed credit cards. Every recovered dollar automatically flows into a high-yield savings account earning of your choosing, building wealth effortlessly with each optimized transaction.

What it does

  • SoundGrow High-Yield Savings: Automatically deposit recovered rewards into an FDIC-insured account, earning with transparent growth tracking.
  • Smart Card Recommendations: Analyzes spending across categories (gas, dining, travel) to show which card maximizes rewards.
  • Spending Awareness: Visualizes habits, top merchants, and promotes budgeting discipline.
  • Benefit Discovery: Surfaces unused perks with step-by-step guides, dollar value estimates, and usage tracking.
  • SoundScore Gamification: Monthly score (0–100) showing how well members optimize their finances.
  • Monthly Benefit Journal: Downloadable PDF reports showing recovered dollars, categories, and SoundGrow performance.
  • Intelligent Dashboard: Clean 4-tab interface (Overview, My Perks, Cards, Alerts) with real-time savings insights.
  • Advanced Analytics: Predictive modeling projects annual savings and highlights missed opportunities.

How we built it

  • Plaid API for secure transaction aggregation.
  • React + Amplify for a responsive, cross-platform dashboard.
  • Twilio API for instant SMS alerts.
  • Figma for a clean, minimal design focused on actionable data.

The Impact

For Members

Stop leaving money on the table. Get actionable guidance that optimizes purchases and grows wealth automatically through compounding savings.

For Credit Unions

Increase engagement, loyalty, and satisfaction by offering personalized, AI-driven financial support. Deliver measurable financial improvements for every member.

For Financial Wellness

Bridge the gap between access and action. Turn everyday spending into a long-term wealth engine — one optimized transaction at a time.

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