Branch is a mobile-first technology that helps workers grow financially.
Filling the gap for low-income working Americans that are underserved, Branch is a mobile-first technology that helps employees grow financially by providing transparent and equitable financial services. Starting in 2015,Branch has always built solutions with the needs of the hourly worker in mind. The company initially began providing hourly workers with technology to pick up more shifts and communicate with one another all through their phones. The application also benefited employers, allowing them a way to optimize staffing levels and decrease overtime and administrative costs.
Relocating from Los Angeles to Minneapolis in 2016 after its acceptance into the inaugural Target Techstars Retail Accelerator program, the company decided to make the move permanent, given the Twin Cities’ proximity to many Fortune 500 employers of hourly workers, growing startup ecosystem, and great engineering and sales talent in the region.
In its close work with employers and hourly workers, the Branch team realized how much financial health was intertwined with work satisfaction and productivity. Learning that about 80% of hourly workers experiencing some sort of weekly pay variance, the company expanded its scheduling and communication tools to include financial wellness offerings that could decrease the fluctuations in hourly employee finances and help users find greater financial stability. Especially with the cost of living outpacing wages and so many living paycheck to paycheck, users embraced the feature to afford basic expenses such as groceries and gas to get to work.
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For employers, turnover for hourly workers across industries has been notoriously high, with rates often reaching over 160%. And turnover is costly: replacing an hourly employee can range from $2,500 to $4,000 and that amount is even higher for managers. Record low unemployment rates over the past couple of years and especially high demand for hourly workers have led to fierce competition among employers. Because so many hourly employees were seeking workplaces that could help increase financial stability, companies have worked with Branch to offer employees the benefits they value most.
Employees who sign up with Branch receive a zero-fee bank account, free instant access to earned wages, and budgeting tools to help them manage their cash flow between paychecks. Employers are turning to Branch to help them attract and retain the best hourly workers, offering Branch as a free voluntary financial wellness benefit to their hourly employees. They have partnered with some of the nation’s largest employers and are adding new employers daily in retail, restaurants, logistics, manufacturing, and healthcare. The company looks forward to continuing its growth and expanding the application to provide users more ways to grow their account balances.
