What are the requirements to open a UnitPlus Depot?
You need a smartphone with the iOS (13+) or Android (7+) operating system. You also need to be at least 18 years old and have a permanent residence with tax liability in Germany. And if you have at least €25 as starting capital at hand, you can get started right away and invest smartly in just a few minutes.
What is the minimum amount I can invest with UnitPlus?
If you have at least €25 as starting capital at hand, you can start directly and invest in a few minutes. For one-time deposits or the monthly savings plan, the minimum investment amount is also €25. For the smart savings plan, there is even no minimum investment amount.
Can I also open a securities account outside Germany?
Unfortunately, at the moment you can only open a securities account with UnitPlus if you are a permanent resident with a tax liability in Germany – sorry! The good news: we are working on offering our investment account app in other European countries as well.
How does the identification work?
After downloading the app, our partner IDnow will guide you through the identification process via video call. For this you need a valid passport or ID card. To ensure that you can be understood and seen, please check beforehand whether your camera and microphone of your smartphone are working.
Where can I download the UnitPlus app?
You can download the app for free from the App Store or Google Play.
Which operating systems are supported?
The UnitPlus app runs on iOS (13+) and Android (7).
How long does it take to open a securities account?
Opening a security account takes less than 10 minutes. We ask you for some personal information and would like to know your previous experience on the capital market. After you have confirmed your identity via our partner IDnow, you are ready to go. It’s that simple.
Why do I have to provide information about my experience in the capital market?
We assess your risk profile in order to propose the ideal portfolio for you. To do this, we ask you a few questions about your previous experience, savings and investment needs – this is all done on the basis of regulatory requirements and for your protection. To comply with money laundering and know-your-customer regulations, we also need to ask you about your income sources. Don’t worry – your data is secure and will not be shared with third parties.
What nationalities can we verify when opening an account?
Unfortunately, we cannot yet offer identification via our partner IDnow for all nationalities. We can verify passports or ID cards from the following countries: Belgium Denmark Germany Estonia Finland France Italy Netherlands Norway Austria Poland Romania (passport only) Slovakia Spain Sweden Czech republic Ukraine Verification by means of a residence permit, is currently not yet possible.
How can I change my personal information or my account?
You can change your personal details at any time in the app under “Settings”. Here you will also find the option to activate and deactivate your card.
Does UnitPlus replace my checking account?
No, UnitPlus does not replace your traditional checking account. Rather, we are an innovative investment account app that allows you to conveniently and flexibly invest unused money in a broadly diversified manner and pay with it at any time. When you pay with your UnitPlus card, the money in your portfolio is automatically used for the payment.
Is it possible to transfer a securities account to UnitPlus?
Unfortunately, a securities account transfer is not possible at the moment. However, we are working on making this possible in the future.
How can I cancel my UnitPlus account?
You can cancel your account at any time for free in the UnitPlus app and transfer your invested money back to your reference account. Please note that the processing may take a few days, depending on how many outstanding payments you have made shortly before.
Is it possible to open a joint UnitPlus account?
Unfortunately, a shared depot is not yet possible in the current version of our app. However, we are working on making this solution available to you as soon as possible.
Where is my money stored?
Your money is held at our Belgian partner bank Aion. As a credit institution under Belgian law, Aion Bank is a member of the Belgian deposit guarantee scheme. The scheme guarantees up to an amount of €100.000 and the protection of cash deposits held by the Bank in the event of the Bank’s failure within the meaning of the applicable law.
Whats the name of the partner bank you are working with?
Our cooperation partner is Aion Bank S.A. German branch, a company incorporated and existing under the laws of Germany, registered with the local court of Frankfurt am Main with registered address at p/o Tribes Frankfurt Basler, Basler Straße 10, 60329 Frankfurt and is serving as a branch of Aion Bank S.A. Aion Bank S.A. is a Belgian credit institution licensed by the European Central Bank, and supervised by the National Bank of Belgium. In Germany, the branch is also supervised by BaFin (Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht) as a credit institution according to § 53b KWG. Aion Bank S.A. German branch is serving as custodian of the funds and ETFs together with Barclays Bank Ireland PLC as cash agent and Saxo Bank S/A as sub-custodian.
How does UnitPlus handle my personal data? // How secure is my data?
Data security is our top priority. We work with the highest standards when it comes to data security and encrypted information transfer. Transactions are protected by two-factor authentication, and you’ll always be in the know thanks to push notifications and the app. Both we and our partner bank Aion store all data exclusively in the EU; your data is not passed on to third parties for commercial purposes.
How safe is my securities account?
Your securities account is held in custody by Aion Bank. The securities in your custody account do not fall under the deposit protection scheme but they are covered by the guarantee fund scheme up to 20.000€ (regardless of the currency of the financial instruments). The securities are stored by Aion Bank and held by Saxo Bank S/A as sub-custodian of Aion Bank protecting them from our insolvency and from any possible insolvency of Aion Bank S.A.
My mobile phone was stolen. What do I have to do?
If your phone is stolen, please contact us immediately. Thanks to the two-factor authentication, no one will be able to log into your UnitPlus account, but we will make sure that you receive new access data as soon as possible and that strangers do not have access.
What happens to my money if UnitPlus goes bankrupt?
Your invested money is protected from insolvency. Should UnitPlus or even Aion Bank become insolvent, your money is safely held as “special assets” at the bank and remains legally your property.
What is the legal structure of UnitPlus?
UnitPlus is registered in the Commercial Register of the Berlin (Charlottenburg) and holds a license as a financial investment broker according to §34f of the German Trade Regulation Act (GewO), supervised by the IHK Berlin (Chamber of Commerce). Our partner bank is Aion Bank S.A. German branch, a company incorporated and existing under the German law, registered with the local court of Frankfurt am Main and serving as a branch of Aion Bank S.A., a Belgian credit institution licensed by the European Central Bank, and supervised by the National Bank of Belgium. In Germany, the branch is also supervised by BaFin (Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht) as a credit institution according to § 53b KWG.
In what assets do I invest with UnitPlus?
All four UnitPlus portfolios are made up of 7 different ETFs, so that your investment is broadly diversified worldwide and you can skim off potential returns all over the world. The portfolios are made up by 5 equity ETFs and 2 bond ETFs, so that you are not only invested in equities, but also in bonds. The portfolios are professionally managed, monitored and, if necessary, adjusted to new market conditions. When selecting the right ETFs, we placed particular emphasis on sustainability criteria and cost efficiency. You can find more information on the investment process in our Whitepaper. The white paper can be downloaded for free from our website.
How much return can I expect?
Investing involves risks and therefore a positive return is not guaranteed, even with UnitPlus. The good news: Over the long term, capital markets rise. On average, a broadly diversified equity portfolio has historically generated returns of around 8% per year. To ensure that your money is well diversified, the four UnitPlus portfolios invest globally in over 800 companies with recognised sustainability criteria. Part of the money is invested not only in equities but also in bonds to further improve the risk-return ratio. Based on historical data, UnitPlus portfolios have generated returns of between 4% and 8% per year. Of course, there have been years where it has been significantly more and other years where the return has been negative. If you want to know more about this, take a look at our return calculator on the website, which shows you the performance of various deposit plans based on historical data.
How does UnitPlus calculate my return?
In the UnitPlus app, we show you the simpler rate of return. The simple rate of return is calculated by taking the annual incremental net operating income and dividing by the investment. In the future, we will expand the return calculation to include the money-weighted return, as this also takes into account the amount of money invested in the respective subperiod. It thus paints a better picture of the actual return development for more frequent deposits and withdrawals than the simple return does.
Do I also receive dividends with UnitPlus?
No, because we reinvest dividend distributions back in your portfolio. From a return perspective, this approach makes the most sense. The equity ETFs in your portfolio do this automatically, while the bond ETFs pay out the dividend but are then automatically reinvested by us. In this way, you benefit even more from the compound interest effect in the long term.
How does the personalised savings plan work at UnitPlus?
With the personalized savings plan, an amount to invest is proposed to you every month, which is flexibly adapted to your income and expenditure situation. In other words, a savings plan that is tailored to your life situation. Smart, isn’t it? It’s easy to set up via the UnitPlus app. Our tutorial in the app shows you how. You simply need to link your online banking to UnitPlus. Then you have the option to set a minimum and maximum amount, as well as your iron reserve. Based on this, an amount will be suggested for you to invest each month based on your account activity.
Can I cancel my savings plan at any time?
Yes, you can cancel or switch your savings plan in the UnitPlus app at any time.
What ETF savings plans are available?
You can choose between two types of savings plans. On the one hand, you can invest the same amount every month. For example, €50 every month. On the other hand, we also offer you the option of setting up a personalised savings plan that suggests an amount to invest each month based on your income and expenses. In other words, a savings plan that is individually adapted to your circumstances. In addition, you have the option to make one-time deposits at any time.
Why do I have to connect my bank account for setting up the personalised savings plan?
By logging into your online banking account via UnitPlus, we gain access to your account movements. We use this data exclusively to suggest an optimal amount for you to invest each month. This data is not passed on to third parties or used in any other way.
How can I adjust my savings plans in the app?
You can set up, adjust or deactivate your savings plan at any time in the app with just a few clicks.
How sustainable are the individual EFTs in the portfolio?
Sustainability concerns us all. That is why we at UnitPlus have clearly opted for a strong anchoring of ESG criteria. ESG stands for Environmental, Social and Governance. Environmental issues include factors such as greenhouse gas emissions, energy efficiency and pollution. Occupational health and safety, but also diversity and social commitment are found in the social factor. Corporate governance deals with aspects around corporate values and control processes. Each of the ETFs within the UnitPlus portfolios has these ESG factors. So this applies to the equity ETFs as well as the bond ETFs. Three of the five equity ETFs used by UnitPlus even have the strictest interpretation of ESG criteria with the so-called Socially Responsible Investing criteria, where only the 25% of companies with the highest ESG scores are considered as investment opportunities. The aim is thus to offer an investment that anchors environmental issues more firmly in the investment process. In addition, this can also be sustainable for profitability in the long term. The rating agency MSCI rewards our sustainability approach with an ESG score of 8.2 (out of 10) for all four portfolios, which is an above-average good value.
How sustainable is the UnitPlus card?
The physical debit card is made of recycled plastic. It also comes to you in plain packaging, because packaging always ends up in the trash sooner or later. Additionaly, there is a small piece missing on your UnitPlus card. We didn’t forget that, but it also allows blind people to use the bank card properly.
What is the difference between ESG and SRI?
There is no clear distinction. For us, SRI (Socially Responsible Investing) is a sub-category of ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance), whereby SRI applies the stricter criteria and is therefore invested in fewer, but more sustainable companies.
Which portfolio fits me best?
The portfolio is constructed with the help of a selective choice of exchange-traded index funds (so-called ETFs). The primary objective of portfolio construction at UnitPlus is to achieve a well diversified portfolio, taking into account an adequate risk-return ratio and recognised sustainability criteria. The four portfolio concepts available at UnitPlus pursue an identical market strategy, but differ in the target weighting of the respective ETF components. This results in four different risk profiles that pursue the same investment policy but are at home in different risk-return ratios. During the one-time registration process, we provide you with a decision-making tool that could be the most suitable portfolio based on your experience and risk appetite. You can follow this suggestion, but you don’t have to.
Can I also invest in other portfolios?
Initially, you can only invest in the four portfolios offered by UnitPlus. In the future, however, we can well imagine expanding the range.
What exactly are ETFs?
An exchange-traded fund (ETF) is a type of investment security that works much like a mutual fund. Typically, ETFs will track a particular index, like the German stock index (short DAX) or the US technology index NASDAQ. ETFs can be purchased or sold on a stock exchange the same way that a regular stock can. One of the biggest advantages of ETFs is the access to many stocks, bonds and other asset classes across various industries in a cost efficient way. In this way, the risk-reward potential can be increased.
Which ETFs make up the portfolios?
Each portfolio consists of 7 different ETFs. Among them are 5 equities and 2 bond ETFs. In the equities asset class, the aim is to represent the global equity market as diversified as possible, while at the same time taking care of sustainable criteria. In order to avoid overweighting in individual regions or countries, the portfolios are divided geographically into the markets of the USA, Europe, Japan and Emerging Markets. In the bond asset class, a distinction is made between government and corporate bonds. The aim here is also to achieve a diversified investment profile across different issuers and maturities. In order to keep default risks as low as possible, investments are made exclusively in investment-grade bonds across various sectors and countries. Since all bonds are denominated in euros, the currency risk can also be reduced. Sustainability criteria are also taken into account here with the ESG approach and green bonds. In the case of green bonds, the use of the proceeds is allocated exclusively to projects that promote the climate or other ecological purposes.
What does rebalancing mean at UnitPlus?
Since different asset classes also have different risk-return profiles, asset classes do not perform identically to each other. To ensure that your UnitPlus portfolio does not deviate too much from the original distribution of the overall portfolio and that your individual risk profile does not deviate too much from the original distribution of the overall portfolio, your portfolio is continuously monitored by UnitPlus and, if necessary, subjected to a so-called rebalancing. So you can sit back and relax and still keep your portfolio up-to-date.
Why do the portfolios consist only of ETFs?
ETFs are an inexpensive but very sensible way to invest your money worldwide. Moreover, ETFs are traded transparently on the stock exchange every working day. Since a selective choice of individual stocks (stock picking) and the correct assessment of investment times (market timing) do not generate higher returns in the long term, we consider ETFs to be the most sensible way of investing money, also from a risk-return point of view. However, we evaluate this on an ongoing basis in the interest of all users.
What happens to my portfolio when I pay for something?
When payments are made, shares of your portfolio (so called fractional shares) are automatically sold that correspond as closely as possible to the amount of the card payment. It is not necessary to select individual ETFs beforehand, which would cause an imbalance in your portfolio, but we sell all ETFs in your portfolio in the same amount. Because capital market transactions can only be made on business days and UnitPlus is concerned with the most cost-efficient execution of orders for the benefit of its users, the use of the UnitPlus card results in “pending transactions” (similar to your online banking). In this case, the card payment has already been made, but the corresponding order on the capital market has not yet been executed. The partial sale of the portfolio takes place on weekdays at fixed times. The remaining part of the fractional share is reinvested in your portfolio.
What happens to the payment that I make outside exchange hours or on weekends?
First of all: You can use our card at any time and worldwide – everywhere Mastercard is accepted. Even outside stock exchange opening hours and without hidden costs. Because capital market transactions can only be made on business days and UnitPlus is concerned about the most cost-efficient execution of orders in the interest of the users, the use of the UnitPlus card results in pending transactions (similar to your online banking). In this case, the card payment has already been made, but the corresponding order on the capital market has not yet been executed. The corresponding fractional sale of the portfolio takes place on weekdays at fixed times.
How much will UnitPlus cost me?
With us you pay 2€ per month and on an annual basis 0.70% of the money invested in your account including the ETF costs. For example, if you have 3,000€ invested with UnitPlus over a year, that’s just 3.75€ per month. Only cash withdrawals at ATMs with your UnitPlus card will incur additional fees of €2. There are no hidden costs. Sounds fair, right? We think so, too. Especially when you consider that most account models cost €5 and more per month, individual buy and sell orders usually also cost several euros, and active fund management keeps a few percent of the invested money.
What does the UnitPlus card cost me?
The UnitPlus card and its use are free of charge. We also do not charge any foreign currency fees if you use the card abroad. The only additional cost apply for ATM withdrawals.
Are there any additional costs when using my UnitPlus card?
No. With your UnitPlus card you not only pay as easily and conveniently as with any other bank card, but you also pay merchants free of charge. No matter whether you pay offline or online, in Germany or abroad.
Do I have to pay foreign exchange costs when using my UnitPlus card in non-European countries?
No. We have deliberately avoided these “hidden” costs and want to offer you the best payment experience even abroad.
What do I pay per cash withdrawal with my UnitPlus card?
Since cash withdrawals are also relatively costly for us to handle, there is a €2 fee for withdrawing deposited money from an ATM.
What is the UnitPlus card? And what advantages does it have?
The UnitPlus card is the world’s first ETF-linked debit card that combines investing and paying. That means you don’t pay with your bank account, but with your broadly diversified ETF portfolio, which is professionally managed for you by experts. You can access your investment flexibly at any time with your UnitPlus card and use it to make free and contactless payments anywhere in the world where Mastercard is accepted. Online and in stores.
Can I also pay with Apple Pay or Google Pay?
In the coming months, we will also unlock Apple Pay and Google Pay, so you can also conveniently pay with your smartphone using your invested money.
What should I do if I have lost or forgotten my UnitPlus card PIN?
You can change and reassign your PIN in your account settings at any time.
What should I do if my UnitPlus card is stolen or lost?
Your UnitPlus card can be deactivated at any time in the app, so you can quickly respond to a loss. Contact us afterwards so that we can provide you with a new card.
Where can I pay with the UnitPlus card?
Conveniently pay with your UnitPlus card anywhere Mastercard is accepted. That’s at over 70 million points of acceptance worldwide.
Where does the money on my UnitPlus card come from?
With your new UnitPlus card you can easily and conveniently pay directly with your UnitPlus portfolio. You decide which portfolio you want to invest in during the onboarding process. So your money is invested in a professional portfolio until you want to pay with it.
Where can I withdraw cash with the UnitPlus card?
You can withdraw cash with your UnitPlus card anywhere Mastercard is accepted. Additional fees not charged by UnitPlus may apply.
What happens if I want to return an item purchased with my UnitPlus card?
If you return an item and receive the sale price in return, this money will be automatically invested in your portfolio after a few days.
Can I pay with my entire investment at once?
As with any bank card, the UnitPlus card also has a limit. With UnitPlus, this is €2,000, or 70% of the portfolio value, but can be temporarily increased up to 5,000€ if the portfolio is large enough. For example, if 1,000€ is invested, 700€ are available for payments. If 5.000€ are invested, the available amount is 2.000€. The threshold of 70% for portfolio holdings below 2,600€ is for your protection and to ensure that you do not spend more with the bank card than you have as an equivalent in your portfolio at the time of the partial sale. The possibility of a complete liquidation of the portfolio via the app exists at any time. In your app you can see at any time how high your current withdrawal limit is.
How do I use the card the first time?
Before using your UnitPlus card for the first time, please pay attention to the following points: 1. Open your UnitPlus app and click on the card icon in the bottom right corner. 2. Then click on ‘Set card PIN here’ and create your personal PIN. 3. Now your UnitPlus card is ready to use. 4. To ensure that you can also make contactless payments with your UnitPlus card, your first payment should be made at a stationary card reader using your PIN. Online it should work already.
What is the minimum and maximum amount I can invest?
We want everyone to smartly invest, regardless of their income and net worth. That’s why at UnitPlus investments start with as little as €25. There is no maximum amount.
How long does it take for my transferred money to be on the app?
Under normal circumstances your money is invested within 3 working days.
Can I also set up direct debits via the investment account app?
No, it is not possible to set up direct debits for the time being. However, we are working on this option so that you can use it in the future.
Can I cancel deposits?
No. Deposits cannot be cancelled. After the money has been invested, you can transfer it back to your reference account at any time or pay conveniently with your UnitPlus card.
What happens to my money when I terminate my UnitPlus account?
Cancellations are possible at any point in time via the app. We will liquidate your portfolio and transfer the money to your specified reference account within a few working days.
How can I withdraw my investments?
You can make withdrawals at any time via the app. Normally the money is credited to your reference account after up to 3 working days. Of course, you can also pay conveniently and easily with your UnitPlus card.
What exactly is the Unit Program where I can collect Units?
Units are bonus points of UnitPlus and can be collected for various actions. Before the market launch, this includes when a person signs up to the waiting list via your individualized referral link. After the market launch, units can be earned for successfully referring a person. One Unit has an equivalent value of 1€ and can be credited to your portfolio. You can see the collected units in the app. For example, if 10 units are collected, these can be credited to the portfolio for €10. An exchange can always take place at the end of each quarter.
How can I collect more units?
The more friends and acquaintances who sign up to UnitPlus via your referral link, the more units you’ll receive. Pretty cool, isn’t it?
How can I redeem my Units?
You can see how many Units you have at any time in the app. Here you can also invest them in your portfolio. The exchange takes place at the end of each quarter.
What exactly is the ETF-back program?
Every time you make a payment with the UnitPlus card, you receive 0.10% of the transaction amount as ETF-back. The program works in a similar way to cashback program, whereby the money is not credited to your bank account in the form of cash, but to your depot in the form of ETF shares. Simply speaking: investing, while paying. And the best of it? It´s for free.
How can I redeem my ETF-back?
You can check how much ETF-back you have received at any time in your app. Here you can also transfer the money into your portfolio. An exchange can always be made with the collected units at the end of each quarter.
How are taxes handled at UnitPlus?
Any applicable capital gains taxes are automatically calculated and deducted by UnitPlus in cooperation with our partner bank Aion. All you have to do is enter your tax identification number in our app – we’ll take care of the rest.
Where can I find my tax ID?
You can find your tax identification number on your tax or income tax notices, or you can simply ask your tax office.
Do I have to pay taxes on my investment?
Yes, if you earn income from your stock gains and/or dividends, you will be taxed at 25% (plus solidarity contribution and church tax, if applicable). HOWEVER: the German government has granted us a tax relief on capital gains, the so-called “Steuerfreibetrag” (or tax allowance), where you pay no tax up to gains of 801€ (for individuals, 1,602€ for married couples). It is therefore worthwhile to set this up with UnitPlus so that you can benefit from the tax relief. Generally, taxes are automatically withheld by UnitPlus – so you don’t have to worry about doing anything wrong here.
What is the exemption amount per year?
The exemption amount per year is a maximum of 801€ for individuals and 1,602€ for married couples.
How much are the capital gains taxes?
The capital gains tax on income from share profits and dividends is a flat rate of 25%. Depending on your place of residence and federal state, the solidarity contribution of 5.5% and, depending on your denomination and federal state, between 8% and 9% church tax may also be due on top of the 25% capital gains tax. But dont worry, we will automatically calculate and if applicable pay the total taxes on your behalf.
Does it make sense to use the UnitPlus card for tax optimisation?
Definitely! By using the annual tax allowance (“Sparerpauschbetrag”), 801€ for individuals (1,602€ for married couples) can be used. For example, if you invest for 10 years and receive a profit from the investment after 10 years, the tax allowance will only be utilized then. With UnitPlus you have the possibility to pay at any time with your invested money, and ideally, you can always use your positive return. This allows you to make much better use of the tax-free allowance each year. You can also find more on this topic on our blog here.