Aven: 2026 Home Equity Review

The Aven credit card offers a line of credit based on your tappable home equity, like a HELOC, and unlimited 2 percent cash back on purchases, like a cash-back reward credit card.

Aven also offers a HELOC refinance product, in which users can refinance their existing second -lien HELOC or home equity loan to an Aven HELOC. There are no origination or transfer fees associated with the refinance. 

Affordability: 5 stars

• APR: Aven provides a low-rate guarantee. If you're able to get a lower HELOC rate with another lender, it will beat the offer or send you $250. Its APRs for primary residences run between 7.49%  and 14.99%  (depending on your credit) — low compared to most credit cards. 
• Fees:  There are no annual, sign-up, or prepayment fees, but with the Aven credit card you’ll pay a 2.5 percent fee on cash outs and balance transfers. With Aven’s traditional home equity product, there’s a one-time, first-draw fee of 4.9 percent. With the credit card and the HELOC product, you’ll also be on the hook for a $29 late fee if you miss the minimum payment.

Competitive APRs, the low-rate guarantee and the absence of most fees all help Aven score a 5 out of 5 affordability rating.

Availability:  4.9 stars

• Credit score: You will need a FICO score and VantageScore of at least 640, which is typical of home equity lenders.
• Loan products: Aven’s credit card allows you to tap into your home equity while offering cash rewards. All purchases you make with the Aven card will earn you unlimited 2 percent cash back. Aven also offers a traditional HELOC product.
• Where to find it:  Aven is available in most U.S. states except Delaware, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Missouri, Nevada, New York, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Vermont, and West Virginia. 

Aven scores 4.9 out of 5 for availability due to its unique home equity credit card, ability to earn 2 percent cash back and its reach across the majority of states in the U.S.

Borrower experience: 4.7 stars

• Rate transparency: While you won’t see your APR until you receive your offer, Aven only performs a “soft pull” on your credit report, which doesn’t affect your credit score. (If you do accept the offer, a hard inquiry follows, which can temporarily impact your score.) 

• Convenience: Borrowers can use their Aven card to purchase anything wherever Visa cards are accepted. However, it can’t be used for cash withdrawals from an ATM or bank. 

• Customer service: The application process can be done completely online. If you need support, Aven is reachable by scheduled call-back or online chat at aven.com/contact. You can also email them at support@aven.com, and existing customers can call 415-582-6613 for support. 

Borrowers can use their card for purchases everywhere Visa is accepted and they offer multiple support options, giving Aven a 4.7 out of 5 for borrower experience.

While it’s a relative newcomer in the home equity lending space, Aven has an “excellent” rating on Trustpilot — 4.9 out of 5 stars, with more than 6,180 reviews at the time of this writing. The company is also accredited by the BBB and has an A+ rating from that organization.

What Bankrate users say about Aven

One customer review on Bankrate noted that Aven’s online application was an “easy, quick and professional experience.” However, some customers had complaints such as “online form doesn’t work well,” “cannot talk to a human” and “no one followed up on our request.”