Fasten Turns Everyday Driving into Everyday Rewards with Highnote

How Fasten partnered with Highnote to launch a verticalized rewards card that transforms auto-related spend into loyalty, turning commutes, car payments, and gas stops into point-earning moments.

The Vision: Rewarding What People Already Do

When Jacob Zachs, CEO and Founder of Fasten, bought his first car in over a decade, he had a realization: Americans spend a massive amount on their vehicles — but unlike dining or travel, that spend isn’t being rewarded.

“I was getting points for my rent,” Jacob recalls. “But nothing for my car — not the lease, the gas, the maintenance, or the insurance. That just didn’t make sense.”

That insight became a mission. Fasten would reimagine credit card rewards for the auto category, not just for car enthusiasts, but for the 300+ million drivers across the U.S.

But building a holistic, rewards-driven experience meant more than offering gas perks. It meant launching a category-defining credit card that could handle real-world spending at scale, and needed a platform partner built for that.

The Challenge: Creating a Verticalized Rewards Engine

Building a modern, mass-market rewards product meant tackling real complexity:

• Issuing a branded card that works seamlessly across merchant types
• Partnering with dealerships, regardless of brand
• Designing flexible, brand-agnostic redemptions
• Navigating compliance for a consumer card targeting millions

Fasten evaluated processors and platforms, but found most were too rigid, too slow, or lacked the appetite to build something new.

“We didn’t just need a card program,” Jacob said. “We needed a partner who could help us launch fast, adapt on the fly, and grow with us.”

The Solution: A True Product Partner in Highnote

Fasten chose Highnote to power their rewards card, and bring their vision to life.

“Highnote felt like a team that was truly invested. They didn’t just launch us and walk away. They stayed involved, stayed responsive, and kept pushing the product forward with us.” Jacob Zachs, CEO at Fasten

From real-time processing to seamless white-labeling, Highnote gave Fasten the infrastructure to build, launch, and iterate, fast. A process that could have taken 12–18 months was condensed into just a few.

And the partnership went beyond APIs.

“We’ve become friends with the team. We went to a hockey game together,” Jacob added. “That kind of relationship you don’t get with most vendors.”

Results: Driving Loyalty, Driving Growth

Fasten’s rewards card is now live and delivering real value:

• Comprehensive Rewards: Points earned on fuel, tolls, insurance, leases, and more
• Flexible Redemption: Brand-agnostic points, redeemable at any participating dealership
• Dealer Loyalty Boost: Drives retention — 74% of car buyers who service at a dealership return for their next purchase
• Built for Everyday Life: Rewards accrue for everyday errands and commutes

“It’s a product built for real life,” Jacob said. “People love getting rewarded for the things they already do, like driving to work or picking up their kids.”

What’s Next: Expanding the Auto Rewards Flywheel

Fasten is just getting started.

The team is exploring new verticals including fleet programs, commercial cards, and travel redemptions — all with rewards tailored to high-value, recurring spend.

“Whether it’s your dream vacation or your dream car, we want to help people get there,” Jacob said. “And with Highnote, we know we’ve got the right partner to keep building.”

Fasten is building a new category of verticalized rewards, and setting a new standard for how everyday spend can drive long-term loyalty.