That’s even better if you use the URs optimally (I generally do not).
https://www.penfed.org/credit-cards/platinum-rewards-visa
true but it requires you to park $100k at the bank to get platinum honors status.
Yes that’s why for $250 annually they aren’t good value.
Before getting a hotel/airline card, first determine if you regularly stay or fly with them. If not, I’d suggest stocking up on flexible points (Chase, Amex, Citi, Cap1).
I also wouldn’t get a Marriott card before seeing what the award prices are next year when they nuke the award chart.
Marcus has 2.15% HYSA with an additional referral bonus of 1% for the first 3 mo. Bask bank has a 2.75% HYSA without any minimums I believe. I also received something from Robinhood for 3%, I didn’t look into the details.
Yup if you’re platinum rewards with BofA via banking or investments, they’re hard to beat for cash back.
For those without big assets Alliant Credit Union’s card has fewer hoops at 2.5% back. https://www.alliantcreditunion.org/bank/visa-signature-card
to get 2.5%
- Meet the requirements* for an Alliant High-Rate Checking account for each month of the preceding calendar quarter.
- Maintain an average daily balance of $1,000 or more in your Alliant High-Rate Checking account for each month of the preceding calendar quarter.
5x points
and
5%
are not the same thing.
Go look at the redemption rates.
I’d post an example, but like everything else they offer
No, it absolutely does not.
Do you think I keep $100,000 in a savings account at 0.000000000002%? Or maybe in checking? 
Merrill balances count. So I just keep some securities there in a brokerage account. I have to keep them somewhere.
yes it absolutely does. merrill may count but you still need to hit the limit of $100k minimum to qualify, or jump through some of their other hoops. Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card
preferred honors is the status tier you need to get the extra .75%. that limit starts at $100k.
ok its 4.63 or whatever it comes out to be. don’t be a pedant you know what i meant.
The distinctions are both important.
The points are worth as little as 1/3 of a cent each (for merchandise, which is almost always a terrible idea with any rewards program) and the max I’ve seen (open to a real example and correction) is around 0.8 cents.
So 5X gas is a 4% return, or 20% less rewards than you think you’re receiving if you think you’re getting 5% on gas. That’s significant.
And $100,000 in cash sloshing around in a bank doing nothing is very different from $100,000 in a brokerage account.
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well not a lot of people have $100k lying around, so a flat 2% with no annual fee and instant redemption is a pretty attractive option for a lot of folks.
the cash reward for gift cards is 85cents on the dollar. for travel its something like 1.25 but dont quote me.
Yes thats why im passing on Hilton. My favorite destination doesnt have any Hilton properties surprisingly. I dont think I have a hotel brand preference. I have the C1 VentureX and Amex Gold. Im waiting for the welcome bonus to increase on either Sapphire card. I’ll pickup an Amex Platinum when they build a Centurion lounge at O’Hare. If ever. We just started getting Delta cards.
Has anyone dealt with the Citi checking account bonuses? How was the experince?
I did
Got bonus after the 60 days
Closed it after 6 months
Forgot to say
I withdrew most of the money and left enough to offset the waived fees
No argument. There are about six other cards just like it in the market, though, with no relationship requirements… so no real reason to consort with the likes of PenFed for this.
Even sucky Synchrony has a 2% card. 
Yep. So 4.25% on gas, or 15% less than you thought you were getting. I stand corrected.
Sorry for quoting you after you asked me not to 
but IIRC the last time I checked it was more like 0.75 cents per point for travel.
I just tried to run a sample itinerary through their OTA’s site, and it only shows the cost in points, so I give up trying to substantiate this. 
Chase I’ll never attempt again. Citi was easy.
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I’m in my 4th one, it’s a 20 day funding period to get money in then hold for an additional 60 days. Historically it has taken about 45 days after the 60 to receive the bonus.
They also recently and perhaps still do have a Accelerate Savings bonus going on for $300.
And they’ll pay you to move your account there to boot
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i think the visa redemptions are higher and they often run sales. still, you can’t really find a 4+% visa gas card these days.
Or you can use Chase Ink cash to buy fee free (when they’re running a promotion) gift cards for 5% back at Staples, up to 25k per year per card, and use those on whatever you want
that’s an exciting proposition