What are your scores like? You can look into PenFed, their cards are no FTF and no AF are available.
I apped and was denied, so I used that HP and a $500 deposit to get a $500 secured card from PenFed. Even THAT card has no FTF, and a EMV chip with PIN, though the PIN is not primary (Signature primary I think), and no other fees, so you can always go the secured route.
If your eligible a lot of military and government CUs have a ftf that's basically passing the fee the bank is charged to you.. Usually 1%.. Yes its no free ftf but its also not having the bank eat the ftf as a loss either.. Just another option
@Anonymous wrote:PenFed seems like a solid option for this trip. How good is PenFed with upgrading cards?
My understanding with the secured card I have is it should be able to convert in a year, this secured card needs to go for 12 months, meaning Nov-Dec 2015 for me. I'm done apping for the year and will have balances paid down nicely so I expect I'll be able to get a regular card from them. In the mean time, the limit is based on my savings deposit amount.
They will do a HP even when you apply to join / open the savings account, so be sure to talk with someone to use the same HP for your credit app. I first applied on-line, and the "joining" HP was taken, then my on-line credit app which I submitted at the same time got "lost" so I had to go through that again a month later after radio silence on any credit app. So I guess this nice secured card really cost me two HP. Thus it is even MORE excellent.