topic Re: What is the best 1.5% cash back credit card in Credit Cards

What is the best 1.5% cash back credit card

Anonymous — Thu, 19 Apr 2018 06:08:55 GMT

points/miles cards like Bank of America Travel Rewards are included in this discussion

I have the Chase Freedom Unlimited, which is unlimited 1.5% cash back.

US Bank Cash+ $5000/Ollo Rewards $1600/Chase Freedom $1500/JCPenney $1500/Bank of America Cash Rewards $500/Discover It $1500/American Express Blue Cash Preferred $6000/Chase Freedom Unlimited $1500

Re: What is the best 1.5% cash back credit card

redpat — Thu, 19 Apr 2018 06:19:51 GMT

A 2% cashback card.

Re: What is the best 1.5% cash back credit card

UpperNwGuy — Thu, 19 Apr 2018 07:36:50 GMT

I don’t know why anyone would want a 1.5% card now that 2% has become the industry standard. Two cards that are marketed as 1.5% cards but can earn over 2% when combined with other financial products are the Chase Freedom Unlimited and the Bank of America Travel Rewards. If I had to chose among true 1.5% cards, I’d have to say the best are Capital One Quicksilver and NFCU cashRewards, because they don’t charge foreign transaction fees, but both of these cards really need updating.

Re: What is the best 1.5% cash back credit card

sarge12 — Thu, 19 Apr 2018 07:49:23 GMT

@UpperNwGuy wrote:
I don’t know why anyone would want a 1.5% card now that 2% has become the industry standard. Two cards that are marketed as 1.5% cards but can earn over 2% when combined with other financial products are the Chase Freedom Unlimited and the Bank of America Travel Rewards. If I had to chose among true 1.5% cards, I’d have to say the best are Capital One Quicksilver and NFCU cashRewards, because they don’t charge foreign transaction fees, but both of these cards really need updating.

They may often get a bad rap, but the way the rewards are added to an account and the ability to redeem any amount makes the capital one my favorite 1.5% card. The Citi DC has higher rewards...1%+1%...but the points add on when statements cut, and have minimum redemption. The capital one is just easier.

Re: What is the best 1.5% cash back credit card

SunriseEarth — Thu, 19 Apr 2018 08:26:05 GMT

@UpperNwGuy wrote:
I don’t know why anyone would want a 1.5% card now that 2% has become the industry standard. Two cards that are marketed as 1.5% cards but can earn over 2% when combined with other financial products are the Chase Freedom Unlimited and the Bank of America Travel Rewards. If I had to chose among true 1.5% cards, I’d have to say the best are Capital One Quicksilver and NFCU cashRewards, because they don’t charge foreign transaction fees, but both of these cards really need updating.

Sounds like you gave a reason someone might prefer a 1.5% CC.

Re: What is the best 1.5% cash back credit card

SunriseEarth — Thu, 19 Apr 2018 08:33:59 GMT

@UpperNwGuy wrote:
If I had to chose among true 1.5% cards, I’d have to say the best are Capital One Quicksilver and NFCU cashRewards, because they don’t charge foreign transaction fees, but both of these cards really need updating.

These would be the two I'd recommend. Perhaps I'd give NFCU the advantage for the more generous CLs.

I picked up the US Bank Cash 365, which is a 1.5% AMEX, for the spend offer and long 0% promo period. Overall, I like how US Bank runs their rewards program (no minimum redemptions), but the quick availability of rewards is an advantage Cap One and NFCU have over US Bank.

My least favorite 1.5% card I have is the Barclay CashForward. Although rewards post very quickly, they have a $50 threshold for redemption. Also, their redemption bonus always leaves rewards on the table. I'm not a fan of this. I eventually plan on reallocating the CashForward CL into my Uber Visa.

Re: What is the best 1.5% cash back credit card

wasCB14 — Thu, 19 Apr 2018 08:45:48 GMT

If 1.5% is satisfactory as a daily driver or off-category card, then maximizing rewards isn't likely a high priority. Almost any criteria can be used instead. Maybe you want a card with good customer service, high CL, no FTFs, or one offered by a bank/CU you already use. To a rebuilder, the best 1.5% card may be the one with the loosest credit requirements.

I like my "convertible 2.5%" just fine.

Re: What is the best 1.5% cash back credit card

UpperNwGuy — Thu, 19 Apr 2018 12:00:45 GMT

@SunriseEarth wrote:
@UpperNwGuy wrote:
I don’t know why anyone would want a 1.5% card now that 2% has become the industry standard. Two cards that are marketed as 1.5% cards but can earn over 2% when combined with other financial products are the Chase Freedom Unlimited and the Bank of America Travel Rewards. If I had to chose among true 1.5% cards, I’d have to say the best are Capital One Quicksilver and NFCU cashRewards, because they don’t charge foreign transaction fees, but both of these cards really need updating.
Sounds like you gave a reason someone might prefer a 1.5% CC.

Not so! My PenFed Power Cash Rewards earns 2% and has no foreign transaction fees. My NFCU cashRewards no longer sees much action, even on international trips, since I got the Power Cash a year ago.

Re: What is the best 1.5% cash back credit card

Anonymous — Thu, 19 Apr 2018 12:24:31 GMT

The Discover It Miles Card gives 1.5 "miles" per dollar that you can convert to cash, so it's the same as a 1.5% --- but the good part is that at the end of the first year you get those first-year earnings doubled, so new cardholders end up getting 3% on the first year's cash back.

Re: What is the best 1.5% cash back credit card

K-in-Boston — Thu, 19 Apr 2018 13:30:55 GMT

I would second the PenFed PCR being the best one, if actual cash back is your goal (and assuming you are either a veteran/active or have a checking account that qualifies you for the 2%). However, if points are your real goal, then the Freedom Unlimited would likely win this category, if paired with a CSP or CSR. If you have significant accounts with BoA/Merrill Lynch/Merrill Edge, then the BoA Premium Rewards card would be quite difficult to top for straight cash back (3.5% on travel and 2.625% on everything else).

Re: What is the best 1.5% cash back credit card

SarahJo — Thu, 19 Apr 2018 14:32:22 GMT

I adore my PenFed PCR for the 2% cashback...it does have increments for redeeming, but you can add multiple $5/$10/$25/etc. to your "cart" to get as close as possible to redeem the benefit cash. Found that out in a happy accident! As for strictly 1.5%, Cap1 Qucksilver for ease and promptness of redemption, hands down.

Re: What is the best 1.5% cash back credit card

Anonymous — Thu, 19 Apr 2018 15:06:32 GMT

@SarahJo wrote:
I adore my PenFed PCR for the 2% cashback...it does have increments for redeeming, but you can add multiple $5/$10/$25/etc. to your "cart" to get as close as possible to redeem the benefit cash. Found that out in a happy accident! As for strictly 1.5%, Cap1 Qucksilver for ease and promptness of redemption, hands down.

The downfall is you're stuck with their checking account (either by converting your DD or storing $500 in there), or you have to be military, otherwise, it's 1.5% back. I'd rather have the C.O Quicksilver over the Penfed Cash Rewards... And then you have to ride with training wheels while Penfed takes 10 days to apply your $500 payment to your credit card. No thanks.

Re: What is the best 1.5% cash back credit card

SarahJo — Thu, 19 Apr 2018 15:34:24 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@SarahJo wrote:
I adore my PenFed PCR for the 2% cashback...it does have increments for redeeming, but you can add multiple $5/$10/$25/etc. to your "cart" to get as close as possible to redeem the benefit cash. Found that out in a happy accident! As for strictly 1.5%, Cap1 Qucksilver for ease and promptness of redemption, hands down.
The downfall is you're stuck with their checking account (either by converting your DD or storing $500 in there), or you have to be military, otherwise, it's 1.5% back. I'd rather have the C.O Quicksilver over the Penfed Cash Rewards... And then you have to ride with training wheels while Penfed takes 10 days to apply your $500 payment to your credit card. No thanks.

I utilize their checking account. 10 days to apply a CC payment? The available balance on the CC updates instantly after a payment, pior to it even clearing whether it's $10 or $3000...

Re: What is the best 1.5% cash back credit card

Anonymous — Thu, 19 Apr 2018 15:38:32 GMT

@SarahJo wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
@SarahJo wrote:
I adore my PenFed PCR for the 2% cashback...it does have increments for redeeming, but you can add multiple $5/$10/$25/etc. to your "cart" to get as close as possible to redeem the benefit cash. Found that out in a happy accident! As for strictly 1.5%, Cap1 Qucksilver for ease and promptness of redemption, hands down.
The downfall is you're stuck with their checking account (either by converting your DD or storing $500 in there), or you have to be military, otherwise, it's 1.5% back. I'd rather have the C.O Quicksilver over the Penfed Cash Rewards... And then you have to ride with training wheels while Penfed takes 10 days to apply your $500 payment to your credit card. No thanks.
I utilize their checking account. 10 days to apply a CC payment? The available balance on the CC updates instantly after a payment, pior to it even clearing whether it's $10 or $3000...

Hence, training wheels - your instant credit doesn't happen for newbies.

Re: What is the best 1.5% cash back credit card

SarahJo — Thu, 19 Apr 2018 15:42:07 GMT

It's happened since day one for me, but as always YMMV...anywhoooooo, have a great day!

Re: What is the best 1.5% cash back credit card

digitek — Thu, 19 Apr 2018 16:47:57 GMT

I have 2% Citi DC, but haven't used it in a few months. It pays my YMCA membership to keep it alive.

I actually use my CSR for all my daily spend. It is 1.5% cash back on everything when redeemed for travel. If I spend $10,000 on that one credit card with Citi DC I get back $200, if I do the same with CSR it I get $150. CSR has great customer service and better benefits than any other card out there. Now that I have a few cash back cards for specific categories the amount I spend on my "everything else" card shrinks. Also, churning a card a year where you put 'everything' spend on it to meet minimum spend for sign-up bonus reduces the amount that goes on 'everything' card.

I'm actually OK with using my 1.5% card over my 2% card for daily spending. In the end the difference in cash back is hardly noticable, $10k is a lot in the midwest! I know it is a strange use case, but I guess it happens.

(I like that State Department Credit Union 2% card btw, no FTF and cell phone insurance and no AF and solid credit union)

Re: What is the best 1.5% cash back credit card

SBR249 — Thu, 19 Apr 2018 17:17:02 GMT

I'm surprised no one has mentioned the Paypal Cashback MC yet. No FTF, no redemption minimum to your paypal account, 2% CB across the board, and if you pair it with a Paypal Biz Debit then you may even earn 3% on many purchases. I'd say it's competitive with most general 1.5% to 2% CB cards out there unless you have a specific tie-in that you value like FU and the UR tie-in with the Chase trifecta.

Re: What is the best 1.5% cash back credit card

UpperNwGuy — Thu, 19 Apr 2018 18:14:16 GMT

@SarahJo wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
@SarahJo wrote:
I adore my PenFed PCR for the 2% cashback...it does have increments for redeeming, but you can add multiple $5/$10/$25/etc. to your "cart" to get as close as possible to redeem the benefit cash. Found that out in a happy accident! As for strictly 1.5%, Cap1 Qucksilver for ease and promptness of redemption, hands down.
The downfall is you're stuck with their checking account (either by converting your DD or storing $500 in there), or you have to be military, otherwise, it's 1.5% back. I'd rather have the C.O Quicksilver over the Penfed Cash Rewards... And then you have to ride with training wheels while Penfed takes 10 days to apply your $500 payment to your credit card. No thanks.
I utilize their checking account. 10 days to apply a CC payment? The available balance on the CC updates instantly after a payment, pior to it even clearing whether it's $10 or $3000...

My experience has been the same as yours, Sarah Jo. I've had a PenFed checking account and PenFed credit cards for 25 years with no problems. Let me add, however, that my experience is limited to paying the PenFed card from PenFed checking, so I don't know what it would be like to pay the card from an outside checking account.

Re: What is the best 1.5% cash back credit card

SunriseEarth — Fri, 20 Apr 2018 02:49:30 GMT

@UpperNwGuy wrote:
@SunriseEarth wrote:
@UpperNwGuy wrote:
I don’t know why anyone would want a 1.5% card now that 2% has become the industry standard. Two cards that are marketed as 1.5% cards but can earn over 2% when combined with other financial products are the Chase Freedom Unlimited and the Bank of America Travel Rewards. If I had to chose among true 1.5% cards, I’d have to say the best are Capital One Quicksilver and NFCU cashRewards, because they don’t charge foreign transaction fees, but both of these cards really need updating.
Sounds like you gave a reason someone might prefer a 1.5% CC.
Not so! My PenFed Power Cash Rewards earns 2% and has no foreign transaction fees. My NFCU cashRewards no longer sees much action, even on international trips, since I got the Power Cash a year ago.

Of course, being eligible for PenFed is a potential road block for many. But it's a great option if you can get it.

Re: What is the best 1.5% cash back credit card

SBR249 — Fri, 20 Apr 2018 06:36:56 GMT

@SunriseEarth wrote:
@UpperNwGuy wrote:
@SunriseEarth wrote:
@UpperNwGuy wrote:
I don’t know why anyone would want a 1.5% card now that 2% has become the industry standard. Two cards that are marketed as 1.5% cards but can earn over 2% when combined with other financial products are the Chase Freedom Unlimited and the Bank of America Travel Rewards. If I had to chose among true 1.5% cards, I’d have to say the best are Capital One Quicksilver and NFCU cashRewards, because they don’t charge foreign transaction fees, but both of these cards really need updating.
Sounds like you gave a reason someone might prefer a 1.5% CC.
Not so! My PenFed Power Cash Rewards earns 2% and has no foreign transaction fees. My NFCU cashRewards no longer sees much action, even on international trips, since I got the Power Cash a year ago.
Of course, being eligible for PenFed is a potential road block for many. But it's a great option if you can get it.

You may be thinking of NFCU, I don't think PenFed is very difficult to be eligible for because they have a lot of affinity partners.