topic Re: Tips for Vantage West Connect Rewards in Credit Cards

Tips for Vantage West Connect Rewards

Anonymous — Mon, 04 Mar 2019 14:47:14 GMT

I'm looking to apply for the card as I do reside in Arizona, but I'm a little confused about some things. Can you just apply or do I have to be a member before? If so, how do I become a member? Do you need to have a checking account with them or can you just apply for the card? Also do they do a hard pull? If so, which credit report do they usually use? I'm confused because some old threads said it's a soft pull and people keep talking about being a member.

Lastly I heard that there are a few issues with their client area and with points not showing up. Can anyone who has the card confirm? Thanks!

Re: Tips for Vantage West Connect Rewards

digitek — Mon, 04 Mar 2019 15:58:48 GMT

Hey tobago,

I have this card and if you are interested it would probably be easiest to just go into a branch and talk to someone in person. You'll need to apply for membership first and this will require buying a "share" savings account for $5. Just like a normal savings account anywhere else, but you have to keep at least that original $5 in there. You can then apply for the Credit Card. They pulled Experian for me about a year and a half ago.

I was probably the one you read who reported some points issue. It took a call and a few days to sort out, but they got to it. Their interface isn't too bad, I have two Credit Union accounts and they both use the same backed software for online banking, both website and mobile. It isn't terrible, but its not Chase or Amex which IMO are top tier.

Only issue I really have is no true auto-pay from an external account. To pay the card you do it from one of your Vantage West accounts. Push money from your normal bank account to the Vantage West account and then you pay the CC from that account. One extra step that I really don't like and best to be aware of.

Re: Tips for Vantage West Connect Rewards

FinStar — Mon, 04 Mar 2019 15:54:18 GMT

Below is an older link that references some good DPs. Perhaps @DaveInAZ or @digitek can provide some updated information on VW.

https://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/Credit-Cards/5-Utilities-including-Cable-Cell-Phone-Internet-Vantage-West/td-p/5131456

Re: Tips for Vantage West Connect Rewards

Anonymous — Mon, 04 Mar 2019 16:01:15 GMT

Thanks! I plan to use it for Costco purchases. Do you know if you can apply to the savings account online and does that also result in a hard inquiry/pull or is that only for the credit card?

Re: Tips for Vantage West Connect Rewards

DaveInAZ — Mon, 04 Mar 2019 16:39:10 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
I'm looking to apply for the card as I do reside in Arizona, but I'm a little confused about some things. Can you just apply or do I have to be a member before? If so, how do I become a member? Do you need to have a checking account with them or can you just apply for the card? Also do they do a hard pull? If so, which credit report do they usually use? I'm confused because some old threads said it's a soft pull and people keep talking about being a member.

Lastly I heard that there are a few issues with their client area and with points not showing up. Can anyone who has the card confirm? Thanks!

I've been a member of Vantage West since 2015 and am very happy with them, I have personal checking, savings and the "regular" (no 5% categories) Visa card, and also business accounts with them. You can find out how to become a member here:

https://vantagewest.org/help/who-can-join/

That shows their geographic areas. If you're not in their geographic area note that is says "Membership is open to anyone who lives, works, worships, attends school or volunteers in these geographic areas", so just tell them you go church or volunteer in one of the areas, for an AZ resident they're not very strict on checking. I live in Cochise county, so no problem for me.

It's best to be a member before you apply for credit, all you need is $5 in a "share" savings account. You can do everything online. I don't recall if it's a HP just to join, I got the CC at the time I joined so I got a HP, but just the one for both membership & CC. They pull Experian. There's a number to call on that VW who can join is you have anymore questions.

Re: Tips for Vantage West Connect Rewards

Anonymous — Mon, 04 Mar 2019 18:35:37 GMT

@DaveInAZ wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
I'm looking to apply for the card as I do reside in Arizona, but I'm a little confused about some things. Can you just apply or do I have to be a member before? If so, how do I become a member? Do you need to have a checking account with them or can you just apply for the card? Also do they do a hard pull? If so, which credit report do they usually use? I'm confused because some old threads said it's a soft pull and people keep talking about being a member.

Lastly I heard that there are a few issues with their client area and with points not showing up. Can anyone who has the card confirm? Thanks!
I've been a member of Vantage West since 2015 and am very happy with them, I have personal checking, savings and the "regular" (no 5% categories) Visa card, and also business accounts with them. You can find out how to become a member here:
https://vantagewest.org/help/who-can-join/
That shows their geographic areas. If you're not in their geographic area note that is says "Membership is open to anyone who lives, works, worships, attends school or volunteers in these geographic areas", so just tell them you go church or volunteer in one of the areas, for an AZ resident they're not very strict on checking. I live in Cochise county, so no problem for me.
It's best to be a member before you apply for credit, all you need is $5 in a "share" savings account. You can do everything online. I don't recall if it's a HP just to join, I got the CC at the time I joined so I got a HP, but just the one for both membership & CC. They pull Experian. There's a number to call on that VW who can join is you have anymore questions.

Thank you! I called them and they said I can apply then make an appointment to create the savings account. Do you know what the approval process is like? I applied online and it just said congrats the application was submitted. Do they usually ask for more info or is it straightforward like other credit cards?

Re: Tips for Vantage West Connect Rewards

JaseT — Mon, 04 Mar 2019 23:46:27 GMT

@DaveInAZ wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
I'm looking to apply for the card as I do reside in Arizona, but I'm a little confused about some things. Can you just apply or do I have to be a member before? If so, how do I become a member? Do you need to have a checking account with them or can you just apply for the card? Also do they do a hard pull? If so, which credit report do they usually use? I'm confused because some old threads said it's a soft pull and people keep talking about being a member.

Lastly I heard that there are a few issues with their client area and with points not showing up. Can anyone who has the card confirm? Thanks!
I've been a member of Vantage West since 2015 and am very happy with them, I have personal checking, savings and the "regular" (no 5% categories) Visa card, and also business accounts with them. You can find out how to become a member here:
https://vantagewest.org/help/who-can-join/
That shows their geographic areas. If you're not in their geographic area note that is says "Membership is open to anyone who lives, works, worships, attends school or volunteers in these geographic areas", so just tell them you go church or volunteer in one of the areas, for an AZ resident they're not very strict on checking. I live in Cochise county, so no problem for me.
It's best to be a member before you apply for credit, all you need is $5 in a "share" savings account. You can do everything online. I don't recall if it's a HP just to join, I got the CC at the time I joined so I got a HP, but just the one for both membership & CC. They pull Experian. There's a number to call on that VW who can join is you have anymore questions.

I've wondered if the worship and/or volunteers in that area would work for an out of state applicant. I go down to Phoenix as often as I can (used to live there) and I would like to get in with Vantage West.

Re: Tips for Vantage West Connect Rewards

Anonymous — Wed, 06 Mar 2019 01:47:28 GMT

I got approved for 12K limit and also applied for their Premium Checking because they have a $300 offer if combined with the credit card so it's like a sign up bonus.

More details about the offer in case anyone is interested: https://vantagewest.org/picktwo/

Re: Tips for Vantage West Connect Rewards

FinStar — Wed, 06 Mar 2019 02:18:01 GMT

Congrats on the nice approval @Anonymous!

Locking this thread as you have been approved. Feel free to start a new approval thread in the Approvals forum if you wish.