topic Re: SDFCU Cash Back Plus in Credit Cards

SDFCU Cash Back Plus

bergrides — Mon, 04 Nov 2019 00:13:49 GMT

All,

I am considering a card for my non category spending, and I am down to the SDFCU Cash Back + (2%) and the Citizens Cash Back Plus (1.8%). Based on my analysis, the difference will be about $50 cash back per year.

To get the credit card, do you have to have activity on a savings account or checking account - I know you need to open one to get the card, but I am happy with my current bank, and don't want to move money areound for a credit card. Could I just leave it open with no activity?

I know the app for Citizens is not very robust but will give me email notification when a charge hits. Looks like the SDFCU card will as well - can someone confirm this and do they also do text messages? With the SDFCU can you see pending transactions on line?

I am not near their branches, so I know there is a risk that they will not be able to verify my information for application which will result in a denial. My address matches on my credit reports and will match my pay stubs, so it may not be an issue.

The only hard pull I have is my Amex BCP which is from 1 year ago.

I would have to join the ACC since I do not meet any other criteria, but I am ok with this.

Thanks for the help

Re: SDFCU Cash Back Plus

Anonymous — Mon, 04 Nov 2019 04:06:34 GMT

Can't help w/ SDFCU but can confirm that you don't need a bank acct w/ Citizens; I don't have one and still have their card. They pull EQ and BTW, if you go in branch you may be offered a SUB and/or be able to get it w/ a SP if you bank w/ them. YMMV

Re: SDFCU Cash Back Plus

bergrides — Mon, 04 Nov 2019 12:27:04 GMT

Thanks Xatos. When I talked to the branch they said they may be able to do a soft pull, which would be a plus

Re: SDFCU Cash Back Plus

digitek — Mon, 04 Nov 2019 14:28:43 GMT

Hi Bergides,

I have the SDFCU card. In order to join the Credit Union you have to open a "Regular Share Savings Account", which is typical for all credit unions, it is like your buy-in. You just have to keep $5 in there. There is one thing I really don't like about the card, though, and it is that you can't setup auto-payment from an external account to pay the Credit Card bill. You can pay the bill from an external account, but not set it up for auto-pay from that external account. You can setup scheduled payments from an external account, but not like a normal CC where it will just pull the amount owed on the day it is due. I like to push money to the regular share from my main checking account at USAA, SDFCU's external transcations take longer, and then pay the CC from the regular share savings account.

You can setup text and email alerts for any transactions on the card.

I have the Chip+PIN priority version of it, which doesn't do much in the states since it can be bypassed easily on terminals here, but I guess would be helpful elsewhere if needed. It has no FTF and $250 worth of cell phone insurance.

I like it and have had no issues with it. They are a really conservative lender overall and are good to get in with. I also have a HELOC through them, too.

Oh, and I recommend joining the CU first and then applying for the credit card. I did both at the same time and it caused some issues. You can join the CU by being a member of Consumer Council, which is free.

Re: SDFCU Cash Back Plus

bergrides — Mon, 04 Nov 2019 16:40:30 GMT

Thanks digitek. If I go with SDFCU, I would join first based on what I have read in the forums. I pay my CC bills once the statement cuts, so I am ok with not being able to setup auto pay.

If I wanted to pay part of the balance a couple of days before the statement cuts, would the SDFCU pull for the money happen in a business day or does it usually take longer? If I have a busy month, I like to pay the balance down to keep the utilization in check.

Re: SDFCU Cash Back Plus

digitek — Mon, 04 Nov 2019 16:47:48 GMT

Their pull takes a day longer on average than when I push it from USAA. I usually keep extra money in the regular share savings and then top it off every once in a while.

I pay off every 2 weeks and have had no issues.

Re: SDFCU Cash Back Plus

bergrides — Mon, 04 Nov 2019 16:53:53 GMT

Thanks digitek.

Re: SDFCU Cash Back Plus

Anonymous — Tue, 05 Nov 2019 02:29:45 GMT

If you go in a Citizens bank branch and apply for the card, you should be able to get the unlimited 5% cash back until March 31st. Ask for it.

Re: SDFCU Cash Back Plus

Anonymous — Tue, 05 Nov 2019 03:18:32 GMT

Is there a Citizen's targeted/ in-branch only offer that I don't know about?

Re: SDFCU Cash Back Plus

Anonymous — Tue, 05 Nov 2019 03:21:00 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Is there a Citizen's targeted/ in-branch only offer that I don't know about?

Yes, the one I stated in message #8. 5% on everything.

Another nice feature is the 1.8% cash back is applied to your account the same day as the transaction.

Re: SDFCU Cash Back Plus

Anonymous — Tue, 05 Nov 2019 06:30:47 GMT

Is there a link? New accts only? Or is this an offer that needs to be activated/signed up for like the Fidelity/USB cash+ bonuses that have been sent out?

Re: SDFCU Cash Back Plus

Anonymous — Tue, 05 Nov 2019 10:55:25 GMT

New accounts only. If you want it, go to a branch, pick up a brochure or ask for one, read all the terms to make sure it's what you want, and apply in person. You'll need good to excellent credit.

Re: SDFCU Cash Back Plus

TheBoondocks — Fri, 10 Jan 2020 18:30:31 GMT

I'm looking for a 2% cash card right now, I think SDFCU makes it a perfect combo as far as the pin+chip and 2% with NTF.

Re: SDFCU Cash Back Plus

Gmood1 — Fri, 10 Jan 2020 18:50:21 GMT

@TheBoondocks
Don't do it. Lol
Not unless you like burning inqs.
There are easier 2% cash back CCs to be had.

Re: SDFCU Cash Back Plus

calyx — Fri, 10 Jan 2020 19:10:39 GMT

I like my SDFCU card so far, but I've only had it ~a month. I didn't mind burning a couple of INQs for it.
The PITA will be that they look at FICO2, so make sure that looks good (mine was ~100 lower than my FICO8, so I AZEO'd it to bump it up a bit).

Re: SDFCU Cash Back Plus

TheBoondocks — Fri, 10 Jan 2020 19:59:23 GMT

@Gmood1 wrote:
@TheBoondocks
Don't do it. Lol
Not unless you like burning inqs.
There are easier 2% cash back CCs to be had.

Hahah, I feel it bro lol. I heard the Penfed is pretty good, I don't mind keeping a min balance of $500, way better than having $1500 min balance in BOA, plus I don't know where to park the money into anyway lol but anyway I have a 1.5% US Bank 365, FU, and a CU Fixed rate at 8%. It's crazy cause all 3 of them are Amex, Visa and MC networks lol. The CU has NTF which is good, but min to redeem is $25. But, the US Bank one doesn't have no min. So, when I calculated it, I would have to push another $415, instead of making $1200, I have to do $1666 to get $25. But, with the 1.5% I would only get $18 instead of $24.

Some places don't accept Amex too that's the thing lol. My thing is what's the point of having a pin+chip? I've never traveled to Europe but would love to go one day.

Re: SDFCU Cash Back Plus

Anonymous — Fri, 10 Jan 2020 20:07:13 GMT

@TheBoondocks wrote:
@Gmood1 wrote:
@TheBoondocks
Don't do it. Lol
Not unless you like burning inqs.
There are easier 2% cash back CCs to be had.
Hahah, I feel it bro lol. I heard the Penfed is pretty good, I don't mind keeping a min balance of $500, way better than having $1500 min balance in BOA, plus I don't know where to park the money into anyway lol but anyway I have a 1.5% US Bank 365, FU, and a CU Fixed rate at 8%. It's crazy cause all 3 of them are Amex, Visa and MC networks lol. The CU has NTF which is good, but min to redeem is $25. But, the US Bank one doesn't have no min. So, when I calculated it, I would have to push another $415, instead of making $1200, I have to do $1666 to get $25. But, with the 1.5% I would only get $18 instead of $24.

Some places don't accept Amex too that's the thing lol. My thing is what's the point of having a pin+chip? I've never traveled to Europe but would love to go one day.

I'd look at any and all 2% cards you'd be willing to get, and compare them to the things that are important to you, including Amex vs. Visa, etc. Then consider the HP as a secondary issue only. Those are temporary, and if a better card exists but has more HPs, consider eating the extra HP to get the better card.

Re: SDFCU Cash Back Plus

Gmood1 — Fri, 10 Jan 2020 20:59:52 GMT

@TheBoondocks wrote:
@Gmood1 wrote:
@TheBoondocks
Don't do it. Lol
Not unless you like burning inqs.
There are easier 2% cash back CCs to be had.
Hahah, I feel it bro lol. I heard the Penfed is pretty good, I don't mind keeping a min balance of $500, way better than having $1500 min balance in BOA, plus I don't know where to park the money into anyway lol but anyway I have a 1.5% US Bank 365, FU, and a CU Fixed rate at 8%. It's crazy cause all 3 of them are Amex, Visa and MC networks lol. The CU has NTF which is good, but min to redeem is $25. But, the US Bank one doesn't have no min. So, when I calculated it, I would have to push another $415, instead of making $1200, I have to do $1666 to get $25. But, with the 1.5% I would only get $18 instead of $24.

Some places don't accept Amex too that's the thing lol. My thing is what's the point of having a pin+chip? I've never traveled to Europe but would love to go one day.

I've never needed to use pin and chip when out of the country.

I'm a member of a bunch of these CUs.

Penfed and SDFCU are just two of them.

Penfed has been great to me. I'd say in my experience, one of the best I've dealt with.

@TheBoondocks

Union bank' s Cash back card isn't bad at all. It's basically 1.8% with a bank account. Their always giving me money just to use the card. lol

It's not a non FTF CC though.

I figured I'd mention it since you live in Cali,if I'm not mistaken?

Andrews FCU may also have a CC that you'd like. They use EQ 8.

NASA FCU card is 1.5% as well. They pull EX. And use an old FICO scoring system.

BBVA has a 2% CB. Need a direct deposit of $1000 a month for it to bump from 1.5 to 2%.

You have Citi DC and PayPal 2% CBs as well.

Keep in mind the MasterCard versions work better with sites like Plastiq.

Re: SDFCU Cash Back Plus

AlpedHuez — Fri, 10 Jan 2020 21:45:45 GMT

@Gmood1 wrote:
@TheBoondocks
Don't do it. Lol
Not unless you like burning inqs.
There are easier 2% cash back CCs to be had.

This.

I burned through 3 INQs just to join and because I wanted their card. Fortunately, 2 of those INQs fall off this year.

Re: SDFCU Cash Back Plus

TheBoondocks — Fri, 10 Jan 2020 23:00:05 GMT

Thanks GMood! Appreciate it bro, yeah I heard of Union Bank.
@Alped, so just to join the CU, they do a HP? I'ma just see, if I get approved. If not, then I'ma just get the PenFed, heard they have Pin and Chip, not sure.