topic Re: Recommendation on card to replace Citi DC? in Credit Cards

Recommendation on card to replace Citi DC?

disdreamin — Mon, 18 May 2020 19:45:16 GMT

Haven't visited the forums in forever, but I've had some issues with DC being declined for no reason lately and I'm ready to find another card to be my daily-driver for general spend. Have AmEx BCP for grocery and gas (I know gas could be better, but SO doesn't play the credit game so it's a KISS situation for me) and this will be our everything-else card.

Credit scores should be good and no HP in recent past, last would have been an auto loan 2.5+ years ago. I'm open to any suggestions and SUB would be high priority if there are any nice ones out there. Typical monthly spend is about 3-4k, so I think we can hit most SUB spend requirements without an issue. Thanks for any advice, and if there's a better place to ask please I apologize.

Re: Recommendation on card to replace Citi DC?

Aim_High — Mon, 18 May 2020 20:13:23 GMT

@disdreamin wrote:
Haven't visited the forums in forever, but I've had some issues with DC being declined for no reason lately and I'm ready to find another card to be my daily-driver for general spend. Have AmEx BCP for grocery and gas (I know gas could be better, but SO doesn't play the credit game so it's a KISS situation for me) and this will be our everything-else card.

Credit scores should be good and no HP in recent past, last would have been an auto loan 2.5+ years ago. I'm open to any suggestions and SUB would be high priority if there are any nice ones out there. Typical monthly spend is about 3-4k, so I think we can hit most SUB spend requirements without an issue. Thanks for any advice, and if there's a better place to ask please I apologize.

There are some other great choices in the 2% to 3% range for pure honest CASH back. (not points)

Recent and very "HOT" 3% uncapped, uncategorized cash back card is from a small local CU in Alabama, AODFCU. They (may) be clamping down on out-of-geofence approvals but many of us got in the door last month thru joining one of a few membership associations. Besides the original "master thread" I referenced below, if you search the forums for AOD or AODFCU, you'll find multiple other threads with approvals or data points or reviews.

See this thread:

https://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/Credit-Cards/Juicy-new-3-CB-offering-from-local-CU/td-p/5971983

Also, lots of recent 2% cash-back threads. My favorite is the PenFed FCU Power Cash Rewards but there are others. See this link to previous thread where I posted a link to my Power Cash Review. (That review also lists most of the other 2% cash-back options.) My postings is message #3 on page #1 of the thread.

See this thread:

https://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/Credit-Cards/The-Best-2-Card-Showdown/td-p/6006744

Re: Recommendation on card to replace Citi DC?

Kforce — Mon, 18 May 2020 20:15:33 GMT

"https://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/Credit-Cards/The-Best-2-Card-Showdown/m-p/6006744#M1718548"

or search "Best 2% Card Showdown"

This is a recent thread about the best 2% general spend cards.

All have followers and others that dislike.

You should read and by the end have an idea of the one or two you might like the best.

Re: Recommendation on card to replace Citi DC?

Anonymous — Mon, 18 May 2020 20:22:36 GMT

@Aim_High wrote:
@disdreamin wrote:
Haven't visited the forums in forever, but I've had some issues with DC being declined for no reason lately and I'm ready to find another card to be my daily-driver for general spend. Have AmEx BCP for grocery and gas (I know gas could be better, but SO doesn't play the credit game so it's a KISS situation for me) and this will be our everything-else card.

Credit scores should be good and no HP in recent past, last would have been an auto loan 2.5+ years ago. I'm open to any suggestions and SUB would be high priority if there are any nice ones out there. Typical monthly spend is about 3-4k, so I think we can hit most SUB spend requirements without an issue. Thanks for any advice, and if there's a better place to ask please I apologize.
There are some other great choices in the 2% to 3% range for pure honest CASH back. (not points)

Recent and very "HOT" 3% uncapped, uncategorized cash back card is from a small local CU in Alabama, AODFCU. They (may) be clamping down on out-of-geofence approvals but many of us got in the door last month thru joining one of a few membership associations. Besides the original "master thread" I referenced below, if you search the forums for AOD or AODFCU, you'll find multiple other threads with approvals or data points or reviews.

See this thread:
https://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/Credit-Cards/Juicy-new-3-CB-offering-from-local-CU/td-p/5971983

Also, lots of recent 2% cash-back threads. My favorite is the PenFed FCU Power Cash Rewards but there are others. See this link to previous thread where I posted a link to my Power Cash Review. (That review also lists most of the other 2% cash-back options.) My postings is message #3 on page #1 of the thread.

See this thread:
https://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/Credit-Cards/The-Best-2-Card-Showdown/td-p/6006744

If you hit the three dots on the right and copy the Permalink, you can go right to the post.

https://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/Credit-Cards/The-Best-2-Card-Showdown/m-p/6006788/highlight/true#M1718564

Re: Recommendation on card to replace Citi DC?

K-in-Boston — Mon, 18 May 2020 20:32:30 GMT

Just a quick note that PenFed Power Cash Rewards requires a qualifying checking account or active duty/veteran status to get 2%; it is otherwise a 1.5% cash back card.

Re: Recommendation on card to replace Citi DC?

Aim_High — Mon, 18 May 2020 20:39:57 GMT

@K-in-Boston wrote:
Just a quick note that PenFed Power Cash Rewards requires a qualifying checking account or active duty/veteran status to get 2%; it is otherwise a 1.5% cash back card.

Yes, that is worth noting and I am a veteran.

I still recommend this card for non-veterans since most available 2% or better cards besides the Citi DC and PayPal MC require some sort of account relationship, average balance, or direct deposit to earn more than 1.5%. PenFed's requirement is on the low side of the requirement, though, with only needing to keep $500 average balance or a direct deposit of only $500 to earn the full 2% and waive the checking account monthly fee. Interestingly enough, the AOD FCU 3% card requires neither of these, although you do have to be a member which requires $25 deposit to a member shares account.

Re: Recommendation on card to replace Citi DC?

Anonymous — Mon, 18 May 2020 20:41:27 GMT

@K-in-Boston wrote:
Just a quick note that PenFed Power Cash Rewards requires a qualifying checking account or active duty/veteran status to get 2%; it is otherwise a 1.5% cash back card.

And $500 required balance to waive the fee if you go the checking route.

PenFed is a great deal for active duty and vets but for everyone else, unless they want to just permanently tie up $500, PayPal Cashback is the best option besides other CU cards like AOD (which may or may not last).

ETA: Got ninja'd by Aim_High lol

Re: Recommendation on card to replace Citi DC?

Kforce — Mon, 18 May 2020 20:44:19 GMT

Additionally, there are good "geo-fenced" credit unions and banks with 2% cards not in that thread.

If you let the group know where you live, you might find a gem that is not open to everyone.

Re: Recommendation on card to replace Citi DC?

Aim_High — Mon, 18 May 2020 20:47:01 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
ETA: Got ninja'd by Aim_High lol

Lol ... yes you did!

Re: Recommendation on card to replace Citi DC?

K-in-Boston — Mon, 18 May 2020 20:48:35 GMT

Air Force counts? 😛 #branchwars

Seriously though, without military status, I agree it's not too much of a bar to do if one can at least reallocate part of their direct deposit. You can always use that to pay or partially pay your monthly statement if you don't want to use them completely for checking. And PenFed's external bank payments work just as well and seamlessly as any bank card, which can't be said for some credit unions that require you to first transfer to a share or checking account then to the card.

Re: Recommendation on card to replace Citi DC?

Anonymous — Mon, 18 May 2020 20:49:28 GMT

@Kforce wrote:
Additionally, there are good "geo-fenced" credit unions and banks with 2% cards not in that thread.
If you let the group know where you live, you might find a gem that is not open to everyone.

Yeah there is still the FNBO 2% card, for example, even though it was supposed to be limited to only April. Their website appears to have gotten rid of the old 1% that became 2% if deposited into FNBO.

https://www.fnbo.com/personal-banking/credit-cards/?stackControl050120

Most states seem to have a 2% CU card somewhere (well, not CO but most other states I have looked at).

Re: Recommendation on card to replace Citi DC?

Aim_High — Mon, 18 May 2020 20:53:02 GMT

@Kforce wrote:
Additionally, there are good "geo-fenced" credit unions and banks with 2% cards not in that thread.
If you let the group know where you live, you might find a gem that is not open to everyone.

That's true, and there's a bunch of them.

I listed several of them in the thread link I mentioned earlier:

https://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/Credit-Card-Approvals/Penfed-PCR-Approval/m-p/5901752#M655426

Also there was a recent thread on

2% Cash Back Credit Union cards:

https://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/Credit-Cards/Credit-Unions-with-2-cash-back-cards/td-p/5706397

Re: Recommendation on card to replace Citi DC?

Remedios — Mon, 18 May 2020 20:59:44 GMT

I like 2% fights

Re: Recommendation on card to replace Citi DC?

Aim_High — Fri, 22 May 2020 16:29:57 GMT

@K-in-Boston wrote:
Air Force counts? 😛 #branchwars

What can I say ... except ...

AIM_HIGH

US AIR FORCE!

Re: Recommendation on card to replace Citi DC?

Aim_High — Mon, 18 May 2020 21:14:00 GMT

@K-in-Boston wrote:
Seriously though, without military status, I agree it's not too much of a bar to do if one can at least reallocate part of their direct deposit. You can always use that to pay or partially pay your monthly statement if you don't want to use them completely for checking. And PenFed's external bank payments work just as well and seamlessly as any bank card, which can't be said for some credit unions that require you to first transfer to a share or checking account then to the card.

All good points.

What I also like to point out is that PenFed has good banking products compared to many competitors, so shifting to bank primarily with them is a reasonable choice. For example:

PenFed pays 0.20% APR on their Access America checking on balances up to $20K. The monthly fee is waived if you maintain the $500 DD or $500 ADB.
Navy Federal, on the other hand, pays only 0.05% on their free checking accounts and to earn the higher 0.35% APR on Flagship Checking, you must maintain $1500 ADB to avoid fees.
My local credit union pays 0.05% on checking, which is much better than the national banks.
And USAA Classic Checking only pays 0.01% on balances over $1K.

Also, PenFed offers a competitive-rate money market savings account. Even in this down market, still paying 1.25% APR.

Re: Recommendation on card to replace Citi DC?

disdreamin — Fri, 22 May 2020 15:39:33 GMT

Thank you for the replies!

To be frank, I'm not looking for another credit union or banking relationship as part of this deal, just a pure credit card account. I've already got more bank/CU accounts than I'm willing to juggle right now. I hadn't seen the huge 2% thread previously, so thank you for the links to the appropriate thread(s)!

I'm seriously debating just pickup up CSP and calling it good enough. I just need to get the spend off the DC and onto something else sooner rather than later.

Re: Recommendation on card to replace Citi DC?

TSlop — Fri, 22 May 2020 15:59:15 GMT

@disdreamin wrote:
Thank you for the replies!

To be frank, I'm not looking for another credit union or banking relationship as part of this deal, just a pure credit card account. I've already got more bank/CU accounts than I'm willing to juggle right now. I hadn't seen the huge 2% thread previously, so thank you for the links to the appropriate thread(s)!

I'm seriously debating just pickup up CSP and calling it good enough. I just need to get the spend off the DC and onto something else sooner rather than later.

If you go that route, maybe pair it with a CFU? Or just get the CFU at 1.5% and only lose the .5% from DC? The Chase shopping portal can net you extra cashback on online purchases and 5-10% extra on Chase offers.

Re: Recommendation on card to replace Citi DC?

Aim_High — Fri, 22 May 2020 16:47:03 GMT

@disdreamin wrote:
Thank you for the replies!

To be frank, I'm not looking for another credit union or banking relationship as part of this deal, just a pure credit card account. I've already got more bank/CU accounts than I'm willing to juggle right now. I hadn't seen the huge 2% thread previously, so thank you for the links to the appropriate thread(s)!

I'm seriously debating just pickup up CSP and calling it good enough. I just need to get the spend off the DC and onto something else sooner rather than later.

You're welcome. Why don't we attack it this way since you don't want new banking?

Who *do* you currently bank with? That will help us give you better suggestions.

Also, what other cards do you have besides the CITI Doublecash and the AMEX Blue Cash Preferred?

Also, what are your top spending categories since SO wants to keep it simple? And for best redemption, are you willing to save up for travel or would you rather have cash? CSP is a good card but you get much better payout on dining and travel categories with it and it pays best for travel redemption. You'd only get 1 point (1%) for cash redemption on everything else which isn't very good. For travel redemption, you get the 25% bonus so 1.25%. Meanwhile, you'd get the 1.5% back on Freedom. Or if you did both (even if it was only you carrying the CSP and let SO keep it simple with the CFU), you'd get the 25% bump on CFU points from SO to give you almost the same return as DC (1.50% x 1.25% = 1.875% payout for UR travel.)

Re: Recommendation on card to replace Citi DC?

MoneyBurns — Fri, 22 May 2020 17:04:47 GMT

I'd go the Penfed route if you can get the Checking for free. Also they have a promotion if you deposit $1,200 and use your debit card 5 times, you get a $200 bonus for new accounts.

I still prefers PayPal because to me .2 is not enough to bank there as a main bank and I also don't want to waste $500 dollars that i could be putting into a high yield savings. So to me if I can put that $500 in say a 4% account the annual fee for that card is around $15 dollars. Not worth it if I have a 2% that costs me nothing. I don't mind Paypal, but others may hate them so it's really personal preference.

But that's just my personal two cents.

Hope you find your card!

ETA: I have high yield with some hoops checking as main accounts so the .2 APY is null for me.

Re: Recommendation on card to replace Citi DC?

Appleman — Fri, 22 May 2020 17:58:39 GMT

I have the 2% cards mentioned here, Citi DCB, PenFed 2%, and the PayPal MC.

You may also want to consider the USBank Cash+ card. It allows you to self select your two 5% categories. I use Home Utilities and Cell Phones and usually earn $35 a month. Even if the Utility company charges me 2.4% to use a credit card, I am still earning 2.6% on my utilities. I am lucky in that my electric company does not charge a fee for using a credit card.

You can also select a 2% cash back category from all listed,

Also, look into the Discover Card. They have quarterly 5% cash back categories (currently gas and warehouse clubs) and if it is a new card I believe they are still doubling your cash back the first year, making it a 2% card the first year.

Plenty of options.