topic Re: Very impressive black mailer invitation from FNBO in Credit Cards

Very impressive black mailer invitation from FNBO

SoCalGardener — Sat, 22 May 2021 18:34:01 GMT

I've never heard of FNBO, and only know anything about it now from having just perused these boards. I recently received a most impressive looking, black envelope, 0% intro offer for their Visa card. The letter starts with "You are invited to enjoy the prestige of cardmembership" and "Congratulations... only a select few are receiving this invitation."

The thing is...like I said, I've never even heard of FNBO! So I'm wondering just how presitigious this card is! I mean, I'm aware of the uber-prestigious black Amex Centurion card, but FNBO? Not so much!

It is not pre-approved. I have no intentions of applying for it because I'm content right now, and for the foreseeable future, gardening. But I'd like to get feedback/opinions/thoughts about FNBO, anything in general you may know or have heard. Just how prestigious is this card?! From skimming its mailing, it doesn't even appear to be a rewards card.

Re: Very impressive black mailer invitation from FNBO

Remedios — Sat, 22 May 2021 18:34:24 GMT

I received one of those while back, very prestigious 1% cash back.

Re: Very impressive black mailer invitation from FNBO

SoCalGardener — Sat, 22 May 2021 18:34:45 GMT

@Remedios wrote:
I received one of those while back, very prestigious 1% cash back.

Mine doesn't even state that!

Re: Very impressive black mailer invitation from FNBO

FinStar — Sat, 22 May 2021 18:37:54 GMT

As mentioned upthread, there's really nothing "prestigious" about the card invitation you received, other than the sleek printed envelope and marketing materials. I would also assume, if the card has no rewards of some sort, it probably has no AF either, correct?

Re: Very impressive black mailer invitation from FNBO

SoCalGardener — Sat, 22 May 2021 18:44:08 GMT

@FinStar wrote:
As mentioned upthread, there's really nothing "prestigious" about the card invitation you received, other than the sleek printed envelope and marketing materials. I would also assume, if the card has no rewards of some sort, it probably has no AF either, correct?

Correct. I'm actually taking a closer look at the mailing now than I had before. Among other things it says "You're entitled to extraordinary buying power in the US and overseas" and that it has "exceptional travel privileges." The features it touts are not in any way better than what I already have on other cards, like emergency cash or roadside dispatch.

Re: Very impressive black mailer invitation from FNBO

FinStar — Sat, 22 May 2021 18:53:13 GMT

I would say that if the offer came along with some benefits similar to the now defunct TravElite, then that may be of some appeal. Benefits like a $100 travel credit, perhaps some discounted lounge passes or Priority Pass perks, travel/transportation rewards, etc.

Otherwise, as they say, beware of Greeks bearing gifts 🎁

Re: Very impressive black mailer invitation from FNBO

frugal47374 — Mon, 05 Jul 2021 04:42:08 GMT

I'm one of the "select few" also. Got my letter today. No rewards listed. The only benefit I see is 0% on purchases for about 8 months. Not a very long time. Longer on 0% balance transfers, but I never am willing to pay a balance transfer fee.

So not the "exceptional interest savings" promised in the letter.

Re: Very impressive black mailer invitation from FNBO

Taurus22 — Mon, 05 Jul 2021 23:15:51 GMT

I think this falls in line with the "very prestigious" pre-approved loan offers I get constantly for up to $50,000 with an interest rate of only 68%. They arrive in the most ornate, almost classy-looking envelopes.....with packaging like that you'd be a fool to pass it up, right?

Re: Very impressive black mailer invitation from FNBO

SoCalGardener — Mon, 05 Jul 2021 23:43:01 GMT

@frugal47374 wrote:
I'm one of the "select few" also. Got my letter today. No rewards listed. The only benefit I see is 0% on purchases for about 8 months. Not a very long time. Longer on 0% balance transfers, but I never am willing to pay a balance transfer fee.

So not the "exceptional interest savings" promised in the letter.

Hi there! *waves* Welcome to the FNBO "select few" club!!

I don't recall how long my 0% offer was; I think it was longer than 8 months, but I'm really not sure. As stated in my OP, I did not apply for it. I just couldn't see the point! There was nothing about its supposed perks that were good enough to yank me out of the garden!

Re: Very impressive black mailer invitation from FNBO

SoCalGardener — Tue, 06 Jul 2021 04:00:01 GMT

@Taurus22 wrote:
I think this falls in line with the "very prestigious" pre-approved loan offers I get constantly for up to $50,000 with an interest rate of only 68%. They arrive in the most ornate, almost classy-looking envelopes.....with packaging like that you'd be a fool to pass it up, right?

SIXTY-EIGHT percent?!!! Holy moly. I just can't imagine....

Re: Very impressive black mailer invitation from FNBO

FieryDance — Tue, 06 Jul 2021 18:37:12 GMT

I am one of the lucky few as well!

1% cash back

0% APR till October 2022

After that APR between 15.99 to 23.99%

No AF

Wow! 😆

Re: Very impressive black mailer invitation from FNBO

Anonymous — Tue, 06 Jul 2021 22:27:38 GMT

Got the same mailer today, not sure if is worth trying.

@FieryDance wrote:
I am one of the lucky few as well!

1% cash back
0% APR till October 2022
After that APR between 15.99 to 23.99%
No AF

Wow! 😆

Re: Very impressive black mailer invitation from FNBO

SoCalGardener — Wed, 07 Jul 2021 22:47:08 GMT

The "select few" club is growing!!

Re: Very impressive black mailer invitation from FNBO

Crowhelm — Thu, 08 Jul 2021 01:57:56 GMT

Well, the Evergreen Rewards Visa Signature Card by FNBO is a pretty good card. 2% unlimited cash back and great CLs. Just got mine Monday night

Re: Very impressive black mailer invitation from FNBO

SouthJamaica — Thu, 08 Jul 2021 10:48:42 GMT

@SoCalGardener wrote:
I've never heard of FNBO, and only know anything about it now from having just perused these boards. I recently received a most impressive looking, black envelope, 0% intro offer for their Visa card. The letter starts with "You are invited to enjoy the prestige of cardmembership" and "Congratulations... only a select few are receiving this invitation."

The thing is...like I said, I've never even heard of FNBO! So I'm wondering just how presitigious this card is! I mean, I'm aware of the uber-prestigious black Amex Centurion card, but FNBO? Not so much!

It is not pre-approved. I have no intentions of applying for it because I'm content right now, and for the foreseeable future, gardening. But I'd like to get feedback/opinions/thoughts about FNBO, anything in general you may know or have heard. Just how prestigious is this card?! From skimming its mailing, it doesn't even appear to be a rewards card.

I received the same thing. I would say it's a major lender's attempt to enter the sub-prime market, and borders on fraudulent.

Re: Very impressive black mailer invitation from FNBO

KJinNC — Thu, 08 Jul 2021 13:12:07 GMT

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't this the bank that issued the late great Ducks Unlimited card?

I wanted that card very badly, and actually applied and was rejected for it the week before they ruined it. In retrospect, I'm glad.

I checked prequalification, and their tool says I can get an Evergreen card with a $15K CL and 18.24% interest rate. At one time, I would have jumped at it, but now, the only advantage I see (other than generally padding utilization) is that it gets me past Sync's $10K CL soft cap on the PPMC. But I doubt it's worth it to me since I do have PPMC already.

Re: Very impressive black mailer invitation from FNBO

Remedios — Thu, 08 Jul 2021 15:21:22 GMT

@SouthJamaica wrote:
@SoCalGardener wrote:
I've never heard of FNBO, and only know anything about it now from having just perused these boards. I recently received a most impressive looking, black envelope, 0% intro offer for their Visa card. The letter starts with "You are invited to enjoy the prestige of cardmembership" and "Congratulations... only a select few are receiving this invitation."

The thing is...like I said, I've never even heard of FNBO! So I'm wondering just how presitigious this card is! I mean, I'm aware of the uber-prestigious black Amex Centurion card, but FNBO? Not so much!

It is not pre-approved. I have no intentions of applying for it because I'm content right now, and for the foreseeable future, gardening. But I'd like to get feedback/opinions/thoughts about FNBO, anything in general you may know or have heard. Just how prestigious is this card?! From skimming its mailing, it doesn't even appear to be a rewards card.
I received the same thing. I would say it's a major lender's attempt to enter the sub-prime market, and borders on fraudulent.

Lolwut???

Re: Very impressive black mailer invitation from FNBO

coldfusion — Thu, 08 Jul 2021 16:46:29 GMT

@SouthJamaica wrote:
I received the same thing. I would say it's a major lender's attempt to enter the sub-prime market

They already offer a secured card so I'd argue they had already targeted that segment.

I remember they sent out a bunch of snail-mail preapprovals around Thanksgiving last year for their 1% card that used similar market-speak, there were threads here on MF discussing it.

Re: Very impressive black mailer invitation from FNBO

coldfusion — Thu, 08 Jul 2021 16:54:12 GMT

@KJinNC wrote:
Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't this the bank that issued the late great Ducks Unlimited card?

Yes. The card is still open for new applications but as you alluded to, after its nerfing it's now Just Another 1.5% CB card.

Re: Very impressive black mailer invitation from FNBO

SoCalGardener — Thu, 08 Jul 2021 17:50:39 GMT

@Crowhelm wrote:
Well, the Evergreen Rewards Visa Signature Card by FNBO is a pretty good card. 2% unlimited cash back and great CLs. Just got mine Monday night

Perhaps--but that's not the card in this particular mailer. Besides, my Amex Blue Cash Preferred pays 6% on my most-spent category, groceries. Can't beat that!