topic Re: Kroger Rewards World Mastercard from US Bank in Credit Cards

Kroger Rewards World Mastercard from US Bank

GatorCowboyLion — Thu, 26 Aug 2021 07:51:53 GMT

November 1 they are beefing up this card.

5% Cashback on the first $3k spent annually on Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay, Garmin Pay and LG Pay. Points are redeemable for statement credit, minimum 1000 points for $10. They expire if unused after 3 years. This looks like it could fill some gaps in people's spending. I really like that it allows the spend to be any time within the year. It could be a stopgap when the spend from another card is used up in a quarter or for spending that doesn't fit into other 5% categories. At 3k spend, the 5% cashback is at $150 per year. Also has 2% Kroger and 1% misc.

DOC writeup: https://www.doctorofcredit.com/changes-to-the-kroger-mastercard-5-cashback-on-mobile-wallet-on-up-to...

Apparently, (I may have this wrong) for the first year, if you put $100 spend on the card at Kroger, you get $2 cash back and 100 fuel points, redeemable for 25c off each gallon up to 35 gallons (up to $8.75 off) at participating gas stations, which is Shell in my area. The gas must be purchased on the card but doesn't earn the 1 point per dollar that general spend does. This looks worthwhile if you already shop at Kroger, especially if you have a two tanks to fill. Further fuel savings may be useful for people who will already be shopping at Kroger at close to 3k/year.

I am really interested in apping for this card. Curious whether US Bank's stringent underwriting and 1/12 limit will apply for this card. If anyone apps please post the DP!

Re: Kroger Rewards World Mastercard from US Bank

NRB525 — Thu, 26 Aug 2021 09:23:35 GMT

Interesting changes. I wonder if this will also change the Fred Meyer and QFC version of the USB Kroger cards?

And it is ironic that Fred Meyer does not accept mobile wallet such as Apple Pay.

I had the USB Fred Meyer card in 2015 to 2016 or so. Very pathetic earning at that time so I closed it eventually.

Re: Kroger Rewards World Mastercard from US Bank

xenon3030 — Thu, 26 Aug 2021 10:56:29 GMT

The US Bank card categories are getting beter and better. The 5% annual cap of 3000$ (equvalenet to 750$/quarter) is slightly small vs the other 5% cards in the market but since its coverage is for the entire of the year, it will be among the best cards in the market.

Re: Kroger Rewards World Mastercard from US Bank

CreditAggie — Thu, 26 Aug 2021 12:54:36 GMT

I find this offer odd considering that the Smith's stores (owned by Kroger) in my area do not accept NFC/mobile wallet payments. Kroger has historically been one of the largest holdouts in adopting NFC technology. Maybe this is a sign that they will finally roll that out to their stores.

Re: Kroger Rewards World Mastercard from US Bank

NRB525 — Thu, 26 Aug 2021 13:09:37 GMT

@CreditAggie wrote:
I find this offer odd considering that the Smith's stores (owned by Kroger) in my area do not accept NFC/mobile wallet payments. Kroger has historically been one of the largest holdouts in adopting NFC technology. Maybe this is a sign that they will finally roll that out to their stores.

Same with Fred Meyer, no mobile wallet. I hope it changes too, and I'd use my USB Altitude Reserve at Fred Meyer.

Re: Kroger Rewards World Mastercard from US Bank

unsungivy — Thu, 26 Aug 2021 13:18:39 GMT

Wow.

Re: Kroger Rewards World Mastercard from US Bank

BunnieSlippers — Thu, 26 Aug 2021 15:50:31 GMT

👀

I have the Fred Meyer card. Hopefully these changes apply to the Kroger family of cards too.

Re: Kroger Rewards World Mastercard from US Bank

Anonymous — Thu, 26 Aug 2021 17:15:33 GMT

@NRB525 wrote:
Interesting changes. I wonder if this will also change the Fred Meyer and QFC version of the USB Kroger cards?

And it is ironic that Fred Meyer does not accept mobile wallet such as Apple Pay.

I had the USB Fred Meyer card in 2015 to 2016 or so. Very pathetic earning at that time so I closed it eventually.

Exactly, while a nice improvement, where I live this new perk means nothing. I've had this card going on 6 years and it's been SD since 18 when I got the BCP. Requiring mobile wallet to activate the 5% category feels somewhat like jumping through hoops to get the prize.

Re: Kroger Rewards World Mastercard from US Bank

unsungivy — Thu, 26 Aug 2021 19:01:59 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@NRB525 wrote:
Interesting changes. I wonder if this will also change the Fred Meyer and QFC version of the USB Kroger cards?

And it is ironic that Fred Meyer does not accept mobile wallet such as Apple Pay.

I had the USB Fred Meyer card in 2015 to 2016 or so. Very pathetic earning at that time so I closed it eventually.
Exactly, while a nice improvement, where I live this new perk means nothing. I've had this card going on 6 years and it's been SD since 18 when I got the BCP. Requiring mobile wallet to activate the 5% category feels somewhat like jumping through hoops to get the prize.

Huh? So use it online, or whatever. What's great about this card is using everywhere OTHER than Kroger! It's literally 5% cashback on anthing you can use a mobile wallet for, which includes Google Pay, which you can use online. That's amazing. Good thing for them they're smart enough to cap it at 3k spend!

Personally I feel like it's jumping through hoops to NOT allow me to use a mobile wallet for everything! There's no way I'm carrying around my entire card line-up

Re: Kroger Rewards World Mastercard from US Bank

CreditJourney007 — Thu, 26 Aug 2021 18:59:03 GMT

Also curious about approval criteria. I do my shopping at a Kroger affiliate and it's also backed by USB. Have been thinking about this card next year once I am out of the garden.

Re: Kroger Rewards World Mastercard from US Bank

Rockysocks — Thu, 26 Aug 2021 21:33:08 GMT

The answer always seems to be no for this, but I'll ask anyway. Can you product change one of their 'main' lineup cards to a branded card such as this one?

Re: Kroger Rewards World Mastercard from US Bank

FinStar — Thu, 26 Aug 2021 21:38:56 GMT

@Rockysocks wrote:
The answer always seems to be no for this, but I'll ask anyway. Can you product change one of their 'main' lineup cards to a branded card such as this one?

My understanding, unless their policy changed in the last couple of months, is that partner cards cannot be PC'd to/from their core cards and/or other partner cards. Definitely reach out to them in the event it may be different today, but I would venture to think that hasn't changed. It's been only as of last year that they finally relaxed the PC policy among their core products.

Re: Kroger Rewards World Mastercard from US Bank

UncleB — Fri, 27 Aug 2021 03:41:16 GMT

This is interesting, indeed.

When I saw "mobile wallet" I admit my first thought was Kroger Pay, so my reaction was 'meh'. On closer look, though, it really is mobile wallet as in Apple Pay, Google Pay, etc. and this actually is a pretty good deal.

$3000/year at 5% comes to $250/month... that has vibes of the old Sallie Mae to me, ha. (Sallie Mae was 5% back on $750 per month for bookstores, $250 for gas & $250 for grocery stores.) For the right person the new-and-improved Kroger card might even be better than Sallie Mae, since you can spend the $3k whenever you want during the year and with no category restrictions.

I also find it ironic that to get 5% off a grocery store purchase one would have to shop at a Kroger competitor that takes mobile payments. I really do wish Kroger would get on-board with NFC payments.

Re: Kroger Rewards World Mastercard from US Bank

MoneyBurns — Fri, 27 Aug 2021 03:54:50 GMT

Does this card have the same requirements as US Bank's cards?

Re: Kroger Rewards World Mastercard from US Bank

Bestman79 — Fri, 27 Aug 2021 05:02:43 GMT

Thanks for the post OP, I can definitely get some gain now from the LONG OVERDUE restructuring from US Bank's Kroger Mastercard. Nov 2021 makes 3 year mark for me, card had not much use after 1st year, No AF so kept for age during rebuilding stage.

Re: Kroger Rewards World Mastercard from US Bank

Taurus22 — Fri, 27 Aug 2021 05:26:03 GMT

I'm curious like @CreditJourney007 about the approval criteria for this card. Given that it is offered by USB, are they as strict with the 1/12 rule, etc ? All normal rules apply?

I recently posted about my friend starting new in the CC arena, and I know he mentioned he shops at Kroger and uses their rewards loyalty card for Gas discounts. I think this would be right up his alley for a possible future target. If anyone has any recent info, I would like to pass this along to him...

Re: Kroger Rewards World Mastercard from US Bank

UncleB — Fri, 27 Aug 2021 06:09:41 GMT

@macinjosh has the Smith's "flavor" of this card... I'm tagging him since he might find these upcoming changes interesting. (I'm assuming the updates apply to all the various Kroger subsidiaries as well as the primary 'Kroger' brand card since the document says "Kroger Family of Companies.")

He also might be able to provide some data points on the approval requirements.

Re: Kroger Rewards World Mastercard from US Bank

Taurus22 — Fri, 27 Aug 2021 06:17:46 GMT

Thanks @UncleB I did do a search for Kroger approvals and found 2 recent approvals in May this year. It seems the criteria isn't quite as tough for Kroger (being a co-branded card) as it is for core USB cards. But I'm still curious about the 1/12 rule.....as well as the bureau pulls. The bureau must be state-dependent, as I saw 1 TU approval and 1 EQ approval, of all things, which is odd for USB.

Re: Kroger Rewards World Mastercard from US Bank

macinjosh — Fri, 27 Aug 2021 09:05:57 GMT

@UncleB wrote:
@macinjosh has the Smith's "flavor" of this card... I'm tagging him since he might find these upcoming changes interesting. (I'm assuming the updates apply to all the various Kroger subsidiaries as well as the primary 'Kroger' brand card since the document says "Kroger Family of Companies.")

He also might be able to provide some data points on the approval requirements.

Thanks @UncleB for the tag. I can say I was well over 1/12 when USB approved me. The change in perks look like something I'll look more into. Too bad it appears I won't be able to PC this to a core card.

I wish they'd give me 0% BT offers to use on it. Since my extra cash off gas expired, I rarely touch the card and actually got denied a CLI for inactivity. 🤣 I put my AppleCare+ for my new iPad on it to hopefully get that CLI next month. Then I'm going to beg USB for 0% for 12 month BT offers on both my cards because my 0% on Discover is coming to an end.

Re: Kroger Rewards World Mastercard from US Bank

UncleB — Sat, 28 Aug 2021 04:51:26 GMT

@macinjosh wrote:
@UncleB wrote:
@macinjosh has the Smith's "flavor" of this card... I'm tagging him since he might find these upcoming changes interesting. (I'm assuming the updates apply to all the various Kroger subsidiaries as well as the primary 'Kroger' brand card since the document says "Kroger Family of Companies.")

He also might be able to provide some data points on the approval requirements.
Thanks @UncleB for the tag. I can say I was well over 1/12 when USB approved me. The change in perks look like something I'll look more into. Too bad it appears I won't be able to PC this to a core card.

I wish they'd give me 0% BT offers to use on it. Since my extra cash off gas expired, I rarely touch the card and actually got denied a CLI for inactivity. 🤣 I put my AppleCare+ for my new iPad on it to hopefully get that CLI next month. Then I'm going to beg USB for 0% for 12 month BT offers on both my cards because my 0% on Discover is coming to an end.

Good info, @macinjosh! With the rewards they're about to be offering on mobile wallet transactions you might not even want to PC it to another card anyway!

I hear ya on the BT shuffle... I'm about to be doing that as well in October. I'm not quite sure yet where I'm going to be shuffling 'to', but I have a couple of candidates in mind.

(BTW, good to see you around!)