topic Re: Best card for cash back paying utility bills? in Credit Cards

Best card for cash back paying utility bills?

ghector — Wed, 11 May 2022 00:24:04 GMT

Anything higher than an 'everyday' 2% card?

I did a search here but most of the posts were older. thanks!

Re: Best card for cash back paying utility bills?

shadanat — Wed, 11 May 2022 00:42:14 GMT

Utilites is one of the catergories that gives 5% cash back on the US Bank Cash+ card.

Re: Best card for cash back paying utility bills?

AlanGJP — Wed, 11 May 2022 00:55:12 GMT

You can safely rule out any card in my sig. Beyond the standard for the card, afaik none of them offer anything for utilities.

Probably not too helpful unless you were considering any of them. I'll be following this thread with interest.

Re: Best card for cash back paying utility bills?

Kforce — Wed, 11 May 2022 01:10:08 GMT

@shadanat wrote:
Utilites is one of the catergories that gives 5% cash back on the US Bank Cash+ card.

^^^ This

* Note depending on where and what utility company you are using there sometimes are a few snags

Have a propane delivery that does not code as a utility so it is a no go.

My electric company will let you pay, however only current months bill and each payment a fee is attached reducing value.

Last year was able to pay a few month with single fee. They closed that door.

For many the category is a good one, just look into the utility company police on paying with CC (fees and limits)

Re: Best card for cash back paying utility bills?

coldfusion — Wed, 11 May 2022 01:10:29 GMT

US Bank Cash+ or its fraternal twin Max Cash Preferred issued through its Elan business unit but is logo'd by and applied for through a number of credit unions and smaller banks.

5% cash back on utilities on up to $2000 spend per quarter.

Re: Best card for cash back paying utility bills?

Anonymous — Wed, 11 May 2022 01:40:04 GMT

@coldfusion wrote:
US Bank Cash+ or its fraternal twin Max Cash Preferred issued through its Elan business unit but is logo'd by and applied for through a number of credit unions and smaller banks.

5% cash back on utilities on up to $2000 spend per quarter.

And if you are lucky, you can use paypal bill pay and charge it to Cash+/Max Cash, avoiding a credit card fee when one is charged. This seems to work for National Grid/Eversource in MA and for Verizon FiOS. But your utility needs to be listed as one Paypal can pay, and, as always, this obvious loophole might be time limited.

Re: Best card for cash back paying utility bills?

ghector — Wed, 11 May 2022 01:41:45 GMT

@shadanat wrote:
Utilites is one of the catergories that gives 5% cash back on the US Bank Cash+ card.

Any link to apply? Do you know if they do Ex or Trans, and pre-approval?

thanks!!

Re: Best card for cash back paying utility bills?

shadanat — Wed, 11 May 2022 02:05:29 GMT

No pre approval. The pulled Transunion for me. You can go to their website to apply.

Re: Best card for cash back paying utility bills?

creditfan — Wed, 11 May 2022 02:45:55 GMT

if you qualify for membership

https://vantagewest.org/personal/credit-cards/connect-rewards-visa/

Re: Best card for cash back paying utility bills?

CreditCobra — Wed, 11 May 2022 02:52:25 GMT

@creditfan wrote:
if you qualify for membership
https://vantagewest.org/personal/credit-cards/connect-rewards-visa/

Any thoughts on how to qualify out of state and non-military? That would be a good gap-filler.

Re: Best card for cash back paying utility bills?

xenon3030 — Wed, 11 May 2022 03:17:10 GMT

For utilities, I use BOA PR/Cash Rewards and use my Cash+ for home improvements like Ikea. I may use PP bill pay service to bypass a few fees.

My largest monthly bill is HOA (4% fee if using CC, 1% if using debit, ACH is free). Previously, I was using PPK while it seems that I need to use ACH from this month (PP bill pay does not cover my HOA).

Re: Best card for cash back paying utility bills?

MrDisco99 — Wed, 11 May 2022 03:18:31 GMT

I got my Renasant Bank Max Cash Preferred (operated by Elan) specifically for 5% on utility bills. That's pretty much all I use it for.

Re: Best card for cash back paying utility bills?

digitek — Wed, 11 May 2022 03:27:53 GMT

Used to be able to join through Arizona bicycle club, but they don't allow that anymore. I think it is geo fenced now.

Utility category for that card actually includes subscription services, cell phone, internet. It is only $1500 a quarter though.

I use it for restaurants category now. Like said above my utilities charge fees for paying with CC that doesn't really make it worth it to use them and I have cell phone on the Amex Delta for cell phone insurance, subscriptions are so low monthly cost that I'd only be saving like $5 a year over a 2% card. Have pretty good tech for being a credit union, I like them a lot.

Re: Best card for cash back paying utility bills?

JNA1 — Wed, 11 May 2022 03:38:58 GMT

We use 2 Elan Max Cash Preferred cards and a Synovus Rewards card to cover bills and utilities spend. We use one MCP for 5% home utilities (power, gas, water) and the other for 5% TV/Internet and Cell Phone bill and use the Synovus Rewards card for 3% Insurance.

Re: Best card for cash back paying utility bills?

UncleB — Wed, 11 May 2022 03:40:17 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@coldfusion wrote:
US Bank Cash+ or its fraternal twin Max Cash Preferred issued through its Elan business unit but is logo'd by and applied for through a number of credit unions and smaller banks.

5% cash back on utilities on up to $2000 spend per quarter.
And if you are lucky, you can use paypal bill pay and charge it to Cash+/Max Cash, avoiding a credit card fee when one is charged. This seems to work for National Grid/Eversource in MA and for Verizon FiOS. But your utility needs to be listed as one Paypal can pay, and, as always, this obvious loophole might be time limited.

This "trick" also works for Thompson Gas (propane delivery), which otherwise doesn't trigger the Cash+ utilities category when paid directly, but does when paid via Paypal Bill Pay.

Re: Best card for cash back paying utility bills?

FinStar — Wed, 11 May 2022 03:41:47 GMT

@CreditCobra wrote:
@creditfan wrote:
if you qualify for membership
https://vantagewest.org/personal/credit-cards/connect-rewards-visa/
Any thoughts on how to qualify out of state and non-military? That would be a good gap-filler.

As mentioned upthread, unless you're eligible under their membership criteria, Vantage West is strictly geo-fenced.

Re: Best card for cash back paying utility bills?

Bradac56 — Wed, 11 May 2022 05:07:56 GMT

@shadanat wrote:
No pre approval. The pulled Transunion for me. You can go to their website to apply.

USBank can pull from all three of the big guys equifax/experian/transunion it's not always the same one.

Best to have all three unlocked when you apply.

Re: Best card for cash back paying utility bills?

ptatohed — Wed, 11 May 2022 05:32:04 GMT

The Huntington voice allows you to select from 10 categories, uncluding utilities, for 3x (3%) points.

https://www.huntington.com/Personal/credit-card/voice-rewards-credit-card

Re: Best card for cash back paying utility bills?

Bockrocker — Wed, 11 May 2022 07:23:30 GMT

I have the Cash+ but most of the benefits could be easily replicated with the Chase Ink Cash which might have been a better route. CIC gives 5x on internet/cable/phone directly and 5x at Staples where they frequently have no fee gift cards (obviously doesn't work great if your utilities have a fee for card payment)

Re: Best card for cash back paying utility bills?

coldfusion — Wed, 11 May 2022 10:48:20 GMT

@Bockrocker wrote:
I have the Cash+ but most of the benefits could be easily replicated with the Chase Ink Cash which might have been a better route. CIC gives 5x on internet/cable/phone directly and 5x at Staples where they frequently have no fee gift cards (obviously doesn't work great if your utilities have a fee for card payment)

It's also a Chase business card, which comes with its own set of caveats and cautions if not being used strictly for business expenses (and as a business card isn't supposed to be discussed in this section of the forum).