topic Re: List of general spend cards from credit unions in Credit Cards

List of general spend cards from credit unions

issac2x — Fri, 02 Dec 2022 10:32:44 GMT

Been perusing credit union websites for fun occasionally and ended up compiling a list of general spend cards. Limited criteria to simple 2%/2X (plus additions) and excluded cards that have annual fees, are devalued, or have stringent cashback requirements. Some of these may have a SUB or other promotions currently ongoing for the card.

Notes: Value - Assessment of Card

Availability - Who can join the credit union

SEG - Select Employee Groups

VS - Visa Signature

List is divided into three sections which are: open to all, unconfirmed, or restricted.

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Section I. Open to all

Alliant VS

Value: 2.5% but capped at 10k per month with requirements; Afterwards 1.5

Availability: Open to all, must join affiliate organization if outside select membership group.

Penfed Power Cash

Value: 2% with Penfed Honors Advantage; Otherwise 1.5

Availability: Open to all

SDFCU Premium Cashback+

Value: Flat 2%

Availability: Open to all, must join affiliate organization if outside select membership group.

Dover Cash Back

Value: Flat 2%

Availability: Open to all, must join affiliate organization with donation if outside select membership group.

Veridian VS

Value: 2% with Loyalty Program; Otherwise 1.5

Availability: Open to all, must join affiliate organization with donation if outside select membership group.

Signature VS

Value: Flat 2% with 6% streaming. Can choose between points or cash rebate; Streaming is capped monthly.

Availability: Open to all, must join affiliate organization if outside select membership group.

Extra Note: YEMV when joining or applying for credit card.

COFCU VS

Value: Flat 2X

Availability: Open to all, must join affiliate organization if outside select membership group.

Parsons Visa Platinum

Value: Flat 2X

Availability: Open to all, must join affiliate organization if outside select membership group.

CTFCU Cashback Visa

Value: Flat 2%

Availability: Open to all, must join affiliate organization with donation if outside select membership group.

Pima Federal VS

Value: Flat 2X

Availability: Open to all, must join affiliate organization with donation if outside select membership group.

USAlliance VS

Value: Currently 3X will nerf at the start of next year.

Availability: Open to all, must join affiliate organization if outside select membership group.

Wings Financial VS

Value: Flat 2X

Availability: Open to all, must join affiliate organization with donation if outside select membership group.

PSECU Founder's Reward Card

Value: 2% with requirements; Otherwise 1.5

Availability: Open to all, must join affiliate organization with donation if outside select membership group.

Proponent VS

Value: Flat 2X

Availability: Open to all, must join affiliate organization with donation if outside select membership group.

Bellco Blue Diamond VS

Value: Flat 2%

Availability: Open to all, must join affiliate organization with donation if outside select membership group.

CUA VS

Value: Flat 2%

Availability: Open to all, must join affiliate organization if outside select membership group.

NWFCU Now Rewards Visa

Value: 2% with monthly qualifications; Otherwise 1.25

Availability: Open to all, must join affiliate organization with donation if outside select membership group.

CFCU Rewards Elite Credit Card

Value: Flat 2X

Availability: Open to all, must join affiliate organization with donation if outside select membership group.

Affinity Pure Rewards Visa

Value: Flat 2X with EvenMore perks; Otherwise 1

Availability: Open to all, must join affiliate organization with donation if outside select membership group.

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Section II. Unconfirmed

East Idaho VS

Value: Flat 2%

Availability: Appears to be open to most due to occupational based charter. More DPs needed.

Heartland CU Diamond Awards Visa

Value: Flat 2X with 3X multipliers on gas/groceries per month

Availability: Appears to be open to most due to various occupations listed. More DPs needed.

Armco Cashback Rewards Visa

Value: Flat 2%

Availability: SEG membership, however website states non-affiliated individuals can still apply. More DPs needed.

USEagle Metal VS

Value: Base 1.5% with 0.5 as you pay

Availability: Geofenced to parts of New Mexico; However, their website states that you can still join via their 400 partner companies.

Extra Note: Pressed metal foil design with tungsten alloy core.

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Section III. Restricted

MidFlorida VS

Value: Flat 2%

Availability: Geofenced to parts of Florida

RBFCU Cashback Rewards

Value: Flat 2%

Availability: Geofenced to Texas; Service members may still apply.

Aerospace Platinum Visa

Value: Cashback or points; Flat 2% with capped 3-4-5% multipliers

Availability: Selective membership

TDECU Onyx Mastercard

Value: Flat 2% with 5% discount at Buc-ee's

Availability: Geofenced to parts of Texas

Visions Elite VS

Value: Flat 2%

Availability: Geofenced to parts of New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania

Explorers Mastercard

Value: Flat 2%

Availability: Geofenced to parts of South Dakota and Nebraska

Brtelco Visa Cashback

Value: Flat 2%

Availability: Geofenced to parts of Louisiana

First Financial VS

Value: 2% with Better Rewards Checking; Otherwise 1.5

Availability: Selective membership; SEG may still apply.

Dort Financial VS

Value: Flat 2%

Availability: Geofenced to Michigan

121FCU VS/Visa Rewards

Value: Flat 2%

Availability: Geofenced to parts of Florida; Telecommunications employees may still apply.

GECU VS

Value: Flat 2X

Availability: Geofenced to parts of Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana; SEG may still apply.

Hapo Visa Cashback

Value: Flat 2%

Availability: Geofenced to Washington and parts of Oregon

Honor CU Select Rewards

Value: Flat 2%

Availability: Geofenced to Michigan and parts of Indiana/Wisconsin

Arkansas FCU Cashback

Value: Flat 2%

Availability: Geofenced to Arkansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, Tennessee, and Mississippi

FFCU VS

Value: Flat 2%

Availability: Selective membership

UCU Rewards Card

Value: Flat 2X

Availability: Selective membership

WPCCU Cash Rewards Mastercard

Value: Flat 2%

Availability: Geofenced to parts of California

Gather FCU Signature Visa

Value: Flat 2%

Availability: Geofenced to parts of Hawaii

Guardians CU Exclusive Rewards

Value: Flat 2%

Availability: Geofenced to parts of Florida; SEG may still apply.

HFS VS

Value: Flat 2X

Availability: Geofenced to Hawaii

Pearl Hawaii FCU Cashback Platinum

Value: Flat 2%

Availability: Geofenced to parts of Hawaii

Keesler FCU VS

Value: Flat 2%

Availability: Geofenced to parts of Mississippi, Louisiana, and Alabama; SEG may still apply.

UWCU VS

Value: 2% with Premium Rewards Checking; Otherwise 1.5

Availability: Geofenced to parts of Wisconsin; SEG may still apply.

First Federal Visa Ca$h Rewards

Value: Flat 2%

Availability: Geofenced to parts of Iowa

MCFCU Visa

Value: Flat 2%

Availability: Geofenced to parts of Indiana

Purdue VS

Value: 2% with My Member Perks program; Otherwise 1.25

Availability: Geofenced to parts of Indiana; SEG may still apply.

Citizens Platinum Rewards Visa

Value: Flat 2X

Availability: Geofenced to Iowa; SEG may still apply.

ACUTX Select Mastercard

Value: Flat 2%

Availability: Geofenced to parts of Texas; SEG may still apply.

BCU Travel Rewards

Value: Flat 2X, travel related

Availability: Geofenced to parts of Illinois and Wisconsin; SEG may still apply.

Fitzsimon Visa Platinum Rewards Elite

Value: Flat 2.5X

Availability: Geofenced to parts of Colorado

Onpoint VS Cashback Rewards

Value: 2% with Onpoint Bundle Rewards

Availability: Geofenced to parts of Washingtion and Oregon

LCCU VS

Value: Earns 1.5X but can be redeemed as 2% cashback

Availability: Geofenced to Washington and parts of Idaho

Har-co Black/Gold Visa

Value: 2% cashback with 5% multipliers for local businesses

Availability: Geofenced parts of Maryland

Compass Visa Platinum with Rewards

Value: Flat 2X

Availability: Geofenced parts of New York

TVFCU Rewards VS

Value: Flat 2X

Availability: Geofenced to parts of New York

NNMECU Global Rewards Visa

Value: Flat 2X

Availability: Selective membership

Atlantic FCU Inspire Rewards Visa

Value: Flat 2%

Availability: Geofenced to parts of New Jersey

FCU Diamond Mastercard

Value: Flat 2%

Availability: Geofenced to Michigan

U Rewards VS

Value: Flat 2% but capped at 35K points annually

@coldfusion wrote:
$350 cap translates to $17.5K yearly/just under $1500 average monthly spend

Availability: Geofenced to parts of Arkansas, Indiana, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, and Ohio; SEG may still apply.

Pioneer Perks Visa

Value: Flat 2X

Availability: Geofenced to parts of West Virginia, Ohio, and Kentucky

Extra Note: Earns 1X on balance transfers

Picatinny FCU Premium Rewards Card

Value: Flat 2X

Availability: Geofenced to parts of New Jersey

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This list is still a work in progress and I'll update whenever I can but so far there's about 64 credit unions with a "2%" general spend card. And of these 19 are open to join with or without stipulations with 4 needing more DPs.

Update 1: Didn't catch the annual fee for SDCCU so swapped it out for USAlliance.

Update 2: Added Har-co, Compass FCU, NWFCU, TVFCU, NNMECU, Atlantic, FCU, United FCU, and USEagle.

Update 3: Added sections as well as Pioneer, Picatinny, CFCU, and Affinity.

Re: List of general spend cards from credit unions

cws-21 — Fri, 19 Aug 2022 13:58:45 GMT

The Aerospace Platinum Visa is really interesting; however, eligibility is, unfortunately, quite restricted.

Re: List of general spend cards from credit unions

hawkins — Fri, 19 Aug 2022 14:46:56 GMT

FIGFCU has a 3% in the first year then 2.5% after that. Anyone can join with a membership to American Consumer Council. The last 3% general spend one out there that I know of. At least for the first year anyways. Does have a AF after year 1 but it's not too much.

Re: List of general spend cards from credit unions

issac2x — Fri, 19 Aug 2022 14:55:14 GMT

@cws-21 wrote:
The Aerospace Platinum Visa is really interesting; however, eligibility is, unfortunately, quite restricted.

Yep. 2% everything with multipliers and a 5.90 APR its a unicorn for sure.

Re: List of general spend cards from credit unions

issac2x — Fri, 19 Aug 2022 14:56:29 GMT

@hawkins wrote:
FIGFCU has a 3% in the first year then 2.5% after that. Anyone can join with a membership to American Consumer Council. The last 3% general spend one out there that I know of. At least for the first year anyways. Does have a AF after year 1 but it's not too much.

I'm aware of FIGFCU but since that card has an annual fee I've excluded it from this list.

Re: List of general spend cards from credit unions

coldfusion — Fri, 19 Aug 2022 15:45:48 GMT

Maybe I just missed it but I didn't see the US Alliance Visa Signature on the list; it will still be a 2X/2% cashback card if they follow through this time with the announced downgrade from 3% currently scheduled to go in effect on 1/1/23.

Re: List of general spend cards from credit unions

Aim_High — Fri, 02 Dec 2022 21:35:58 GMT

Thanks for compiling that list and links, @issac2x. I knew the "2% or better" options had been growing but I had no idea that several of these cards existed. While many of them are geofenced or restricted, it seems most of our members could find something useful among the offering in your list! Great job!

Re: List of general spend cards from credit unions

OmarGB9 — Fri, 19 Aug 2022 17:46:51 GMT

Great list! Hope you're able/willing to keep it updated.

Re: List of general spend cards from credit unions

SouthJamaica — Fri, 02 Dec 2022 21:40:07 GMT

Wow what a cool public service you are providing. I would have given you 2 kudoes if that were possible

Re: List of general spend cards from credit unions

C6 — Fri, 19 Aug 2022 22:19:11 GMT

Thanks OP for the list. Hopefully one can expand it with who they pull for membership and credit card.

Re: List of general spend cards from credit unions

mfinsmi1 — Fri, 19 Aug 2022 22:48:32 GMT

@issac2x Awesome list - SDCCU has a annual fee after the first year FYI - would be cool to know which of these CU's have reliable prequals - also if any can be soft pull approvals if you call in to join i.e. my Greenstate Credit Union CC was a soft pull approval when i called to join

Re: List of general spend cards from credit unions

issac2x — Sat, 20 Aug 2022 04:31:53 GMT

@coldfusion wrote:
Maybe I just missed it but I didn't see the US Alliance Visa Signature on the list; it will still be a 2X/2% cashback card if they follow through this time with the announced downgrade from 3% currently scheduled to go in effect on 1/1/23.

Thanks for reminding me I'll update the list.

Re: List of general spend cards from credit unions

issac2x — Sat, 20 Aug 2022 04:55:21 GMT

@mfinsmi1 wrote:
@issac2x Awesome list - SDCCU has a annual fee after the first year FYI - would be cool to know which of these CU's have reliable prequals - also if any can be soft pull approvals if you call in to join i.e. my Greenstate Credit Union CC was a soft pull approval when i called to join

Thanks for catching that I swapped it out for USAlliance. I'll be more than happy to update the list with DPs MF members provide.

Re: List of general spend cards from credit unions

issac2x — Thu, 01 Sep 2022 13:26:40 GMT

I've been updating the list since I posted and come across two cards I'd like to get MF members' opinions on. The U Rewards card by United FCU is a 2% card but cashback is limited to $350 annually so I've been wondering if I should take it off the list. In a slightly similar situation the Vigor card offered by MSDFCU is 1.5X for purchases up to 1500 then 2X for 1501 and above so I've been wondering if I should put it on the list.

Re: List of general spend cards from credit unions

Anonymous — Thu, 01 Sep 2022 13:38:41 GMT

@issac2x wrote:
I've been updating the list since I posted and come across two cards I'd like to get MF members' opinions on. The U Rewards card by United FCU is a 2% card but cashback is limited to $350 annually so I've been wondering if I should take it off the list. In a slightly similar situation the Vigor card offered by MSDFCU is 1.5X for purchases up to 1500 then 2X for 1501 and above so I've been wondering if I should put it on the list.

Since there are so many "full" 2x cards, I would remove those with less generous rates such as those.

One question about points: are those point cards on the list all 1cpp (for at least some redemptions?) I was looking at Heartland and it doesn't say anywhere what points are worth. Often you can see that from the SUB ("Get 20,000 points, worth $200 for XXX") but not for that CU..

Re: List of general spend cards from credit unions

M_Smart007 — Thu, 01 Sep 2022 13:47:43 GMT

@issac2x,

Thanks for compiling this list.

Somehow I had missed it.

Marked for following.

Re: List of general spend cards from credit unions

issac2x — Fri, 02 Sep 2022 05:07:19 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Since there are so many "full" 2x cards, I would remove those with less generous rates such as those.
One question about points: are those point cards on the list all 1cpp (for at least some redemptions?) I was looking at Heartland and it doesn't say anywhere what points are worth. Often you can see that from the SUB ("Get 20,000 points, worth $200 for XXX") but not for that CU..

One of the criterion I set for myself was no devalued points so the 2X cards should be 2%; Unless I overlooked something. On Heartland as far as I can tell it seems like a genuine 2% we'd have to call to confirm though.

Re: List of general spend cards from credit unions

arifjk — Thu, 01 Sep 2022 15:09:34 GMT

Love this thread. Thank you for doing this.

Re: List of general spend cards from credit unions

coldfusion — Thu, 01 Sep 2022 15:25:26 GMT

@issac2x wrote:
I've been updating the list since I posted and come across two cards I'd like to get MF members' opinions on. The U Rewards card by United FCU is a 2% card but cashback is limited to $350 annually so I've been wondering if I should take it off the list. In a slightly similar situation the Vigor card offered by MSDFCU is 1.5X for purchases up to 1500 then 2X for 1501 and above so I've been wondering if I should put it on the list.

I'd leave the United FCU card but with a relevant annotation as that $350 cap translates to $17.5K yearly/just under $1500 average monthly spend, people can decide for themselves if or how much that matters. I'd drop the MSDFCU card from the list.

Re: List of general spend cards from credit unions

Aim_High — Thu, 01 Sep 2022 18:10:46 GMT

@coldfusion wrote:
@issac2x wrote:
I've been updating the list since I posted and come across two cards I'd like to get MF members' opinions on. The U Rewards card by United FCU is a 2% card but cashback is limited to $350 annually so I've been wondering if I should take it off the list. In a slightly similar situation the Vigor card offered by MSDFCU is 1.5X for purchases up to 1500 then 2X for 1501 and above so I've been wondering if I should put it on the list.
I'd leave the United FCU card but with a relevant annotation as that $350 cap translates to $17.5K yearly/just under $1500 average monthly spend, people can decide for themselves if or how much that matters. I'd drop the MSDFCU card from the list.

+1 Agree with @coldfusion. The United FCU card *could* be a true 2% card as long as annual spending is low enough. The MSDFCU card is *never* a full 2%, regardless of annual spending. The higher the annual spend, the closer you would get to it but even if spending $10K monthly you'd still be at 1.92% average.

I also noticed that this card is very strictly geofenced based on Select Employer Groups (SEGs) or member associations in parts of Pennsylvania. Perhaps since so many of these cards are potentially geofenced, @issac2x, it might be good to divide the list into the non-geofenced cards first (or cards that can be attained by joining an organization to bypass) and then list the geofenced cards with state references.