topic Re: Affinity FCU - There are no more categories my friends. Email from them: in Credit Cards

Is the Affinity rewards card going to get worse in the near future?

TyrannicalDuncery — Fri, 09 Sep 2022 18:54:10 GMT

I have a question about the Affinity FCU Cash Rewards Visa.

I have heard that this card has rotating categories in addition to those described on the page linked above. (I can't find that documented on the site but it seems to be common knowledge.)
I have also heard that this card may be "nerfed" in the near future (or may have been nerfed recently). I don't know what kind of "nerf" that would be.
Is either of the above two things correct?

Re: Is the Affinity rewards card going to get worse in the near future?

cashorcharge — Fri, 09 Sep 2022 19:28:32 GMT

@TyrannicalDuncery wrote:
I have a question about the Affinity FCU Cash Rewards Visa.
I have heard that this card has rotating categories in addition to those described on the page linked above. (I can't find that documented on the site but it seems to be common knowledge.)
I have also heard that this card may be "nerfed" in the near future (or may have been nerfed recently). I don't know what kind of "nerf" that would be.
Is either of the above two things correct?

Certainly no news about the card being nerf'd but those rotating categories do change at the start of each quarter. They have been rather generous of late...perhaps a scale back on their generosity...but I am skeptical that the card is going away..

Re: Is the Affinity rewards card going to get worse in the near future?

DakotaM — Fri, 09 Sep 2022 19:34:04 GMT

I just got it, so I sure hope it isn't going away anytime soon! I think the 'nerf' was just supposition because of how generous those categories can be.

Re: Is the Affinity rewards card going to get worse in the near future?

ZackAttack — Fri, 09 Sep 2022 20:16:44 GMT

I have the AFCU cashRewards since Dec 2021. So far I haven't heard any news about it disappearing or lowering the rewards.

IMO when I go and look at third party site by state (credituniononline.com) under New Jersey where AFCU is HQ at, it says their assets is over $3B so I doubt this card would be going away. Now to a card like AOD with 3% ... AOD seems small with only 7 locations and only $425Mil so they probably would be struggling to keep a valued card like that when there is a loop-hole going on (supposed to be geo-fence).

But let's not forget about AFCU ... one of their membership options to join is thru donation to where everyone can join (just like DCU).

Re: Is the Affinity rewards card going to get worse in the near future?

Flfico — Sun, 08 Jan 2023 01:13:23 GMT

Categories are mentioned on their homepage currently.

Re: Is the Affinity rewards card going to get worse in the near future?

ptatohed — Fri, 09 Sep 2022 20:41:18 GMT

Every time I see that picture I wonder two things. What the heck is she looking at? And, where is the gas pump??

Re: Is the Affinity rewards card going to get worse in the near future?

calisig — Fri, 09 Sep 2022 22:48:03 GMT

@TyrannicalDuncery - the reason you are not seeing the rotating categories is becasue you are looking on the wrong page. Although one might assume the rotating categories would be displayed on the 'Cash Rewards' card page you referenced, the rotating categories are listed on the previous page / credit cards page (https://www.affinityfcu.com/Credit-Cards/index.aspx) - since the rotating categories apply to BOTH their 'Cash Rewards' AND 'Pure Rewards' cards.

I haven't heard anything about Affinity nerfing their rewards program

Re: Is the Affinity rewards card going to get worse in the near future?

PullingMeSoftly — Fri, 09 Sep 2022 22:01:47 GMT

I haven't heard of anything that would even remotely be considered a rumor, so there is no cause to believe nerfs are coming. Yes, the card is OP as heck, but AFCU appear to be well-managed and can reign back memberships if they needed to. The only tiniest hint of faltering was the slightly delayed awarding of their Q2 bonus points, and they are a bit late when it comes to announcing their next quarter. But I'll take that any day considering that they continue to allow multiplier stacking and keep covering useful categories (7x on gas for multiple quarters in a row, yes please).

Re: Is the Affinity rewards card going to get worse in the near future?

FireMedic1 — Fri, 09 Sep 2022 22:36:33 GMT

@ptatohed wrote:
Every time I see that picture I wonder two things. What the heck is she looking at? And, where is the gas pump??

@ptatohedJust checking how high gas prices are going.

Re: Is the Affinity rewards card going to get worse in the near future?

ptatohed — Fri, 09 Sep 2022 23:24:17 GMT

@FireMedic1 wrote:
@ptatohed wrote:
Every time I see that picture I wonder two things. What the heck is she looking at? And, where is the gas pump??
@ptatohedJust checking how high gas prices are going.

Bravo, bravo. Good one FM1!

Re: Is the Affinity rewards card going to get worse in the near future?

PullingMeSoftly — Fri, 09 Sep 2022 23:27:54 GMT

@FireMedic1 wrote:
@ptatohed wrote:
Every time I see that picture I wonder two things. What the heck is she looking at? And, where is the gas pump??
@ptatohedJust checking how high gas prices are going.

@FireMedic1 Yes, but oddly finding joy in skyrocketing inflation

Re: Is the Affinity rewards card going to get worse in the near future?

unsungivy — Tue, 13 Sep 2022 15:14:39 GMT

I think the "rumor" of them being nerfed is due to 1) until recently, they referred to these extra bonus categories as the "Hi-5", but seem to have done away with that wording... this led to much consternation and speculation that the program was being killed off along with its name, and 2) this quarter they reeeeeally pushed it to almost the last possible minute on announcing what the Q3 categories would be, so this, coupled with #1, reinforced the rumor.

However, we still did get 5% on Q3 bonus categories, even if they're not calling it the Hi-5 anymore, so it's hanging in there.

Re: Is the Affinity rewards card going to get worse in the near future?

M_Smart007 — Tue, 13 Sep 2022 15:37:34 GMT

The Affinity Cash Rewards is their "Cash Cow" for ~~bringing in~~ reigning in NEW members!

They are highly focused on "Growth" !!..

So I highly doubt that this is going away anytime soon. ..JMHO

Re: Is the Affinity rewards card going to get worse in the near future?

ptatohed — Tue, 13 Sep 2022 19:27:58 GMT

@M_Smart007 wrote:
The Affinity Cash Rewards is their "Cash Cow" for ~~bringing in~~ reigning in NEW members!
They are highly focused on "Growth" !!..
So I highly doubt that this is going away anytime soon. ..JMHO

I'm not necessarily disagreeing with you. But I have to wonder if they want to reign in the new members, why the obscurity with the extra quarterly bonus categories? If I didn't know better (from this site) and I just went to Affinity's product page, I'd have absolutely no idea that the card was any better than the very clearly advertised 5/2/2/1% structure. I already get 5% at Amazon and I already have a 3% everything card so I would otherwise move right along if I didn't know better.

Of course, now that I know better, I want one!

https://www.affinityfcu.com/Credit-Cards/Cashback-Rewards-Visa-Signature.aspx

Re: Is the Affinity rewards card going to get worse in the near future?

M_Smart007 — Tue, 13 Sep 2022 20:27:01 GMT

Update:

I just got off the phone with a well seasoned Affinity rep. (She has been in the banking industry Her whole life)

I called about setting up overdraft from SmartStart Savings to Checking, but had a good 20-25 Min. chat.

Her Words;

"Affinity's CashBack Rewards are not changing in the near future" ... She said that with very strong conviction.

Had She not been as well versed as She was, I woulda taken that with a grain of Salt.

I did ask what was the "MAX" limit on the card, while She did not give me a direct answer, She said .. "Has seen them UP THERE".

I had to ask $100K? .. Her answer, not quite that high ...I was fishing. >> "Enquiring minds want to know??"

She said; "Limits are mostly Score and Profile driven." also said something about "Ability to Repay" ...

That is about it, in a nutshell.

Re: Is the Affinity rewards card going to get worse in the near future?

craigm1 — Wed, 14 Sep 2022 21:34:45 GMT

I'm at $37,500 I have the card for over 2 years and used it frequently with no credit limit raises.

CRM

Re: Is the Affinity rewards card going to get worse in the near future?

MrDisco99 — Thu, 15 Sep 2022 11:32:59 GMT

Yeah they gave me $25K SL. They can be pretty generous.

Any word on next quarter's categories? They usually do Amazon for Q4.

Re: Is the Affinity rewards card going to get worse in the near future?

LawStudentCivilis — Thu, 15 Sep 2022 15:25:26 GMT

Someone just posted Q4 categories so it's looks like they're back to being on time. I eyed this card for some time before I applied and it is my impression the bonus/rotating categories have always been somewhat hidden.

Affinity FCU - There are no more categories my friends. Email from them:

Anonymous — Wed, 28 Dec 2022 18:04:05 GMT

My question via secure email:

"Good afternoon - just curious if the first quarter 2023 bonus categories for credit cards has been decided yet.
Thanks!"

Their reply:

"For next quarter the bonus points are earned based on how much is spent with your card, there are no longer any spending categories. Bonus points are earned as follows: Affinity Cash Rewards Visa Signature: In addition to the standard points, cardholders will earn 3,000 points when spending $2,000; 6,500 points when spending $5,000; 11,500 points when spending $7,500 during the promotional period of January 1, 2023 through March 31, 2023. To qualify and receive the additional bonus points, the required spend amount in purchases must be met."

My reply:

Is this on top of the 5% at Bookstores and 2% at Supermarkets, Restaurants, Gas Stations? In addition to the 1% spent on general spend?
Is there still a $3500 per cap per month at Amazon?

Or are you saying the 5% / 2% / 1% are just now completely gone?

Thank you"

Will post the reply as soon as it arrives.

Re: Affinity FCU - There are no more categories my friends. Email from them:

Anonymous — Wed, 28 Dec 2022 18:15:16 GMT

If the original 5/2/1% still exist, then that would mean (I'm not that smart, so correct my math if it's wrong)

Amazon spend would get 5%+1.5% from $2000-$5000, 5%+1.3% from $5000-$7500, and 5%+1.53% from 7500+

Supermarket, Restaurant, Gas Station spend would get 2%+1.5% from $2000-$5000, 2%+1.3% from $5000-$7500, and 2%+1.53% from 7500+

General Spend would get 1%+1.5% from $2000-$5000, 2%+1.3% from $5000-$7500, and 2%+1.53% from 7500+

Who knows.