topic Re: What's new and shiny CC wise? in Credit Cards

What's new and shiny CC wise?

unsungivy — Thu, 11 Jan 2024 17:32:08 GMT

I've been out of the loop for the past 6 months or so, and letting the garden grow fo' sho'. What are the hot "in the know" cards atm? Any special unicorns?

Looks like I'm seeing things about Redstone and SYW card still, although I can't really remember why they're shiny.

I think my line-up's solid still, but it felt a good time to check in if there was something that came out of the woodwork

Re: What's new and shiny CC wise?

Kforce — Thu, 11 Jan 2024 20:37:11 GMT

Might just be my jade-colored glasses.

Have not seen anything I wanted for almost 4 years

Last were AOD & USAlliance

Re: What's new and shiny CC wise?

BearsCubsOtters — Fri, 12 Jan 2024 01:08:17 GMT

@unsungivy wrote:
I've been out of the loop for the past 6 months or so, and letting the garden grow fo' sho'. What are the hot "in the know" cards atm? Any special unicorns?
Looks like I'm seeing things about Redstone and SYW card still, although I can't really remember why they're shiny.

I think my line-up's solid still, but it felt a good time to check in if there was something that came out of the woodwork

It has been painfully quiet in the credit world. Nothing new; no new FOTM cards.

Redstone: Rural King is moving to UMB which has some upset. UMB will have a better looking card that is not vertical/Portrait thankfully.

Wells Fargo is supposedly readying additional versions of Autograph and new business cards.

There was buzz several months ago about Citi introducing a "Strata" card but that appears to be on hold.

Charge offs are high; people are relying on credit cards to live so maybe the banks are holding off to see how things shape up.

Re: What's new and shiny CC wise?

Citylights18 — Fri, 12 Jan 2024 01:48:19 GMT

Wells Fargo Autograph was supposed to get partners but that hasn't happened.

Citi Custom 5x cash and the Chase Freedom revamp to 3x dining was probably the last significant round for consumer cards. The 10x travel portal cards (Sapphire Reserves, Venture X and Credit One Wanderer) where good innovations. It seems as if the rewards game has petered out after a run the last decade or so.

Crypto based cards didn't make it as the SEC has clamped down on almost every crypto exchanges. Rewards aren't nearly as lucrative on those either as they were in the 2019-2021 period.

Where are the BT offers too? I'm still getting them from Citi but not on Discover cards anymore.

Re: What's new and shiny CC wise?

okurosetta — Fri, 12 Jan 2024 02:27:06 GMT

@Citylights18 wrote:
Where are the BT offers too? I'm still getting them from Citi but not on Discover cards anymore.

Also getting them from Citi but not Discover. The best offer that I recently had was with USAA, 0% APR for 15 months with 3% transfer fee.

Re: What's new and shiny CC wise?

Aim_High — Fri, 12 Jan 2024 03:06:50 GMT

You have good cards, @unsungivy. Are there any rewards holes in your spending that you're looking to fill? Basically, I don't think you've missed too much in six months. As mentioned upthread, the escalation in consumer debt has likely put a chill on new card offerings.

Yes, Redstone has been popular. Also the Comenity AAA cards are not bad - Daily Advantage (5% grocery; 3% gas, EV charging, warehouse, streaming, AAA) and the Travel Advantage (5% gas/EV, 3% travel, restaurants, groceries, AAA.) Both cards have spending caps but no AF.

I notice the two BofA CCR's. Are you Preferred Honors tier? The original Premium Rewards and/or the PR Elite are both great cards with great SUBs but particularly if you're in Preferred Rewards to magnify card rewards at 25%, 50% or 75%.

If you do a lot of spending on your Sapphire Reserve and like UR points, I believe the Freedom Unlimited makes an awesome companion card. It raises your UR point basis from 1 UR with CSR to 1.5 UR with CFU and then that 1.5 can be worth 2.5 to 3 cents per dollar if leveraged in transfer to travel partners via CSR. (Points can be combined easily on the portal onto CSR.)

I see the double Max Cash Preferreds; did you know Elan has released several other US Bank copy-cat cards also?

Everyday Rewards+ is similar to Altitude GO
Travel Rewards+ is similar to Altitude CONNECT. (Note that travel portal is not available for 5x rewards but base earnings rate is higher at 1.5% versus 1.0% on Altitude Connect.
Reserve Rewards + is a new Elan Visa Infinite product with $390 AF but $240 in credits. Base earnings rate of 2 points (2%); travel portal earns 6 points per dollar.

For hotel rewards, Wells Fargo has had the Choice Privileges cards for awhile now. I believe they are WF newest offerings.

Re: What's new and shiny CC wise?

Wavester64 — Thu, 18 Jan 2024 21:19:23 GMT

@Aim_High wrote:
Yes, Redstone has been popular. Also the Comenity AAA cards are not bad - Daily Advantage (5% grocery; 3% gas, EV charging, warehouse, streaming, AAA) and the Travel Advantage (5% gas/EV, 3% travel, restaurants, groceries, AAA.) Both cards have spending caps but no AF.

Hey @Aim_High Is Redstone geofenced?

Re: What's new and shiny CC wise?

GZG — Thu, 18 Jan 2024 21:48:14 GMT

@Wavester64 wrote:
@Aim_High wrote:

Hey @Aim_High Is Redstone geofenced?

not geofenced, you can join through AUSA (free membership) or through FFA ~$8/year? there's a bunch of other orgs, no idea of any of the others are free to join or not

https://www.redfcu.org/become-a-member/am-i-eligible/membership-eligibility/

their checking account bonuses are typically geofenced, but nothing else is

Re: What's new and shiny CC wise?

pinkandgrey — Fri, 19 Jan 2024 16:45:05 GMT

I've stepped away long enough I suppose that nothing appeals to me anymore LOL. But I know the itch would return if I were to apply for even one other card. So I don't. My four "quadfecta" are working great for me. I just try to keep getting CLIs.

Re: What's new and shiny CC wise?

Wavester64 — Fri, 19 Jan 2024 18:02:09 GMT

@GZG wrote:
@Wavester64 wrote:
@Aim_High wrote:

Hey @Aim_High Is Redstone geofenced?
not geofenced, you can join through AUSA (free membership) or through FFA ~$8/year? there's a bunch of other orgs, no idea of any of the others are free to join or not

https://www.redfcu.org/become-a-member/am-i-eligible/membership-eligibility/

their checking account bonuses are typically geofenced, but nothing else is

Thanks @GZG What CB do they usually pull?

Re: What's new and shiny CC wise?

GZG — Fri, 19 Jan 2024 18:04:57 GMT

@Wavester64 wrote:
@GZG wrote:
@Wavester64 wrote:
@Aim_High wrote:

Hey @Aim_High Is Redstone geofenced?
not geofenced, you can join through AUSA (free membership) or through FFA ~$8/year? there's a bunch of other orgs, no idea of any of the others are free to join or not

https://www.redfcu.org/become-a-member/am-i-eligible/membership-eligibility/

their checking account bonuses are typically geofenced, but nothing else is

Thanks @GZG What CB do they usually pull?

experian

I waited a few months and got a pre-approval, I accepted with no HP, only experian SP

Re: What's new and shiny CC wise?

Wavester64 — Fri, 19 Jan 2024 18:09:57 GMT

@GZG wrote:
@Wavester64 wrote:
@GZG wrote:
@Wavester64 wrote:
@Aim_High wrote:

Hey @Aim_High Is Redstone geofenced?
not geofenced, you can join through AUSA (free membership) or through FFA ~$8/year? there's a bunch of other orgs, no idea of any of the others are free to join or not

https://www.redfcu.org/become-a-member/am-i-eligible/membership-eligibility/

their checking account bonuses are typically geofenced, but nothing else is

Thanks @GZG What CB do they usually pull?
experian

I waited a few months and got a pre-approval, I accepted with no HP, only experian SP

Thanks again @GZG Sorry, another question if I may. When you say AUSA, I am assuming you mean
the following https://www.ausa.org/membership/basic So I would choose basic membership there (free 2-years) then
go back to Redstone to become a member. And your saying that once accepted, I can try for their RS CC (or if I follow
like you, wait for a pre-approval)?

Re: What's new and shiny CC wise?

GZG — Fri, 19 Jan 2024 18:17:02 GMT

@Wavester64 wrote:
@GZG wrote:
@Wavester64 wrote:
@GZG wrote:
@Wavester64 wrote:
@Aim_High wrote:

Hey @Aim_High Is Redstone geofenced?
not geofenced, you can join through AUSA (free membership) or through FFA ~$8/year? there's a bunch of other orgs, no idea of any of the others are free to join or not

https://www.redfcu.org/become-a-member/am-i-eligible/membership-eligibility/

their checking account bonuses are typically geofenced, but nothing else is

Thanks @GZG What CB do they usually pull?
experian

I waited a few months and got a pre-approval, I accepted with no HP, only experian SP
Thanks again @GZG Sorry, another question if I may. When you say AUSA, I am assuming you mean
the following https://www.ausa.org/membership/basic So I would choose basic membership there (free 2-years) then
go back to Redstone to become a member. And your saying that once accepted, I can try for their RS CC (or if I follow
like you, wait for a pre-approval)?

yeah, that's the right AUSA

and once you join and get membership, you can apply for the credit card

Re: What's new and shiny CC wise?

CYBERSAM — Fri, 19 Jan 2024 20:10:15 GMT

I just got Redstone membership + Visa sig CC with no issues, it took only couple of days and they gave me an option for some membership for free! Didn't had to join any organization outside of what I just clicked on the same page. Very easy, just had to pay $5 to open the saving account.

Another not so new but good card is U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite. I just got mine and its a must have.

Re: What's new and shiny CC wise?

Wavester64 — Fri, 19 Jan 2024 21:23:23 GMT

@GZG wrote:
@Wavester64 wrote:
@GZG wrote:
@Wavester64 wrote:
@GZG wrote:
@Wavester64 wrote:
@Aim_High wrote:

Hey @Aim_High Is Redstone geofenced?
not geofenced, you can join through AUSA (free membership) or through FFA ~$8/year? there's a bunch of other orgs, no idea of any of the others are free to join or not

https://www.redfcu.org/become-a-member/am-i-eligible/membership-eligibility/

their checking account bonuses are typically geofenced, but nothing else is

Thanks @GZG What CB do they usually pull?
experian

I waited a few months and got a pre-approval, I accepted with no HP, only experian SP
Thanks again @GZG Sorry, another question if I may. When you say AUSA, I am assuming you mean
the following https://www.ausa.org/membership/basic So I would choose basic membership there (free 2-years) then
go back to Redstone to become a member. And your saying that once accepted, I can try for their RS CC (or if I follow
like you, wait for a pre-approval)?
yeah, that's the right AUSA

and once you join and get membership, you can apply for the credit card

Thanks again. Almost seems too easy - I was looking for the red tape

Re: What's new and shiny CC wise?

1LostArk — Sat, 20 Jan 2024 04:31:52 GMT

@CYBERSAM wrote:
I just got Redstone membership + Visa sig CC with no issues, it took only couple of days and they gave me an option for some membership for free! Didn't had to join any organization outside of what I just clicked on the same page. Very easy, just had to pay $5 to open the saving account.

Another not so new but good card is U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite. I just got mine and its a must have.

Can you tell me more why you think the USBAR is a must have? Just for mobile wallet cash back? Considering picking up and downgrading my BofA PR, though the USBAR effective AF is $75, BofA PR is -$5, I'd need to put an extra $4,000 of spend on the former to break even with the PR.

Re: What's new and shiny CC wise?

TiggerDat — Sat, 20 Jan 2024 22:22:40 GMT

I am not sure if I would consider the C1 Wanderer card such a good deal. Yeah the rewards are not that bad, but what if you ever need to float for a month or two? The near 30% interest rate still indicates they are a bottom feeder, right?

Re: What's new and shiny CC wise?

ptatohed — Sun, 21 Jan 2024 04:27:27 GMT

@TiggerDat wrote:
I am not sure if I would consider the C1 Wanderer card such a good deal. Yeah the rewards are not that bad, but what if you ever need to float for a month or two? The near 30% interest rate still indicates they are a bottom feeder, right?

No one should ever be using a rewards card to carry a balance. One month of interest can wipe out all or much of any rewards you earned that month. I think high 20s % APR is the going rate these days. I'll take the 29% APR any day over the $95 annual fee.

https://www.creditonebank.com/credit-cards/wander-visa

Re: What's new and shiny CC wise?

Anonymous — Sun, 21 Jan 2024 15:02:29 GMT

@1LostArk wrote:
@CYBERSAM wrote:
I just got Redstone membership + Visa sig CC with no issues, it took only couple of days and they gave me an option for some membership for free! Didn't had to join any organization outside of what I just clicked on the same page. Very easy, just had to pay $5 to open the saving account.

Another not so new but good card is U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite. I just got mine and its a must have.
Can you tell me more why you think the USBAR is a must have? Just for mobile wallet cash back? Considering picking up and downgrading my BofA PR, though the USBAR effective AF is $75, BofA PR is -$5, I'd need to put an extra $4,000 of spend on the former to break even with the PR.

I don't know @CYBERSAM s reasons, but I agree that it is a great card (although "must have" is a high bar). Assuming you redeem for travel, getting the 4.5%, if mobile pay is widely available where you buy things, putting lots of spend on it can be easy. It's particularly useful for what is usually non-category spend: We've used it for expensive stuff at doctors and dentists (and especially vets) as well as smaller non-chain clothing stores etc. And the nice thing about 4.5% is that it is good enough: if I use it at a supermarket or to get gas when say Freedom/Discover has a capped 5% quarter, it's not such a disaster! So if you are using cards for cashback, the AR can replace many of them. And for travel, RTR allow you take advantage of booking through the airlines directly, no need to use the portal.

There are downsides:

1) Rewards are basically cashback, no transfer partners for added value

2) Unlike on the CSR, dining (without mobile pay) isn't a rewards category, though it counts towards the annual $325 credit

3) Travel category is weaker than CSR, and some sites (in the past hotels.com for me) don't count

4) Weak Priority Pass compared to others

Obviously each person has to do an evaluation.With a flat rate 3% such as AOD, to make up the effective $75 fee you need to put $5000 on this card (redeeming for travel), which depending on your spend and other cards might or might not be OK!

Re: What's new and shiny CC wise?

unsungivy — Wed, 07 Feb 2024 20:50:43 GMT

@Aim_High wrote:
You have good cards, @unsungivy. Are there any rewards holes in your spending that you're looking to fill? Basically, I don't think you've missed too much in six months. As mentioned upthread, the escalation in consumer debt has likely put a chill on new card offerings.

Yes, Redstone has been popular. Also the Comenity AAA cards are not bad - Daily Advantage (5% grocery; 3% gas, EV charging, warehouse, streaming, AAA) and the Travel Advantage (5% gas/EV, 3% travel, restaurants, groceries, AAA.) Both cards have spending caps but no AF.

I notice the two BofA CCR's. Are you Preferred Honors tier? The original Premium Rewards and/or the PR Elite are both great cards with great SUBs but particularly if you're in Preferred Rewards to magnify card rewards at 25%, 50% or 75%.

If you do a lot of spending on your Sapphire Reserve and like UR points, I believe the Freedom Unlimited makes an awesome companion card. It raises your UR point basis from 1 UR with CSR to 1.5 UR with CFU and then that 1.5 can be worth 2.5 to 3 cents per dollar if leveraged in transfer to travel partners via CSR. (Points can be combined easily on the portal onto CSR.)

I see the double Max Cash Preferreds; did you know Elan has released several other US Bank copy-cat cards also?
Everyday Rewards+ is similar to Altitude GO
Travel Rewards+ is similar to Altitude CONNECT. (Note that travel portal is not available for 5x rewards but base earnings rate is higher at 1.5% versus 1.0% on Altitude Connect.
Reserve Rewards + is a new Elan Visa Infinite product with $390 AF but $240 in credits. Base earnings rate of 2 points (2%); travel portal earns 6 points per dollar.
For hotel rewards, Wells Fargo has had the Choice Privileges cards for awhile now. I believe they are WF newest offerings.

Yup on BofA Preferred, so they're both 5.25%... the MC for Online Shopping through my Curve Card (which was padding it with another 1% for most of the year), which covers a stupidly high number of things online. And the Visa for Home Improvement/Costco shopping. Haven't needed to switch them to other categories for awhile, but I've used them for Travel last year on a cruise.

I was not aware of the new Elan Inifinite card. Interesting. Prolly not worth it for me though with both Amex Plat and CSR (it's been declared that the Centurion Lounge alone is worth it for P2 for me to keep ahold of the Platinum... will re-evaluate in the future.)

On P2's lineup I'm also covered with Discover, Custom Cash (which is now being used for Groceries at 5% since I cancelled the AmEx BCP since I'm no longer having fees waives for military), Savor (the 4% version, which isn't charging a fee until June, at which point will prolly use the CSR for Dining instead... looked into downgrading it last year and they wouldn't let P2 switch to the 3% version, just a QS, which was really really weird), Marriot Bonvoy (Chase card to be upgraded to Ritz after a year, and the AmEx Bix for most of the spend), American Airlines Biz card, and USAA AmEx for P2's gase and base purchases (I drive an EV). The rotating categories on the Discover paired with Curve allow me to get pretty close to perfect quarterly on that if I put in the effort, which allows for a bit of moving around other pieces to maximize.

Really the only small hole I have is for Drug Stores, it seems like, and I was using the Custom Cash to cover that once-every-two-months purchase until I cancelled the BCP and switched it to Groceries. With 3% from AOD, really only 5% categories can turn my head I think, so maybe I'll look closer at AAA to switch P2's Custom Cash back to Drug Stores.

Hotels (Marriotts): 6x

Airlines: 5x

Online Shopping: 5.25%

Home Improvement: 5.25%

Groceries: 5%/3.5%(Costco)

Gas: 5%

Entertainment/Recreation: 5%

Cell Phones: 5%

Utilities: 5%

Office Supplies: 5%

Military Base Purchases: 5%

Best Buy: 5%

Dining: 4%/5%(Fast food)

Streaming: 4%

US Shipping: 4x

Travel/Transit: 3.75x

Everything: 3%