topic Re: Best Alternatives to Citi Custom Cash and WF Autograph for Cashback Setup? in Credit Cards

Best Alternatives to Citi Custom Cash and WF Autograph for Cashback Setup?

4-Lights — Wed, 03 Apr 2024 17:05:07 GMT

Hey all,

Been combing through community threads and other sites to see if there's recommended alternatives in a cashback setup for both the WF Autograph (3x on a broad set of categories + no FTF) and Citi Custom Cash (5% back on highest spend category, automatically determined).

Things That I've Found That Could Work:

WF Autograph: NFCU More Rewards, NFCU Flagship, BoA Premium Rewards (with Platinum Honors), First Tech Choice Rewards

Citi Custom Cash: mostly selectable 5% cards, such as VantageWest Signature, Elan Max Cash Preferred/USB Cash+.

What other alternate cards would yall recommend? 2 card combinations are fine. Thanks!

Re: Best Alternatives to Citi Custom Cash and WF Autograph for Cashback Setup?

cws-21 — Wed, 03 Apr 2024 20:09:47 GMT

@4-Lights wrote:
Hey all,

Been combing through community threads and other sites to see if there's recommended alternatives in a cashback setup for both the WF Autograph (3x on a broad set of categories + no FTF) and Citi Custom Cash (5% back on highest spend category, automatically determined).

Things That I've Found That Could Work:

WF Autograph: NFCU More Rewards, NFCU Flagship, BoA Premium Rewards (with Platinum Honors), First Tech Choice Rewards

Citi Custom Cash: mostly selectable 5% cards, such as VantageWest Signature, Elan Max Cash Preferred/USB Cash+.

What other alternate cards would yall recommend? 2 card combinations are fine. Thanks!

I would also consider the Redstone FCU Visa Signature, Citi Premier, Amex Blue Cash Preferred/Everyday, Capital One SavorOne, and PNC Cash Rewards.

Re: Best Alternatives to Citi Custom Cash and WF Autograph for Cashback Setup?

4-Lights — Wed, 03 Apr 2024 22:02:19 GMT

Appreciate the response!

Not interested in Citi or Wells Fargo, so the Premier is out.

PNC could be on the table, especially since they're local and 2% on everything + no FTF is solid. Curious about their cashback redemption, whether it'd need to be a PNC account or can be any external.

Venmo Visa was one I forgot about, 3% on highest spend (including Costco) followed by 2% on next highest is pretty nice; closest alternative to Custom Cash's automatic highest spend.

Heard a lot of good things about Redstone Signature, but also some hoops to jump through if outside of service area.

Re: Best Alternatives to Citi Custom Cash and WF Autograph for Cashback Setup?

creditfan — Wed, 03 Apr 2024 23:03:38 GMT

https://www.safecu.org/personal/borrow-money/credit-cards/cash-back-plus-visa-signature-credit-card

Re: Best Alternatives to Citi Custom Cash and WF Autograph for Cashback Setup?

4-Lights — Thu, 04 Apr 2024 15:04:31 GMT

Thanks for the callout on Safe CU!

Safe CU Visa looks very, very solid. Geofence seems pretty locked down, mixed reports on the Aerospace Museum of California allowing for applications out of state.

Affinity CU Signature Visa is another interesting option with some broad category coverage + cashback on bookstores. Would be curious to hear other's experiences with Affinity CU.

Re: Best Alternatives to Citi Custom Cash and WF Autograph for Cashback Setup?

Wavester64 — Thu, 04 Apr 2024 15:46:04 GMT

@creditfan wrote:
https://www.safecu.org/personal/borrow-money/credit-cards/cash-back-plus-visa-signature-credit-card

Interesting Card

Has anyone been able to get this outside of California?

Re: Best Alternatives to Citi Custom Cash and WF Autograph for Cashback Setup?

ptatohed — Thu, 04 Apr 2024 15:57:28 GMT

Langley FCU Sig CB Visa offers selectable 5% cats, monthly.

https://www.langleyfcu.org/personal-credit-cards/

Re: Best Alternatives to Citi Custom Cash and WF Autograph for Cashback Setup?

Hansolojr — Thu, 04 Apr 2024 16:32:11 GMT

I would suggest going for cards with decent category spend limits and selectable categories, like BofA CCR, Cash+.

Of the other suggestions above, Langley is best IMO. Good monthly 2k cap and selectable. Most months have dining, grocery or another high usage option as a choice. Nationwide availability and not sensitive about Chex when applying for membership.

Redstone - Easy to join via FFA, not a big hurdle. Many have gotten pre-approvals.

SAFE CU - way too sensitive about Chex. Aerospace backdoor is 50/50 at best. Cannot select categories. Overrated IMO.

VantageWest - low 1.5k spend cap. Basically Custom Cash in disguise. Strict geofence.

Affinity - easy to join but multiple nerfs in the past. First they removed the 5% rotating categories. Then they placed an 1k monthly cap on 5% categories. Feels like they reassessed the credit card strategy. Would not bother.

Re: Best Alternatives to Citi Custom Cash and WF Autograph for Cashback Setup?

4-Lights — Thu, 04 Apr 2024 21:35:24 GMT

Thanks for the detailed reply!

Langley FCU does look like a nice option for my use case, plus it's got a 5% HYSA. Is there a list of monthly categories that Langley posts, like Discover and Chase's rotators?

VantageWest does have a strict geofence but it fits for me personally. Also building a relationship there.

Didn't know Redstone had access through the Financial Fitness Association, I've looked at the FFA for other CUs but missed that one somehow. Decent savings options also.

Re: Best Alternatives to Citi Custom Cash and WF Autograph for Cashback Setup?

ptatohed — Thu, 04 Apr 2024 22:18:15 GMT

I believe @CreditCobra keeps a historical list of Langley's monthly 5% cats.

Re: Best Alternatives to Citi Custom Cash and WF Autograph for Cashback Setup?

CreditCobra — Fri, 05 Apr 2024 01:18:11 GMT

@ptatohed wrote:
I believe @CreditCobra keeps a historical list of Langley's monthly 5% cats.

I have a list of Langley FCU Cash Back Visa Signature 5% categories that goes back a bit. It's enough to give you a flavor for it. Each month, you get to select ONE of the categories they provide for that month. Hope this is helpful.

2022-04

5% Gas
5% Groceries
5% Pet Supplies

2022-05

5% Dining
5% Wholesale Clubs

2022-06

5% Electronic Stores
5% Groceries
5% Wholesale Clubs

2022-07

5% Dining
5% Gas
5% Summer Adventures

2022-08

5% Department Stores
5% Gas
5% School Supplies

2022-09

5% Drugstores
5% Groceries
5% Wholesale Clubs

2022-10

5% Dining
5% Gas
5% Home Improvement

2022-11

5% Electronic Stores
5% Groceries
5% Wholesale Clubs

2022-12

5% Department Stores
5% Gas
5% Groceries

2023-01

5% Drugstores
5% Fitness Clubs
5% Groceries

2023-02

5% Department Stores
5% Dining
5% Gas

2023-03

5% Groceries
5% Drugstores
5% Home Improvement

2023-04

5% Wholesale Clubs
5% Dining
5% Gas

2023-05

5% Wholesale Clubs
5% Dining
5% Home Improvement

2023-06

5% Gas
5% Groceries
5% Wholesale Clubs

2023-07

5% Gas, EV, Rideshare
5% Dining
5% Amusement Parks and Aquariums

2023-08

5% Streaming Services, Internet & Cable
5% School Supplies
5% Gas

2023-09

5% Streaming Services, Internet & Cable
5% Grocery
5% Department Stores

2023-10

5% Home Improvement
5% Streaming Services, Internet & Cable
5% Gas & EV Charging

2023-11

5% Streaming Services, Internet, Cable
5% Groceries & Wholesale Clubs
5% Electronic Stores

2023-12

5% Streaming Services, Internet, Cable
5% Groceries & Wholesale Clubs
5% Department Stores

2024-01

5% Groceries
5% Select Airlines
5% Drugstores

2024-02

5% Dining
5% Department Stores
5% Gas & EV Charging

2024-03

5% Groceries
5% Drugstores
5% Home Improvement

2024-04

5% Dining
5% Gas and EV
5% Home Depot and Lowes

Re: Best Alternatives to Citi Custom Cash and WF Autograph for Cashback Setup?

creditfan — Fri, 05 Apr 2024 01:24:11 GMT

@Wavester64 wrote:
@creditfan wrote:
https://www.safecu.org/personal/borrow-money/credit-cards/cash-back-plus-visa-signature-credit-card

Interesting Card

Has anyone been able to get this outside of California?

yes

https://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/Personal-Finance/Great-News-Safe-CU-anyone-can-join/m-p/6675152

just haven't had a chance to apply their card