topic Re: Lesser Known Cards That You Keep in Credit Cards

Lesser Known Cards That You Keep

TheDude — Thu, 20 Jun 2024 06:29:37 GMT

Hi there, I'm wondering if anyone on here has compiled a recent list of lesser known credit cards worth getting and/or keeping.

By lesser known, I mean excluding all the majors (American Express, Chase, Citi, Discover, Capital One, US Bank, Barclays, Wells Fargo, Bank Of America--not sure if I am missing any here).

These might be regional/smaller banks or credit unions. They tend to be lesser known, because they get little or no marketing--you might have found out about it by accident or by word of mouth. It could be a card you use a lot, or maybe not so much but it offers an occasional benefit that makes it a no-brainer to keep.

If no such list exists, I would like to hear from the folks on here what cards they currently have which fit this profile, and why they like the card.

I will go first with one of the cards I have. I have the PenFed Pathfinder Rewards Visa. I don't use it a lot, but since it has no AF, but it offers a $100 annual travel credit, and reimbursement for Global Entry. It also has Priority Pass, but I don't use it since I have other cards with better Priority Pass perks. (I understand there is an AF charged now in some cases, but I seem to be grandfathered in for no AF.)

Who wants to go next?

Re: Lesser Known Cards That You Keep

DakotaM — Thu, 20 Jun 2024 13:20:33 GMT

I have two.

First is the UMB Simply Rewards for unlimited 3% back at gas stations, grocery stores, discount stores, and restaurants. I especially like that it gets 3% on both groceries and discount stores, so I know I'll always get 3% no matter what a specific Walmart or Target decides it wants to be. I also used to get 0% balance transfer offers from them for 15 months with a 3% fee. I haven't gotten those offers recently but they seem tied to higher use of the card.

Second is the Redstone FCU Visa Signature. A relatively new card mentioned fairly regularly on here but not widely known. Lots of categories: 5% on restaurants and gas; 3% on groceries, discount stores, wholesale clubs, utilities, phone and streaming services. Each category generously has its own individual $7k per year cap. All that is on top of 1.5% back on everything else and one year extended warranty benefit. It makes a pretty strong case for being your 'everything card'.

Re: Lesser Known Cards That You Keep

ptatohed — Thu, 20 Jun 2024 17:54:42 GMT

@TheDude wrote:
Hi there, I'm wondering if anyone on here has compiled a recent list of lesser known credit cards worth getting and/or keeping.

By lesser known, I mean excluding all the majors (American Express, Chase, Citi, Discover, Capital One, US Bank, Barclays, Wells Fargo, Bank Of America--not sure if I am missing any here).

These might be regional/smaller banks or credit unions. They tend to be lesser known, because they get little or no marketing--you might have found out about it by accident or by word of mouth. It could be a card you use a lot, or maybe not so much but it offers an occasional benefit that makes it a no-brainer to keep.

If no such list exists, I would like to hear from the folks on here what cards they currently have which fit this profile, and why they like the card.

I will go first with one of the cards I have. I have the PenFed Pathfinder Rewards Visa. I don't use it a lot, but since it has no AF, but it offers a $100 annual travel credit, and reimbursement for Global Entry. It also has Priority Pass, but I don't use it since I have other cards with better Priority Pass perks. (I understand there is an AF charged now in some cases, but I seem to be grandfathered in for no AF.)

Who wants to go next?

This is a nice topic. I would suggest we open it up to the big banks and CUs too, as there might be some cards from those issuers that are lesser known. As for me, I'd say maybe my nusenda CU card. 5% rotating cats. It's helpful since they often have cats that differ from Chase or Disco.

Re: Lesser Known Cards That You Keep

30mm_goes_BRRRT — Thu, 20 Jun 2024 18:04:35 GMT

I think the USAA Cashback Rewards Plus doesn't get the love it deserves. It was my first ever CC, and gives 5% gas up to $3k spend per year.

Re: Lesser Known Cards That You Keep

Wu-Credit — Thu, 20 Jun 2024 18:09:10 GMT

My recently approved Gemini card. I like the 4% gas and 3% dining back in crypto of choice, and no FTF is sweet for traveling abroad. It's the perfect filler (along with the CCC) when Discover rotates. It's also my only metal card.

Re: Lesser Known Cards That You Keep

Anonymous — Thu, 20 Jun 2024 18:12:41 GMT

Niche use case, but Citizens mastercard. Well, it often has a good sign up, uncapped 5% on all for a few months when I got it.

It's just a 1.8% CB card, wish it was 2%, but for me it appears to do very little checking with pesky little things like billing address. So very useful on foreign web sites who don't offer US addresses as options. So long as number/exp/CVV are correct, it seems to go through, at least for me.

Which sucks for online if someone finds your card...... but I still like it!

Re: Lesser Known Cards That You Keep

fred-7388 — Thu, 20 Jun 2024 23:12:53 GMT

AAA Daily Advantage (5% groceries) or Travel (5% gas or EVs) - both with a $7k yearly cap on their 5 and 3 percent categories. It's comenity bank and they have a bad rep, but it's comparable to other cards by big banks in this cash back structure.

Re: Lesser Known Cards That You Keep

unsungivy — Fri, 21 Jun 2024 17:16:48 GMT

@Wu-Credit wrote:
My recently approved Gemini card. I like the 4% gas and 3% dining back in crypto of choice, and no FTF is sweet for traveling abroad. It's the perfect filler (along with the CCC) when Discover rotates. It's also my only metal card.

Yar, my Gemini as well. I expect it will see more use in the near future now that Curve is dead (because the physical Gemini card will moved to my wallet for sexiness).

Also Affinity FCU. I can't really "sell" it anymore since they mixed the Hi5, but 🤷‍♀️ I feel like I will find a use for it.

Re: Lesser Known Cards That You Keep

DoppelgangerD — Sat, 22 Jun 2024 04:31:05 GMT

The Kroger card and all of its sister cards are a good example IMHO.

I only recently found out about them and keep debating on having P2 open a Harris Teeter one.

I'm hesitant for myself due to opening 3 accounts already in last 3 months.

Anyway, 5% cash back on mobile wallet spending up to $500 per month, plus other smaller perks.

You could easily do any other categories not covered by other cards @5%, like your fav dept or discount store.

Just seems like a no-brainer for an easy potential $25 per month of free money.

Re: Lesser Known Cards That You Keep

Guyatthebeach — Sat, 22 Jun 2024 13:50:43 GMT

I have 3 cards that are from credit unions:

1. Redstone Signature Visa offers 5% cash back on gas and restaurants and 3% on utilities. I also like their rewards platform, because you can see the points per transaction.

2. SCSCU Platinum Visa had a 9.49% APR(it used to be 8.99 but was raised to 9.49 last year). It's great for carrying balances and 0 fee BT's.

3. SDFCU Premium Cash Back+ Signature Visa. This card offers 2% cash back with no limits. The minimum redemption is only $5.00, which is awesome in my opinion. This is the card I use for all other transactions that do t find any of my other reward cards.

Guyatthebeach

Re: Lesser Known Cards That You Keep

CreditUp26 — Sat, 22 Jun 2024 14:04:18 GMT

I'm new with both of these cards so can's speak to quality quite yet but:

1. Signature FCU with its 2% Signature Visa card - anyone can join

2. Redstone FCU with 5%/3%/1.5% Signature Visa card - anyone can join

Re: Lesser Known Cards That You Keep

NoMoreE46 — Sat, 22 Jun 2024 17:39:14 GMT

I believe my parents still have their AT&T Universe card. Citi began issuing these cards in like the 1990s.

Re: Lesser Known Cards That You Keep

Rdbeetle — Sat, 22 Jun 2024 17:52:52 GMT

Mine is my SchoolsFirst Rewards MC. It has a low interest rate and no BT or FTF fees. Downside, it's only a 1.5X card, but I keep it for padding.

Re: Lesser Known Cards That You Keep

ptatohed — Sun, 23 Jun 2024 07:23:39 GMT

@NoMoreE46 wrote:
I believe my parents still have their AT&T Universe card. Citi began issuing these cards in like the 1990s.

What does it offer?

Re: Lesser Known Cards That You Keep

ptatohed — Sun, 23 Jun 2024 07:25:30 GMT

@Rdbeetle wrote:
Mine is my SchoolsFirst Rewards MC. It has a low interest rate and no BT or FTF fees. Downside, it's only a 1.5X card, but I keep it for padding.

That is not a downside, that's a deal-breaker. Actually, a non-starter. lol

Re: Lesser Known Cards That You Keep

NoMoreE46 — Sun, 23 Jun 2024 16:25:09 GMT

No benefits IIRC - it was just a standard credit card. Back in the 90's, AT&T, the long distance land line company, was a big credit card issuer as well. Citi bought the portfolio of ~ 13 million accounts in 1997.

Re: Lesser Known Cards That You Keep

Rdbeetle — Sun, 23 Jun 2024 21:23:51 GMT

@ptatohed wrote:
@Rdbeetle wrote:
Mine is my SchoolsFirst Rewards MC. It has a low interest rate and no BT or FTF fees. Downside, it's only a 1.5X card, but I keep it for padding.
That is not a downside, that's a deal-breaker. Actually, a non-starter. lol

You're absolutely right! Lol

It was a SP approval, so I thought why not?

Re: Lesser Known Cards That You Keep

coldfusion — Mon, 24 Jun 2024 12:30:14 GMT

@Rdbeetle wrote:
@ptatohed wrote:
@Rdbeetle wrote:
Mine is my SchoolsFirst Rewards MC. It has a low interest rate and no BT or FTF fees. Downside, it's only a 1.5X card, but I keep it for padding.
That is not a downside, that's a deal-breaker. Actually, a non-starter. lol
You're absolutely right! Lol
It was a SP approval, so I thought why not?

The SP approval would appeal to some people though if there was a straightforward loophole to bypass the CU's restrictive membership requirement.

Re: Lesser Known Cards That You Keep

Anonymous — Mon, 24 Jun 2024 13:41:38 GMT

@Rdbeetle wrote:
It was a SP approval, so I thought why not?

While SP approval is better than HP, there is still a hit to AAoA (somewhat offset by increased total credit)

Re: Lesser Known Cards That You Keep

Heatt99 — Tue, 25 Jun 2024 13:25:03 GMT

Mine is: SECUMD Visa Signature

* 3x on--Travel, Dining, Amazon, iTunes

* 2x on--Gas & Groceries

Not the best on categories, but a lesser known fact about this CU and card Services:

* you can double dip on 1 HP

* you request your inital limit all the way up to 30k, they will counter

* you can pull entire limit in cash off card

I use it as a limit buffer.