topic Re: Abound vs AAA in Credit Cards

Abound vs AAA

Varsity_Lu — Thu, 24 Apr 2025 21:47:35 GMT

I would like a little info on a couple of cards if anyone has these and could share.

The first is the Abound Platinum which gives 5% back on gas. My question is who can get this card? The CU indicates you have to be a KY resident (or various other things that I don't qualify for) to become a member, but can non-members get this credit card?

The other is the AAA Travel Advantage Visa, also a 5% gas card. I think I would be in the Comenity zone. Not sure about them. I know there are wierd issues with redeeming rewards, but other than that, has anyone had issues with the card itself? The bank lowering limits? The card not working? etc.

Re: Abound vs AAA

FicoMike0 — Thu, 24 Apr 2025 22:12:52 GMT

Looks like you can join through affiliated groups,

https://newmemberacct.aboundcu.com/(S(l4rtaecpuqkpkoie4t4b4ogs))/default.aspx

Re: Abound vs AAA

Varsity_Lu — Fri, 25 Apr 2025 00:00:09 GMT

@FicoMike0

That link takes me to the application site. Was it supposed to be a list or something?

Re: Abound vs AAA

AndySoCal — Fri, 25 Apr 2025 00:34:55 GMT

You need to be a member to get the credit card. Something that might be closer to what closer is the PenFed Platinum Rewards Card

https://www.penfed.org/credit-cards

what the points to dollar ratio is when you redeem them . I am not sure of.

Re: Abound vs AAA

Varsity_Lu — Fri, 25 Apr 2025 00:58:01 GMT

PenFed is 5x which works out to 4.25% based on the .85 CPP conversation. The AAA Travelers Advantage card has a lot of other great 3% categories along with the 5% gas, so that card is appealing. But...it's Comenity Bank. Yeah. That's what I'm trying to find out about.

Re: Abound vs AAA

Follower — Fri, 25 Apr 2025 13:45:11 GMT

I have the similar AAA Daily Advantage card, with the 5% going to groceries not gas. I've never had an issue with rewards posting or redeeming them as a statement credit, which is the only way to redeem them that doesn't require a phonce call to Comenity. I've never tried to ask for a CLI because I'm happy with my initial limit, but they do offer the option on their portal.

The first time I used the card at a supermarket, I was prompted to verify my phone number on the checkout's POS screen, and the charge went through. I've never had an issue with any other grocery or gas purchase since then. I don't use the card for its 1% "everything else" rewards.

For a while they did not offer an app, which was the source of some disapproval here, but the app's been out for a while now.

Note that their website will hit you wth a request to sign up for their Account Assure Pro bill payment insurance nearly every time you log in.

(This is my first post, but I've been lurking for a long time.)

Re: Abound vs AAA

Varsity_Lu — Fri, 25 Apr 2025 14:20:08 GMT

@Follower

Hey, welcome to MF! Thanks for the info.

So, this insurance...it's a product they sell and is optional? You just have to click "no thanks" or something like that to get past the pop up?

Re: Abound vs AAA

FicoMike0 — Fri, 25 Apr 2025 14:23:16 GMT

@Varsity_Lu

If you click proceed, it offers membership by joining a military support group for $10.

Re: Abound vs AAA

Follower — Fri, 25 Apr 2025 14:33:25 GMT

It's the "we'll pay your minimum payments if you lose your job or other life event, for an additional monthly charge" feature that some cards offer. Yes, you have to click a decline button. The iOS (and presumably Andropid) app doesn't do this.

Re: Abound vs AAA

Follower — Fri, 25 Apr 2025 14:36:08 GMT

@Varsity_Lu wrote:
@Follower

So, this insurance...it's a product they sell and is optional? You just have to click "no thanks" or something like that to get past the pop up?

It's the "we'll pay your minimum payments if you lose your job or have another life event, for an additional monthly charge" feature that some cards offer. Yes, you have to click a decline button every time.

Their iOS (and presumably Android) app doesn't do this.

Re: Abound vs AAA

SouthJamaica — Fri, 25 Apr 2025 17:29:41 GMT

@Varsity_Lu wrote:
I would like a little info on a couple of cards if anyone has these and could share.

The first is the Abound Platinum which gives 5% back on gas. My question is who can get this card? The CU indicates you have to be a KY resident (or various other things that I don't qualify for) to become a member, but can non-members get this credit card?

The other is the AAA Travel Advantage Visa, also a 5% gas card. I think I would be in the Comenity zone. Not sure about them. I know there are wierd issues with redeeming rewards, but other than that, has anyone had issues with the card itself? The bank lowering limits? The card not working? etc.

I have the AAA Travel Advantage card, find it very useful.

The downside:

1. Redeeming the rewards has 2 limitations but they're not a big deal: (a) I can only do it by statement credit rather than cash deposit, and (b) you can't get the statement credit if your statement had a zero balance.

2. Recently, although my handling of the account -- as with all of my accounts -- has been perfect, with no negatives ever anywhere, they raised my APR to an astronomical 32.49%. (I'm not sure but I think it's adverse action related to my high utilization). Needless to say, if you pay in full each month, the APR is not a big issue.

Re: Abound vs AAA

Varsity_Lu — Fri, 25 Apr 2025 17:56:39 GMT

Thanks @SouthJamaica

Yeah, I alway PIF, so I could care less about the rate. I have never paid a dime of credit card interest and treat every purchas as a cash purchase.

The AAA card seems more useful thant the Abound, but I am just leary about starting up with Comenity Bank. I guess I have my BCE as a backup, so even if they get weird on me, I can still get a decent cash back amount from my AmEx card. The redeeming thing is ok with me, too, since I always apply my cash back to my balance anyway. I'll would just make this card one of my monthly reporting cards.

Re: Abound vs AAA

Anonymous — Fri, 25 Apr 2025 21:44:39 GMT

@SouthJamaica wrote:
I have the AAA Travel Advantage card, find it very useful.

The downside:

1. Redeeming the rewards has 2 limitations but they're not a big deal: (a) I can only do it by statement credit rather than cash deposit, and (b) you can't get the statement credit if your statement had a zero balance.

2. Recently, although my handling of the account -- as with all of my accounts -- has been perfect, with no negatives ever anywhere, they raised my APR to an astronomical 32.49%. (I'm not sure but I think it's adverse action related to my high utilization). Needless to say, if you pay in full each month, the APR is not a big issue.

@SouthJamaica

I was going to ask you about statement balance vs current balance on the AAA, but I searched first and found you effectively answered this question before and the answer is only statement balance.

https://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/Credit-Cards/Limited-redemption-options-on-Comenity-AAA-card/td-p/6681177

Re: Abound vs AAA

PullingMeSoftly — Fri, 25 Apr 2025 22:23:54 GMT

@Varsity_Lu, a couple pros/cons of Abound:

Pro's

Auto-redemption of cash back as end of billing cycle statement credit, similar to AOD.
No spend cap, so great for someone in transportation who will will be doing massive amounts of gas spending
Easy out-of-geo cu membership

Con's

Out-of-state applicants limited to $2000 starting credit limit
No other multipliers other than base 1x, a one-trick pony gas card