topic Re: Shop Your Way 5321 Visa vs. AAA Travel Advantage Visa in Credit Cards

Shop Your Way 5321 Visa vs. AAA Travel Advantage Visa

portlandmusician — Tue, 04 Nov 2025 03:54:03 GMT

It seems the new Shop Your Way 5321 Visa (First Bank & Trust) coming soon is very similar to the AAA Travel Advantage Visa (Comenity Bank). But, if you had to choose which one to get, which one would it be? I've been looking at the AAA Travel Advantage Visa for 5% gas back for some time, but haven't pulled the trigger - yet. But, now I may wait and get the Shop Your Way 5321 Visa. Though, I don't know anything about First Bank & Trust, and am familiar with Comenity. But do you go with the devil you know or...? Thoughts?

Looking at First Bank & Trust, I'm automatically turned off by their Visa Signature Rewards card, which has a $49 annual fee for only 1.25 points per $1 spent and a laughable 4,000 bonus rewards points each calendar year for a $20,000 spend. Seems like a joke. But, to even get this card, applicants must have a minimum of $150k in annual gross income OR a net worth of at least $1 million. I'd rather use the Capital One Quicksilver card. But, I digress...

Let's compare the new First Bank & Trust-backed Shop Your Way 5321 Visa vs. Comenity Bank's AAA Travel Advantage Visa, both with no annual fee - and you guys tell me which one (and why) you'd choose. Help me make my final decision for this 5% gas cash-back card.

OK, the forthcoming Shop Your Way 5321 Visa:

-5% back in Points - Gas, EV Charging, Rideshare & more

-3% back in Points - Grocery, Dining & Travel purchases

-2% back in Points - Shop Your Way® Partner purchases

-1% back in Points - Online and Everywhere Else

- NO FTF - ?

- NO Sub - ?

https://www.shopyourway.com/teaser

vs.

AAA Travel Advantage Visa

5% Cash Back on Gas & Electric Vehicle-charging stations.

3% Cash Back on Grocery Store, Restaurants, Travel, and AAA purchases.

1% Cash Back on all other purchases.

$100 statement credit when you spend $1,000 within the first 90 days of account opening.

No Foreign Transaction Fees.

https://oregon.aaa.com/financial/more-products/aaa-visa-credit-card.html?dl=creditcard&zip=97124&devicecd=PC&clientName=advantage&workflow=phoneLookup&channel=U&subChannel=R&cmp=ol%3Ans%3Aca%3Abreadaccountcenter

OK, which one do you think is the better overall card, and why?

Let's discuss...

Re: Shop Your Way 5321 Visa vs. AAA Travel Advantage Visa

Vinjints — Tue, 04 Nov 2025 04:29:16 GMT

You can only have one AAA card, so if you get the daily, then you could also get the SYW to cover the gas. If you opt for the AAA travel, you don't get the grocery card. Also the new SYW card claims to have the bonus spend offers as well.

Re: Shop Your Way 5321 Visa vs. AAA Travel Advantage Visa

portlandmusician — Tue, 04 Nov 2025 04:52:45 GMT

@Vinjints True on that (can only have one card). Good point.

Also, I should have noted above, the AAA cards have a $350 max cash-back per year for the 5% category.

And, you're right, the SYW card claims to have the spend offers, too...

Good points. Thank you.

Re: Shop Your Way 5321 Visa vs. AAA Travel Advantage Visa

IcyCool7227 — Tue, 04 Nov 2025 08:42:13 GMT

First Bank & Trust is the same company that handles my Mercury Rewards Visa card. They have really friendly, polite service (better than Citi's) that doesn't seem to be outsourced. I never have to wait very long to be connected to a rep but really the one minor thing they won't budge on with that card at least, is waiving any interest charges even as a one time exception or lowering the APR (haven't asked in awhile on the APR so that may have changed). I can say from over 2 years past experience that I would recommend them even with that caveat. They pull TU only. Like Citi and Synchrony they also take direct debit card payments. According to Nerdwallet here the new applications will be available Nov. 14th but I think I'd like to wait in my Mexicana garden until I see some reviews confirming that there are bonus offers once that card goes out.

We're the opposite. I don't have any experience with Comenity Bank!

https://www.nerdwallet.com/credit-cards/news/shop-your-way-credit-card-gets-makeover

Re: Shop Your Way 5321 Visa vs. AAA Travel Advantage Visa

portlandmusician — Tue, 04 Nov 2025 08:46:02 GMT

@IcyCool7227 Thanks for the info on the bank. Good to know they're friendly and helpful. And, also, thanks for the info on the application date. I don't want to be a guinea pig, either. I'm sure others will get it right out-of-the-gate and let us know about any targeted or special offers that come with it. Though, from what I've read, the offers were Citi, not Shop Your Way, so this new card may not get the same special offers that people are clamoring for. We shall see.

Also, I found out there will be a 3% FTF: https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/assets.syw.com/TnA/ADSYWB11032025.pdf

And, for redemption on statement credit, there is a low minimum: Statement Credit: A minimum of 5,000 points ($5) is required to redeem toward statement credit. 5321 Visa Credit Card account must be open and in good standing. Credits post within 10 business days and reduce your balance, but do not count as payments. You must still make your minimum monthly payment. Redemptions are final. Terms apply. See Point Redemption details at www.shopyourway.com/terms

Re: Shop Your Way 5321 Visa vs. AAA Travel Advantage Visa

unsungivy — Tue, 04 Nov 2025 15:20:19 GMT

@portlandmusician wrote:
It seems the new Shop Your Way 5321 Visa (First Bank & Trust) coming soon is very similar to the AAA Travel Advantage Visa (Comenity Bank). But, if you had to choose which one to get, which one would it be? I've been looking at the AAA Travel Advantage Visa for 5% gas back for some time, but haven't pulled the trigger - yet. But, now I may wait and get the Shop Your Way 5321 Visa. Though, I don't know anything about First Bank & Trust, and am familiar with Comenity. But do you go with the devil you know or...? Thoughts?

Looking at First Bank & Trust, I'm automatically turned off by their Visa Signature Rewards card, which has a $49 annual fee for only 1.25 points per $1 spent and a laughable 4,000 bonus rewards points each calendar year for a $20,000 spend. Seems like a joke. But, to even get this card, applicants must have a minimum of $150k in annual gross income OR a net worth of at least $1 million. I'd rather use the Capital One Quicksilver card. But, I digress...

Let's compare the new First Bank & Trust-backed Shop Your Way 5321 Visa vs. Comenity Bank's AAA Travel Advantage Visa, both with no annual fee - and you guys tell me which one (and why) you'd choose. Help me make my final decision for this 5% gas cash-back card.

OK, the forthcoming Shop Your Way 5321 Visa:

-5% back in Points - Gas, EV Charging, Rideshare & more
-3% back in Points - Grocery, Dining & Travel purchases
-2% back in Points - Shop Your Way® Partner purchases
-1% back in Points - Online and Everywhere Else
- NO FTF - ?
- NO Sub - ?
https://www.shopyourway.com/teaser

vs.

AAA Travel Advantage Visa

5% Cash Back on Gas & Electric Vehicle-charging stations.
3% Cash Back on Grocery Store, Restaurants, Travel, and AAA purchases.
1% Cash Back on all other purchases.
$100 statement credit when you spend $1,000 within the first 90 days of account opening.
No Foreign Transaction Fees.
https://oregon.aaa.com/financial/more-products/aaa-visa-credit-card.html?dl=creditcard&zip=97124&devicecd=PC&clientName=advantage&workflow=phoneLookup&channel=U&subChannel=R&cmp=ol%3Ans%3Aca%3Abreadaccountcenter

OK, which one do you think is the better overall card, and why?

Let's discuss...

Between the two I'd go with the new SYW version... but barely. The 5% will include other Transit purchases, which includes parking and tolls... and weirdly car washes. EZ-pass can be a signifigant ongoing monthly expense, at least where I live. But the SYW will also have a FTF, and the AAA will not. So, depending on what you value that may be a breaking point... for me that would indeed make it a close call.

I don't know the redemption options for the AAA, but the new SYW will allow statement credits in addition to the previous gift card options, so that's a nice upgrade.

We don't know about a SUB for the new SYW card yet because they haven't actually launched it... it's just "announced" for a few weeks from now.

As pointed out, the cap for the SYW's Gas category will be higher at $500/year cashback max as opposed to $350. But that's a TON of gas to a degree that I doubt a cap will affect most users.

Re: Shop Your Way 5321 Visa vs. AAA Travel Advantage Visa

bs1234 — Tue, 04 Nov 2025 16:16:36 GMT

@portlandmusician wrote:
And, for redemption on statement credit, there is a low minimum: Statement Credit: A minimum of 5,000 points ($5) is required to redeem toward statement credit.

Isn't 5,000 points $50?

Re: Shop Your Way 5321 Visa vs. AAA Travel Advantage Visa

ptatohed — Tue, 04 Nov 2025 16:27:37 GMT

I think post #1 should be more clear that the 5321 is not true cash back. I'm pretty sure it is SYW points (redeemable for gift cards). Correct me if I am wrong.

Which essentially makes it a 4.75/2.85/1.9/.95 card.

Re: Shop Your Way 5321 Visa vs. AAA Travel Advantage Visa

Vinjints — Tue, 04 Nov 2025 16:35:21 GMT

Their teaser says it goes beyond gift cards with new options like statement credits and more in 2026. Statement credits are as good as cash back in my book.

Re: Shop Your Way 5321 Visa vs. AAA Travel Advantage Visa

ptatohed — Tue, 04 Nov 2025 16:58:29 GMT

@Vinjints wrote:
Their teaser says it goes beyond gift cards with new options like statement credits and more in 2026. Statement credits are as good as cash back in my book.

10-4!!!

(as long as it's 1:1)

Re: Shop Your Way 5321 Visa vs. AAA Travel Advantage Visa

portlandmusician — Tue, 04 Nov 2025 20:13:00 GMT

@bs1234 Regarding point redemption, yes, you'd think 5,000 was $50, but I copy and pasted that direclty from here without even thinking (or doing math): https://www.shopyourway.com/teaser

"Statement Credit: A minimum of 5,000 points ($5) is required to redeem toward statement credit. 5321 Visa Credit Card account must be open and in good standing. Credits post within 10 business days and reduce your balance, but do not count as payments. You must still make your minimum monthly payment. Redemptions are final. Terms apply. See Point Redemption details at www.shopyourway.com/terms."

If that is true, it's not 1:1, but everything else - for statement credit - I've read is 1:1 for statement credit. Maybe that's a typo?

Re: Shop Your Way 5321 Visa vs. AAA Travel Advantage Visa

portlandmusician — Tue, 04 Nov 2025 20:17:27 GMT

@ptatohed If you look at the "Your earning calculator - See how quickly it adds up" at https://www.shopyourway.com/teaser it equates to 1:1.

Example: Monthly gas, EV charging, transit, rideshare and more spending (Expanded!) - $475

Earn 5% back = $285 back in Points/year

That's $5700 in yearly spending at 5%, with a yearly return of $285, so 1:1.

However, as someone pointed out, later on that link, it says "Statement Credit: A minimum of 5,000 points ($5) is required to redeem toward statement credit. 5321 Visa Credit Card account must be open and in good standing. Credits post within 10 business days and reduce your balance, but do not count as payments. You must still make your minimum monthly payment. Redemptions are final. Terms apply. See Point Redemption details at www.shopyourway.com/terms."

So, one side has to be a typo: either 500 points minimum for redemption or $50 needed to redeem for statement credit, if it's truly 1:1.

Re: Shop Your Way 5321 Visa vs. AAA Travel Advantage Visa

portlandmusician — Tue, 04 Nov 2025 20:24:31 GMT

@unsungivy True on not knowing yet on a SUB for the 5321 Visa, since it hasn't launched yet. We shall see. Also, I didn't see the $500 cap on the 5% category (as compared to $350 cash back on the AAA card), but yeah, that's pretty high for personal use, so not that much of a drawback.

As for redeeming for statement credit with the AAA, yes, you can. You can then redeem Cash Back for Statement Credit, Cash Back as Direct Deposit, catalog merchandise, gift cards, or through select AAA channels. There is a $5.00 minimum redemption on the AAA for cash back and statement credit: https://d.comenity.net/advantage/common/Legal/RewardsTermsAndConditionsDisclosure.xhtml

Good point on the expanded 5% travel category on the 5321 card.

Agreed on the FTF on the 5321 card vs no FTF on the AAA Travel card.

Tough call, but thanks for your input. I do appreciate it. I guess we shall see.

Re: Shop Your Way 5321 Visa vs. AAA Travel Advantage Visa

ptatohed — Tue, 04 Nov 2025 22:28:51 GMT

@portlandmusician wrote:
@ptatohed If you look at the "Your earning calculator - See how quickly it adds up" at https://www.shopyourway.com/teaser it equates to 1:1.

Example: Monthly gas, EV charging, transit, rideshare and more spending (Expanded!) - $475
Earn 5% back = $285 back in Points/year
That's $5700 in yearly spending at 5%, with a yearly return of $285, so 1:1.

However, as someone pointed out, later on that link, it says "Statement Credit: A minimum of 5,000 points ($5) is required to redeem toward statement credit. 5321 Visa Credit Card account must be open and in good standing. Credits post within 10 business days and reduce your balance, but do not count as payments. You must still make your minimum monthly payment. Redemptions are final. Terms apply. See Point Redemption details at www.shopyourway.com/terms."

So, one side has to be a typo: either 500 points minimum for redemption or $50 needed to redeem for statement credit, if it's truly 1:1.

port,

SYW has always had that annoying extra zero. So, 5,000 SYW points is $5.

Re: Shop Your Way 5321 Visa vs. AAA Travel Advantage Visa

portlandmusician — Tue, 04 Nov 2025 22:57:59 GMT

@ptatohed Ah, good to know! I didn't pay it much attention until @bs1234 pointed it out and it made me go, "hmm..." But, thanks for the correction and letting us know it is correct, if still weird.

Still on the fence which one I'll get, AAA Travel or 5321, but we'll see how people react to it when its launched. No hurry needed here...