topic Re: What cards to round out my wallet? in Credit Cards

What cards to round out my wallet?

JustKeepSwmng — Sun, 16 Nov 2025 02:17:02 GMT

I'm setting up a new auto loan in the coming days after my car got totaled a few weeks ago and figured before it hits my reports it would be a good time for an app spree for some cards. Auto loan I am applying Navy, BOA (long term customer) and dealer FS and going for an EV, and I have free charging. Scores will be all 740-780 FICO

Hoping for help picking 1-3 cards.

Here is what I already:

Amex Gold NPSL

Amex BCP $6k

BOA UR $1.5k

BOA Platinum MC $3k

Cap 1 Platinum $6.8k

Cap 1 Quicksilver $4k

Apple $7.5k

Highest spend is groceries hands down. Have a lot of streaming not currently covered by any category. Have a lot of upcoming travel in the next 8 months (international and domestic, hotel stays). United Hub, and mostly Star Alliance for the intl flights.. currently the cost of those trips are about $15k-20k and I have no real travel card to maximize benefits. Note that then will not be able to travel more than 2x a year from 2027-2028 due to work restrictions. So I don't know if that matters for a high AF travel card.

Cards I'm looking at:

- Amex Platinum addtl card vs upgrading my gold, they are only offering 50k SUBS for upgrade.
- Navy Flagship

- CITI Strata/Premier

- CITI CCR

- BOA CCR

- United Explorer

Any others that fit better?

Re: What cards to round out my wallet?

ptatohed — Sun, 16 Nov 2025 02:29:07 GMT

Do you prefer Cash Back or Miles/Points?

Re: What cards to round out my wallet?

JustKeepSwmng — Sun, 16 Nov 2025 03:24:21 GMT

With the short term travel, then a lull for two years was open to thoughts on whether miles would be worth it. I think cash back would be better given the rest of spend categories and more immediate nature of the benefit. But open to thoughts.

Re: What cards to round out my wallet?

ElvisCaprice — Sun, 16 Nov 2025 03:45:59 GMT

@JustKeepSwmng wrote:
With the short term travel, then a lull for two years was open to thoughts on whether miles would be worth it. I think cash back would be better given the rest of spend categories and more immediate nature of the benefit. But open to thoughts.

If you don't know by now, travel points over cash back, then I would say cash back is your best option. There is just far too many variables and dedication to make travel points work, sounds like it's not your cup of tea for optimization.

If I were you, I would get laser focused on cash back with BofA. I see you already have two of their CC's. If you have the investment to move, 100k, your good to go for one of the best available cash back setups with BofA/Merrill. There are tons of posts on how to set this all up. And with the Custom Cash Rewards CC's you could be getting 5.25% cash back on most of your spend.

Re: What cards to round out my wallet?

Vinjints — Sun, 16 Nov 2025 03:43:00 GMT

It looks like food is covered between the BCP and Gold. With the non-covered streaming, does that not count on the BCP? Considering your two BOA cards, if you have PH I would definitely look at the CCR.

It doesn't look like you have a 2% catch all. What are your other high spend categories?

I don't know how Navy would feel about getting an auto loan with them and then immediately adding a CC.

Re: What cards to round out my wallet?

JustKeepSwmng — Sun, 16 Nov 2025 04:01:25 GMT

I played the points game with my ex P2 w his Amex Platinum and United cards, and it was worth it for travel redemption... but priority then was 5 star hotels in European destinations etc and easy to maximize benefits w Amex travel MR system+ United points.

Now travel is mostly work, or with a bunch of kids and the 5 star trip and first class seats isn't a priority because I'm travelling w 3-4 kids usually 🙃

I am a deal hunter though, so was looking to be convinced. But yes, as you said it's a lot of work and I have less time to manage it than I used to.

I have a current BOA offer in my portal for 6% (3+3) on the CCR, which then drops to 5% after a year. And yes I have the PR bump. I'll search for the BOA set up. I just joined Navy and was wondering if I should look into to moving everything over there, I've been annoyed with the low SL w BOA compared to the PR level and 15 year relationship w them.

Re: What cards to round out my wallet?

JustKeepSwmng — Sun, 16 Nov 2025 04:10:35 GMT

Yes I'll look into BOA CCR especially with the 6% offer right now.

Most of my streaming is in a bundle w Verizon, which isn't covered w BCP. I'm running the numbers on that discount vs making individual subscriptions and then putting on a card.

The only way I use a catch all 2% is through Apple Pay on my shopping (clothes, electronics, skincare, lifestyle, gifts bla bla). Which would be my second spend. I also use my BOA debit PR offers a lot for random brands/stores like Nike/Adidas etc where I get anywhere from 5-10 CB offers. I pay kid's tuition/club sports, w my Apple 1%, BOA 1.5% or the Gold MR.

Re: What cards to round out my wallet?

FicoMike0 — Sun, 16 Nov 2025 04:39:25 GMT

The two travel cards I have are navy flagship, $49 af and usb connect, 0 af. Flagship pays 3x on travel, connect pays 4x. Both cash out at $.01/ point. Connect is a pretty easy winner. I still keep the flagship because it pays for prime. Flagship also pays 2x on everything as a catchall.

I'd also suggest the aven 3% on everything, up to $10000, as a catchall. Make sure you get the 3% and not their 2% heloc card.

Re: What cards to round out my wallet?

aplast — Sun, 16 Nov 2025 18:24:03 GMT

I think the Venture X would serve you well for a couple years. 2x catch all, and a good current sign up bonus. You could take a look at things in the future if your travel slows down.

Re: What cards to round out my wallet?

JustKeepSwmng — Mon, 17 Nov 2025 00:02:14 GMT

Oh good tip. For some reason didn't look at the Venture at all. I should be okay with Cap 1 two low level cards and get an additional, or can you PC/upgrade with them?

Re: What cards to round out my wallet?

aplast — Mon, 17 Nov 2025 00:01:16 GMT

@JustKeepSwmng wrote:

Oh goo dtip, some reason didn't look at the Venture at all. I should be okay with Cap 1 two low level cards and get an additional, or can you PC/upgrade with them?

You should be able to apply for a third card and you can use some un allocated credit from one of your non-used cap1 cards to transfer to the VX. And then close the old card with 500 limit. maximize the new credit line and move on down the road.

Re: What cards to round out my wallet?

JustKeepSwmng — Mon, 17 Nov 2025 03:05:43 GMT

Okay so after obsessing over my spreadsheet today.. I'm am thinking this is my game plan. Please share your thoughts/feedback

Step 1. Upgrade Amex Gold for Platinum

>>Pros: SP, 50k SUB for $2k spend, no prob will be booking all my flights for next 6 months. I went through the coupon book for things I already pay for and I would utilize $2500 of the available credits. So worth the AF and more.

Step 2. Apply Amex Marriott Bonvoy Bevy: (same day) it's in my portal offers, so likely successful

>>Pros: 85k SUB, $4k spend, Gold Status. I have a $6k Bonvoy hotel reservation that I need to pre-pay soon but didn't have a good reward card for yet. The entire hotel is sold out for this event, 8 months in advance, so I cannot go through Amex Travel center to re-book this w the Platinum (not any other travel center). Will then book all hotel for upcoming trips through ATC and focus on Bonvoy properties (my preference anyway).

Step 3. Cask back card. My top choices are

BOA CCR: replace my dining, online shopping vs. USB Cash+: utilities, cell phone, and groceries/charging

^both are app/inquiry sensitive from what I am reading here... should this actually be step 1? This is less urgent need, should I wait a few months?

Re: What cards to round out my wallet?

ptatohed — Mon, 17 Nov 2025 04:34:16 GMT

Wait, you are paying $6k for a hotel stay?

Re: What cards to round out my wallet?

JustKeepSwmng — Mon, 17 Nov 2025 05:35:07 GMT

@ptatohed wrote:
Wait, you are paying $6k for a hotel stay?

Yes...I know. This is a unique cultural event in a place where ALL the hotels and every nearby Airbnb/rental is booked 8-10 months in advance, and the price gets inflated due to the demand. I barely got in at 8 months ahead...but it's worth it lol

I go every few years, no regrets haha

Re: What cards to round out my wallet?

unsungivy — Mon, 17 Nov 2025 14:52:03 GMT

@JustKeepSwmng wrote:
Okay so after obsessing over my spreadsheet today.. I'm am thinking this is my game plan. Please share your thoughts/feedback

Step 1. Upgrade Amex Gold for Platinum
>>Pros: SP, 50k SUB for $2k spend, no prob will be booking all my flights for next 6 months. I went through the coupon book for things I already pay for and I would utilize $2500 of the available credits. So worth the AF and more.

Step 2. Apply Amex Marriott Bonvoy Bevy: (same day) it's in my portal offers, so likely successful
>>Pros: 85k SUB, $4k spend, Gold Status. I have a $6k Bonvoy hotel reservation that I need to pre-pay soon but didn't have a good reward card for yet. The entire hotel is sold out for this event, 8 months in advance, so I cannot go through Amex Travel center to re-book this w the Platinum (not any other travel center). Will then book all hotel for upcoming trips through ATC and focus on Bonvoy properties (my preference anyway).

Step 3. Cask back card. My top choices are
BOA CCR: replace my dining, online shopping vs. USB Cash+: utilities, cell phone, and groceries/charging

^both are app/inquiry sensitive from what I am reading here... should this actually be step 1? This is less urgent need, should I wait a few months?

Actually, doing AmEx first is correct. Because you already are "in" with AmEx, there should be no hard pull... which means anything else you app for before a "new account" hits your report won't see them as a factor. On my "app day" I always do AmEx first and anything else immediately after. You may, instead, need to time things out more carefully since I'm not sure how AmEx feels about two cards on the same day (although they do limit you to 2/90). So maybe 48 hours apart on the AmEx (assuming they approve the first one), and the other card the same day as the second AmEx app.

While I don't agree with @ElvisCaprice on the way he hits it & quits it for SUBs, he's always right about highly recommending the BofA CCRs. I think you should grab one of them for Online Shopping (which also includes Cable, Internet, Phone Plans, and Streaming as part of the same category). Especially since you're getting the PR status boost. If you're at the full 75% this should be a no brainer! And I think you are since you mentioned the rates dropping to 5% after a year. The SUB is adding 3% I think, so you'd actually be getting 8.25% for the first year! (Subject to quarterly caps.)

Although the Cash+ and the CCR both include Groceries at 2% (3.5% with status for the CCR, on the Cash+ it's one of your selectable non-5% categories), it's better to pick up the PayPal debit card to use for that (although you have the BCP atm, so I'm not sure why you are thinking about Groceries as one of the Cash+ choices). I won't go into detail here, but it's no pull and no fee... just open the PayPal app on your phone and find where it says to send you your physical one.

As an alternative to US Bank (which yes, can be restrictive to join) consider finding an Elan Max Cash Preferred through a smaller bank or credit union of your choice that is partnered with them. The MCPs are like the Cash+, but arguably "better" and easier to get. Both have Utilities as available categories, which would be your main interest, but among other benefits the MCP will rollover your categories between quarters while the Cash+ needs you to activate them each time. As well, the Cash+ is Visa only while you can find MasterCard MCPs... and some Utility companies only accept MasterCard (I'm not sure why).

Finally... are you using that BofA Platinum for anything, or is it a leftover card from earlier usage? See if you can product change it into something useful, like another CCR (if you get a new one, and product change the old card, you can have Dining covered as well).

Same with seeing about changing your Cap1 Platinum into anything else... Venture X was tossed around but you may not be able to jump to that directly. Take ANY product change you can do on that (often only a QS) and down the road that should allow other options for a two-step change (or possibly your current QS can make the jump while your old Platinum becomes your new QS).

Re: What cards to round out my wallet?

JustKeepSwmng — Mon, 17 Nov 2025 15:00:06 GMT

@unsungivy wrote:
@JustKeepSwmng wrote:
Okay so after obsessing over my spreadsheet today.. I'm am thinking this is my game plan. Please share your thoughts/feedback

Step 1. Upgrade Amex Gold for Platinum
>>Pros: SP, 50k SUB for $2k spend, no prob will be booking all my flights for next 6 months. I went through the coupon book for things I already pay for and I would utilize $2500 of the available credits. So worth the AF and more.

Step 2. Apply Amex Marriott Bonvoy Bevy: (same day) it's in my portal offers, so likely successful
>>Pros: 85k SUB, $4k spend, Gold Status. I have a $6k Bonvoy hotel reservation that I need to pre-pay soon but didn't have a good reward card for yet. The entire hotel is sold out for this event, 8 months in advance, so I cannot go through Amex Travel center to re-book this w the Platinum (not any other travel center). Will then book all hotel for upcoming trips through ATC and focus on Bonvoy properties (my preference anyway).

Step 3. Cask back card. My top choices are
BOA CCR: replace my dining, online shopping vs. USB Cash+: utilities, cell phone, and groceries/charging

^both are app/inquiry sensitive from what I am reading here... should this actually be step 1? This is less urgent need, should I wait a few months?
Actually, doing AmEx first is correct. Because you already are "in" with AmEx, there should be no hard pull... which means anything else you app for before a "new account" hits your report won't see them as a factor. On my "app day" I always do AmEx first and anything else immediately after. You may, instead, need to time things out more carefully since I'm not sure how AmEx feels about two cards on the same day (although they do limit you to 2/90). So maybe 48 hours apart on the AmEx (assuming they approve the first one), and the other card the same day as the second AmEx app.

I saw many posts with people saying they got both on the same day (2 charges or 1 charge and 1 credit, mostly), and I think back in the day I got both my BCP and Gold on the same day... but not sure.

While I don't agree with @ElvisCaprice on the way he hits it & quits it for SUBs, he's always right about highly recommending the BofA CCRs. I think you should grab one of them for Online Shopping (which also includes Cable, Internet, Phone Plans, and Streaming as part of the same category). Especially since you're getting the PR status boost. If you're at the full 75% this should be a no brainer! And I think you are since you mentioned the rates dropping to 5% after a year. The SUB is adding 3% I think, so you'd actually be getting 8.25% for the first year! (Subject to quarterly caps.)

I didn't realize all of those were in the same category. When reading the fine print they listed all categories in series so I thought they were separate. That definitely makes the BOA CCR the obvious choice.
Although the Cash+ and the CCR both include Groceries at 2% (3.5% with status for the CCR, on the Cash+ it's one of your selectable non-5% categories), it's better to pick up the PayPal debit card to use for that (although you have the BCP atm, so I'm not sure why you are thinking about Groceries as one of the Cash+ choices). I won't go into detail here, but it's no pull and no fee... just open the PayPal app on your phone and find where it says to send you your physical one.

I was just throwing in the extra 2% grocery as a benefit because I don't have anything else needed in their 2% categories.
I don't use Papal and didn't know about this hack. Will look into it.
As an alternative to US Bank (which yes, can be restrictive to join) consider finding an Elan Max Cash Preferred through a smaller bank or credit union of your choice that is partnered with them. The MCPs are like the Cash+, but arguably "better" and easier to get. Both have Utilities as available categories, which would be your main interest, but among other benefits the MCP will rollover your categories between quarters while the Cash+ needs you to activate them each time. As well, the Cash+ is Visa only while you can find MasterCard MCPs... and some Utility companies only accept MasterCard (I'm not sure why).

Great points. I'll do the BOA CCR first and see if I can find a MCP that pulls a different burea or something. BOA and USB could overlap on TU, so I didn't want to try both of those at the same time.

Finally... are you using that BofA Platinum for anything, or is it a leftover card from earlier usage? See if you can product change it into something useful, like another CCR (if you get a new one, and product change the old card, you can have Dining covered as well).

Same with seeing about changing your Cap1 Platinum into anything else... Venture X was tossed around but you may not be able to jump to that directly. Take ANY product change you can do on that (often only a QS) and down the road that should allow other options for a two-step change (or possibly your current QS can make the jump while your old Platinum becomes your new QS).

Yes I've had those a long time and don't use for anything specific. And admittedly just forgot about asking for CLI or PC for years. Cap1 did them spontaneously here and there, those were $1k cards and I never asked for a CLI. I had some financial trauma with my ex P2, so I moved my focus to cash only and debt elimination. Now I'm trying to get back into credit optimization now that I am settled and comfortable.

I believe Cap1 and BOA could hard pull for PC. But I'll look into it more and plan it for Step 4, 5... etc. along with asking for CLI on a regimented schedule.

Re: What cards to round out my wallet?

JustKeepSwmng — Mon, 17 Nov 2025 19:11:37 GMT

Small update:

PC'ed my BankAmericard to the CCR. Obviously no promo offer, but still great rewards with PR. I will get a second CCR soon as per above plan. Love that you can change the category monthly if desired for big purchases.
PC’ed Cap1 Platinum to VentureOne. They also offered Venture, but would rather the $0 AF since I’ll focus travel miles w Amex.

Re: What cards to round out my wallet?

aplast — Mon, 17 Nov 2025 19:48:31 GMT

@JustKeepSwmng wrote:
Small update:
PC'ed my BankAmericard to the CCR. Obviously no promo offer, but still great rewards with PR. I will get a second CCR soon as per above plan. Love that you can change the category monthly if desired for big purchases.
PC’ed Cap1 Platinum to VentureOne. They also offered Venture, but would rather the $0 AF since I’ll focus travel miles w Amex.

at least you're foot is in the door with the cap 1 transfer partners now. 1.25x points but no AF if that seems to work best with your set up. And just to mirror someone elses comment... 6k on a hotel is quite the spend! Enjoy your trip!

Re: What cards to round out my wallet?

JustKeepSwmng — Mon, 17 Nov 2025 20:09:56 GMT

@aplast wrote:
@JustKeepSwmng wrote:
Small update:
PC'ed my BankAmericard to the CCR. Obviously no promo offer, but still great rewards with PR. I will get a second CCR soon as per above plan. Love that you can change the category monthly if desired for big purchases.
PC’ed Cap1 Platinum to VentureOne. They also offered Venture, but would rather the $0 AF since I’ll focus travel miles w Amex.
at least you're foot is in the door with the cap 1 transfer partners now. 1.25x points but no AF if that seems to work best with your set up. And just to mirror someone elses comment... 6k on a hotel is quite the spend! Enjoy your trip!

Yes, that's what I was thinking. It's not like it's doing naything for me now with no award system.

And thank you!

Re: What cards to round out my wallet?

Stuart89 — Mon, 17 Nov 2025 23:09:52 GMT

I would consider Wells Fargo Active Cash and U.S. Bank Cash+. Active Cash is good for 2% and has no fee. U.S. Bank gives you custom 5% categories. Just my two cents.