topic Re: Custom Cash gone... Langley FCU's Signature Cash Back Visa the replacement? Questions on the car in Credit Cards

Langley FCU's Signature Cash Back Visa questions + Custom Cash replacement...?

portlandmusician — Thu, 28 May 2026 23:53:02 GMT

I’m looking for some advice and datapoints on joining Langley Federal Credit Union and applying for their Signature Cash Back Visa. I could have replied to other posts, but they seem older, so I figured I'd start a new one (especially with Citi Custom Cash closed off, this one should be discussed more).

Current situation:

Equifax Fico 8: 842 (Since I know they pull Equifax)
No late payments ever
Mortgage since 2012
Oldest open card: Capital One Quicksilver opened in 2005
Current cards:
- U.S. Bank Cash+
- Navy Federal Platinum
- Capital One Quicksilver
- Capital One Savor
- Bridgestone/CFNA
- Chase Freedom Unlimited (opened Jan 2026)
- U.S. Bank Altitude Go
- Navy Federal More Rewards Amex
- U.S. Bank Smartly Visa Signature
- Amex Blue Cash Everyday
- U.S. Bank Shield Visa (opened April 2025)

Current utilization is low overall (8%), though one card is carrying a large balance due to a 0% APR promo (38%). I have 2 inquires on my Transunion (U.S. Bank and JPM Chase) and zero on Experian and, more importantly, Equifax. [I know Langley normally pulls Equifax]

I was originally planning to apply for the Citi Custom Cash Card, but I was going to make my decision before end of business day today and was still dragging my feet (must mean I didn't need/want it), and missed the boat. Got a little FOMO and was ready to pull the trigger... but was still debating if it was FOMO or geunine want. So now I’m strongly considering the Langley Signature Cash Back Visa instead. Which seems to be the Citi Custom Cash replacement card. Maybe the new (again?) flavor of the week?

A few questions for anyone with experience with Langley:

Based on my profile, what do you think my approval odds are for the Signature Cash Back Visa? I hear they can be very conservative and even people with 830+ have been denied. What are their triggers?
Is Langley new-account-sensitive? [My Chase card in January of this year]
Do they typically require proof of income for membership or for the credit card application?
Is it better to:
- join and apply immediately, or
- wait a certain amount of time after opening membership before applying?
How generous is Langley with starting limits and future credit limit increases?
Any known issues with the 5% category system, merchant coding, rewards posting, or redemption?

Would appreciate any real-world datapoints, especially from people with strong scores but several existing cards/open accounts. Thank you!

Re: Custom Cash gone... Langley FCU's Signature Cash Back Visa the replacement? Questions on the car

crystal626 — Thu, 28 May 2026 22:01:24 GMT

The biggest concern with Langley is how long they will offer the selectable categories. It used to be a monthly rotating card and at $100 maximum cash back a month, this isn't sustainable forever.

Re: Custom Cash gone... Langley FCU's Signature Cash Back Visa the replacement? Questions on the car

portlandmusician — Thu, 28 May 2026 22:25:53 GMT

@crystal626 Yeah, I had that thought, too, that it's not sustainable. So I can wait... and then see it nerfed and never have had it and go, "Ha!" or just on it and maximize it while I can. Another thing I'm debating. Just so cautious on each new card these days. Got a few on my want list and strategizing to get them all - eventually.

Re: Custom Cash gone... Langley FCU's Signature Cash Back Visa the replacement? Questions on the car

crystal626 — Thu, 28 May 2026 22:27:09 GMT

@portlandmusician wrote:
@crystal626 Yeah, I had that thought, too, that it's not sustainable. So I can wait... and then see it nerfed and never have had it and go, "Ha!" or just on it and maximize it while I can. Another thing I'm debating. Just so cautious on each new card these days. Got a few on my want list and strategizing to get them all - eventually.

If you can hit the $3K spend in 90 days for the $200 SUB that makes the card worth it whether they nerf it or not IMO.

Re: Custom Cash gone... Langley FCU's Signature Cash Back Visa the replacement? Questions on the car

SeanA — Thu, 28 May 2026 22:27:10 GMT

What about US Bank Cash+ and BofA Custom Cash?

Re: Custom Cash gone... Langley FCU's Signature Cash Back Visa the replacement? Questions on the car

CreditCuriosity — Fri, 29 May 2026 00:06:00 GMT

Langley can be strange many people with scores in the 800's have been denied it while many people have been approved. I have been denied it a few times last time tried was like 5 year ago or so and scores were in the 800's as well. Roll the dice as just a EQ HP and likely will be approved but nothing is guaranteed in life especially with credit . Langley likes some profiles and not others what makes them like some and not others who knows. I can't do rotators anymore other than a few cash+'s as those always have some very useful cats such as utils and cell phone, etc that stay constant.

Re: Custom Cash gone... Langley FCU's Signature Cash Back Visa the replacement? Questions on the car

portlandmusician — Fri, 29 May 2026 00:08:19 GMT

@SeanA Cash+ I already have. Customized Cash Rewards is fine for the first year at 6% in the category of your choice, but after that it's 3%, so not a long term competitor of the Custom Cash (or Langley's Signature Cash Back). I should have just went with FOMO and pulled the trigger anyway on Custom Cash, but I digress...

Def doing research on Langley and trying to figure out the answers to my questions so I can decide if I want to pull the trigger and report back here with all my findings for anyone else interested.

Re: Custom Cash gone... Langley FCU's Signature Cash Back Visa the replacement? Questions on the car

portlandmusician — Fri, 29 May 2026 00:10:56 GMT

@CreditCuriosity Thanks for the info. And, from my research, I agree with what you said: "Langley can be strange many people with scores in the 800's have been denied it while many people have been approved... Langley likes some profiles and not others what makes them like some and not others who knows."

That's exactly what spurred this post, because that's about all I can figure out about Langley.

But, thank you for your feedback, data points, and insight. I do appreciate it. I'll probably research Langley a few more days before pulling the trigger. Then I'll report back here, of course.

Re: Langley FCU's Signature Cash Back Visa questions + Custom Cash replacement...?

AndySoCal — Fri, 29 May 2026 02:58:49 GMT

@portlandmusician Looks like they might have improved the card since i had it. Langley allows you to change your 5 percent catagory during the month. You have to change the catagory before you use the card for a purchase for that catagory. Here is the link to the post

https://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/Credit-Cards/Potential-Expansion-of-Monthly-Categories-at-Langley-FCU/m-p/6864677#M1899799

I have said this before and I will repeat it. Credit unions are focused on the members of the credit union. Banks are more focused on their shareholders. Credit unions will give back to its members it may be a higher rate on a savings account, lower rate on a certain loan type or rewards on a credit card. Langley increased the credit union equity by 7.5% per depositaccounts.com for this year. The only way you can do that is to be profitable. Conversely Citibank reported the 1st quarter earnings that were up 56% year over year. The cuts to their eliminating the card was due to profits that were hurting. Their are pluses and minuses to a credit card the list below is not all of them

Pluses

1) Swipe fee revenue

2) Interest income from the card

3) Keeping and or adding customers with a banking relationships. The banking relationship includes checking and savings accounts with money that pays litttle orno interest.

Minuses

1) Credit card accounts that go bad. ie collection charge off or bankruptcy

2) Cost of the rewards program

3) Cost of administration of the credit card programs

This is not meant to be a complete list but just to give you an idea.

Re: Custom Cash gone... Langley FCU's Signature Cash Back Visa the replacement? Questions on the car

ElvisCaprice — Fri, 29 May 2026 03:05:15 GMT

If it was me, forget the category cards, go to general spend CC. Get an AVEN with referral right now, 10k @4%, then another 10k @ 3% (renewed annually), unlimited 2%. If you give a referral (up to 10%) (like significant other), then you get a fresh 10k @5%, and other @4%. No FTF, no HP EX, unless accepted.

Otherwise too much noise on Reddit & here about Langley. Shirley this small CU will get off the set 10 categories and continue on with the rotation, with so many folks knocking on their door. Also I think you have to become a member and open an account, to apply for one of their CC's. I was interested in Langley but not till the dust settles, to see if it still stands without the rotation.

Re: Custom Cash gone... Langley FCU's Signature Cash Back Visa the replacement? Questions on the car

AndySoCal — Fri, 29 May 2026 03:06:03 GMT

@ElvisCaprice @The membership is a soft pull credit report from Equifax. The credit report pull for the credit card is hard pull from Equifax. I know this from personal experience.

Re: Custom Cash gone... Langley FCU's Signature Cash Back Visa the replacement? Questions on the car

bigpoppa09 — Fri, 29 May 2026 07:59:50 GMT

@portlandmusician You should be approved here is my approval not long ago.

https://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/Credit-Card-Approvals/Two-more-approvals/m-p/6856993#M903891

Re: Langley FCU's Signature Cash Back Visa questions + Custom Cash replacement...?

portlandmusician — Fri, 29 May 2026 21:47:32 GMT

@AndySoCal Thanks for the information and the link. Yeah, Langley allowoing category changes during the month as long as you switch before making a purchase in the new category is one thing that interests me. That and one of the categories being automotive - as my car is always on the fritz, if you will. But, that's neither here nor there. But, yeah, that feature is actually nice and gives it some flexibility that the Custom Cash never had.

I agree with your point about credit unions versus banks, although I think both ultimately have to be profitable to keep offering attractive products. One thing that caught my attention is exactly what you mentioned: Langley appears to have maintained a strong financial position while still offering a very competitive rewards structure. That makes me wonder whether they're viewing the card as a way to attract and retain broader member relationships rather than trying to maximize profits from the card itself.

That's part of why I'm taking a closer look now that the Custom Cash is off the table. The ability to pick the category and potentially change it during the month may actually make Langley a better fit for my spending patterns than the Custom Cash would have been.

Now I'm mostly trying to figure out how conservative they are on approvals. My scores and profile seem solid, but I've seen enough posts, on here and on Reddit, from people with excellent credit getting denied by Langley that I'm trying to gather as many recent datapoints as possible before taking the Equifax inquiry.

I truly ppreciate the feedback. Thanks again!

Re: Custom Cash gone... Langley FCU's Signature Cash Back Visa the replacement? Questions on the car

portlandmusician — Fri, 29 May 2026 21:48:37 GMT

@bigpoppa09 Thanks! I appreciate it.

Re: Langley FCU's Signature Cash Back Visa questions + Custom Cash replacement...?

AndySoCal — Sat, 30 May 2026 05:47:09 GMT

@portlandmusician When I applied I had one new account (Redstone FCU) and probably no inquiries on Equifax either. My scores in the siggy are roughly what they were when I applied.

The link below is my approval with Langley FWIW

https://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/Credit-Card-Approvals/Langley-FCU-Signature-Cash-Back-Visa-UPDATED/m-p/6782539

Re: Langley FCU's Signature Cash Back Visa questions + Custom Cash replacement...?

portlandmusician — Sat, 30 May 2026 13:11:59 GMT

@AndySoCal Awesome. Thank you for the link and data points. Much appreciated.

Re: Langley FCU's Signature Cash Back Visa questions + Custom Cash replacement...?

CJM1 — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 10:48:32 GMT

Just an fyi it's now June 1 and the same 10 categories were offered again for this month.

Also, one of the things you were curious about was redemption issues/ease of cash back redemption. I will say I've had the card 2 years and it's been one of my easiest cards in that time because at the beginning of each month (usually around the 2nd to 4th day of the month) the card automatically deposits any cash back earned for the previous month into Langley savings, no minimums or threshold. And it's not a statement credit, it's $ so you can ACH it to another institution if you wish. But they do have two high(er) yield savings accounts at Langley, one is (I am pretty sure) 4.89% for amounts up to $500.00 and one is 3.6% for amounts up to $25,000.00.

And I love that 4.89% up to $500.00 one.

Re: Langley FCU's Signature Cash Back Visa questions + Custom Cash replacement...?

Koopa — Fri, 05 Jun 2026 20:19:29 GMT

I joined the FCU on 5/27 just to get a lay of the land and check their website and everything before transferring a good portion of the $500 to their nearly 5%(on up to $499) Langley saves savings account. I apped for the card super early morning on the 4th. Got an approval email that same morning, not long after they would have opened, that had a secure document upload link saying that would send me a Docusign to sign to finalize the approval and the link was for in case they needed anything from me. It did mention the possibility of identity or income verification and that someone would call me if they needed any documents from me.

I put $12.5k during the app where they ask how much I'd like. I was approved for $10k so so it'll be my 6th 5 digit CL card.

Someone called me today(5th) to let me know I was approved and tell me I just needed to upload a picture of my driver's license (like I needed to do when originally joining for my deposit account tho joining also needed a selfie like some FI do now days too). She told me they didn't need anything else from me and after she got my pictures and got back from lunch she would send me over the Docusign stuff then they'd ship my card out to me.

Now for the profile.
new accounts - 0/6 1/12 2/24

EQ HPs - 1

EQ FICO 9 - 812

overall utilization 2% (I have a lot of total CL across almost 20 cards)

Re: Langley FCU's Signature Cash Back Visa questions + Custom Cash replacement...?

ptatohed — Sat, 06 Jun 2026 05:47:53 GMT

@CJM1 wrote:
Just an fyi it's now June 1 and the same 10 categories were offered again for this month.

Also, one of the things you were curious about was redemption issues/ease of cash back redemption. I will say I've had the card 2 years and it's been one of my easiest cards in that time because at the beginning of each month (usually around the 2nd to 4th day of the month) the card automatically deposits any cash back earned for the previous month into Langley savings, no minimums or threshold. And it's not a statement credit, it's $ so you can ACH it to another institution if you wish. But they do have two high(er) yield savings accounts at Langley, one is (I am pretty sure) 4.89% for amounts up to $500.00 and one is 3.6% for amounts up to $25,000.00.

And I love that 4.89% up to $500.00 one.

Awesome. I was about to bump your other thread and ask about June. But thought I'd read through this thread first since it's on page 1.

Also, I am pretty sure the savings account is still 5.00% APY, up to $500.

https://www.langleyfcu.org/deposits-langley-saves

Re: Langley FCU's Signature Cash Back Visa questions + Custom Cash replacement...?

portlandmusician — Sun, 07 Jun 2026 20:08:54 GMT

@CJM1 Thanks for the datapoint, that's actually really helpful.

The static 10 categories (as it seems, and June proved it for another month) is one of the reasons I really want this card. If they ever start rotating the cats in less practical categories or make the 5% options less attractive over time, I wouldn't want it. But, as it stands, and if they're keeping the current lineup around, that's a heck of a deal - and a must get for me.

I also appreciate the information about the rewards redemption process. The automatic monthly deposit into the savings account, I like that feature. A lot of issuers seem to make redemption more complicated than it needs to be, whether through minimum redemption thresholds, statement-credit-only redemptions, or points systems. Having the cash automatically deposited with no action required sounds refreshingly simple.

It's also good to know that it's actual cash deposited into the account rather than a statement credit. The flexibility to leave it there, earn interest, or ACH it elsewhere is a nice benefit.

Out of curiosity, have you had any issues over the last two years with merchant coding, rewards tracking, or transactions not earning 5% when you expected them to? Also, have you found Langley to be fairly generous with credit limit increases, or have you mostly stayed with your original limit?

Thanks again for sharing your experience. The more I read, the more this card seems like a pretty compelling alternative now that Citi has closed off new applications for the Custom Cash.