topic Re: Sign Up Offers in Credit Cards

Sign Up Offers

mistabgeez — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 18:17:06 GMT

I'm currently in the garden for now, but I am planning to step out in a month or two to add a couple of cards. I am interested in the Citi Forward card because I eat out on a daily basis and could rack up some nice points. The latest sign up bonus I have seen is $100 for a $650 spend. Its not a bad deal, but I received $300 back on a $500 spend for my Freedom card last November.

Is anyone familiar with any of the offers that different creditors may have on the horizon? Are there any creditors who usually offer substantial variations in sign up bonuses during the end of the year?

Re: Sign Up Offers

Anonymous — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 18:41:04 GMT

Has Citi offered any targeted offers for Forward card in the past?

Re: Sign Up Offers

maiden_girl — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 18:51:00 GMT

I wouldn't waste an HP on Citi Forward. They seem to be denying everyone lately.

Re: Sign Up Offers

flowfaster — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 18:55:01 GMT

I would wait for the holidays.

Re: Sign Up Offers

mistabgeez — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 18:55:48 GMT

I have not received any personally. The reason it appeals so much is that I eat out very often and the thank you points can be used as a credit on my student loans. I looked at the upromise card but the biggest benefit of that card is the online shopping. Chase and Discover offer better deals in my opinion for many of the things I buy online.

Was just wondering if I should pull the trigger now or garden a little longer in case a better offer comes along. I've never dealt with Citi and was unsure if they may have a better sign up offer near the end of the year.

Re: Sign Up Offers

Anonymous — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 20:20:29 GMT

Citi Forward is great for those who eat out often and shop on Amazon (counts as a bookstore). I have not seen an offer higher than $100 but the long term rewards on the card outweigh its modest sign up bonus. My only gripe with Citi is that they have been slowly lowering the value of ThankYou points. As of this month, rewards in bonus categories are roughly 2.5% cash back (statement credit), 4.2% (Amazon gift card), and 5% (student loan credits). The student loan credits are not easy to redeem since you have to do it over the phone. I used to get statement credits when it was closer to 3.3% but now opt for Amazon gift cards.

Re: Sign Up Offers

mistabgeez — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 21:45:58 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Citi Forward is great for those who eat out often and shop on Amazon (counts as a bookstore). I have not seen an offer higher than $100 but the long term rewards on the card outweigh its modest sign up bonus. My only gripe with Citi is that they have been slowly lowering the value of ThankYou points. As of this month, rewards in bonus categories are roughly 2.5% cash back (statement credit), 4.2% (Amazon gift card), and 5% (student loan credits). The student loan credits are not easy to redeem since you have to do it over the phone. I used to get statement credits when it was closer to 3.3% but now opt for Amazon gift cards.

Truthfully, Citi was not on my radar at all. I heard that their Thank You points were not very valuable and I already have a set of cash back cards. But since the quarters have changed on Freedom purchases, I am not getting 5% on any restaurant visits. The Forward card kept coming up when I looked around, and after learning about the student loan credit it is looking like a better opportunity than anything else out there for me.

Another posted said you give Citi the account number and they send the check directly to the student loan company. Is it more complicated than that? I sure hope not. I'm definitely looking Forward to having my large appetite help reduce my student loan debt.

Re: Sign Up Offers

flowfaster — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 22:02:35 GMT

In my opinion I would app for the citi card with the best sign up bonus, then PC to the Forward or dividend card down the road. That is if citi allows one to PC like Chase does. Chase still wont PC my Amazon card though.

Re: Sign Up Offers

Anonymous — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 01:05:09 GMT

@flowfaster wrote:
I would wait for the holidays.

why the holidays? Is this the historically most generous time of the year for sign up bounes?

Re: Sign Up Offers

jsickz32 — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 01:11:33 GMT

i have the foward and the rewards are meh...if you spend 650 in 3 weeks and sign up for online statements you get 10k points but thats only worth 50 in cash money or statement credit. i eat out every single day and lately being only making around 2000-2200 points monthly. not that great to be honest.

Re: Sign Up Offers

mistabgeez — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 13:25:55 GMT

@jsickz32 wrote:
i have the foward and the rewards are meh...if you spend 650 in 3 weeks and sign up for online statements you get 10k points but thats only worth 50 in cash money or statement credit. i eat out every single day and lately being only making around 2000-2200 points monthly. not that great to be honest.

Does that evaluation of points only apply to the statement credit or is that how the points are applied in general. The reason I ask is that I have seen others post and mention that the points are $0.01 per point for certain reward categories like gift cards and student loan credits. My primary interest is the student loan credits.

Re: Sign Up Offers

mistabgeez — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 13:28:46 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@flowfaster wrote:
I would wait for the holidays.
why the holidays? Is this the historically most generous time of the year for sign up bounes?

I'm interested in this as well. It's part of the reason I posted. Citi isn't discussed as much as AMEX, Chase and some others, so I would definitely take any input folks might have regarding potentially greater sign up bonuses near the end of the year.

Re: Sign Up Offers

jsickz32 — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 14:09:54 GMT

@mistabgeez
I dont know about student loan credits but iirc the 10k points are worth $100 for mortgage and student loans. Only $50 for cash or statement credit which is i what i was after.

Re: Sign Up Offers

Anonymous — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 15:37:13 GMT

You can still get $.01/1 point with gift cards via the TY network though right?

Re: Sign Up Offers

jsickz32 — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 15:45:12 GMT

Yeah you can get $.01/1 for gift cards but alot of them were stores i have never heard of and it says that takes 6 weeks to receive your GC.

Re: Sign Up Offers

Anonymous — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 17:47:31 GMT

@mistabgeez wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
Citi Forward is great for those who eat out often and shop on Amazon (counts as a bookstore). I have not seen an offer higher than $100 but the long term rewards on the card outweigh its modest sign up bonus. My only gripe with Citi is that they have been slowly lowering the value of ThankYou points. As of this month, rewards in bonus categories are roughly 2.5% cash back (statement credit), 4.2% (Amazon gift card), and 5% (student loan credits). The student loan credits are not easy to redeem since you have to do it over the phone. I used to get statement credits when it was closer to 3.3% but now opt for Amazon gift cards.
Truthfully, Citi was not on my radar at all. I heard that their Thank You points were not very valuable and I already have a set of cash back cards. But since the quarters have changed on Freedom purchases, I am not getting 5% on any restaurant visits. The Forward card kept coming up when I looked around, and after learning about the student loan credit it is looking like a better opportunity than anything else out there for me.

Another posted said you give Citi the account number and they send the check directly to the student loan company. Is it more complicated than that? I sure hope not. I'm definitely looking Forward to having my large appetite help reduce my student loan debt.

I have not tried to redeem student loan credits because calling in and having to provide my account #s and demographic info each time seems too much of a hassle. I do a lot of my shopping on Amazon and you can get a $50 Amazon gift card for 6000 TY points, which works out to a little under 5% back which I'm fine with. It's also a code that they email you so you don't have to wait for an actual gift card in the mail.

Another poster mentioned he/she wasn't impressed with the dining rewards on this card. I think it's actually the best one on the market. Amex Costco TrueEarnings gives 2% back in the form of a yearly voucher and Chase Sapphire Preferred gives 2 UR points which I value less than 5 TY points since I usually opt for cash rewards. But I can see how UR points may be more valuable to you if you're using them for FF miles or travel credits.