After a relatively short (by my standards) 3 1/2 month "gardening" period (since mid-January 2023), I applied for and was automatically approved for a new credit card a short time ago (on May 5th), the Elan Max Cash Preferred (S&T Bank variant). More details:
*Card: Elan Financial Services Max Cash Preferred Visa (S&T Bank variant)
*Credit Limit: $10,000
*APR: 19.49% (introductory 0% APR only on balance transfers)
I've had interest in this card since January 2021, which wasn't too long after the card was introduced (early December 2020), but it was relatively low on my priority list behind various other cards I have since added to my wallet (in chronological order, they included the Capital One SavorOne, Wells Fargo Propel, PSECU Founder's, Citi Custom Cash, and U.S. Bank Cash+). I wanted to get the USB Cash+ Visa before the Elan Max Cash Preferred as a hedge in case I was unable to get the latter card due to applying for it at an out-of-state bank (S&T Bank) with whom I have no current relationship. (S&T Bank, based in Indiana, PA, was a bank I used when I was in graduate school in the late 1990s, so I chose their Max Cash Preferred variant to "honor" that past relationship.) Normally I like to wait six months between credit card applications, but the Max Cash Preferred has entertainment as a 5% rewards category and I anticipate spending a fairly high amount in that category (in particular on sports event tickets) in the next few weeks, so I decided to apply now (with the added benefit of being able to easily meet the SUB spend threshold with just regular, intended spend).
My next card target is the Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Visa, which I'll probably apply for in February 2024. After that, it is possible I'll stop applying for new credit cards, barring new, attractive no annual fee cards being released. While there are some existing cards that I could fit a little into my spending patterns and wouldn't mind having besides the cards I already have and the BOA Customized Cash, none of them are must-haves.
Playing the credit card rewards game since early May 2020.
Current credit cards:
American Express: Hilton Honors
Bank of America: Customized Cash Rewards Visa
Capital One: SavorOne MC
Chase: Amazon Visa, Freedom Unlimited Visa, Freedom Flex MC
Citi: Sears/ThankYou Rewards MC, My Best Buy Visa, Custom Cash MC
Comenity: AAA Travel Advantage Visa
Discover: Cash It
Elan: S&T Bank Max Cash Preferred Visa
FNBO: Amtrak Guest Rewards MC
PSECU: Founder's Visa
U.S. Bank: Cash+ Visa
Wells Fargo: Autograph Visa
Store cards: Kohl's
Next target credit cards: Wells Fargo Bilt Mastercard (probably), Truist Enjoy Travel Visa (maybe)
