So I got a pre-qual mailer from Bank of the West w/code last week for the Cash Back World MC. I've been banking with BoWest for the past couple months, but strickly for the new bank account SUB which finally paid on the 18th, I was planning on closing the accounts after the statement 11/6. But then I got an email from them the other day "reminding" me of my pre-approval, to the email address I use for BoWest banking. So I take that as them tying my pre-approval specifically to me as a banking customer, making the pre-approval even more solid. The offer includes 12 months 0% for purchases & BTs (4% BT fee)
Their Cash Back World MC has pretty decent rewards - 3% on dining, gas & grocery, 1% all else. But I already have that or better - Uber 4% dining, BoA Cash Rewards 3% gas, and Walmart store card 5% & Amex BCP 6% grocery. And I don't really need a BT but if I did Disco is really pushing a 12 month 0% BT w/3% fee with repeated mailers.
So,
PROS:
- BoWest tends to give nice SLs for banking customers w/pre-approval codes
- BoWest tends to only SP EX for banking customers w/pre-approval codes
- 12 months 0% is always nice, however I would use it
CONS:
- Reward categories really don't work for me
- I've already opened 4 CCs this year, altho score are adequate: Fico8 EX 710, EQ 714, TU 731 (no inqs on TU, no one pulls it for me)
- Nothing special about BoWest banking, if i got the CC I'd keep it open - it's an "Any Deposit" free checking, any deposit of any amount/any method keeps it fee free, so I'd just ACH funds into checking and pay the CC from there.
- No SUB, and I do like my SUBS 
But, I'm inclined to pass on this. 4 new CCs already this year is pushing it, and it should take something really special to get me to app, this is 'nice', but not 'special'.
Opinions?
