I have had this card for a year now and thought I would offer some details about its usefulness and the Credit Union in general. One of the best features of this card, was I received it without a HP (The post for that is here). The CU will often call new customers based on the SP and offer credit products that will fit their needs. I selected the Platinum Rewards Mastercard. I prefer to keep rewards simple. I was given an initial CL of $10K.
Rewards
Not a bad deal at 3X on gas, 2X on groceries, and 1X on everything else. Slightly better than a Disco after its first year. However, when I was offered this I was only 4 months into year one of a Disco and so I was maximizing my rewards with that over this card.
Interest Terms
Not bad given you get 0% for the first six months. I used this to purchase a gaming computer for my son and paid it off in a few months. While it met the minimum spend for the 5K point bonus, I haven’t needed to use it since.
CLI’s
I did a more detailed analysis of this in another post. However, its comes down to two methods. 1) A HP for a CLI, and 2) A CLI that is given as a part of the annual review process based on spending 3) An HP that was performed on another credit product can be used for other new products and to ask for an increase.
To be fair, have not used this card to such an extent that I would qualify for a CLI, and I wouldn’t waste a HP on one. I think at most I have spent $2.5K on the card. I doubt I will ever get a CLI myself except for when I begin to shop for a new auto loan. The reason for this is that a) I don’t see me making any concerted efforts to increase the CL passively through spending when I get higher rewards on other cards, and b) I wouldn’t waste an HP on a CLI alone ever.
Customer Service
I have to give this CU full credit. Every time I have called, I have spoken to someone in the US quickly. They have always been friendly, were always very open about credit and credit terms for different products.
When I had an issue where I accidentally didn’t make my payment on time (had never happened before and was related to billing), they quickly let me know that it would not be late on my credit report as they don’t report until two payments are missed.
User Interface
Not bad, but not was solid as some others. You can see your balance alongside checking and savings accounts. And you can make transfers from checking to the credit card. However, the credit interface to make payments from an outside bank is buried a bit, and will popup a different site for managing that process. Not a huge fan, but customer service has told me before its an issue they are working to solve to simplify things.
Summary
Overall, this is a solid card, with respectable terms, from a CU with great service. I wish I wasn't concentrating on new cards with easier CLI's, so I can justify me pulling it out more often.
As I mentioned before, when this card fell in my lap, I was in the middle of other opportunities for rewards and took them after getting this card. Currently I have it on auto payments and attached to a small subscription to keep it active. Other than that, its in the sock drawer. Beyond its usefulness in lowering my utilization and raising my available credit lines, I would recommend the opportunity to anyone currently building or rebuilding.
@HeavyResist wrote:
I have had this card for a year now and thought I would offer some details about its usefulness and the Credit Union in general. One of the best features of this card, was I received it without a HP (The post for that is here). The CU will often call new customers based on the SP and offer credit products that will fit their needs. I selected the Platinum Rewards Mastercard. I prefer to keep rewards simple. I was given an initial CL of $10K.
RewardsNot a bad deal at 3X on gas, 2X on groceries, and 1X on everything else. Slightly better than a Disco after its first year. However, when I was offered this I was only 4 months into year one of a Disco and so I was maximizing my rewards with that over this card.
Interest Terms
Not bad given you get 0% for the first six months. I used this to purchase a gaming computer for my son and paid it off in a few months. While it met the minimum spend for the 5K point bonus, I haven’t needed to use it since.
CLI’s
I did a more detailed analysis of this in another post. However, its comes down to two methods. 1) A HP for a CLI, and 2) A CLI that is given as a part of the annual review process based on spending 3) An HP that was performed on another credit product can be used for other new products and to ask for an increase.
To be fair, have not used this card to such an extent that I would qualify for a CLI, and I wouldn’t waste a HP on one. I think at most I have spent $2.5K on the card. I doubt I will ever get a CLI myself except for when I begin to shop for a new auto loan. The reason for this is that a) I don’t see me making any concerted efforts to increase the CL passively through spending when I get higher rewards on other cards, and b) I wouldn’t waste an HP on a CLI alone ever.
Customer Service
I have to give this CU full credit. Every time I have called, I have spoken to someone in the US quickly. They have always been friendly, were always very open about credit and credit terms for different products.
When I had an issue where I accidentally didn’t make my payment on time (had never happened before and was related to billing), they quickly let me know that it would not be late on my credit report as they don’t report until two payments are missed.
User InterfaceNot bad, but not was solid as some others. You can see your balance alongside checking and savings accounts. And you can make transfers from checking to the credit card. However, the credit interface to make payments from an outside bank is buried a bit, and will popup a different site for managing that process. Not a huge fan, but customer service has told me before its an issue they are working to solve to simplify things.
Summary
Overall, this is a solid card, with respectable terms, from a CU with great service. I wish I wasn't concentrating on new cards with easier CLI's, so I can justify me pulling it out more often.
As I mentioned before, when this card fell in my lap, I was in the middle of other opportunities for rewards and took them after getting this card. Currently I have it on auto payments and attached to a small subscription to keep it active. Other than that, its in the sock drawer. Beyond its usefulness in lowering my utilization and raising my available credit lines, I would recommend the opportunity to anyone currently building or rebuilding.
This credit union is geo-fenced:
- Anyone living or working in Iowa, or bordering counties in Illinois, Wisconsin, Nebraska or South Dakota.
- Illinois counties: Jo Daviess, Carroll, Whiteside, Rock Island, Henry, Mercer, Knox, Henderson, Warren, Hancock, DuPage, Will county North of I-80
- Wisconsin counties: Crawford, Grant, Lafayette
- Nebraska counties: Dakota, Thurston, Burt, Washington, Douglas, Sarpy, Cass, Otoe
- South Dakota counties: Union, Lincoln, Minnehaha, Moody, Brookings
- University of Iowa students, staff, and alumni.
- Direct relatives of current GreenState Credit Union members.
This credit union is geo-fenced:....
Actually, I had thought the same thing at first. However, @dmFICO8 had pointed out to me before, there is a fouth option. If you scroll down the membership page to the bottom you find that becoming a Member of the Iowa Consumer Council/American Consumer Council also is a qualifying reason. Its not one of the options for joining when you try to join online, and therefore may require someone to call to join.
@HeavyResist wrote:
This credit union is geo-fenced:....Actually, I had thought the same thing at first. However, @dmFICO8 had pointed out to me before, there is a fouth option. If you scroll down the membership page to the bottom you find that becoming a Member of the Iowa Consumer Council/American Consumer Council also is a qualifying reason. Its not one of the options for joining when you try to join online, and therefore may require someone to call to join.
Interesting. Thanks. I stand corrected.
Thank you for the great write up, and the information on getting around the geo-fence, @HeavyResist!
Thanks @Adkins
I'll be updating it today with a conversation I had online with customer service confirming the use of the ACC as a work around.
Great write-up. I'm curious though, how do their rewards translate to cashback? Like is 1 pt = $.01? Or is it less?
@OmarGB9 wrote:Great write-up. I'm curious though, how do their rewards translate to cashback? Like is 1 pt = $.01? Or is it less?
Yes, As you can see below in my actual CC interface, my rewards include the 5000 point bonus plus my spending at the right multipliers. A discussion today with customer service both in persons and via chat while I was opening another account for my son confirms if you use on your bill or balance it is 100 points = $1.
@HeavyResist wrote:
This credit union is geo-fenced:....Actually, I had thought the same thing at first. However, @dmFICO8 had pointed out to me before, there is a fouth option. If you scroll down the membership page to the bottom you find that becoming a Member of the Iowa Consumer Council/American Consumer Council also is a qualifying reason. Its not one of the options for joining when you try to join online, and therefore may require someone to call to join.
Even if one can circumvent the georestriction, i think many times even if you get in many of these places arent really willing to lend being you are out of state. Sometimes its better to stay comfy then walk tightropes
