Good plan to get my wanted cards?

[futa]

Non resident, ITIN holder. No FTF is vital.

Thinking of best next cards and steps.

Usually spend little ~300/month, but could go to ~2k/month. Categories can vary a lot, travel a lot, highest spend could be in grocery, restaurants, travel (flights/hotel/Airbnb).

~780 FICO Equifax

~750 FICO Experian

Current credit:

July 2023 ~1k Bank of America Travel Rewards - 1.5% catch all

July 2023 ~4.1k Capital One Savor - 3% food

August 2023 ~20k Amex Hilton - just for the CL

May 2024 ~2.5k Chase Marriott Bold - just as preparation for Ritz Carlton

March 2024 ~2k University of Wisconsin CU credit line - kind of accidental

Wanted high prio cards:

- Wells Fargo Autograph - 3% travel/transit, easy SUB, ability to close my banking accounts

- Navy Federal CU Cash Rewards - 2% catch all

- Navy Federal Flagship - 3%travel/transit + 2% catch all + Global Entry

     - only with Flagship - Chase Amazon Prime 5%

- Bank of America PC Travel Rewards to Customized Cash - 3% online payments, no FTF (thanks to PC)

Wanted lower prio cards

- American Airlines CU VISA Signature Cash back - Global Entry (100 only)

- PNC Cash Unlimited - 2% catch all, SUB (seems currently no offer), ability to close my savings account

- AOD Signature VISA - 3% catch all (hope I can weasel my way in, last try didn't work)

- AAA Daily Advantage - 5% groceries

- Venmo VISA - 3% on niche/not covered categories

- Greenstate CU World Mastercard - 5% flights/hotel (hope I can weasel my way in, last try didn't work)

- Redstate CU VISA Signature - 5% restaurants (hope I can at least weasel my way in to be a member)

- Chase Ritz Carlton - Priority Pass

   - probably will only PC when my current card with Priority Pass (+restaurants) card stops their offering, then double/triple dip travel credit

My last attempts were in October/November 2024 for the Autograph. Got rejected twice with 2 attempts to have it reconsidered.

Checking/savings account with ~5k (increased balance shortly before first application) didn't seem to help, last application was in July 2024 with both PNC and Wells Fargo. Both declined.

I then opened a secured loan with Navy Federal over 5k and paid off almost everything, gave me a great score boost.

Also applied and was approved for a Navy Federal 500 CL Cash Rewards, which I declined also due to the low limit and needing to travel and not wanting to deal with the card delivery.

In June or a bit later, I might be around the region where I need to go to sign up for Global Entry, as such it would be nice to have a card ready to be able to get this done on short notice.

But the Flagship has a quite high spend requirement of 3.5k for the SUB. Was considering trying the Autograph in April again, make the SUB and then get a Cash Rewards with lower 2.5k spend requirement and then convert it to a Flagship. But apparently it's only possible after 1 year of having a card (CARDACT?) and getting another card with Navy needs 90 days after the last approval.

Then then American Airlines CU VISA has an insane spend requirement of 5k and only covers 100 for Global Entry.

I'm starting to think I might just give up Global Entry and use the Mobile Passport thingy next time for the US.

Then focus hopefully Wells finally granting me the Autograph with the easy SUB and the consequence of being able to close my savings account.

Then do the Navy Cash Rewards which should be very easy at this point and then convert the Travel Rewards to the Customized Cash.

I will then have most spend on 3% and the rest on 2%, which is good improvement.

I can work on getting into more CU, improving category coverage >3%, simplifying carry setup up from 3 to 2 cards thanks to the Flagship etc.

Any suggestions, input?

[SpaceCityCCuser]

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@futa wrote:

Non resident, ITIN holder. No FTF is vital.

Thinking of best next cards and steps.

Usually spend little ~300/month, but could go to ~2k/month. Categories can vary a lot, travel a lot, highest spend could be in grocery, restaurants, travel (flights/hotel/Airbnb).

~780 FICO Equifax

~750 FICO Experian

Current credit:

July 2023 ~1k Bank of America Travel Rewards - 1.5% catch all

July 2023 ~4.1k Capital One Savor - 3% food

August 2023 ~20k Amex Hilton - just for the CL

May 2024 ~2.5k Chase Marriott Bold - just as preparation for Ritz Carlton

March 2024 ~2k University of Wisconsin CU credit line - kind of accidental

Wanted high prio cards:

- Wells Fargo Autograph - 3% travel/transit, easy SUB, ability to close my banking accounts

- Navy Federal CU Cash Rewards - 2% catch all

- Navy Federal Flagship - 3%travel/transit + 2% catch all + Global Entry

     - only with Flagship - Chase Amazon Prime 5%

- Bank of America PC Travel Rewards to Customized Cash - 3% online payments, no FTF (thanks to PC)

Wanted lower prio cards

- American Airlines CU VISA Signature Cash back - Global Entry (100 only)

- PNC Cash Unlimited - 2% catch all, SUB (seems currently no offer), ability to close my savings account

- AOD Signature VISA - 3% catch all (hope I can weasel my way in, last try didn't work)

- AAA Daily Advantage - 5% groceries

- Venmo VISA - 3% on niche/not covered categories

- Greenstate CU World Mastercard - 5% flights/hotel (hope I can weasel my way in, last try didn't work)

- Redstate CU VISA Signature - 5% restaurants (hope I can at least weasel my way in to be a member)

- Chase Ritz Carlton - Priority Pass

   - probably will only PC when my current card with Priority Pass (+restaurants) card stops their offering, then double/triple dip travel credit

My last attempts were in October/November 2024 for the Autograph. Got rejected twice with 2 attempts to have it reconsidered.

Checking/savings account with ~5k (increased balance shortly before first application) didn't seem to help, last application was in July 2024 with both PNC and Wells Fargo. Both declined.

I then opened a secured loan with Navy Federal over 5k and paid off almost everything, gave me a great score boost.

Also applied and was approved for a Navy Federal 500 CL Cash Rewards, which I declined also due to the low limit and needing to travel and not wanting to deal with the card delivery.

In June or a bit later, I might be around the region where I need to go to sign up for Global Entry, as such it would be nice to have a card ready to be able to get this done on short notice.

But the Flagship has a quite high spend requirement of 3.5k for the SUB. Was considering trying the Autograph in April again, make the SUB and then get a Cash Rewards with lower 2.5k spend requirement and then convert it to a Flagship. But apparently it's only possible after 1 year of having a card (CARDACT?) and getting another card with Navy needs 90 days after the last approval.

Then then American Airlines CU VISA has an insane spend requirement of 5k and only covers 100 for Global Entry.

I'm starting to think I might just give up Global Entry and use the Mobile Passport thingy next time for the US.

Then focus hopefully Wells finally granting me the Autograph with the easy SUB and the consequence of being able to close my savings account.

Then do the Navy Cash Rewards which should be very easy at this point and then convert the Travel Rewards to the Customized Cash.

I will then have most spend on 3% and the rest on 2%, which is good improvement.

I can work on getting into more CU, improving category coverage >3%, simplifying carry setup up from 3 to 2 cards thanks to the Flagship etc.

Any suggestions, input?

---

For Global Entry, look at Altitude Connect or Fidelity Visa.

[futa]

Thanks!

Sadly they won't work as I was told on here that US Bank/Elan doesn't do ITIN lending and requires a SSN.
I confirmed that with US Bank underwriting myself.

Sad as you mention they are good alternatives and Fidelity is my main broker.

Most banks accept ITINs, only some CUs and US Bank seem not to.

As such I think the American Airlines CU card with no AF and the Navy Federal Flagship with low AF are currently my best choice.

I'm aware that the Penfed CU Pathfinder exists, not too excited to join another CU, hold funds there and then get the card just for Global Entry. Also heard that point redemption has gotten worse value/is annoying.

[Seatac]

Are you related to someone who is/was in the US military? If not NFCU.is not an option for you. Penfed is but NFCU has not opened its doors to everyone. Just is military,  dodge and dependents

[futa]

I'm a Navy Federal member already, qualify through family luckily, hence my idea to get the Flagship at some point. Not so keen on Penfed as mentioned.

[Seatac]

Cook. Just didn't want  you to get your hopes up of you couldn't get a membership. 

I didn't notice you not being keen on penfed. To each ther own. 

[futa]

Appreciate it!

Altitude Connect or Fidelity Visa would be the best, but as I can't get them...
I guess I just have to make up my mind as to how/when I will get the next card and if I can time it well with Global Entry.

Eventually I will have both Global Entry and all the cards I want/can get.

[unsungivy]

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@futa wrote:

Non resident, ITIN holder. No FTF is vital.

Thinking of best next cards and steps.

Usually spend little ~300/month, but could go to ~2k/month. Categories can vary a lot, travel a lot, highest spend could be in grocery, restaurants, travel (flights/hotel/Airbnb).

~780 FICO Equifax

~750 FICO Experian

Current credit:

July 2023 ~1k Bank of America Travel Rewards - 1.5% catch all

July 2023 ~4.1k Capital One Savor - 3% food

August 2023 ~20k Amex Hilton - just for the CL

May 2024 ~2.5k Chase Marriott Bold - just as preparation for Ritz Carlton

March 2024 ~2k University of Wisconsin CU credit line - kind of accidental

Wanted high prio cards:

- Bank of America PC Travel Rewards to Customized Cash - 3% online payments, no FTF (thanks to PC)

Wanted lower prio cards

- Redstate CU VISA Signature - 5% restaurants (hope I can at least weasel my way in to be a member)

- Chase Ritz Carlton - Priority Pass

   - probably will only PC when my current card with Priority Pass (+restaurants) card stops their offering, then double/triple dip travel credit

---

I'm genuinely curious about the "no FTF on CCR" due to PC from BofA travel card? Is this a loophole of some kind? I would love no FTF on my CCRs, but as far as I'm aware that type of thing doesn't carry over when you product change cards; your APR carries over on most cards, and that a good way to get a lower APR than you could with getting the card directly, but I never heard of FTF doing so? Can you elaborate?

By Redstate CU, did you mean RedSTONE? Yes, you can get membership through certain organizations, but sorry to tell you that unless you actually live in Alabama or Tennessee, you can't get the Visa CC. (I'm particularly bitter about that since they made that change the day I joined.)

The Ritz-Carlton card is a fantastic card. You shouldn't only be considering it as a way to get Priority Pass, since there are cheaper ways to get Priority Pass. But the ability to get it could go away at any time, so don't count on it being there when you want it. I do believe you need at least a 5k credit line on the card you PC to it to be eligible, however.

[futa]

Read it several times, see:  https://old.reddit.com/r/CreditCards/comments/140r1jk/bofa_customized_cash_card_is_op/

and: https://old.reddit.com/r/CreditCards/comments/1bll2jy/boa_travel_rewards_product_change_offer_to/

Mentioned this to a BofA banker last time in the branch when we talked about cards and she said it won't work. But I believe it's just simply not common knowledge. Some things that are CARDACT related are logical, such as banks can't charge the AF if card upgrade from lower/no AF to (higher) AF.

There's things like this in other areas, where you won't find official sources, but it will work. Planning to overtime get more Travel Rewards cards to PC them and then one day get Platinum Honors status. Which is a bit trickier for me as Merrill is only available for Resident Aliens.

Ah yes, Freudian slip?. I might move to TN, AL, short term, maybe a state ID/local proof of address will work to get the application to go through, to then later move away. That's something for the maybe and later category, if the card still exists then. Or maybe like AOD they will open applications again (that one I wasn't able to join though, and they're not responsive at all on their channels, as to why).

Ritz has been around long, even as PC only card. But you're right, never know when they close down PCing too.

What cheaper ways to get Priority Pass? Venture X? I don't like having to use a portal. Ritz seems the cheapest, with double or triple dipping of the flight bonus and retention offer AND the FNC a rather worthwhile one.

I currently have Priority Pass with +1, unlimited visits and restaurants with no AF, but it's with sketchy Crypto.com and they are becoming even sketchier these days, so can't rely on them honoring this. That's why I thought going Flagship, then getting the Chase Amazon Prime card, to have a Chase card I might actually want to use, to help get my CL faster to >5k.
Aiming to get this done before end of the year.

EDIT:

@unsungivyI joined Redstone FCU, the very nice agent mentioned when I asked about card eligibility if I move to TN, AL, that there's talk about opening the applications to all states again.

Metioned that maybe if enough people ask, they will do it. Not sure if they do it this year (or at all).
So there's hope, might not need to move after all.

[unsungivy]

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@futa wrote:

EDIT:

@unsungivyI joined Redstone FCU, the very nice agent mentioned when I asked about card eligibility if I move to TN, AL, that there's talk about opening the applications to all states again.

Metioned that maybe if enough people ask, they will do it. Not sure if they do it this year (or at all).
So there's hope, might not need to move after all.

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THAT would be fantastic. Gives me a reason to NOT cancel my membership, heh.