How many 5% cashback cards do you have?

[Vinjints]

Have at least 1 direct deposit transaction or automatic payment per month

Does a simple transfer to the account tick off this requirement? Sort of like loading a prepaid card. Make 12 snack-type purchases for the month and I can get 10% on my insurance payments? Now what's the workaround for getting around the membership requirements?

[TyrannicalDuncery3]

1-4 depending on what you count:

• Elan Max (definitely counts)
• Citi SYW (5%, can't redeem for cash, can redeem with 5% bonus for Visa/Mastercard gift card)
• BOA Biz CCR (5.25% if I hit Platinum Preferred Rewards for Business, which I haven't yet)
• Chase Ink cash (5%, a narrow but useful category)

I wouldn't count SYW and CCR so I would say 2.

Lately I've been more after the >=3% unlimited category cards, but I hope to get my first 2 5% rotators in the next 12 months, and also get to Platinum Business.

The dream is to become like @unsungivy , well done.

[unsungivy]

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@TyrannicalDuncery3 wrote:

1-4 depending on what you count:

• Elan Max (definitely counts)
• Citi SYW (5%, can't redeem for cash, can redeem with 5% bonus for Visa/Mastercard gift card)
• BOA Biz CCR (5.25% if I hit Platinum Preferred Rewards for Business, which I haven't yet)
• Chase Ink cash (5%, a narrow but useful category)

I wouldn't count SYW and CCR so I would say 2.

Lately I've been more after the >=3% unlimited category cards, but I hope to get my first 2 5% rotators in the next 12 months, and also get to Platinum Business.

The dream is to become like @unsungivy , well done.

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Yes I'm awesome and everyone should want to be like me...

Uh, exactly what are you referring to here, the BofA PH level? 🤔

[okurosetta]

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@okurosetta wrote:Wow, this may be a great card for me to add - I have a decent amount of $1-2 transactions per month which have been going on Rewards+, I could shift them to AAFCU debit as they would easily be around half of the required 12 transactions per month but only amount to ~$10 in spend. That'd leave around $240 for the other transactions to stay within cap for 10%, pretty flexible.

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Replying to/quoting myself here to give context for this update - I applied for AAFCU membership online but tl;dr is it ultimately went nowhere as they asked me to verify my identity in-branch - which I could easily do if I wasn't 3/4 of the way across the country. For more:

I called a little over a week after applying to say I hadn't heard anything and then ask if there was an issue with the application. I had run into a glitch while applying, basically at one point they requested a code, I got it from my e-mail and submitted it, then it just requested another code, got another e-mail and submitted that, then it requested another code again, got another e-mail and submitted that, then from there it seemed to go through but I never got any e-mail verification of such.

I was put on hold as the representative spoke with someone on the applications team, then when she got back on  she told me I'd need to come into a branch for identity verification. I asked if there was any other way of moving forward (since I live in NY and they are in CO) and she said no. I have no way of knowing whether I'd be flagged for identity verification without the above glitch, but it is what it is, I certainly didn't choose to have the glitch happen.

The funny thing is I hadn't been to Colorado in the over 40 years I've been alive until just a few weeks ago, and literally drove past several AAFCU branches during our travels (was with P2). If I knew about this and had applied earlier, I would have done the spite sign-up like I did for Wells Fargo to get their $325 checking bonus (they also made me come in, I kept coupon in my wallet and walked right by one in NYC at a time I had an hour to kill). Speaking of which, I need to close that account...

[MJ-san]

Good thread - coming in a little late  

5% Cash Back or Rebate
Chase Freedom OG (rotating)
CapOne/Discover IT (rotating)
Amex Amazon Prime
TD/Target Circle
Sync/Lowes
Citi/CustomCash
USB/Cash+ (select categories/rotating)
USB /roger (ApplePay/KrogerPay)
Comenity/Ikea (Ikea purchases)
CapOne/REI (REI purchases)
Citi/Macys (Macy's purchases)
Sync/AtHome (AtHome purchases)

>5% Cash Back or Rebate
BofA/Custom Cash (5.25% select categories/rotating)
Amex/Blue PCR (6% on streaming, grocery)
Citi/ThankYou (10% on grocery/gas/restaurant)
Sync/Walgreens (10% Walgreens products, 5% Walgreens purchases)
CapOne/Kohls (7.5% Kohls purchases)
Citi/Wayfair (7% Wayfair purchases)
Sync/Payboo (7.75% B&H Photo purchases)
CapOne/West Elm (10% Williams-Sonoma family purchases)
Citi/Strata Elite (6% restaurants Fri-Sat, 12% Hotels/Cars and 6% air travel through Citi portal)

[MJ-san]

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@MJ-san wrote:

Good thread - coming in a little late  

5% Cash Back or Rebate
Chase Freedom OG (rotating)
CapOne/Discover IT (rotating)
Amex Amazon Prime
TD/Target Circle
Sync/Lowes
Citi/CustomCash
USB/Cash+ (select categories/rotating)
USB /roger (ApplePay/KrogerPay)
Comenity/Ikea (Ikea purchases)
CapOne/REI (REI purchases)
Citi/Macys (Macy's purchases)
Sync/AtHome (AtHome purchases)

>5% Cash Back or Rebate
BofA/Custom Cash (5.25% select categories/rotating)
Amex/Blue PCR (6% on streaming, grocery)
Citi/ThankYou (10% on grocery/gas/restaurant)
Sync/Walgreens (10% Walgreens products, 5% Walgreens purchases)
CapOne/Kohls (7.5% Kohls purchases)
Citi/Wayfair (7% Wayfair purchases)
Sync/Payboo (7.75% B&H Photo purchases)
CapOne/West Elm (10% Williams-Sonoma family purchases)
Citi/Strata Elite (6% restaurants Fri-Sat, 12% Hotels/Cars and 6% air travel through Citi portal)

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And yes this does require a LOT of tracking and spreadsheet work ... and spousal education... to work. 

[CaneVariant]

Yes. Any ACH transfer works. I use it exactly like you describe ~ 11 small transactions and 1 big one. This month was $500 to insurance so $25 cash back for insurance spend. The other 11 "swipes" went to reloading PayPal debit for 5% dining and Future for 5% Utilities and groceries. This set up gets me ~ $100 every month. Overall a solid cash-back return for those of us trying to rebuild. Lots of different charities and companies to join from. Plus they had a $225 bank bonus when I signed up.

[CaneVariant]

Sorry that did not work out for you @okurosetta

[IsFiveCardsEnough]

Just two (I think)

*Amazon Prime Visa (5% on Amazon)

*Elan Max Cash Preferred (5% on utilities and internet)

My Chase cards like CSP give 5x points on travel booked thru the portal, but I'm guessing that doesn't count.

[TheHiker]

Technically 2 I suppose

Morgan Stanley BCP - 6% on groceries and streaming services

AAA Travel Advantage - 5% at gas stations