Kroger Rewards World Mastercard from US Bank

[macinjosh]

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@UncleB wrote:

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@macinjosh wrote:

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@UncleB wrote:

@macinjosh has the Smith's "flavor" of this card... I'm tagging him since he might find these upcoming changes interesting.  (I'm assuming the updates apply to all the various Kroger subsidiaries as well as the primary 'Kroger' brand card since the document says "Kroger Family of Companies.")

He also might be able to provide some data points on the approval requirements.

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Thanks @UncleB for the tag. I can say I was well over 1/12 when USB approved me. The change in perks look like something I'll look more into. Too bad it appears I won't be able to PC this to a core card.

I wish they'd give me 0% BT offers to use on it. Since my extra cash off gas expired, I rarely touch the card and actually got denied a CLI for inactivity. 🤣 I put my AppleCare+ for my new iPad on it to hopefully get that CLI next month. Then I'm going to beg USB for 0% for 12 month BT offers on both my cards because my 0% on Discover is coming to an end.

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Good info, @macinjosh!  With the rewards they're about to be offering on mobile wallet transactions you might not even want to PC it to another card anyway! 

I hear ya on the BT shuffle... I'm about to be doing that as well in October.  I'm not quite sure yet where I'm going to be shuffling 'to', but I have a couple of candidates in mind.

(BTW, good to see you around!)

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Good to see you around too. I'm in here on and off. I need to spend more time here though.

[FinStar]

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@UncleB wrote:

This is interesting, indeed.

When I saw "mobile wallet" I admit my first thought was Kroger Pay, so my reaction was 'meh'.  On closer look, though, it really is mobile wallet as in Apple Pay, Google Pay, etc. and this actually is a pretty good deal.

$3000/year at 5% comes to $250/month... that has vibes of the old Sallie Mae to me, ha.  (Sallie Mae was 5% back on $750 per month for bookstores, $250 for gas & $250 for grocery stores.)  For the right person the new-and-improved Kroger card might even be better than Sallie Mae, since you can spend the $3k whenever you want during the year and with no category restrictions.

I also find it ironic that to get 5% off a grocery store purchase one would have to shop at a Kroger competitor that takes mobile payments.  I really do wish Kroger would get on-board with NFC payments.

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I'm glad I kept mine since 2011 😜   I suppose it took them 10+ years to finally make it a more competitive product besides just using it for Kroger and/or Turkey Hill transactions, which I would assume the same structure would apply to their other grocery brands/partners like Fry's, Fred Meyer, Ralphs, Mariano's, QFC, etc.  Since 2011, mine has switched from Visa to MC twice 🤷🏼‍♂️ ...so I wonder if it'll stay as WMC for good.

I would agree on the NFC nuances with their POS terminals, only a sprinkle of them (locally) have the newer ones so hopefully they'll get on board sooner than later.  And, short of a Smorgasboard mention, the replacement I received (new design) is a bit 'meh-ish' -- too plain.  I like the previous one better 😬

[ChargedUp]

We have Ralph's over here in my area down south, and they take NFC. (I didn't use mobile wallet but I did tap my BCP to check out last time I was there.) I never really paid much attention to this card as Ralph's isn't our usual shopping spot, but I may have to put this card in my future potentials folder. 

Now if only Safeway/Vons/Pavillions  would partner with someone for a decent V/MC...

[notmyrealname23]

Huh. My ISP (Comcast) and mobile phone company (T-Mobile) accept Apple Pay on their apps. It's an interesting way to backdoor get somewhat limited Cash+, seeing I am LOL/12.

[GatorCowboyLion]

The Kroger and affiliate World Mastercards are live. These cards are 5% cashback on mobile wallet (Google Pay, Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, LG Pay, and Garmin Pay) up to $3k, 2% back in Kroger stores, and 1% elsewhere. Samsung Pay customers can use MST to get 5% back for any POS terminal. There are additional gas savings for Kroger/affiliate customers.

Important new update, four out of ten of the Kroger affiliate cards have 3% back on dining and fuel up to $6k and a $100 SUB with $500 spend (albeit without the Kroger fuel benefit). It is unclear whether the 3% dining and fuel or 2% Kroger stack with the 5% mobile wallets for 8% or 7% back. Does anyone know? I would imagine these are the best cards for most people.

• https://www.htmastercard.com/

• https://www.marianosmastercard.com/

• https://www.picknsavemastercard.com/

• https://www.ralphsmastercard.com/

Hypothetically, if someone had that much mobile wallet spend they could sign up for the Kroger card and each of the ten affiliate cards for $33k spend at 5% back. The other affiliates without SUB are Dillons, Freddys, Frys, King Soopers, QFC, and Smiths. Points do expire at 36 months, but redemption for statement credit starts at $10. These cards have no cell coverage but are 0% FTF.
https://www.doctorofcredit.com/new-kroger-credit-card-now-live-5-on-mobile-wallet-transactions/

[kilroy8]

Getting better, but still not a competitive card. 2% at Kroger is dismal, gas discounts are for cheap gas, not Top Tier. Mobile wallet 5% is nice, but max is too low to be useful. 3% dining I have or better on 4 cards already.

Still, I guess they no longer have the title of "worst co-branded card ever".

[Anonymous]

Especially considering food prices have been on the rise for the past eight months, more so within the last few, and they're still only 2% versus my 6% with BCP. I don't use any of that mobile wallet nonsense as it's just an addeds step, not to mention a outright hassle around these parts.

It also no longer offers cell phone protection.  I may end up just canmceling this card in the next couple years if it's not close for no activity. 

[xenon3030]

This US Bank card looks to be better than Cash+. Is it feasible to PC the Cash+ card to this card to get 150$ cashback annualy on mobile wallet transactions (5% of 3000$)?

By Cash+, I barely can get 50$ cashback annualy (mobile, internet, a few bills). The Cash+ categories are very sparse and they cannot get used easily except paying utilities.

[FinStar]

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@xenon3030 wrote:

This US Bank card looks to be better than Cash+. Is it feasible to PC the Cash+ card to this card to get 150$ cashback annualy on mobile wallet transactions (5% of 3000$)?

By Cash+, I barely can get 50$ cashback annualy (mobile, internet, a few bills). The Cash+ categories are very sparse and they cannot get used easily except paying utilities.

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Partner/co-branded cards cannot be PC'd to/from USB core cards, like Cash+, for instance.  You can always check with them in the event PC policies may have changed recently and provide DPs if you wish.

[xenon3030]

Several co-branded US bank cards provide 5% on digital wallet. On top of it, some co-branded cards like Ralph were giving also 3% on dining/gas.

In the past, possibly it was too much for US Bank to provide such benefits for its core cards. But since there are already several 5% cards in the market, it might be the time for US Bank to revisit its 5% categories to stay competitive in the market.