Lesser Known Cards That You Keep

[TheDude]

Hi there, I'm wondering if anyone on here has compiled a recent list of lesser known credit cards worth getting and/or keeping. 

By lesser known, I mean excluding all the majors (American Express, Chase, Citi, Discover, Capital One, US Bank, Barclays, Wells Fargo, Bank Of America--not sure if I am missing any here). 

These might be regional/smaller banks or credit unions.  They tend to be lesser known, because they get little or no marketing--you might have found out about it by accident or by word of mouth.  It could be a card you use a lot, or maybe not so much but it offers an occasional benefit that makes it a no-brainer to keep.

If no such list exists, I would like to hear from the folks on here what cards they currently have which fit this profile, and why they like the card.

I will go first with one of the cards I have.  I have the PenFed Pathfinder Rewards Visa.  I don't use it a lot, but since it has no AF, but it offers a $100 annual travel credit, and reimbursement for Global Entry.  It also has Priority Pass, but I don't use it since I have other cards with better Priority Pass perks.  (I understand there is an AF charged now in some cases, but I seem to be grandfathered in for no AF.)

Who wants to go next?

[DakotaM]

I have two.

First is the UMB Simply Rewards for unlimited 3% back at gas stations, grocery stores, discount stores, and restaurants.  I especially like that it gets 3% on both groceries and discount stores, so I know I'll always get 3% no matter what a specific Walmart or Target decides it wants to be.  I also used to get 0% balance transfer offers from them for 15 months with a 3% fee.  I haven't gotten those offers recently but they seem tied to higher use of the card.

Second is the Redstone FCU Visa Signature.  A relatively new card mentioned fairly regularly on here but not widely known.  Lots of categories: 5% on restaurants and gas; 3% on groceries, discount stores, wholesale clubs, utilities, phone and streaming services.  Each category generously has its own individual $7k per year cap.  All that is on top of 1.5% back on everything else and one year extended warranty benefit.  It makes a pretty strong case for being your 'everything card'.

[ptatohed]

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@TheDude wrote:

Hi there, I'm wondering if anyone on here has compiled a recent list of lesser known credit cards worth getting and/or keeping. 

By lesser known, I mean excluding all the majors (American Express, Chase, Citi, Discover, Capital One, US Bank, Barclays, Wells Fargo, Bank Of America--not sure if I am missing any here). 

These might be regional/smaller banks or credit unions.  They tend to be lesser known, because they get little or no marketing--you might have found out about it by accident or by word of mouth.  It could be a card you use a lot, or maybe not so much but it offers an occasional benefit that makes it a no-brainer to keep.

If no such list exists, I would like to hear from the folks on here what cards they currently have which fit this profile, and why they like the card.

I will go first with one of the cards I have.  I have the PenFed Pathfinder Rewards Visa.  I don't use it a lot, but since it has no AF, but it offers a $100 annual travel credit, and reimbursement for Global Entry.  It also has Priority Pass, but I don't use it since I have other cards with better Priority Pass perks.  (I understand there is an AF charged now in some cases, but I seem to be grandfathered in for no AF.)

Who wants to go next?

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This is a nice topic.  I would suggest we open it up to the big banks and CUs too, as there might be some cards from those issuers that are lesser known.  As for me, I'd say maybe my nusenda CU card.  5% rotating cats.  It's helpful since they often have cats that differ from Chase or Disco.  

[30mm_goes_BRRRT]

I think the USAA Cashback Rewards Plus doesn't get the love it deserves. It was my first ever CC, and gives 5% gas up to $3k spend per year. 

[Wu-Credit]

My recently approved Gemini card. I like the 4% gas and 3% dining back in crypto of choice, and no FTF is sweet for traveling abroad. It's the perfect filler (along with the CCC) when Discover rotates. It's also my only metal card.

[Anonymous]

Niche use case, but Citizens mastercard.   Well, it often has a good sign up, uncapped 5% on all for a few months when I got it.

It's just a 1.8% CB card, wish it was 2%, but for me it appears to do very little checking with pesky little things like billing address.  So very useful on foreign web sites who don't offer US addresses as options.  So long as number/exp/CVV are correct, it seems to go through, at least for me.

Which sucks for online  if someone finds your card......   but I still like it!

[fred-7388]

AAA Daily Advantage (5% groceries) or Travel (5% gas or EVs) - both with a $7k yearly cap on their 5 and 3 percent categories. It's comenity bank and they have a bad rep, but it's comparable to other cards by big banks in this cash back structure. 

[unsungivy]

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@Wu-Credit wrote:

My recently approved Gemini card. I like the 4% gas and 3% dining back in crypto of choice, and no FTF is sweet for traveling abroad. It's the perfect filler (along with the CCC) when Discover rotates. It's also my only metal card.

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Yar, my Gemini as well. I expect it will see more use in the near future now that Curve is dead (because the physical Gemini card will moved to my wallet for sexiness).

Also Affinity FCU. I can't really "sell" it anymore since they mixed the Hi5, but 🤷‍♀️ I feel like I will find a use for it.

[DoppelgangerD]

The Kroger card and all of its sister cards are a good example IMHO.

I only recently found out about them and keep debating on having P2 open a Harris Teeter one.

I'm hesitant for myself due to opening 3 accounts already in last 3 months.

Anyway, 5% cash back on mobile wallet spending up to $500 per month, plus other smaller perks.

You could easily do any other categories not covered by other cards @5%, like your fav dept or discount store.

Just seems like a no-brainer for an easy potential $25 per month of free money.

[Guyatthebeach]

I have 3 cards that are from credit unions:

1. Redstone Signature Visa offers 5% cash back on gas and restaurants and 3% on utilities. I also like their rewards platform, because you can see the points per transaction. 

2. SCSCU Platinum Visa had a 9.49% APR(it used to be 8.99 but was raised to 9.49 last year). It's great for carrying balances and 0 fee BT's.

3. SDFCU Premium Cash Back+ Signature  Visa. This card offers 2% cash back with no limits. The minimum redemption is only $5.00, which is awesome in my opinion. This is the card I use for all other transactions that do t find any of my other reward cards.

Guyatthebeach