“OG” Smartly card holders check-in

[NoHardLimits]

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@unsungivy wrote:

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I manage P2's card... slipped my radar to apply for CLIs on the USB cards. So I did it just now, back to back.

USB Smartly v1.0 15k > 20k

USBAR 10k > 15k

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Thanks for the data points.  It's good to know that US Bank is still willing to approve CLIs for grandfathered cards.

[G2244]

Checking in. I got this card as my catch all "everything else" card. My plan for 2025 (which has been mostly executed) was to get down to 2 or so issuers and make my financial hobby stay lucrative, but also be far less complex with a focus on fewer cards at fewer issuers. Other than the seemingly constant barrage of US Bank changing the rules, cutting benefits on other cards, and the general fear that they nerf my precious (USBAR), I am pretty happy in the tidy garden I have created. As it was before, the vast majorty of my spend still goes to USBAR via mobile wallet spend, so the Smartly is getting most of whatever is left. As others have mentioned, the biggest benefit aside from the cash back is the ease for P2 - if somewhere accepts mobile wallet - USBAR, if not - Smartly. P2 is a much happier camper with these 2 simple rules.

All that said, I am trying my best to appease my US Bank overlords. They are now my primary day to day financial institution and I am at their highest relationship tier (thanks to ROTH IRA). Other than my one time Federal Tax payment back in March when much of the noise surfaced about how they were not happy wth their monster they created, I am taking a steady approach and tring to stay under the radar. I will continue to pay insurance bills, etc. as long as they bonus us OGers but I also pay all my USB cards from my USB checking. Not sure that matters but if someone were to look, I am a true "relationship" customer. They just aren't making any money off of me either as I cut off that last chance by closing my HELOC that they now refuse to discount the annual fee in any way.

To summarize, still a big fan, but also realistic that this is likely to change at some point. Enjoying each day for what it is unitl then (and quietly developing a Plan B for when USB ruins it).

[creditrizz]

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@unsungivy wrote:

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@creditrizz wrote:

This thread reminded me - are people still getting CLI's on these Smartly v1.0 cards?  I'm approaching around 6 months from my last one and wondering if they've tightened it up due to the cost to USB of people spending on these.

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I manage P2's card... slipped my radar to apply for CLIs on the USB cards. So I did it just now, back to back.

USB Smartly v1.0 15k > 20k

USBAR 10k > 15k

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Excellent, thanks for the info

[NoMoreE46]

haha- I have friend that leaves a  "use this CC for X" cheat sheet for his DW too.    

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@ptatohed wrote:

I got it for the non-cat un-capped 4% cash back.  My wife never liked the sticky note cheat sheet in her purse that changed every 3 months.  I essentially let her use the 4% for everything (even if it could earn 5%) and she loves it.  I continue to juggle (I enjoy it) and get 5% where/when I can but love earning 4% vs 3% ($1500/mo capped AOD) on all non-cat spend.  It's also very cool to be able to pay for things that have a credit card processing fee and know you're still earning 2%ish.  

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[NoMoreE46]

Envious of the AR which never came onto my wishlist until it was too late.

We have the  Smartly and Cash +.   If we had gotten the AR, we could probably be holding a tidy six cards for Everything.

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@G2244 wrote:

Checking in. I got this card as my catch all "everything else" card. My plan for 2025 (which has been mostly executed) was to get down to 2 or so issuers and make my financial hobby stay lucrative, but also be far less complex with a focus on fewer cards at fewer issuers. Other than the seemingly constant barrage of US Bank changing the rules, cutting benefits on other cards, and the general fear that they nerf my precious (USBAR), I am pretty happy in the tidy garden I have created. As it was before, the vast majorty of my spend still goes to USBAR via mobile wallet spend, so the Smartly is getting most of whatever is left. As others have mentioned, the biggest benefit aside from the cash back is the ease for P2 - if somewhere accepts mobile wallet - USBAR, if not - Smartly. P2 is a much happier camper with these 2 simple rules.

All that said, I am trying my best to appease my US Bank overlords. They are now my primary day to day financial institution and I am at their highest relationship tier (thanks to ROTH IRA). Other than my one time Federal Tax payment back in March when much of the noise surfaced about how they were not happy wth their monster they created, I am taking a steady approach and tring to stay under the radar. I will continue to pay insurance bills, etc. as long as they bonus us OGers but I also pay all my USB cards from my USB checking. Not sure that matters but if someone were to look, I am a true "relationship" customer. They just aren't making any money off of me either as I cut off that last chance by closing my HELOC that they now refuse to discount the annual fee in any way.

To summarize, still a big fan, but also realistic that this is likely to change at some point. Enjoying each day for what it is unitl then (and quietly developing a Plan B for when USB ruins it).

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[NoMoreE46]

Thanks for your details @digitek.

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@digitek wrote:

I pretty much just use 2 cards anymore, both from US Bank. Altitude Reserve gets all travel and in person transactions that take mobile wallet, Smartly gets everything else. Insurance, taxes, tuition, lots of utilitiy bills, almost anything online that isn't Amazon.

I also get some decent cash back from the Smartly cash back and regular cash back deals they have, I think its about $150 already this year from those.

I'm not sure how much longer the v1.0 will last, but the v1.1 is straight dog **bleep** and if we get moved to that version I'll close it all down.

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[creditrizz]

V1.0 Smartly is most valuable thing gifted to mankind since the bitcoin

[NoMoreE46]

There havent been reports that US Bank has not honored the T&C for v1.0  folks.

My semi annual auto policy will be due

in Sept so I will try to report  thereafter.

To date, I have gotten back ~ $1,035 from this card  🤭.

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@ptatohed wrote:

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@Gregory1776 wrote:

V1.0. Can I still charge and get 3% on insurance?

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Yes, I believe so (for now).  

[AskPatient1281]

Apparently V1 will change. Not a total nerf, but still significant.

[NoHardLimits]

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@AskPatient1281 wrote:

Apparently V1 will change. Not a total nerf, but still significant.

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Any details to share?

Nevermind, I saw your other thread.