All,
I am considering a card for my non category spending, and I am down to the SDFCU Cash Back + (2%) and the Citizens Cash Back Plus (1.8%). Based on my analysis, the difference will be about $50 cash back per year.
To get the credit card, do you have to have activity on a savings account or checking account - I know you need to open one to get the card, but I am happy with my current bank, and don't want to move money areound for a credit card. Could I just leave it open with no activity?
I know the app for Citizens is not very robust but will give me email notification when a charge hits. Looks like the SDFCU card will as well - can someone confirm this and do they also do text messages? With the SDFCU can you see pending transactions on line?
I am not near their branches, so I know there is a risk that they will not be able to verify my information for application which will result in a denial. My address matches on my credit reports and will match my pay stubs, so it may not be an issue.
The only hard pull I have is my Amex BCP which is from 1 year ago.
I would have to join the ACC since I do not meet any other criteria, but I am ok with this.
Thanks for the help
Thanks Xatos. When I talked to the branch they said they may be able to do a soft pull, which would be a plus
Hi Bergides,
I have the SDFCU card. In order to join the Credit Union you have to open a "Regular Share Savings Account", which is typical for all credit unions, it is like your buy-in. You just have to keep $5 in there. There is one thing I really don't like about the card, though, and it is that you can't setup auto-payment from an external account to pay the Credit Card bill. You can pay the bill from an external account, but not set it up for auto-pay from that external account. You can setup scheduled payments from an external account, but not like a normal CC where it will just pull the amount owed on the day it is due. I like to push money to the regular share from my main checking account at USAA, SDFCU's external transcations take longer, and then pay the CC from the regular share savings account.
You can setup text and email alerts for any transactions on the card.
I have the Chip+PIN priority version of it, which doesn't do much in the states since it can be bypassed easily on terminals here, but I guess would be helpful elsewhere if needed. It has no FTF and $250 worth of cell phone insurance.
I like it and have had no issues with it. They are a really conservative lender overall and are good to get in with. I also have a HELOC through them, too.
Oh, and I recommend joining the CU first and then applying for the credit card. I did both at the same time and it caused some issues. You can join the CU by being a member of Consumer Council, which is free.
Thanks digitek. If I go with SDFCU, I would join first based on what I have read in the forums. I pay my CC bills once the statement cuts, so I am ok with not being able to setup auto pay.
If I wanted to pay part of the balance a couple of days before the statement cuts, would the SDFCU pull for the money happen in a business day or does it usually take longer? If I have a busy month, I like to pay the balance down to keep the utilization in check.
Their pull takes a day longer on average than when I push it from USAA. I usually keep extra money in the regular share savings and then top it off every once in a while.
I pay off every 2 weeks and have had no issues.
Thanks digitek.