@Taurus22 wrote:@JNA1 Yep, I just finished reading the entire 71 page thread lol. Already bookmarked some of those, going back to look at the other benefits of the FI's. It's strange how closely all this is tied together for me....Just so happens this thread popped up at the same time.
I've already been looking for another CU to join, but I'm trying to check all these boxes:
1) CU must be in the Shared Co-Op and not geo-fenced (I'm in SC)
2) CU must offer the MaxCash MC version for the Phone Protection
3) CU hopefully has 2%+ APY dividend Checking and/or Savings accounts or some other benefit than just the CC
And it is surprisingly difficult to check all those boxes....I've been digging through the https://www.creditunionsonline.com/search_usa.html list state-by-state for the past 2 days trying to find one that comes the closest. That Greater Nevada CU you listed looks promising....checking it out next.
From what I understand, you don't have to be member of any CU or bank to get any of the MCP cards you want, but you could only redeem the rewards as a statement credit if you didn't have a deposit account with the FI.
@JNA1 Yeah, but I'd rather have the relationship I think. Like I say, I've already been looking for a new CU anyway. Going to eventually drop my regional bank and stick strictly with CU's. And if I can find a CU that checks the boxes, then I'm getting more than just the CC out of it.
AOD and AffinityFCU check other boxes than just the amazing CC's they offer.....that's why I jumped all over those. Probably going to finance my new truck through Affinity....fantastic auto rates and they have the 2% APY Savings. AOD has 1.75% APY Checking....was 2.5% when the myFICO wave hit them....I think they nerfed it because of that.
On Deck: Possibly Aven 3% Visa
@Taurus22 wrote:@JNA1 Yeah, but I'd rather have the relationship I think. Like I say, I've already been looking for a new CU anyway. Going to eventually drop my regional bank and stick strictly with CU's. And if I can find a CU that checks the boxes, then I'm getting more than just the CC out of it.
AOD and AffinityFCU check other boxes than just the amazing CC's they offer.....that's why I jumped all over those. Probably going to finance my new truck through Affinity....fantastic auto rates and they have the 2% APY Savings. AOD has 1.75% APY Checking....was 2.5% when the myFICO wave hit them....I think they nerfed it because of that.
I gotcha! Let me know what you find. I want to get a MC version of MCP card for cell phone protection myself. I'm probably CU heavy, but I recently paid off a car loan through Grow, and I haven't really done anything with PenFed or Alliant except throw a little cash in a savings account to build a relationship. When I joined PenFed and Alliant, I planned on trying to get the PCR and Alliant Sig VISA, but the AOD card kinda blew up those plans. 😂
I've been with my local CU forever, but I use the AOD, NFCU, and Affinity the most moment.
@JNA1 I'll definitely let you know. That Greater Nevada CU isn't looking bad at all. They are in the Shared Co-Op, just going to depend on if I can bypass the geofence. I don't see any alternate ways to join, so I'm going to have to call and dig for some info.
All of this will do a lot of things for me...
1) I'll be able to join another CU with good benefits
2) If the Elan MaxCash offers me an SL of at least $8000, I won't need the Uber card for Phone Protection anymore and can finally close that daggum thing without affecting my overall CL
3) I'll be able to leave my main bank and close my oldest CC. Been waiting for my other cards to age so I can do that. The bank requires a HP to get a CLI on that starter card, so I've never bothered since I never use it anymore.
4) Unrelated - I'm also doing PC for the Citi Custom Cash when/if it comes available, and app'ing for the USB AltGo to shore up all my Restaurant/Fast Food/Bar & Pub needs
So I'm going to be actively reading and posting a lot in the coming few months and making sure I time everything out effectively. This phone protection post just coincided perfectly, made me start digging, and tied a few things together for me. Pretty awesome. 
@Anonymous wrote:
@Taurus22 wrote:
Let's see: My phone bill is $108 monthly ($1296/year) @5% = $64.80 cashback
vs. the extra $200 in coverage from CFF
Hmmm.....that's a conundrum. In the event I never have to use the insurance, I lose almost $65 in CB. But in the event I need to use the benefit, I would come out ahead......
FWIW, remember that with the CFF you also get some cashback, a minimum of $12.96 (and potentially more if you get a transfer/PYB card). But if as you say you rarely break phones, the 5% on the bill from MaxCash is probably going to be more attractive.
Remember though that cell phone insurance via credit card has a lot of constraints, at least officially.
Yep. You have to read the fine print on their qualifications, and the damage has to fall into their "criteria".
And NFCU cashRewards actually had the strongest cashback 1.5% + $600 Protection until I discovered the Max Cash MC also covered it. The CFF's strongest point is the extra $200 coverage, but lacking the additional cashback.
@coldfusion wrote:
@JNA1 wrote:
@Taurus22 wrote:@JNA1 Yep, I just finished reading the entire 71 page thread lol. Already bookmarked some of those, going back to look at the other benefits of the FI's. It's strange how closely all this is tied together for me....Just so happens this thread popped up at the same time.
I've already been looking for another CU to join, but I'm trying to check all these boxes:
1) CU must be in the Shared Co-Op and not geo-fenced (I'm in SC)
2) CU must offer the MaxCash MC version for the Phone Protection
3) CU hopefully has 2%+ APY dividend Checking and/or Savings accounts or some other benefit than just the CC
And it is surprisingly difficult to check all those boxes....I've been digging through the https://www.creditunionsonline.com/search_usa.html list state-by-state for the past 2 days trying to find one that comes the closest. That Greater Nevada CU you listed looks promising....checking it out next.
From what I understand, you don't have to be member of any CU or bank to get any of the MCP cards you want, but you could only redeem the rewards as a statement credit if you didn't have a deposit account with the FI.
I'd think one would have a hard time finding a credit union that would allow the issuance of a card to a non-member.
Absolutely not true for these Max Cash cards being handled by Elan. The credit unions have almost nothing to do with it, other than their names on them. Elan is the insurer... and if the contract between Elan and the CU is severed, the CCs still exist under just Elan.
Sock - 
Chopping Block - 
Debit Cards - 
@unsungivy wrote:
@coldfusion wrote:
@JNA1 wrote:
@Taurus22 wrote:@JNA1 Yep, I just finished reading the entire 71 page thread lol. Already bookmarked some of those, going back to look at the other benefits of the FI's. It's strange how closely all this is tied together for me....Just so happens this thread popped up at the same time.
I've already been looking for another CU to join, but I'm trying to check all these boxes:
1) CU must be in the Shared Co-Op and not geo-fenced (I'm in SC)
2) CU must offer the MaxCash MC version for the Phone Protection
3) CU hopefully has 2%+ APY dividend Checking and/or Savings accounts or some other benefit than just the CC
And it is surprisingly difficult to check all those boxes....I've been digging through the https://www.creditunionsonline.com/search_usa.html list state-by-state for the past 2 days trying to find one that comes the closest. That Greater Nevada CU you listed looks promising....checking it out next.
From what I understand, you don't have to be member of any CU or bank to get any of the MCP cards you want, but you could only redeem the rewards as a statement credit if you didn't have a deposit account with the FI.
I'd think one would have a hard time finding a credit union that would allow the issuance of a card to a non-member.
Absolutely not true for these Max Cash cards being handled by Elan. The credit unions have almost nothing to do with it, other than their names on them. Elan is the insurer... and if the contract between Elan and the CU is severed, the CCs still exist under just Elan.
This is how I understand it as well, although I was like @coldfusion and was surprised to see that was the case.
@Taurus22 wrote:@JNA1 I'll definitely let you know. That Greater Nevada CU isn't looking bad at all. They are in the Shared Co-Op, just going to depend on if I can bypass the geofence. I don't see any alternate ways to join, so I'm going to have to call and dig for some info.
Here you go. https://online1.elancard.com/oad/begin?locationCode=26953
Just go down to the correct card type option.