The Provident Credit Union World+ Travel Visa Signature is an obscure travel-related credit card. It’s notable for including Priority Pass and Global Entry reimbursements for an unusually low annual fee. It also has perks which rival Visa Infinite cards.
Provident is a California-based credit union with semi-limited membership. They launched this card in 2018.
FEATURES AT A GLANCE
- $45 annual fee (waived the first year)
- No foreign transaction fees
- 2x points on travel (including hotels, rideshare, and public transportation)
- 2x points on dining (including restaurants and coffee shops)
- 1x points on everything else
- $100 credit towards Global Entry or TSA PreCheck (once every 4 years)
SIGN UP BONUS
You can earn 20,000 bonus points after spending $3,500 in 60 days. This should be worth $200. If so, it’s a weak offer, with a mere 5.7% RoS (Return on Spend). Cards which offer a $200 sign-up bonus (SUB) typically have spending requirements as low as $500 (and 90 days to meet the spend).
The card also has 0% APR for 12 months.
There’s also an offer to earn a $300 sign-up bonus for opening a checking account with Provident Credit Union. “To be eligible, you must open one of the following checking accounts: Super Reward Checking, Provident Checking or Simply Free Checking.” Then maintain an “active account” for at least 2 months: “Your account is deemed active by: (1) making purchases of $400 or more using a debit and/or credit card per month, AND (2) performing monthly direct deposits or automatic credits of at least $500 into your checking account, AND (3) enrolling in Provident’s online banking service and e-Documents with valid e-mail address.”
OTHER BENEFITS OF THE PROVIDENT WORLD+ TRAVEL CARD
Visa Signature benefits, including:
- Travel and Emergency Assistance Services
- Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver (Secondary)
- Roadside Dispatch (standard $70 Visa pre-negotiated rate)
- Hotel Theft Protection ($1,500 coverage)
- Emergency Medical/Dental Benefit ($2,500 coverage)
- Travel Accident Insurance ($250,000 coverage)
- Baggage Loss/Damage Insurance ($3,000 coverage)
- Baggage Delay Insurance ($300 coverage)
- Trip Delay Insurance ($300 coverage)
- Trip Cancellation / Interruption Insurance ($2,000 coverage per trip)
- Medical Evacuation and Repatriation ($50,000 coverage)
- Zero Liability Fraud Protection
- Basic-tier Priority Pass (normally $99 per year)
- Free basic NortonLifeLock
Full Visa Signature details are listed in their benefits guide.
RESTRICTIONS AND CREDIT SCORE
Recommended credit score: 670+
Since this is a Visa Signature card, you must be eligible for a minimum credit line of $5,000.
There are restrictions as to who can join the credit union. Read through the options to see if anything applies to you. In general, this meant for California residents. The new checking account bonus, for example, says “You must be a new Provident Credit Union member, 18 or older and reside in one of the following counties in California: Alameda, Contra Costa, El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento, San Mateo, Santa Clara, and San Francisco.”
MAXIMIZING REWARDS WITH THE PROVIDENT WORLD+ TRAVEL CARD
You can redeem points for statement credit, merchandise, travel, or gift cards. Points are presumably worth $0.01 (1 cpp or One Cent Per Point) in most circumstances. Note that points are unlimited and expire after 5 years.
Provident allows for bonus earnings if you shop through their website: “Earn additional bonus points shopping through the CURewards Mall.” Current examples include earning 5x points instead of 1x points for purchases at CVS or Macy’s.
ALTERNATIVES TO THE PROVIDENT WORLD+ TRAVEL
Penfed Pathfinder is the closest no-fee equivalent for travel. Penfed lacks some features (trip cancellation insurance, emergency evacuation, hotel theft protection, etc) but its Visa Signature benefits are decent overall.
The closest low-fee competitor is probably the Chase Sapphire Preferred or Bank of America Premium Travel Rewards. Provident’s perks are generally better though.
If you spend at least $400 per year on travel, the Capital One Venture X could be better. It’s effectively fee-free for many travelers, has good benefits, and out-earns Provident.
For a general-use card, any of the best everyday cards will work. You’ll want to earn at least 2% cash back on all purchases.
CONCLUSION
Provident Credit Union’s World+ Travel credit card doesn’t have the best rates for earning points, but the Visa Signature benefits are considerable. Even some luxury cards don’t have all of these perks. It’s similar to buying travel insurance separately. Certainly worth a $45 annual fee. However, these are limited to travel perks. World+ has zero benefits for everyday purchases, such as purchase protection or extended warranty.
The World+ is best for low spenders who’d buy separate travel insurance and don’t already have a travel card. If you don’t use the World+ for your traveling, you might not be able to use its insurance benefits. Check Visa’s terms and conditions for details.
Frequent travelers may be better off with premium cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve. Points enthusiasts may prefer a card with higher earning potential. So overall, Provident’s card comes down to personal preferences.
We rate the Provident World+ 4 out of 5 stars. ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Note: This review was last updated in June 2022. Details may have changed since then. Please do your own research where applicable, to ensure you’re getting the best deal. Or contact us directly to benefit from our personalized consulting services!