Review: Citi Premier

⭐⭐, Credit Card Reviews /

The Citi Premier Mastercard is a mid-tier credit card which earns cash back in popular categories. The card can pay for itself, but since it competes with no-fee cards, the value is questionable. Premier may have more limited applications than similar cards. It isn’t a must-have for most wallets despite appearing decent on the surface. Its main draw is the consistently large sign-up bonus and transfer partners.

FEATURES AT A GLANCE

  • $95 annual fee
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • 3x points on airlines and hotels
  • 3x points on dining
  • 3x points on groceries (excluding delivery)
  • 3x points on gas
  • 1x points on everything else
  • $100 Annual Hotel Savings Benefit

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Review: Chase Sapphire Preferred

⭐⭐⭐, Credit Card Reviews /

The Chase Sapphire Preferred (CSP) Visa Signature is a mid-tier credit card which earns cash back on multiple categories. It was refreshed around early 2022 to add new perks and ways to earn more points. CSP has a low annual fee and may appear more attractive than the Chase Sapphire Reserve (CSR). It does however share some features with no-fee cards like the Chase Freedom Flex, making the value uncertain.

FEATURES AT A GLANCE

  • $95 annual fee
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • 5x points on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards (flights, hotels, car rentals)
  • 3x points on dining/restaurants, including delivery and takeout
  • 3x points on select streaming
  • 3x points on online grocery purchases
  • 2x points on travel
  • 1x points on everything else
  • $50 annual hotel credit

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Should You Carry A Balance On Your Credit Cards? No.

Personal Finance /

Whenever you receive a credit card bill, pay it in full. On time, every time.

An unfounded rumor claims that people should carry a balance on their cards from month-to-month to improve their credit. Unfortunately, this is factually and morally incorrect. The “advice” can potentially damage your credit score. Plus, you’ll pay hundreds or thousands of dollars in interest each year. Credit card interest is higher than other types of common debt.

It’s true that there are small tips to “optimize” your credit score. However, they’re often unimportant. Your credit score will be good enough if you manage credit responsibly, and it’s unnecessary to achieve perfect scores. Small amounts of effort may have the greatest impact.

The “carry a balance” rumor may be a misinterpretation of the “all zero except one” (AZEO) strategy.

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Review: Bank of America Premium Rewards

⭐⭐⭐, Credit Card Reviews /

The Bank of America Premium Rewards Visa Signature is a mid-tier travel-focused credit card. It’s a fair option for casual travelers since the card can pay for itself. However, it’s best if you’re enrolled in the Preferred Rewards program. Anyone who isn’t in that program may be better served with other credit cards.

FEATURES AT A GLANCE

  • $95 annual fee
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • 2x points on travel
  • 2x points on dining
  • 1.5x points on everything else
  • $100 annual airline incidental credit
  • $100 credit towards Global Entry or TSA PreCheck (once every 4 years)

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The 10 Best Credit Cards for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck

Credit Card Roundups, Reference /

What is Global Entry and TSA PreCheck?

The US government has five “trusted traveler” programs. They expedite border crossings and airport customs. If you travel at least once a year, this might be worth considering. Even occasional travelers can save a lot of time.

The programs (Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, SENTRI, NEXUS, FAST) are “risk-based programs to facilitate the entry of pre-approved travelers.” After applying for membership to one, the government can look into your background and interview you. It’s a simple process and doesn’t take much time, although it may take a while for the government to process your paperwork. Memberships are valid for 5 years once approved.

A private option is CLEAR. They use biometric data (your face and eyes) to create a touch-free ID pass, which can be used at airports to quickly go through airport security. It can be combined with TSA PreCheck for extra speed. It’s available in 34 cities as of early 2022, and costs up to $180 per year. (It’s free or discounted through Delta, United, or the American Express Platinum card.)

Which program should you enroll in?

The best one depends on where and how you travel. Eligibility also varies between programs.

  • TSA PreCheck is for domestic airline travel within the U.S.
  • NEXUS is for air/land/sea travel within the U.S. and Canada.
  • SENTRI covers air and land travel within the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.
  • Global Entry covers all air/land/sea travel.

SENTRI and FAST don’t apply to most people, and they don’t have their fees covered by credit cards, so we won’t discuss those options here.

If in doubt, apply for Global Entry. It’s the most comprehensive option, and it includes TSA PreCheck. But if you never travel outside of North America, it might be better to get NEXUS or SENTRI (which also include TSA PreCheck).

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Travel Insurance and Purchase Protections On Top Premium Credit Cards

Credit Card Roundups /

Credit cards with high annual fees usually get attention for their points-earning potential and travel/lifestyle perks like lounge access. But they tend to include great benefits which can be overlooked. If you want peace of mind while traveling and making retail purchases, the below list is for you.

These metal cards all include features such as trip cancellation or interruption insurance, trip delay reimbursement, lost luggage reimbursement, rental vehicle insurance, travel and emergency assistance, purchase security, extended warranty service, and return protection. They also have variations of Priority Pass access and Global Entry reimbursement.

Most Visa Infinite cards have similar benefits. It does vary by issuer though. Some benefits are listed below as “N/A” to show that similar cards may offer that benefit. It’s a quick comparison tool. As of February 2021, most Visa cards should include free NortonLifeLock ID Navigator. This service has dark web monitoring and more, similar to existing free services through issuers like Discover and Capital One. Visa Infinite cardholders also get special discounts/offers with companies like Shipt, Sofar Sounds, and Skillshare. These perks were added around the same time.

Note: Details here are current as of early 2022 and are subject to change.

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Review: Chase Freedom Flex

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐, Credit Card Reviews /

The Chase Freedom Flex (CFF) Mastercard is a rotating-category card like the Discover It Cash Back. Both earn a limited 5% cash back on select quarterly categories. However, CFF adds bonus categories for enhanced year-round rewards, and points are worth much more through the ”Chase Trifecta.” Chase and Discover are a good team whenever their categories don’t overlap. If the Freedom Flex sounds familiar, it might be because it’s an upgrade of the bank’s older rotating-category card (Chase Freedom Visa).

FEATURES AT A GLANCE

  • No annual fee
  • 3% foreign transaction fee
  • 5x points on rotating quarterly categories (on up to $1,500 in spending)
  • 5x points on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards (flights, hotels, car rentals)
  • 3x points at restaurants (including takeout and delivery)
  • 3x points at drugstores and pharmacies
  • 1x points on everything else
  • Chase Offers

Click here for 2024 categories.
Click here for 2023 categories.

Categories typically look like:

  • Q1 Jan-March: Grocery stores or gas stations, plus 1-2 other categories
  • Q2 April-June: Amazon plus streaming/retail
  • Q3 July-Sept: Gas stations or grocery stores plus entertainment/streaming
  • Q4 Oct-Dec: Paypal plus Walmart or wholesale clubs or department stores

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10+ Banking Solutions Without Fees or Minimum Balance Requirements

Personal Finance, Reference /

Checking accounts aren’t always cheap or easy to use, despite their importance. We’ve compiled a quick list of popular solutions. Americans lose billions every year through monthly maintenance fees, overdraft fees, or miscellaneous charges. Banks are starting to eliminate or reduce fees yet it can still add up. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) reported a couple of months ago that “Banks continue to rely heavily on overdraft and non-sufficient funds (NSF) revenue, which reached an estimated $15.47 billion in 2019.” The middle class and lower class are losing out on opportunities. The FDIC says that over 7 million American adults don’t have a bank account. The most-cited reason why: because they can’t afford minimum balance requirements.

The below list has some no-fee options, which can help you avoid the worst outcomes; these accounts don’t require minimum balances either. Some are banks while others are fintechs (financial technology companies) who partner with banks. Note that this isn’t a top 10; it’s a somewhat subjective list, which may change in the future. The below options are in alphabetical order and we don’t recommend or endorse any specific product(s) here. Also be sure to opt out of “overdraft protection” when opening an account, if the option pops up during registration.

And check your local area for alternatives to big banks. Smaller credit unions typically don’t have big fees. This can save a lot of money in the long run.

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United Nations Federal Credit Union (UNFCU): Credit Cards and How To Join

Credit Card Reviews, Credit Card Roundups /

The United Nations Federal Credit Union (UNFCU) is a New York based cooperative which is somewhat open to everyone. Membership is primarily for United Nations employees or volunteers and their families, but unaffiliated people can join UNFCU by simultaneously joining an affiliate organization. As of 2021-2022, there are two options:

  • The United Nations Association of the United States of America (UNA-USA) costs $0 if you’re 25 or younger; otherwise it’s at least $50 per year ($25 for the first year). UNA has a Lifetime membership for $1,000 (equivalent to $20 per year for 50 years).
  • Kilimanjaro Initiative USA (KI-USA) costs $0 if you’re a student, otherwise it’s $25 per year.

You can join during the UNFCU application process or do it on your own. We haven’t verified yet if UNA/KI membership can be a one-time cost or must be maintained indefinitely to retain UNFCU membership.

UNFCU’s checking account has no significant fees or minimum balance requirements, and can earn up to 1% APY. There’s an inactivity fee for accounts that have 2+ years of zero transactions.

The main benefit we’ll explore here is their two credit cards. Both have a $100 sign-up bonus (SUB) after spending $2,000 in 4 months, plus 0% APR for 6-12 months.

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Review: Chase Freedom Unlimited

⭐⭐⭐⭐, Credit Card Reviews /

Chase Freedom Unlimited (CFU) is a general-use no-fee credit card with extra opportunities for rewards. Although the card is advertised as a cash back card, it really earns points (Chase Ultimate Rewards, or “UR” for short). This is important because of the “Chase Trifecta” rewards strategy. CFU earns at least 1.5% cash back on all purchases and can earn much more.

FEATURES AT A GLANCE

  • No annual fee
  • 3% foreign transaction fee
  • 5x points on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards (flights, hotels, car rentals)
  • 3x points at restaurants (including takeout and delivery)
  • 3x points at drugstores and pharmacies
  • 1.5x points on everything else
  • Chase Offers

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