gas

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: PNC Cash Rewards

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The PNC Cash Rewards Visa is a general credit card for gas and restaurant purchases. It isn’t significantly better than competitors, but it’s better than some. There’s an annual spending limit for bonus categories, so most people will prefer a card for unlimited rewards, even if the limit is high.

FEATURES AT A GLANCE

  • No annual fee
  • 3% foreign transaction fee
  • 4% cash back on gas
  • 3% cash back on restaurants
  • 2% cash back on groceries
  • 1% cash back on everything else

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Credit Card Issuers: SunTrust / Truist (4 Cards Reviewed)

Credit Card Reviews, Credit Card Roundups /

SunTrust (now Truist) is a bank based out of Atlanta. They became Truist after merging with BB&T (Branch Banking and Trust Company). It’s one of the 10 largest U.S. banks, and they offer three credit cards plus a private credit card option. All four cards are unimpressive, but may be worth considering for a year or two.

The three public cards have a “loyalty bonus” of “10%, 25% or 50%, based on your deposit relationship with SunTrust when you redeem rewards directly to a SunTrust Checking, Savings or Money Market account.” Program enrollment requires a checking account. It’s not as good as Bank of America’s Preferred Rewards program.

  • 10% = $0+ in assets
  • 25% = $25-100k in assets
  • 50% = $100k+ in assets

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Review: Citi Custom Cash Card

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐, Credit Card Reviews /

The Citi Custom Cash Card (CCCC) is a no-fee credit card which gives 5% cash back on your top spending category each month. Citi automatically calculates which category you spend the most in, giving you rewards at the end of each billing cycle. It requires zero effort from the cardholder. The Custom Cash is easier to use than competing cards, and may have higher rewards. It’s versatile enough that almost everyone can get use out of it, although it does depend on one’s spending habits.

FEATURES AT A GLANCE

  • No annual fee
  • 3% foreign transaction fee
  • 5% cash back for the first $500 spent each billing cycle in 1 of 10 categories (see below)
  • 1% cash back on everything else

5% eligible categories:

  1. Restaurants/dining
  2. Gas
  3. Grocery stores
  4. “Select travel” (airlines, hotels, cruise lines, travel agencies, etc.)
  5. “Select transit” (car rentals, ferries, trains, taxis, bridge/road tolls, parking lots/garages, bus lines, etc.)
  6. “Select streaming services” (Includes “Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Music, Apple Music, CBS All Access, Disney+, AT&T TV NOW, ESPN+, fuboTV, HBO Max, NBA League Pass, Netflix, Pandora, Showtime, Sling TV, Spotify, Starz, SiriusXM, Vudu, YouTube Red, YouTube TV, and Tidal.”)
  7. Drugstores/pharmacies
  8. Home improvement stores
  9. Fitness clubs
  10. Live entertainment (concerts, theaters, etc.)

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Review: Kroger World Elite Mastercard

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The Kroger World Elite Mastercard is a simple and flexible option for everyday spending. It was updated in late 2021 to add more features and cash back benefits. This was a big upgrade, considering how the old version was outclassed by competitors. The main draw of the Kroger card is now its 5% cash back on all mobile wallet purchases. We’ll explore the pros and cons here, since restrictions apply. Also note that different versions of the card exist with Kroger’s various affiliates (“Kroger Family of Companies Rewards Elite Mastercard”).

FEATURES AT A GLANCE

  • No annual fee
  • No foreign transaction fee
  • 5% cash back on mobile wallet purchases (the first $3,000 spent each year)
  • 3% cash back on dining/gas (the first $6,000 spent each year; feature only available on Kroger Family of Companies variant cards)
  • 2% cash back at Kroger stores
  • 1% cash back on everything else

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Review: American Express Blue Cash Preferred

⭐⭐⭐⭐, Credit Card Reviews /

The American Express Blue Cash Preferred (AMEX BCP) credit card is a mid-tier card for groceries, streaming, and getting around. It can be a decent card for everyday use, and/or a complement for premium cards like the American Express Platinum. The annual fee can effectively pay for itself over time, depending on your spending habits, although other options might be better.

FEATURES AT A GLANCE

  • $95 annual fee (usually waived the first year)
  • 2.7% foreign transaction fee
  • 6% cash back on groceries (up to $6,000 in annual spending, then 1% back)
  • 6% cash back on select streaming
  • 3% cash back on transit
  • 3% cash back on gas
  • 1% cash back on everything else
  • AMEX Offers

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The Top 5 No-Fee Credit Cards For Gas

Credit Card Roundups /

Gas is a spending category which applies to most people. A 2021 CNBC article said the average American household spends $2,218 per year on gas. To maximize cash back rewards without annual fees, we’ll show you the best options here. Even cards with annual fees are rarely as good as these top credit cards.

If you happen to know about a credit card which should be here, feel free to let us know so we can update this list.

Note that gas-station-specific cards are rarely worthwhile, especially when gas prices are high. Sunoco for example gives a perpetual discount of $0.05 per gallon, but if gas is $3 per gallon, 5% cash back cards give triple the value (at $0.15 per gallon). Rewards programs (like through T-Mobile Tuesdays) may give additional discounts.

 

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Review: Navy Federal Credit Union More Rewards American Express

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The Navy Federal Credit Union (NFCU) More Rewards credit card is an uncomplicated card which earns 3% cash back in popular categories. It’s a solid low-maintenance card which most people will find good for everyday spending. it may not have perfect earn rates, but More Rewards has multiple earning categories and great benefits.

FEATURES AT A GLANCE

  • No annual fee
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • 3x points on groceries
  • 3x points on gas
  • 3x points on transit
  • 3x points on dining
  • 1x points on everything else

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Review: Costco Anywhere Visa by Citi

⭐⭐, Credit Card Reviews /

The Costco Anywhere Visa is a basic card with a restrictive rewards program. Although it technically doesn’t have an annual fee, the card is exclusively for Costco members. The credit card has reasonable earn rates for gas, dining, and travel. According to Business Insider, the Costco credit card is one of the most popular cards in terms of interest. Over 900,000 monthly searches are done for information on the card. Unfortunately, its value isn’t as straightforward as it first appears.

FEATURES AT A GLANCE

  • No annual fee (but requires a $60+ Costco membership)
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • 4% cash back on gas (up to $7,000 in annual spending)
  • 3% cash back on dining
  • 3% cash back on eligible travel
  • 2% cash back on Costco purchases
  • 1% cash back on everything else

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