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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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Review: Chase Freedom Unlimited

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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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Benefits and Differences Between Visa Traditional, Signature, and Infinite

Reference /

Visa has a number of different card types. Their website breaks these down into 3 main categories: Traditional, Signature, and Infinite. Although other categories may exist, these are the main consumer cards. Each category of card comes with different perks, although it varies by card issuer. Visa has lists of potential benefits, and it’s up to individual card issuers whether they want to offer a full or partial list.

The base benefits are generally expected from all credit cards. If your card is lost or stolen, you can lock it and/or you won’t be held liable for unauthorized transactions. Other listed benefits can be more or less useful than this. Most modern cards should also have EMV chips, a tap-to-pay feature, and mobile wallet compatibility.

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Review: AOD Federal Credit Union Visa Signature

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Important update as of late 2022: This card is CLOSED to new applications. It isn’t currently available.

The AOD Visa Signature credit card (aka Anniston Ordnance Depot Federal Credit Union Visa) is a high-earning no-fee option for Alabama residents. Some people from out-of-state have been able to get the card, although the potential pathways aren’t guaranteed. AOD has the only credit card which earns an unlimited 3% cash back on everything. No category restrictions or other downsides, aside from the difficulty of getting credit union membership.

FEATURES AT A GLANCE

  • No annual fee
  • No foreign transaction fee
  • 3% cash back on all purchases

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Review: Elan Max Cash Preferred

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The Max Cash Preferred Visa Signature is a “choose your own category” card which offers up to 5% cash back on purchases. You can choose two categories (out of 9 options) to get the 5% earn rate. It’s a slight variation on the U.S. Bank Cash+ card and may be easier to apply for. Max Cash Preferred is available at dozens of credit unions, including Spectra and Valley Bank. Card details are the same regardless of which bank you work with.

Also see: the U.S. Bank Altitude Go and the Elan Everyday Rewards+ Visa Signature.

FEATURES AT A GLANCE

  • No annual fee
  • 2% foreign transaction fee (when paying in U.S. dollars overseas) or 3% foreign transaction fee (when paying via foreign currency)
  • 5% cash back on two categories of your choice (up to $2,000 in combined quarterly spending)
  • 2% cash back on an “everyday” category of your choice
  • 1% cash back on everything else

5% categories:

  1. Recreation – gyms and sporting goods stores (24 Hour Fitness, Equinox, Planet Fitness, Bass Pro Shops, Dick’s, REI, etc.)
  2. Fast Food (Burger King, Chipotle, Subway, etc.)
  3. TV, internet and streaming services (Charter, DISH, Netflix, Spotify, etc.)
  4. Cell phone providers (AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon, etc.)
  5. Home utilities (Duke Energy, Pacific Gas and Electric Company, Waste Management Co., etc.)
  6. Entertainment – select tickets plus theme parks and movie theaters (Ticketmaster, StubHub, Universal Studios, Six Flags, AMC, Fandango, Regal, etc.)
  7. Furniture Stores (Ashley, Ethan Allen, Ikea, etc.)
  8. Department Stores (Bon-Ton, Kohl’s, Macy’s, etc.)
  9. Electronics Stores (Apple Store, Best Buy, Newegg, etc.)

2% categories:

  • Restaurants and Fast Food (IHOP, Outback, Red Lobster, etc.)
  • Gas Stations and Ground Transportation (7-Eleven, QuikTrip, Amtrak, Greyhound, etc.)
  • Grocery Stores and Grocery Delivery (Albertsons, Kroger, Publix, Trader Joe’s, etc.)

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The Top 5+ Cards For Cell Phone Insurance Protection

Credit Card Roundups /

A relatively new feature for credit cards is free cell phone insurance (or it’s called cell phone protection). Several cards currently have it, mostly World Elite Mastercards. Enrollment is easy: just pay your eligible monthly cell phone bill with an eligible credit card.

Most types of major damage, or theft, are covered by this insurance. Phones which become lost or “mysteriously disappear” are not covered. Other exceptions may apply, such as limits to how many phones are covered. Plan details vary, so you’ll have to read the terms and conditions of your card of choice. Some secured cards or student cards may also offer this benefit. Shop around to see which card might be best for you.

Cell phone manufacturers, retailers, and telecommunications providers may offer their own protection plans or warranties. However, they usually come with fees. Google for example offers “protection plans” ranging from $3 to $15 per month, with fees and deductibles ranging from $39 to $199 on top of that. (Plus, some devices aren’t eligible for their plan, and services aren’t available in every state.) If insurance/protection is included in your credit card benefits instead, it’s 100% free and coverage is automatic. You’ll save money while earning cash back from paying your phone bill.

The top 5 personal credit or charge cards, as of 2022, are currently:

 

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Review: U.S. Bank Cash+

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The U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa Signature is a “choose your own category” card which offers up to 5% cash back on purchases. Unlike standard rotating-category cards, you can choose two categories (out of 12 options) to get the 5% earn rate, instead of one random category. You can also look into a close alternative, the Max Cash Preferred, for similar benefits.

FEATURES AT A GLANCE

  • No annual fee
  • 2% foreign transaction fee (when paying in U.S. dollars overseas) or 3% foreign transaction fee (when paying via foreign currency)
  • 5% cash back on two categories of your choice (up to $2,000 in combined quarterly spending)
  • 5% cash back “on prepaid air, hotel and car reservations booked directly in the Rewards Travel Center”
  • 2% cash back on an “everyday” category of your choice
  • 1% cash back on everything else

5% categories:

  1. Gyms and fitness centers (24 Hour Fitness, Equinox, Weight Watchers, etc.)
  2. Fast Food (Burger King, Chipotle, Subway, etc.)
  3. Ground transportation (Amtrak, Greyhound, Lyft, Uber, etc.)
  4. TV, internet and streaming services (Charter, DISH, Netflix, Spotify, etc.)
  5. Cell phone providers (AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon, etc.)
  6. Home utilities (Duke Energy, Pacific Gas and Electric Company, Waste Management Co., etc.)
  7. Movie theaters (AMC, Fandango, Regal, etc.)
  8. Furniture Stores (Ashley, Ethan Allen, Ikea, etc.)
  9. Department Stores (Bon-Ton, Kohl’s, Macy’s, etc.)
  10. Clothing Stores (American Eagle, Banana Republic, Express, etc.)
  11. Electronics Stores (Apple Store, Best Buy, Newegg, etc.)
  12. Sporting Goods Stores (Bass Pro, Cabela’s, Dick’s, etc.)

2% categories:

  • Dining (including delivery services like Doordash and UberEats)
  • Gas (including in-store purchases at locations like 7-Eleven or QuikTrip)
  • Grocery (including delivery services like Instacart and Jet)

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The Top 5 Credit Cards for Amazon Purchases

Credit Card Roundups /

Billions of people visit Amazon each month, so getting a decent cash back rate at Amazon can be fairly important. The company isn’t without controversy, but we’re going to focus solely on cash back credit cards with the below information. Amazon still has more than 200 million Prime members and has been designated America’s most trusted retailer. Note that Amazon frequently has promotions to save even more money.

Outside of these top 5 options (which are all Visa Signature cards), check out our list of the best cards for everyday spending. It’s pretty easy to earn 2% to 5% cash back on all purchases.

 

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Review: Vantage West Connect Rewards

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Vantage West Connect Rewards is a Visa Signature credit card which can earn 5% cash back in select categories. Unfortunately, the card seems to be for southern Arizona residents only. If you’re eligible for the card though, it’s a strong offering for long-term use. The main downside is that 5% cash back is limited to $1,500 in spending per quarter, and you need to manually choose categories each quarter. This is the same limitation of rotating-category cards like the Discover It Cash Back and Chase Freedom Flex.

FEATURES AT A GLANCE

  • No annual fee
  • 1% foreign transaction fee
  • 5% cash back on a category of your choice (9 options, see below)
  • 3% cash back on gas
  • 2% cash back on groceries
  • 1% cash back on everything else

5% eligible categories:

  1. Travel
  2. Restaurants
  3. Utilities (water, cell, electric, etc.)
  4. In-Store Wholesale Purchases (Costco, Sam’s Club, etc.)
  5. Department Stores
  6. Hardware & Home Improvement Stores
  7. Charitable Organizations
  8. Pharmacies & Drug Stores
  9. Amazon.com

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Review: Capital One Venture

⭐⭐, Credit Card Reviews /

The Capital One Venture is a travel-focused card for everyday spending. The card has an annual fee and it can be difficult to optimize rewards, so it’s not for everyone. The pros and cons take more time to weigh compared with other credit cards. It’s a card which is best for people who aren’t loyal to a particular airline or hotel chain. The added flexibility of transferable miles is generally a good thing. Some people may get plenty of value from the Venture card, but other options are usually better, including the new Capital One Venture X. It’ll require a lot of research and travel know-how to truly maximize the Venture.

FEATURES AT A GLANCE

  • $95 annual fee (sometimes waived the first year)
  • Zero foreign transaction fees
  • 5x points on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
  • 2x points on everything else
  • $100 Global Entry credit (once every 4 years)
  • Metal card

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