Credit Liftoff

Top Credit Card and Personal Finance News and Reviews

Capital One SavorOne MasterCard $150 Cash Bonus

by Leave a Comment

getmyoffer.capitalone.com

Capital One SavorOne World Elite MasterCard

  • Unlimited 3% cash back on dining and entertainment, 2% on grocery stores
  • Capital One SavorOne World Elite credit score needed? Minimum 660 but 700 or higher is ideal
  • Apply at www.getmyoffer.capitalone.com

The SavorOne Credit Card is a relatively new offering from Capital One. This card caters towards customers who are looking for a card to create lasting memories (as they state) in the form of delicious food and entertainment.  The Savor Card has newly improved unlimited rewards which means there is no cap on the total cash back you can earn making purchases on your credit card.  There are two huge aspects to this card that make it a popular choice (besides the sign-up bonus).  First, the card provides 3% cash back on dining/entertainment.  Second, the card provides 2% cash back on groceries.  Very few credit cards provide this type of cash back program.  Furthermore, all of this is without an annual fee.

Customers may find that they receive an offer to apply for this credit card by mail.  The offer invites them to visit GetMyOffer.CapitalOne.com to retrieve their personal offer.  It is quite easy to access your offer but you will need two important pieces of information only found on the letter you receive.  To apply, you will need your reservation number and your access code.  Once accessing the offer site you will find the following form to complete:

To get started, you will simply enter the 16 digit Reservation Number and the 6 digit Access Code.  These are found on your mail offer and once entered you will be able to pull up your application.  The application can complete in just minutes and most credit decisions will be provided instantly once you submit a full application.  Consumers who have a good FICO Credit Score (greater than 700 for instance) will have a good chance of approval for the Savor One Credit Card by Capital One.

GetMyOffer Capital One

SavorOne $150 Cash Bonus For New Customers

If you have decided you are going to apply for the Savor One Credit Card you need to be aware of the cash bonus available for new customers.  Once you open your new account you will have 3 months to make $500 in purchases on your new Savor Card.  Once completed, you will qualify for the $150 cash bonus.  Overall, this is a very low spending requirement relative to other credit cards.  Because of the cash back and bonus offer, many individuals looking for a new card are strongly considering The Capital One Savor One Card.

GetMyoffer.CapitalOne.com Reviews (Capital One Cards)

To view customer reviews associated with any given Capital One credit card please visit www.capitalone.com/credit-cards/reviews.

And yes these are real reviews by real people based in the United States.

Card Features – Savor One World Elite MasterCard

  • As stated above, this credit card does NOT have an annual fee
  • Customer who travels outside of the United States will enjoy no foreign transaction fees
  • Introductory offers of 0% interest for new purchases and balances transfers may be available
  • Cashback on all purchases – percent cash back as follows
    • 3% Cash Back on Dining/Entertainment
    • 2% Cash Back on Grocery Store Purchases
    • 1% Cash Back on all other purchases
  • Cash Back is unlimited – no caps on the amount you can earn back for your purchases
  • This card is issued back Capital One Bank and is powered by MasterCard

Best Cash Back Credit Cards?

Best Cash Back Credit Cards of 2019: The Ultimate Guide

GetMyOffer.CapitalOne.com Reservation Number Lookup?

Contrary to popular belief Capital One does not offer a tool to look up your Capital One reservation number.

Final Thoughts On The Capital One Savor One Card World Elite MasterCard

For a no annual fee credit card, the Savor One credit card provides extremely competitive cash back categories.  Additionally, the low spending requirement ($500 in 90 days of opening a new account) needed for the $150 cash back bonus makes the bonus very obtainable.  Even individuals who do not have high monthly credit card spending can reach the $500 spending requirement.

www.getmyoffer.capitalone.com

Capital One is well known for providing some of the more popular credit card offers.  If you are not sold on the Savor One MasterCard (perhaps you do not eat out very often, for instance), The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Card provides the same $150 bonus with a $500 spending requirement.  Unlike The SavorOne Card, there are no categories.  The Quicksilver Card provides 1.5% cash back on all purchases.  You can also review some of our other top credit cards picks to find the right card for you.

Capital One Customer Service

  1. Customer service: 1-877-383-4802
  2. Capital One Credit card support: 1-800-227-4825
  3. @CapitalOne

Helpful Links:  GetMyOffer.CapitalOne.com

FirstNationalCC Reviews and Application (First National Bank Visa Credit Cards)

by Leave a Comment

firstnationalcc

First National Bank Visa Credit Card

The FirstNational CC comes with no hidden fees or penalty APR but charges a hefty $75 annual fee.

The card is designed for consumers with less than ideal credit who are looking to improve their credit score via on-time payments.

Visit www.firstnationalcc.com to apply.

Legacy Visa Credit Card Highlights

  1. APR: 29.9%
  2. Starting credit limit of $350 to $1,500, depending on your credit score
  3. Optional PREMIUM Club and Payment Protection Plan membership
  4. A nasty $75 annual fee

Please note the $75 annual fee will be billed at $6.25 per month.

FirstNationalCC Reviews (Legacy Visa Credit Card Review)

Here are what some of the more respected financial credit card blogs have to say about the First National Credit Card…

  • CardCruncher.com: The Legacy Visa Credit Card sounds like a good deal until you start doing the math. There are better cards out there that offer greater rewards for a lower price, and one of these will likely be a better option for you
  • MyFICO Forums:  A laundry list of unhappy customers

Overall a Google search turns up less than desirable reviews.

FirstNationalCC

First National Legacy CC Fees?

  • $25 for returned payments
  • 2% of the amount for cash advances (minimum $20)
  • $20 authorized user fee (optional)
  • $25 for late payments

Should you apply for the Legacy Credit Card from First National?

Unless you’re really hard up for a credit card there are better options available (see below).

FirstNational Card Alternatives

Instead of applying for the Legacy credit card check these offers out first.

The Capital One Secured Mastercard, Discover it Secured (Best for Rewards and upgrading), and the OpenSky Secured Visa Credit Card are all better options vs the Legacy credit card.

FirstNationalCC.com Customer Service

If you do happen to apply for the card here is their customer service information…

  • Payment Address: First National Credit Card PO Box 2496 Omaha, NE 68103-2496
  • General Customer Service: First National Credit Card PO Box 5097 Sioux Falls, SD 57117-5097 Customer Service
  • Phone: 888-883-9824

Like all credit cards, you must be 18 years of age and a legal resident of the United States.

First National Visa Credit Card, issued by First National Bank pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc.

FirstNationalCC Application

Best Luxury Credit Cards with High Annual Fees (That Pay for Themselves!)

by Leave a Comment

You may have heard some of the hype surrounding luxury/premium credit cards. Luxury credit cards have been popular with affluent spenders for decades, but now, they are starting to reach the mainstream. 

best luxury credit cards

As banks increasingly compete for our business, some of the perks they offer on upscale credit cards are pretty fantastic. This guide will explore some of the best luxury credit cards that – believe it or not – are worth the high annual fee!

 

Best Luxury Credit Cards

There are many luxury credit cards worth considering, but we’ve focused here on the two most popular: one from Chase, and one from American Express. Both offer a huge array of useful perks that you won’t find on most other credit cards.

 

Chase Sapphire Reserve

Annual fee: $450

The Chase Sapphire Reserve is perhaps the most-talked-about luxury credit card, and for good reason! The CSR comes with a whopping $450 annual fee, but surprisingly, the fee is well worth paying for frequent travelers. Here’s why.

  • 50,000 point signup bonus (worth $750 toward flights/hotels)
  • $300 travel credit per year – for ANY travel expense
  • Priority Pass Select membership for free airport lounge access
  • Trip cancellation/delay insurance & other travel protections
  • Reimbursement for TSA Pre+ or Global Entry
  • Rental car damage waiver
  • Excellent rewards rate – 3x on travel/dining and 1x on everything else
  • Earn up to 4.5% back towards your next trip with dining/travel purchases
  • Points can be used for airline tickets, hotels, gift cards and more
  • Free roadside assistance and towing

So, while the $450 annual fee may look like a ridiculous sum, it’s easy to see why it may be worthwhile for some people. And given that the $300 annual travel credit works for anything (hotels, flights, Uber, parking, etc.), the effective annual fee is more like $150.

The real question then becomes, is this card worth $150 a year? If you’ll use any of the perks, it certainly is.

I have personally got a TON of value out of this card and plan to keep it long-term. In the 3 years I’ve had it, I have:

  • Accessed 15+ airline lounges for free, along with many guests (where we had free meals, alcohol, etc.)
  • Got my car towed twice for free, and another time got a flat fixed for free
  • Saved approximately $400 on rental car insurance (because the CSR provides it for free)
  • Fully utilized the $300 travel credit all three years
  • Earned over $2,000 worth of points on purchases + the signup bonus
  • And lots more

I’d say that’s well worth the cost of the annual fee – how about you?

 

American Express Platinum

American Express Platinum

Annual fee: $550

The American Express Platinum has been around for a lot longer than the Chase Sapphire Reserve, and is seen as somewhat of a status symbol in some regards. It’s got a jaw-dropping $550 annual fee – is it worth paying for? Maybe – here’s why:

  • 60,000 point signup bonus (worth $600 or more)
  • $200 airline fee credit per year (for checked bags, WiFi, inflight meals, etc.)
  • $200 in Uber credits per year ($15 per month, $35 in December)
  • $100 annual credit at Saks Fifth Avenue
  • Access to the Global Lounge Collection of airport lounges (includes Priority Pass Select, Amex Centurion Lounges, select Delta Sky Clubs, and more)
  • Fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck
  • Complimentary benefits (such as free breakfast, late check-out) at select luxury hotels
  • 5x points on select travel charges made with Amex Travel
  • Car rental damage waiver
  • Much more

So, is the Amex Platinum worth it? For some people, absolutely! However, it’s not quite as clear-cut as the CSR’s value.

For one, some of the perks on the Amex Plat are a bit more difficult to use. For example, the $200 airline credit can only be used on airline incidental charges (for a single specific airline), while the CSR’s $300 credit can be used for anything. Additionally, some people won’t be able to get much value out of the Saks credit or the Uber credit, depending on their spending habits.

On the other hand, in some areas the Platinum really shines. For airport lounges, the selection far exceeds what’s offered on the CSR, as the Amex Platinum includes Priority Pass, Amex Centurion, Delta Sky Club and other lounges.

In short, this is a luxury credit card that’s probably worth the annual fee, but it’s one that you should do the math on for your specific situation.

 

Didn’t find what you were looking for? Check out our guide to the best credit cards overall for some more great options!

7 Tips for Using Credit and Debit Cards While Traveling Abroad (Real World Tips)

by Leave a Comment

Planning a European holiday or a South American adventure? You’ve surely been planning your trip out, thinking about where you want to go and what you want to see. But have you thought about how you will pay for purchases while abroad? The article below goes over some tips for using credit cards abroad, and also covers info on using debit cards abroad for ATM withdrawals.

using credit cards abroad

The first thing to remember is that many merchants only accept cash. This varies hugely by country and region, but just keep in mind that you may need to use cash quite a bit more than you’re used to in the United States.

Second, you’ll want to call your bank before leaving and tell them of your travel plans. This is true whether you plan to use a debit card or credit card, or both.

Now we’ll get into some specific tips for using credit cards while traveling.

 

Using Credit Cards Abroad

  • Stick with a Visa or Mastercard – Here in the US, most places will accept American Express and Discover. Abroad… not so much. Stick to the most widely accepted cards for best results (which are Visa, followed closely by Mastercard)
  • Watch out for foreign transaction fees – Some credit cards have a foreign transaction fee, which is charged every time you make a purchase in a foreign currency. The fee is usually around 3%. These charges can add up real quick, so you should check with your bank to see if there is a foreign transaction fee on your account. If there is a fee, you might want to get a good credit card for travelers before you leave town.
  • Understand your card’s benefits – Many credit cards offer useful benefits, perks and travel services that may come in handy. For instance, some cover rental car damage waivers, and some provide 24/7 free concierge services. You can research card benefits on your bank’s website, or call them. Underwhelmed by what you find? You may want to get a better credit card before heading out!
  • Pay in the local currency – Sometimes at a payment terminal (or ATM) you will be asked if you want to pay in the local currency, or in your home currency (USD). Always select the local currency, as the exchange rates offered on these transactions are quite poor. When you make a purchase in a foreign currency, your bank will convert the charge to USD for you (at a better rate).

 

Using Debit Cards Abroad

  • Do not use debit cards for purchases – In general, it’s a good idea to avoid using debit cards for purchases, and only use them for ATM withdrawals. This is because debit cards do not have the same level of fraud protection as credit cards. If your debit card gets stolen or skimmed, it could be more harmful than a lost credit card. So, it’s best to use credit cards or cash for all purchases abroad.
  • Consider bringing two debit cards – If you have multiple bank accounts, it’s worthwhile to bring 2 separate debit cards. That way if one is lost, stolen or stops working for whatever reason, you’ll still have access to ATM withdrawals.
  • Decline currency conversion at ATMs – In many areas, when you make an ATM withdrawal, you will be asked if you want to convert the charge into your home currency (USD). This makes sense at first glance, but here’s the problem: they usually give you a really poor exchange rate. Your bank’s own exchange rate will almost always beat the rates offered on currency-converted ATM withdrawals. For example, if you’re traveling to Europe and want to withdraw €100 Euros, the official exchange rate might be $110 USD. If you have a bank that offers free currency conversion, you’ll pay $110 exactly (or maybe slightly more). However, that same charge “conveniently” converted to USD by the ATM will likely charge you more like $115 or $120. Avoid these offers!

Follow these credit card tips for international travel, and you’re sure to have a fantastic trip!

5 Top Secret Ways to Get Student Loan Forgiveness (That No One Talks About)

by Leave a Comment

Completing higher education programs is a noble pursuit, and can help you get the job of your dreams! Unfortunately, rising costs have also left millions of students straddled with overwhelming student debt. There are some ways to get student loan forgiveness, essentially getting rid of your student debt – but you must meet very specific requirements.

student loan forgivenessIt’s no secret that student loan debt is a massive issue here the United States. The latest statistics reveal that there are 44 million Americans who owe student debt, totaling $1.5 trillion in total debt! The average graduate now owes close to $30,000 upon graduation – which can be a suffocating burden for many.

A lot of people search for student loan forgiveness programs in order to help them manage their debt. But is student loan forgiveness legit? Does it actually work?

 

What is Student Loan Forgiveness?

At its most basic, student loan forgiveness involves the government – or in some cases the education institution themselves – “forgiving” your debt by paying it off for you.

You’ll have to meet very specific requirements, and follow the guidelines closely. Most programs target specific professions, including teachers, doctors, certain lawyers, nurses, etc.

The biggest program is the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF), which is a program of the US Department of Education. The PSLF program is designed to forgive student debt for teachers, government workers and others in “public service” positions. Applicants must meet specific requirements, as outlined below.

There are other programs, as well. Most are based on your career path after graduation, and generally reward careers that are considered public service. There are also some programs for military service members.

Keep reading for specific ways to get student loan forgiveness through various programs.

 

How to Get Student Loans Forgiven

Seeking student loan relief? See if you qualify for one of these programs:

 

1. Work in Public Service for 10+ Years

The Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF) is a US Government program that provides student loan forgiveness for public service employees. This popular student loan forgiveness program can eliminate your entire federal student loan debt, if you meet the qualifications.

To qualify for this program, you must work full-time in a public service job, including government jobs, non-profit work at a 501(C)3, full-time volunteers with PeaceCorps/AmeriCorps, etc. See the full list of qualifying jobs here.

You must also make 120+ on-time qualifying monthly payments using a designated repayment plan. So, in other words, you need to maintain full-time employment in public service while making monthly payments towards your student loans, for a full 10 years. You also need to fill out the student loan forgiveness form found here.

Do note that this program only qualifies for federal student loans made under the Direct Loan program. It does not apply to private loans or other federal student loans. See the FAQ page here for more information.

Keep in mind that this program has very strict requirements for student loan forgiveness, and many people end up getting rejected. Be sure to closely follow the requirements and check up annually to confirm your on-track!

 

2. Teach in a Low-Income School District

There are several programs that provide student loan forgiveness for teachers. Most target those who serve low-income communities. The biggest program is the Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program, directly from the US Government, which may provide relief of up to $17,500 of Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans and Subsidized and Unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loans.

To qualify, you must teach at a qualifying low-income school for 5 consecutive academic years. See full details here.

 

3. Join the Military or Reserves

Various military agencies have programs in place to help service members pay off their student loans.

For example, the Active Duty Army Student Loan Repayment program can pay up to 33.33% of your principle each year for up to 3 years, if you meet certain requirements as an active duty army service member. Similarly, members of the National Guard may also qualify for relief – and there are other programs for members of the Navy, Air Force and others.

See this detailed guide for more info!

 

4. Federal Perkins Loan Cancellation

If you have Federal Perkins loans (which are issued directly by your school), you may qualify for Perkins loan cancellation programs. You’ll need to contact the Financial Aid department at the school you went to for details.

Generally speaking, these cancellation programs may be available to the following professions:

  • Firefighters
  • Law enforcement
  • Select military personel
  • Nurses
  • Peace Core volunteers
  • Teachers in qualifying areas
  • Other select professions

 

5. Make On-Time, Income-Based Repayments for 20+ Years

There are programs in place to make servicing student loans more affordable by requiring payments based on your income. So, lower income debtors can make smaller payments than those with higher incomes. These include Pay As You Earn and the Revised Pay As You Earn programs.

These programs have the benefit of forgiving any remaining balance after 20 years (or 25 years, depending on the program) of on-time payments. These programs do not require you to be in a specific profession or occupation. Learn more here.

 

State-Specific Student Loan Relief Programs

As a bonus, keep in mind that there are various programs in specific states that may help with student loan relief. Some even provide private student loan forgiveness for private loans.

These programs are commonly for teachers, with over 10 states having some sort of assistance program in place for teachers. See this guide to student loan forgiveness for teachers for details.

There are too many to list here, but we encourage readers to do some research for student loan relief programs in your area.

 

Don’t Qualify for any Student Loan Forgiveness Programs?

What if you don’t qualify for any loan relief programs? Besides searching for state-specific programs in your area, here are some things you can consider:

Refinancing your student loans to get a better rate. See our student loan refinancing guide. We compare Sofi vs LendKey specifically, two of the most popular options.

Consolidating your student loans for a simpler experience.

Asking for help in your community, from your family, etc. to pay off high-interest student loans.

Lastly, we encourage readers to do more research about specific programs that they may qualify for. There are a lot of different options, and eligibility requirements may change over time.

What to Do with Unused Credit Cards: Keep, Cancel, or Downgrade?

by Leave a Comment

Do you have unused credit cards taking up space in your wallet, or gathering dust in your junk drawer? Most of us do! Wondering what to do with unused credit cards? You’ve come to the right place!

What to do with unused credit cards

Your first instinct would probably be to close out the account, shred it, and be done with it. But is it bad to close an old credit card? It can be. What to do with an unused credit card really depends on the situation.

 

What to Do with Unused Credit Cards

Essentially, you have three options:

  1. Do nothing. Keep the card open, put it in a sock drawer, and forget about it.
  2. Close the account, and shred the card.
  3. Call in and downgrade the account to a lower-level card, that doesn’t have an annual fee.

There are situations where each of these steps could make sense.

When it Makes Sense to Do Nothing

If you have an unused credit card that’s open, has no annual fee, and is one of your older credit accounts, it may make sense to just keep the account open even if you’re not using it.

This is because old accounts help increase your Average Age of Accounts, which is a significant factor in your credit score. In this case, if a card is one of your older accounts, closing it could actually hurt your credit score.

And of course, if there’s no annual fee on the card, there’s no harm in keeping it open. Just make sure you leave it in a safe place!

When it Makes Sense to Close a Credit Card

If you have an unused credit card that is not one of your older cards, and that has an annual fee, it may make sense to close the card account.

If you have several credit cards and this particular card is not one of your oldest, closing it won’t significantly impact your average age of accounts. So, it’s safe to close it. However, you may want to think twice if you carry a balance on other cards – see the section below on credit utilization for details.

And if the card has an annual fee, there’s no reason to be paying for it if you’re not actively using the card benefits!

When it Makes Sense to Downgrade a Credit Card

Sometimes, there’s a third option. If you have a card that’s one of your older accounts and that has an annual fee, you can downgrade the card to one that doesn’t have a fee.

This essentially keeps the card account open in the eyes of the credit bureaus, but allows you to change the product to a no annual fee credit card.

Most credit card issuers allow this. You’ll usually need to call in and ask for a “product change” or something similar.

 

Why You Should Usually Leave Unused Credit Cards OPEN

There are several options for dealing with old, unused credit cards. But generally speaking, it usually makes the most sense to leave unused cards open. Why?

Closing an old credit card can affect your credit score negatively. There are two possible ways that this comes into play:

  1. Closing an old account can lower your average age of accounts, which makes up about 15% of your FICO score
  2. Closing an account can affect your credit utilization, which makes up 30% of your FICO score

The average age of accounts is simply the average age of all your credit accounts. Closing an older account can slightly lower the average, which may lower your score.

Closing Credit Cards & Credit Utilization

Credit utilization is a bit more complex. Essentially, it refers to the ratio of how much credit you are using compared to how much you have available to you. So, let’s look at an example:

  • You have 4 open credit card accounts, with a combined credit limit of $12,000
  • You carry a combined debt balance of $3,000
  • Right now, your credit utilization is 25%, as you are using 25% of the credit available to you.

But what if you closed one of those cards? This would eliminate part of your credit line, and lower your combined credit limit to $9,000.

Now, with that same debt of $3,000, you’re using 33% of your available credit, and your credit utilization has increased significantly. This will almost certainly lower your credit score.

 

Before You Close a Credit Card…

Before you close any sort of credit account, consider the following:

  • Many credit card issuers will waive annual fees if you call and ask nicely
  • Some will require you to pay the fee, but will issue bonus rewards to make up for it
  • Closing old accounts can negatively affect your credit score
  • Closing any account can negatively affect your credit score if you carry a balance
  • If you do close an account, make sure to destroy the card and dispose of it in a secure manner

Hopefully this guide has helped you figure out what to do with unused credit cards! If you have any questions, drop a comment below! Lastly, if you are trying to decide what to do with an old credit card, it may be worthwhile to give your credit card provider a call to discuss your options.

Apple Card vs Chase Sapphire Preferred: Which is the Better Credit Card?

by Leave a Comment

The newly launched Apple Card is making waves in the news for being a hot new product on the financial market. But how does the card stack up against big players, like a premium card from Chase? In this article, we’ll compare Apple Card vs Chase Sapphire Preferred, one of Chase’s more popular premium travel cards.

Apple Card: At a Glance

Apple Card review

  • No annual fee
  • No foreign transaction fee, or any other fees
  • No signup bonus
  • Earns 1% on all purchases, 2% on purchases with Apple Pay, and 3% on Apple purchases
  • Earns cash back, which can be transferred to your bank account or sent to a friend
  • Not yet available for signup – should launch in Summer 2019
  • Likely will be available for a wide range of credit scores
  • Designed to work seamlessly with Apple Pay
  • Sleek, minimalist card design with no card number printed on it
  • Unique features like a spend tracker, advanced security features and more
  • Designed to help you understand interest payments, and minimize the interest you pay
  • Click here to learn more about the card

Overall, the Apple Card is an exciting new product. It’s best features are innovative security measures and the built-in spend tracking app, as well as the features designed to help you understand the interest you are paying. See our Apple Card review for a more detailed look at this card.

 

Chase Sapphire Preferred: At a Glance

Chase Sapphire Preferred

  • $95 annual fee
  • No foreign transaction fee
  • Huge signup bonus of 60,000 points – worth $750 towards travel purchases! To earn this, you must spend $4,000 on the card in the first 3 months
  • Earns 1 point per $1 spent on all purchases, and 2 points per $1 on all travel and dining purchases
  • Earns flexible rewards points which can be redeemed for travel, cashback, gift cards and more
  • Points worth $0.01-0.02+ each, depending on what you use them for
  • Only available for folks with good credit scores and good income
  • A more premium credit card overall
  • Click here to learn more about the card

Overall, the Chase Sapphire Preferred or CSP is an excellent choice – but it’s not for everyone. This card requires a good credit score to get, as well as pretty good income. It’s also got an annual fee, and the signup bonus requires $4,000 spent on the card in 3 months. That said, for the right person (particularly travelers), this card offers a TON of value, including a ~$750 signup bonus, generous rewards, and more.

 

Apple Card vs Chase Sapphire Preferred

Apple Card vs Chase Sapphire Preferred

So, how do they stack up? Let’s look at Apple Card vs Chase Sapphire Preferred more closely.

The Apple Card is best for those who haven’t had much experience with credit cards. This is because it has no annual fee, it’s easier to get approved for than the CSP, and it has beginner-friendly features like an interest payment analyzer and spend tracker.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred is best for those who like to travel, and who have good credit scores. This is because it offers a huge signup bonus and good travel perks, but it requires a much higher credit score.

Now, since the Apple Card isn’t actually officially launched yet, it’s a bit difficult to fully analyze it. But for right now, this is how the two credit cards stack up.

Apple Card is best for folks who want a simpler, easier to get card with no annual fee, and the CSP is best for folks with higher income, higher credit scores and a desire to travel.

Questions? Leave a comment below!

Chase Sapphire Preferred vs Capital One Venture

by Leave a Comment

When it comes to choosing a good travel credit card, there are simply a lot of options. Two of the most popular are the Chase Sapphire Preferred (often called CSP), and the Capital One Venture. Today, we’ll compare Chase Sapphire Preferred vs Capital One Venture to see which card makes the most sense for you!

Chase Sapphire Preferred: At a Glance

Chase Sapphire Preferred

  • $95 annual fee
  • Great for travel – no foreign transaction fee, good travel rewards, etc.
  • Huge signup bonus of 60,000 Ultimate Rewards points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months
  • Signup bonus is worth $750 towards flights or hotels
  • Earns 1 UR point per $1 spent on everything, and 2 UR points per $1 on dining and travel purchases
  • Ultimate Rewards points can be redeemed for cash, used for flights/hotels, transferred to airline partners, and more
  • Points worth $0.01-$0.02+ each (varies depending on use)
  • Designed for people with good to excellent credit scores and good income
  • Click here to learn more about the card

Overall, the Chase Sapphire Preferred is an excellent premium travel credit card. The signup bonus is worth $600 cash or $750 towards flights, which is definitely lucrative. And the ongoing rewards are solid as well.

 

Capital One Venture: At a Glance

Capital One Venture

  • $95 annual fee, but it’s waived for the first year
  • Great for travel – no foreign fee, perks for travelers, etc.
  • Big signup bonus of 50,000 Venture miles after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months
  • Signup bonus is worth $500 towards any travel purchase
  • Earns 2x miles per $1 spent on all purchases, plus 10x miles on Hotels.com purchases
  • Points worth $0.01 per point, and can be redeemed for any travel purchase (flights, hotels, cruises, excursions, etc.
  • (NEW) You can also transfer miles to select travel partners
  • Get reimbursed for Global Entry or TSA Pre+ application fee
  • Designed for people with good to excellent credit and good incomes
  • Click here to learn more about the card

The Capital One Venture is also a great option for frequent travelers. It’s recently become even better, as Capital One added the ability to transfer miles to travel partners.

 

Chase Sapphire Preferred vs Capital One Venture

Chase Sapphire Preferred vs Capital One Venture

So, how do the two cards stack up? How do you choose between the CSP vs Capital One Venture?

This is honestly a tough call, as both cards are excellent.

The Capital One Venture has the benefit of a $0 annual fee for the first year, so that saves you $95. It also has a more flexible way to redeem miles, as you can use miles to “erase” any travel purchase you have made with the card. It also has a slightly better rewards rate, with 2x points on all purchases. With that said, its signup bonus is smaller, and there are fewer transfer partners for the miles.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred has the benefit of a higher signup bonus, which is worth more than the Venture’s bonus. It has far more transfer partners, and a fairly flexible way to redeem rewards (by booking with your points). That said, the annual fee is not waived the first year, so you’ll have to weigh that against the benefits of the card.

In the end, it’s tough to choose a real winner in this fight. Really, they are both winners, as these are two of the best premium credit cards overall.

Let us know which you choose in the comments below!

Apple Card Review: Everything You Need to Know About the New Apple Credit Card

by 3 Comments

Apple products have earned a prominent place in our front pockets. Now, it seems, the electronics company would like to earn a place in our back pockets (and purses!), with the brand new Apple Card!

The new Apple credit card is yet to launch, but should arrive by summer 2019. It will offer a unique Daily Cash rewards program, a suite of impressive security & privacy features, and a slick titanium design. Keep reading for our full Apple Card review.

 

What Is Apple Card?

Apple Card is a new kind of credit card that combines the features that Apple is best known for: simplicity, security, privacy, and transparency.

The card is designed to work seamlessly with Apple Pay. The digital card will live in the Wallet app on your phone, and will be easy to use for all digital wallet payments.

The primary function of the Apple Card is to serve as a digital wallet card. However, there is of course a physical credit card as well.

And, as you’d expect from Apple, the Apple Credit Card is sleek, stylish and ultra-simplistic. It is made of titanium, with laser-etched design features and no card number.

Apple Card review

Instead, a secure card number is issued in the Wallet app. Interestingly, this card number can be changed by you, without even calling in.

The Apple Card rewards you with “Daily Cash” for every transaction. You can redeem these rewards for cashback, statement credits, or use it to make purchases.

The Apple Credit Card also makes it easy to track and analyze your spending, right from your iPhone.

We’ll cover all these features in more detail in our full Apple Card review, below!

 

Apple Card Review: Features

Apple credit Card features

For an at-a-glance look at our Apple Credit Card review, here’s a brief look at the features of this card:

Daily Rewards – Apple Card rewards are earned daily, after each and every transaction you make. You’ll earn 3% on Apple purchases, 2% on Apple Pay purchases, and 1% on transactions made with the physical card.

Easy to Redeem – Rewards are ultra-simple to redeem, with a huge variety of options. Daily Cash rewards will be stored on a digital Apple Cash card. You can use it to make purchases, transfer to your bank account, send money to friends, or pay off your Apple Card balance.

Digital First – Apple Card is a digital payment card first, and a physical credit card second. This means it’s optimized to work flawlessly with Apple Pay, and that you’ll be able to make purchases all over the world using just your iPhone!

Less Interest – Apple Card actually encourages you to pay less interest, by clearly explaining how your payment amount affects the amount of interest you will pay. Apple will also offer industry-leading APRs (13.24% to 24.24% based on credit worthiness).

Spend Tracking – The Apple Credit Card will help you analyze and track your spending through a built-in feature of the Wallet app. You’ll be able to see your spending breakdown by category, flag transactions, and track spending trends over time.

Apple credit card review

Quick Support – Have a question? Just text Apple support from your phone. No need to call in, provide your account number, or anything like that! For folks already on the Apple ecosystem, this quick access to support reps will be very helpful.

Advanced Security – Apple Card features industry-leading security features. When used with Apple Pay, a secure card number is to keep each transaction safe from skimming. Features like Touch ID and Face ID mean that only you will be able to use your card. Plus, the physical card has no account number on it, giving you a whole new level of security.

Real-Time Fraud Prevention – If a suspicious transaction is detected, you’ll get a push notification to your phone in real-time. From there you can either approve or deny the transaction. Or, send a quick text to Apple if you have questions.

Apple Card fraud prevention

No Fees – There is no Apple Card annual fee, foreign transaction fee, cash advance fee, late fee, returned payment fee – or any other fee, for that matter!

Backed by Apple & Goldman Sachs – The Apple Card is backed by the technological prowess of Apple, and the banking experience of Goldman Sachs. You can trust in the security features of this card.

 

Not an Apple fanboy? Check out the Chase Slate Card!

 

Our Take on Features

It wouldn’t be a true Apple Card review without sharing our opinions about the card!

Overall, this card definitely has some interesting and unique features.

A favorite is the spend tracking feature, which lets you easily see where your money is going every week and month. This, combined with the interest analyzer, could potentially help improve the financial well-being of many people.

The lack of fees is also attractive. There are plenty of no-annual-fee credit cards, but there aren’t many that waive things like cash advance fees and late fees.

The security features are also interesting. The lack of a card number on the physical card could reduce the risk of getting the number skimmed. And of course the digital payments will be ultra-secure, thanks to Apple Pay’s tech. However, Wired points out that most of these security features are built into Apple Pay already – so the Apple Card won’t necessarily add much security to digital payments if you’re already using Apple Pay.

 

Apple Card Rewards

Apple Card rewards

Like most credit cards, the Apple Card will provide cashback rewards on every purchase. The main difference here is that Apple Card cashback is earned daily, so you don’t have to wait until the end of your statement period in order to get your rewards!

The Apple Card also has the benefit of earning straight cash back. There are no points or miles to deal with, no complicated methods to redeem rewards, and no complex program to figure out. Just cash back!

 

Earning Apple Card Rewards

  • Earn 3% back on Apple purchases, including Apple Store, iTunes, App Store, Apple Music, iCloud subscriptions, etc.
  • Earn 2% back on all purchases made using Apple Pay. Whether it’s a restaurant, a book store or an online purchase, all Apple Pay transactions will earn 2% rewards
  • Earn 1% back on all purchases made using the physical Apple Card.

As you can see, the rewards are tiered, with 1% on all purchases (using physical card), 2% on Apple Pay purchases, and 3% on Apple purchases.

Rewards are earned daily, and at the end of the day the rewards will be deposited to a digital Apple Cash card. From there you are free to redeem them immediately.

 

Redeeming Apple Card Rewards

On the redeeming side, you have several options.

Once Daily Cash is on your Apple Cash card, you can use these funds to:

  • Pay off your Apple Card balance
  • Transfer money to your bank account
  • Send money to friends via Messages
  • Make a purchase using Apple Pay

This gives you a lot of flexibility to do whatever you want with your rewards. Apple Cash truly is quite similar to actual cash!

 

Our Take on Rewards

Looking objectively at this card, the rewards are okay, but nothing special. There are plenty of cashback cards that offer better overall rewards rates.

The 2% rate on Apple Pay purchases is good, and matches the 2% rate of many of our favorite cashback cards. However, not everywhere takes Apple Pay.

The 1% rate on purchases made with the physical card is disappointing. We would have liked to see at least 1.5% to make this card competitive.

With all that said, this card really is designed for Apple Pay and to be a “credit card of the future”. So, it’s possible many people won’t use the physical card much.

On the redeeming side, the Apple Card is excellent. We love the Daily Cash feature for fast rewards, and the flexibility offered in redeeming your cash is quite nice as well.

 

Apple Card APR & Interest Details

The Apple Card claims to offer interest rates that are “among the lowest in the industry”. Currently, the fine print notes a rate of 13.24% to 24.24% based on credit worthiness. Of course, this could change by the time the card launches in summer.

As you can tell, that’s quite a range of APRs. This likely means that the Apple Card will be widely available to people with a wide range of credit scores. It’s possible that folks with FICO scores in the low to mid 600’s may qualify for this card – although they’ll pay significantly more in interest.

For people with excellent credit, the Apple Card APR may be a good deal. At a low range of 13.24%, the Apple Card is significantly under the national average of 17.67%.

On the upper end, APRs will be high but fairly typical for folks with low credit scores. That said, most cards with no annual fee aren’t even available to those with low credit scores, so the Apple Card may end up being a good deal after all.

As mentioned, Apple Card will be transparent in showing you how much interest you’re being charged, and how much you’ll need to pay to avoid interest charges. This feature will be built into the Wallet App, just like the Spend Tracker.

Apple Card APRIn theory, this feature should help people get a better grasp on how credit card interest actually works. Apple’s slick interface makes it easy to comprehend the interest charges, which is a welcome change from most credit card providers.

Related Content: Walmart Credit Card Login (designed for consumers who shop at Walmart frequently).

Our Take on Interest

Apple Card seems to offer competitive interest rates to people with excellent credit. For everyone else, rates will probably be fairly average. It’s difficult to say for sure before the card actually launches and we have real data-points on the actual APRs that folks are getting.

One thing we do really appreciate about the Apple Card is the built-in interest analyzer. This is an important feature for people who are new to credit cards and those who have struggled with credit card debt in the past.

The feature lets you play around with your payment amount, and easily see how much interest you will be charged. Pay more, and you’ll pay less interest. Pay less, and interest charges will go up.

This is no different than how the average credit card works. The difference is in how the information is presented. By using a simple, well-designed slider feature, the Apple Card’s interest charges should be easier to understand and more transparent than your typical credit card.

 

Apple Card Review: Pros & Cons

Information overload, anyone? Let’s recap with a quick pros & cons list.

Pros

  • Daily Cash rewards delivered every day
  • Flexible redemption options – statement credit, bank account transfer, etc.
  • Competitive 2% cashback when using Apple Pay
  • Innovative Spend Tracker to help you budget and analyze spending
  • Easy to see how much interest you’re paying, and how payment size affects interest
  • Advanced security features
  • Easy and fast support via SMS
  • Built for Apple Pay and the future of payment tech
  • Backed by Apple and Goldman Sachs, one of the biggest banks in America
  • No annual fee, foreign transaction fee, late fee, etc. No fees at all (besides interest)
  • Competitive APRs

Cons

  • 1% cashback rate on purchases made with physical card is pretty low
  • You can’t add an authorized user
  • Many of the toted security benefits already exist with Apple Pay, with any credit card

 

Apple Card Review: Final Thoughts

Overall, the Apple Card is an interesting new credit card. The physical design is slick and minimalist, and the digital payment features are great. We could see this card becoming somewhat of a status symbol, just like Apple’s smartphones.

Highlights of the card include the spending tracker, interest charge analyzer, daily rewards earning, and the security features.

Downsides include a fairly low rewards rate for purchases made with the physical card, and the fact that authorized users aren’t supported.

From what we can tell so far, this should be a pretty good option for folks who use iPhones and enjoy Apple products. It’s not a card that we’re clambering to get a hold of, but it’s a solid offering.

This Apple Card review will be updated as details emerge, and again when the card launches in Summer 2019. For now, let us know what you think about the card in the comments below. Will you be applying for the Apple Card?

NFL Extra Points Credit Card (MyNFLCard) Review

by Leave a Comment

MyNFLCard! – A must for NFL fanboys?

MyNFLCard

Football fans – there’s a credit card for you, too! The NFL Extra Points Credit Card from Barclays offers fans an easy way to earn points towards free NFL tickets, exclusive events, and more. Let’s take a closer look in our NFL Extra Points credit card review.

 

MyNFLCard Extra Points Credit Card Review

The NFL Extra Points card, otherwise known as the MyNFLCard, is a solid cashback credit card that has some unique perks.

At a glance, it’s basically a cashback credit card that earns 1% back on all purchases. It comes with a $100 signup bonus, which is pretty solid for a card with no annual fee. And, it has some unique benefits for NFL fans.

NFL-Related Perks

  • 20% off purchases at NFLShop.com
  • 2 points per $1 on NFL purchases, tickets, stadium purchases, NFL Shop items, etc.
  • 0% APR for 6 months on purchases of NFL tickets at a team office
  • Exclusive NFL rewards (you can redeem your rewards points for NFL tickets and exclusive experiences like pre-game sideline passes)

General Perks

  • 10,000 bonus points after spending $500 in the first 3 months (worth $100)
  • Earns 1 point per $1 spent on all purchases (1% cashback)
  • Points can be redeemed for cashback or NFL tickets/experiences
  • 0% APR on balance transfers for the first 15 months
  • No annual fee

Overall, it’s a pretty decent card all-around. For NFL fans, it’s certainly worth considering.

mynflcard barclay

Is the MyNFLCard Worth Getting?

Is the NFL Extra Points card worth using? How does it stack up against the best cashback credit cards?

Overall, it’s a decent choice. It’s got no annual fee, a good signup bonus of $100, and an attractive 0% APR on balance transfers.

However, beyond that it’s pretty average. It earns 1% cashback, which is far lower than the best options (which offer 2% or more).

For NFL fans, the perks are okay, but nothing to write home about. 20% off NFL Shop purchases might add up if you spend a lot, but it’s not a massive discount.

Access to exclusive events is attractive. However, many redemptions require large amounts of points, so you may find that you have to save your points for a long time before being able to redeem for one of their “once-in-a-lifetime NFL experiences”.

In the end, we’d recommend this card for hardcore NFL fans looking for a no-annual-fee credit card. That said, there are probably better options in general. If you’re into traveling, there are even better options when it comes to travel cashback cards.

NFL Extra Points Credit Card Online