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Top Credit Card and Personal Finance News and Reviews

Next Millennium Card Review: No Credit Check and $1,000 Credit Line

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Next Millennium Card Review

If you are looking to make a purchase from MyUnique Outlet Shopping Club, you may want to secure the Next Millennium Card. This card can only be used to shop on the MyUnique Outlet site, but it does give you access to an array of products from beauty items to home and office merchandise.

Some of the benefits of the Next Millennium card is it does offer zero percent financing and no credit checks, making it possible for anyone to secure the card no matter their credit standing. However, to obtain the Next Millennium card, you need to enroll in a monthly membership with the site. This, of course, comes with fees but you will have a line of $1000 of unsecured credit.

The card does have an initial upfront fee of $29.95 and a monthly fee of $19.95. This equates to about $240 a year to hold the card, which may be a steep price to pay for some. The minimum payment on the card is $25 or 15 percent of the total balance on the card. Late fees on the card are $10.

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With the monthly payment that you pay for the Next Millennium card, you do get additional benefits such as free roadside assistant and discounts from other merchants. Plus, the zero percent interest is a big advantage if you hold a balance month-to-month. Also, the card does not offer any credit monitoring, so there are no additional credit reporting options to be aware of.

The Next Millennium card has a hefty price tag to swallow, but if you are looking for a quick line of credit without a credit check and zero percent interest, this may be the card for you. You will be able to buy some solid products with the Next Millennium card from an array of retailers, which may be exactly what you are looking for from the card.

Newegg Credit Card Review – 0% Interest for 36 Months

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If you are looking to make an online purchase of items that you need for your home, you may want to consider opening a Newegg credit card. This credit card is for use on the Newegg website and will give you access to purchases on an array of products.

Newegg Credit Card Review

There are several benefits to obtaining a Newegg credit card. Newegg is a retailer that offers a series of electronics, apparel, tools and home goods for purchase. The company offers its own credit card that you can obtain instantly on its website.

By simply filling out a few personal details, Newegg will give you approval (or denial) of the credit card instantly online. The card can be used as soon as approval is granted, providing you with more spending power to buy the items you want on the Newegg site.

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The Newegg credit card comes with no annual fee and offers promotional financing options. These financing options include no interest if paid in full within six months on purchases of $199 to $498.99 as well as no interest if paid in full within 12 months on purchases over $499. The minimum monthly payment is due each month with these offers.

Newegg also offers extended financing options including zero percent interest for 24 or 36 months on select purchases. There is also a financing option of no interest for 18 months on promotional purchases.

With the Newegg credit card, cardholders will receive exclusive offers on merchandise as well as sale alerts. The card also offers easy online account management in addition to free access to your FICO score. The card can be paid online, by phone or mail.

The Newegg credit card, however, has a 29.99% APR and is offered through Synchrony Bank, where a revolving credit line is provided. This is the ideal credit card for online purchases through the Newegg website.

Why the Wells Fargo Cash Wise Credit Card Deserves a Place in Your Wallet

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There are a dizzying number of credit cards out there, and choosing the right one for your needs can feel like a chore. One great card that may be worth considering for almost anyone is the Wells Fargo Cash Wise credit card.

Cash Wise Credit Card review

In this guide, we’ll be taking a closer look at this card and what it offers. Read our full Wells Fargo Cash Wise review for more details!

Wells Fargo Cash Wise Credit Card At a Glance

  • No annual fee
  • 1.5% cash back on all purchases, with no limit
  • $200 signup bonus after spending $1,000 in first 3 months
  • 0% intro APR for 12 months on purchases and balance transfers
  • After the introductory period, APR ranges from 16.24% to 27.24% depending on credit factors and prime rate
  • For people with good to excellent credit

Overall, the Cash Wise is a very attractive credit card. It offers a pretty good rewards rate of 1.5%, a solid signup bonus of $200, and generous zero-percent APR promos for new members.

Beyond the initial perks, the card is likely a keeper due to some other solid benefits, which we discuss more below.

Cash Wise Visa Rewards: Earning & Redeeming

The Cash Wise Visa earns “cash rewards”, which are part of Wells Fargo’s Go Far Rewards program. These are flexible points that can be used for a variety of worthwhile rewards.

Earning:

  • 1.5% on all purchases
  • 1.8% on mobile wallet purchases (first 12 months only)
  • Bonus rewards potential from using the shopping portal
  • $200 sign-up bonus after you spend $1,000 in the first 3 months

Redeeming:

  • Rewards do not expire as long as your account is open
  • Redeem for statement credits at 1 cent per point ($25 increments)
  • Redeem for cash at Wells Fargo ATM’s at 1 cent per point ($20 increments)
  • Redeem for credit towards Wells Fargo mortgage balance principle
  • Redeem for hundreds of gift card options at 1 cent per point ($25 increments)
  • Redeem for travel costs, auctions, and more

Wells Fargo Cash Wise Visa rewards are pretty straightforward, which is nice. There’s no complicated earning structure, and redemptions are also quite simple. It’s nice that Wells Fargo gives you the full 1 cent per point regardless of how you choose to redeem your rewards. It’s also nice to have so many different options for redeeming points, but in reality, the most useful redemptions for most people will always be cash or statement credits.

There are several cards out there that have a better-earning rate of 2%. That said, this card offers more perks and a higher signup bonus than most 2% cashback cards. Unless you’re a big spender, the 0.5% difference probably won’t add up to very much.

Cash Wise Credit Card Benefits

In addition to the above-average, uncomplicated rewards earning structure, the Cash Wise also has some significant side perks.

Cell phone insurance: The Cash Wise Visa offers cellular telephone protection. Basically, if you pay your cell phone bill each month with your Cash Wise card, your phone is protected from theft or damage. You are covered for up to $600 per claim, and the deductible is only $25. This perk alone is significant, as third-party cell phone insurance is usually $10/mo or more. Very few other credit cards offer this benefit, so this is a noteworthy perk of the Cash Wise Visa.

Account protections: The Cash Wise Visa has many protections on the account to keep your financial information secure. It has 24/7 fraud monitoring, zero liability for unauthorized transactions, 24/7 security alerts, and more. These perks are pretty standard for most credit cards, but are still very nice to have.

Introductory APR offer: For the first 12 months, you’ll pay a 0% APR on both purchases and balance transfers. You’ll still have to pay the 3% balance transfer fee, but this could still save you a decent amount on interest should you be carrying a credit card balance on another card.

Mobile wallet rewards bonus: For the first 12 months of card membership, you will earn a 20% bonus on all purchases made using mobile wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay. This means you’ll earn 1.8% cashback on mobile wallet purchases during the first 12 months, and 1.5% after that.

Shopping portal bonus: Cash Wise cardholders gain access to the Earn More Mall® where you can do online shopping and earn bonus points. Examples include an extra 1% back at Walmart, eBay, Lowes and many more. These bonus rewards are on top of the standard 1.5% cashback. Bonus earning rates vary, but you can see all the offers here.

You can see the full terms and conditions here.

Wells Fargo Cash Wise Visa Credit Card Review

So, you know the basics now – but is this card actually worth applying for and using?

We think so.

The card has a lot going for it right out of the gate: a solid $200 signup bonus (excellent for a no-annual-fee card), an above-average 1.5% rewards rate, and significant perks like cell phone insurance.

Now this wouldn’t be an honest Cash Wise Visa review without mentioning some of the downsides.

For one, there are definitely cards out there that have better rewards. One example would be the Citi Double Cash, which earns 2% on all purchases (but offers no signup bonus). This isn’t a huge deal, because the $200 signup bonus likely more than outweighs that 0.5% difference, unless you’re a big spender.

Second, the elephant in the room: Wells Fargo has had some significant scandals in recent years. They are working hard to clean up their image and serve their clients better, but it’s definitely worth keeping in mind that this bank has had their fair share of controversy recently. If you look at third party Cash Wise reviews, you’ll see that several people complain about the trustworthiness of Wells Fargo, or about difficulty in receiving their signup bonus.

With all that said, it seems that Wells Fargo is genuinely trying to resolve their internal issues, and will likely be focusing more on keeping their customers happy from here on out.

Cash Wise Card Bottom Line

In the end, the Wells Fargo Cash Wise Visa is a very solid card all-around. It’s got good rewards earning rate, excellent rewards redemption options, good perks, and a lucrative signup bonus – all with no annual fee.

We would recommend the Cash Wise Visa for anyone looking for a simple “daily driver” credit card to use for everyday purchases. It’s also great for folks carrying a balance on another card, because of the 12 month 0% APR offer. We’d also recommend it for anyone who doesn’t already have cell phone insurance, as the included coverage on this card is easily worth $100/year, every year.

If you’re someone who spends a lot of money on credit cards (say, more than $2,500 a month), you may be better off with a flat 2% rewards card. Likewise, if you’re hesitant to use the card due to Wells Fargo’s scandals, there are certainly other great cards out there from different banks.

Bottom line: The Wells Fargo Cash Wise Visa is solid all-around credit card that deserves a place in your wallet.

SoFi vs. Lendkey: Which Student Loan Refinancing Platform is Right for You?

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SoFi vs. Lendkey

If you’ve been making regular payments on your existing student loans, refinancing could be a good move. Refinancing may simplify your payments by consolidating your private and federal student loans into a single loan, give you a lower interest rate, reduce your monthly payment, help you pay off your loans faster, or let your cosigner off the hook. But where should you go to find the best terms? LendKey and SoFi both connect student loan borrowers to refinancing options. Here’s a look at the two companies and the type of student loan refinancing services each offers.

LendKey Overview

LendKey’s mission is to enable “the nation’s 13,000+ community financial institutions to enter and succeed in online lending.” Credit unions and community banks offer some of the most borrower-friendly student loans, but they rarely have the infrastructure to scale their marketing, operations and technical support to reach a broad range of borrowers. Borrowers want to shop around for the lowest interest rates, but getting information on loans and going through the application process at multiple banks is cumbersome and time-consuming. For efficiency’s sake, many borrowers wind up paying more than they should or get treated like a number by some of the nation’s largest private student loan lenders.

LendKey solves both problems by providing a platform to connect borrowers with community banks and credit unions.

SoFi Overview

SoFi also offers student loan refinancing, but instead of connecting borrowers to traditional lenders, SoFi provides a platform for crowd-sourcing or peer-to-peer lending. SoFi was founded by a group of Stanford business students who wanted to help other students. Several alumni invested in the program, and the funds were used to help recent graduates lower their student loan interest rates. Although the program started out at Stanford, it soon expanded to other schools and eventually went on to be a nationwide program.

SoFi was one of the first companies to consolidate federal loans with private loans.

Interest Rates

One of the main appeals of refinancing student loans is to save money by reducing your interest rate. So what interest rates can you expect from LendKey and Sofi?

LendKey offers fixed interest rates as low as 3.25% and variable interest rates of 2.22% for borrowers who sign up for automatic debit payments. If the borrower does not enroll in autopay, starting interest rates will be 0.25% higher.

Many of the lenders on the LendKey platform offer borrowers with 15-year loan terms the option to make interest-only payments for the first four years if they cannot afford to pay down the loan principal.

SoFi offers fixed rates as low as 3.375% and variable rates starting at 2.355% with autopay. Like LendKey, SoFi rates will be 0.25% higher if borrowers do not take advantage of automatic payments from a bank account.

Loan Balances and Terms

LendKey’s minimum loan balance is $7,500. They offer refinancing for loans up to $175,000. They do not charge an origination fee or charge penalties for making early or extra payments.

SoFi has a lower minimum loan balance requirement, at just $5,000. There is no upper limit for the balances they will refinance.

Borrowers using either service can choose a five-, seven-, 10-, 15- or 20-year loan terms.

Qualifying

Because LendKey does not provides loans themselves but rather connects borrowers to community banks and credit unions, qualifications vary. Credit unions typical lend only to people living in certain areas, working in certain fields, or belonging to particular associations. Community banks serve only designated geographic regions. Borrowers need a minimum credit score of 660 and an annual income of at least $24,000.

SoFi is known for having strict qualification requirements. Borrowers need a minimum credit score of 650, but the typical borrower has excellent credit, with a score of 774. SoFi does not have minimum annual income requirements, but the average borrower has an annual income of $124,630. Borrowers must be college graduates, and Nevada residents are not eligible.

Forbearance

Because LendKey does not provide loans themselves but connects its borrowers to credit unions and community banks, forbearance options vary. Typically, a single forbearance is six months and may be extended for up to 18 months.

SoFi provides an unemployment protection program for borrowers who involuntarily lose their jobs and are unable to make loan payments. Borrowers can pause loan payments for three months, up to a total of 12 months. They also state they will work with borrowers experiencing other forms of financial hardship on a case-by-case basis.

Applying

Borrowers can apply directly to LendKey and SoFi via their websites. You’ll need to provide details about your education, employment, income, and student loan balances.

Both lenders allow applicants to do a rate check before applying to get an idea of their estimated rates. The rate check tools perform a soft credit inquiry that will not affect the borrower’s credit score.

The Bottom Line

Both LendKey and SoFi offer unique avenues for refinancing student loans. Most features of each of these platforms are pretty comparable, but where SoFi really stands out is their career services. SoFi has career coaches on staff who help customers with job-hunting and interviewing skills and salary negotiations. Coaching services are available one-on-one or via webinar. And because often getting a job is less about what you know than about who you know, SoFi hosts happy hours, dinners, and networking events around the country to help their borrowers and alumni make professional connections. They also provide an entrepreneur program for borrowers who want to start their own business.

If you have a stable career, excellent credit, and other desirable borrower traits, you may be able to get slightly lower rates through LendKey. If you like the idea of having career services, entrepreneur resources and networking available from your lender, SoFi could be more appealing. Since neither charge an application fee, it may be worth looking into both to find the right student loan refinancing option for you.

World of Hyatt Credit Card Sign-up Bonus Decreasing on January 10, 2019

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The World of Hyatt Credit Card 60,000 sign-up bonus is going the way of the dinosaur.  Come January 10, 2019, the new bonus figure will max out at 50,000 points.

World of Hyatt Credit Card

So if you’re in the market for the World of Hyatt Credit Card NOW is the time to apply. The current 60,000 sign-up bonus offer is enough for three free nights at a Hyatt category 5 hotel like the Hyatt Regency Waikiki or the Zilara all-inclusive resorts in Mexico.

Come January 10, 2019 new World of Hyatt credit cardholders will earn 25,000 points after spending $3,000 in the first three months, then could earn an additional 25,000 points when they hit the $6,000 mark within the first six months.

The bonus decreasing from 60,000 points to 50,000 points could spell the difference between a free night.

 

What Is A CVS Cash Card?

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What in the world is a CVS Cash Card?

What Is A CVS Cash Card?

If you received a gift card that you are unsure that you will use, you do have options. You can exchange it for a CVS cash card that allows you to buy merchandise at CVS. This can come in handy as you stock up on pharmacy and household items.

To obtain your CVS cash card, all you need to do is enter your gift card merchandiser’s name and balance. Here, you will receive an offer for a CVS cash card. If you choose to accept the offer, you will need to input the gift card number and pin as well as your personal information.

Your CVS cash card will then be emailed to you within one business day. Print the card, and you are ready to start shopping at CVS with your new cash card. The cash card can be used at CVS like cash, giving you the ability to buy the items you want and need.

Credit Cards for Fair Credit: A Comprehensive Guide

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If you are looking for a new credit card, you’ll quickly find that there are many options to choose from. With literally hundreds of different cards out there, it can quickly become overwhelming.

Credit Cards for Fair Credit

But what if your credit is just okay? What are some of the best credit cards for fair credit?

This guide will explore some of the best credit cards for average credit. Find our top recommendations in the guide below.

What is a “Fair” Credit Score?

First and foremost, what is “fair” or “average” when it comes to credit scores? How do you know if you’re likely to qualify for these cards?

Generally speaking, a “fair” credit score is a FICO score in between about 580 and 670. Anything over 670 is considered “good”, and anything under 580 is “poor”. With that said, there’s no hard-and-fast rule, and just because you have a certain score doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be approved for a credit card.

If you’re not sure what your credit score is, you can use a free tool like Credit Karma to get an estimate. You can also request a full credit report for free – once per year – from AnnualCreditReport.com. You should never pay for a credit report – any company asking for payment for a credit report is a scam.

Now that we’ve covered these basics, what are some of the best credit cards for fair credit? Find out below.

Best Credit Cards for Fair Credit

The cards described below are our recommendations for folks with average/fair credit. Do note that even having a good credit score does not necessarily mean you’ll be approved for a card.

Best No-Annual Fee: Capital One Platinum

Annual fee: $0

APR: 26.96% variable

Rewards: None

The Capital One Platinum credit card is a good option for people with fair to good credit. It does not have an annual fee or any hidden fees like many card products have. It’s issued by a mainstream, trusted bank, and offers an easy entrance into the world of credit.

On the other hand, this card does not earn any rewards, and credit limits are generally fairly low at first. However, applicants who pay their bill on time are usually eligible to get a higher credit line after making 5 monthly payments on time. Capital One also offers a way to check if you’re pre-qualified for a card before actually applying (this won’t affect your credit).

Best for Rewards: Capital One QuicksilverOne

Annual fee: $39

APR: 22.97-26.97% variable

Rewards: 1.5% cashback on all purchases

The QuicksilverOne card from Capital One is another great option. This is one of the few credit cards for average credit that actually earns rewards. It gets you 1.5% cashback on all purchases, so a $100 purchase will earn you $1.50 in cashback rewards.

The trade-off for these rewards is that the card comes with an annual fee of $39. This may be offset by the rewards you earn, depending on your spending habits. If you spend $2,600 a year (~$217 a month) on the card, you will break even since you’ll earn $39 of rewards to offset the annual fee. Spend more than that, and you’ll come out ahead – less, and it’s best to go with a no-annual-fee option.

Easiest Approval: Discover IT Secured

Annual fee: $0

APR: 24.99% variable

Rewards: 1% cashback on all purchases, 2% at gas stations and restaurants. All cashback is doubled in the first year!

The Discover IT Secured is a good option for folks on the lower end of the “fair” credit score range. This card is very easy to get approved for because it’s secured. This means that you will need to make a fully refundable security deposit in order to use it. This is based on the credit limit you want – so if you want a $500 credit limit, you will need to make a $500 deposit into an account that will stay there for at least 8 months. After 8 months, Discover will review your account and if your payment history is good, they may offer to transition you to an unsecured card and refund your security deposit in full.

This may sound like a hassle, but it’s a great way to build credit. Note that this is a true credit card – although it may seem like it’s a prepaid card because of the deposit, it functions in the same way as a real credit card and it will help build your credit file for future use. Discover is also a great company to work with that offers good rewards and fair terms.

Unsecured Credit Cards For Fair Credit

This card also offers a signup bonus of sorts; all the cashback you earn in the first 12 months is doubled at the end of the year. So if you earn $100 in cashback, Discover will give you an extra $100 for a total of $200! This double cashback offer is only for the first year of card membership. This card is one of very few average credit credit cards with a signup bonus.

Automatic Credit Increases: AvantCard

Annual fee: $29

APR: 25.99% variable

Rewards: None

The AvantCard is another reasonable option for people just starting out on their credit journey. It comes with a $29 annual fee, but beyond that there aren’t any hidden pesky fees, besides a late fee (which is pretty standard across most cards). The card doesn’t earn rewards, which is a downside.

One reason we picked the AvantCard for this list of the best starter credit cards is that it offers automatic credit line increases. You’ll likely be given a relatively low credit line when you start out, but as early as 6 months in AvantCard will see if you are eligible for an automatic credit line increase. This can be helpful for building up your credit score and profile.

Lastly, another small perk of this card is that the application process is fast and easy, and you can check if you qualify without a hard pull to your credit. Keep in mind that some terms – such as APR – vary based on your credit, so you’ll want to review the terms in the last step before submitting your application.

Credit Cards For Fair Credit

 

Other Credit Cards for Fair Credit

Credit Cards For Fair Credit No Annual Fee

Unsecured Credit Cards For Fair Credit

Credit Cards For Fair Credit Instant Approval

Store Credit Cards For Fair Credit

Chase Credit Cards For Fair Credit

Wrapping Up

There you have it – the best credit cards for fair credit that are available today! Again, remember that there’s never a guarantee that you’ll be approved for a specific card, but these cards are certainly easier than many other options. If you get one of these credit cards and practice responsible credit use, you’ll quickly build up your credit profile and eventually qualify for higher credit lines and better credit cards!

If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment below!

American Eagle Credit Card Review: 20% Off First Purchase

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Earn 15 points per every $1 spent and 20% off first purchase with the American Eagle credit card.

American Eagle Credit Card Review

 

If you are an American Eagle fan, you may be considering signing up for an American Eagle credit card. There are a lot of benefits that you can gain from this store credit card, including deals on merchandise from American Eagle.

With the American Eagle credit card, you will receive 20 percent off your first purchase when you use the card. This is a significant advantage if you are looking to stock up on clothes and accessories from American Eagle. You can also use the American Eagle credit card for your online purchases which will offer you free standard shipping on all your orders.

Plus, the American Eagle credit card allows you to earn 15 points per every $1 you spend. This can help you rack up store points that can be used for money off your purchases. For every 2500 points you earn, you will receive $10 in rewards to use at an American Eagle store near you or online.

American Eagle Credit Card Reviews

American Eagle Credit Card Benefits

  • Earn 15 points for ever dollar spent
  • 2500 equals a $10 reward coupon
  • $0 fraud liability
  • 20% off birthday coupon
  • $0 annual fee

In addition to earning points with the American Eagle credit card, you will also get several bonus sales options. Your birthday will earn you another 20 percent off coupon, helping you to save even more on American Eagle clothes.

The credit card also affords you the option to buy five American Eagle jeans and get one free. This is a nice benefit if you are looking to update your wardrobe or stock up on the essentials. Women can also buy five bras and get one free too with the credit card.

American Eagle takes good care of its customers that sign up for its credit card as they are able to get in on personal shopping day coupons, which is limited just to cardholders. American Eagle also holds a total of six cardholder events each year, giving you even more ways to save.

American Eagle Credit Card Review

You will also be privy to mobile and online account management, making it easier than ever to pay and view your American Eagle credit card. The credit card also offers $0 fraud liability for your protection as a consumer shopping with the company.

The American Eagle credit card can be used at American Eagle Outfitters stores, Aerie stores, AEO Factory stores, as well as online. If you make $350 in purchases in a year, AE will upgrade your credit card to Extra Access status. This will give you $15 in rewards for every 2500 points you accumulate with the card, helping you to rack up savings even quicker.

If you are looking to save money on your purchases at AE, you will find that this credit card is a great choice. However, if you need to keep in mind that you have to make one qualifying purchase each year to keep your reward points. In addition, the APR on the American Eagle credit card is 27.9 percent, which is higher than other credit cards you may be able to secure. Late payment fee is $38.

American Eagle Credit Card Reviews

Overall the American Eagle credit card is a strong card to have in your wallet if you like to shop at American Eagle Outfitters, Aerie or AEO Factory stores. If will provide you with plenty of savings on merchandise from these stores and the free shipping online is a nice benefit. Just be watchful of the APR as it is higher than most other credit cards if you decide to carry a balance.