Credit Cards

Capital One Quicksilver Card Review

Thursday, September 13, 2018

Editorial Note: The editorial content on this page is not provided by any financial institution and has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities prior to publication. This site may be compensated through a credit card partnership.

Alexandria White

The Capital One® Quicksilver® Card - 0% Intro APR for 15 Months (after, 14.74% - 24.74% (Variable) APR) is a decent $0 annual fee card that offers a cashback program and the opportunity to get out of debt. This card also provides great Visa Signature® perks, such as access to exclusive shopping discounts, lost luggage reimbursement, and perks at over 900 luxury hotels. However, you can find cards with better balance transfer offers and more robust cashback programs — many with no annual fee.

Capital One® Quicksilver® Card - 0% Intro APR for 15 Months

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on Capital One’s secure website

Capital One^® Quicksilver^® Card - 0% Intro APR for 15 Months

Regular Purchase APR: 14.74% - 24.74% (Variable)

Intro Purchase APR: 0% intro on purchases for 15 months

Intro BT APR: 0% intro on balance transfers for 15 months

Annual fee: $0

Rewards Rate: 1.5% Cash Back on every purchase, every day

Balance Transfer Fee: 3%

Credit required

good-credit

Excellent/Good

Breaking down the balance transfer offer

The Capital One® Quicksilver® Card - 0% Intro APR for 15 Months offers 0% intro on balance transfers for 15 months and 0% intro on purchases for 15 months. After the intro periods, 14.74% - 24.74% (Variable) APR applies. This is an average length intro period and can provide you with the opportunity to rid yourself of existing debt and possibly avoid falling into new debt.

However, be aware that there is a typical 3% balance transfer fee. This fee is often outweighed by the amount you save by transferring a balance from a high-interest card to a card offering an intro 0% period — but if you want to increase your savings, check out no-fee balance transfer cards.

Rewards breakdown

This card offers a subpar 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day. We generally recommend cards that offer at least 2% cash back. However, there is a decent new cardmember offer: One-time $150 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening.

Cash back can conveniently be redeemed for any amount at any time. Redemption options include a statement credit or check with the option to set up automatic redemption at a set time each year or when a specific threshold ($25, $50, $100 or $200) is met. Other redemption options include for previous purchases, gift cards, and more.

Check out our roundup of the best cash back cards.

Key features

No foreign transaction fee
Shopping discounts: Receive discounts at online merchants and retailers.*
Auto rental collision damage waiver: When you pay for an eligible rental with your card, you may receive coverage for damage due to collision or theft — at no additional cost.*
Visa Signature® Luxury Hotel Collection: When you stay at one of over 900 Visa Signature® Luxury Hotel Collection properties, you can access premium benefits such as room upgrades and late check-out, when available.*
Fine Wine & Food: You can access special dining and wine experiences and receive discounts or complimentary wine tastings at participating establishments.*
Visa Signature® Concierge: Representatives are available 24/7 to assist you with various requests such as finding tickets to the top sports and entertainment events, booking travel, and making dinner reservations.*
Travel accident insurance: When you pay for your common carrier trip (airplane, train, etc.) with your card and you may be be covered for accidental death or dismemberment, at no extra cost.*
Lost luggage reimbursement: Your checked or carry on luggage may be covered up to $3,000 if your luggage is lost or stolen when your common carrier trip is paid entirely with your card.*
Roadside Dispatch®: In the U.S. and Canada, if your car breaks down and you’re in need of towing and locksmith referral services, Roadside Dispatch® is available 24/7.*
Travel and Emergency Assistance Services: When you’re away from home, representatives are available to help coordinate medical, legal, and travel services.*

*Terms apply.

What to know before completing a balance transfer

While a balance transfer can be a great way to get out of debt, there are a few key terms you should familiarize yourself with prior to completing your transfer:

Balance transfer fee: At 3%, this fee is typical, and most likely will be worth the amount you save on interest.
Regular purchase APR: Any balances that remain after the intro period ends will incur a 14.74% - 24.74% (Variable) APR. As a result, it’s key to pay off any balances you accrued prior to the end of the intro period.
Balance transfer window: Balances can be transferred any time during the intro period, but the longer you wait the less time you have to take advantage of the offer. Therefore, transfer balances when you open the card or soon after so you can reap the full benefits.
How long the balance transfer takes to process: Balance transfers typically take up to 14 days to process, so we recommend continuing to make payments on your old card until the balance transfer posts to your account — this way you won’t rack up late payment fees.

How to complete a balance transfer with Capital One

We have a step-by-step guide on how to complete your balance transfer with Capital One here, which includes screenshots for each step.

>>Once you complete your balance transfer, check out our guide for 5 things you should do next.<<

What other cards should I consider?

For a flat-rate cashback program and a long balance transfer offer:

Citi® Double Cash Card – 18 month BT offer

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on Citibank’s secure website

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Citi^® Double Cash Card – 18 month BT offer

Annual fee: $0*

Intro BT APR: 0% for 18 months on Balance Transfers*

Balance Transfer Fee: 3% of each balance transfer; $5 minimum.

Regular Purchase APR: 15.24% - 25.24%* (Variable)

Rewards Rate: Earn 2% cash back on purchases: 1% when you buy plus 1% as you pay

Credit required

good-credit

Excellent, Good

The Citi® Double Cash Card – 18 month BT offer is consistently our top pick for a flat-rate cashback card. You can earn 2% cash back on purchases: 1% when you buy plus 1% as you pay. That’s compared to the 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day you earn with the Capital One® Quicksilver® Card - 0% Intro APR for 15 Months (after, 14.74% - 24.74% (Variable) APR). Plus the balance transfer offer is longer with an intro 0% for 18 months on Balance Transfers* (after, 15.24% - 25.24%* (Variable) APR). Additional perks of the Citi® Double Cash Card – 18 month BT offer include Citi® Price Rewind where you can register eligible items and Citi will conduct a 60-day search for a lower price, potentially crediting you for the difference if a lower price is found (up to $200 back per item, and up to $1,000 per year). Citi® Private Pass® also provides exclusive access to entertainment events.

For new purchases, balance transfers, rewards and a wide range of perks:

The Amex EveryDay® Credit Card from American Express

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on American Express’s secure website

Terms Apply

Rates & Fees

Read Full Review

The Amex EveryDay® Credit Card from American Express

Regular Purchase APR: 14.74%-25.74% Variable

Intro Purchase APR: 0% for 15 Months

Intro BT APR: 0% for 15 Months

Annual fee: $0

Rewards Rate: 2x points at US supermarkets, on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1x), 1x points on other purchases.

Balance Transfer Fee: $0 balance transfer fee.

Credit required

good-credit

Excellent/Good

If you’re looking to transfer a balance or pay for new purchases over time, The Amex EveryDay® Credit Card from American Express is a comprehensive card that can provide you with numerous benefits. There is an intro 0% for 15 Months on purchases and an intro 0% for 15 Months on balance transfers (after, 14.74%-25.74% Variable APR). This card also provides a great $0 balance transfer fee. On top of that, you can earn rewards on new purchases with 2x points at US supermarkets, on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1x), 1x points on other purchases. Other cardmember perks include travel insurance, exclusive entertainment access, free two-day shipping at select merchants with ShopRunner, and more. Terms apply.

For more alternatives, check out our roundups of the best cash back cards, the best balance transfer credit cards, and the best no-fee balance transfer cards.

Advertiser Disclosure: The card offers that appear on this site are from companies from which MagnifyMoney receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). MagnifyMoney does not include all card companies or all card offers available in the marketplace.

Alexandria White |

Alexandria White is a writer at MagnifyMoney. You can email Alexandria at alexandria@magnifymoney.com

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Featured Accounts from our PartnersAD

Get $150 sign-up bonus and unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase. 0% Intro APR for 15 Months after that 14.74% - 24.74% (V).
Learn More
Capital One® Quicksilver® Card
Use cash back to pay down debt faster. Earn 2% cash back on purchases and enjoy ultra-long 0% intro interest on Balance Transfers.
Learn More
Citi® Double Cash Card – 18 month BT offer
Intro 0% for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, then 14.74% to 25.74% (v).
Apply Now
The Amex EveryDay® Credit Card from American Express
Terms Apply | Rates & Fees

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This Cash Back Number May Surprise You

Best Travel Credit Cards With No Annual Fee

Getting Approved For 1 Of These Credit Cards Means You Have Excellent Credit

2 Credit Cards Charging 0% Interest until 2019

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Balance Transfer

How To Do a Balance Transfer With Chase

Thursday, September 13, 2018

Alexandria White

Balance transfers can be a great way to finally rid yourself of lingering debt. By transferring debt on a high interest credit card to a card with an introductory interest-free period, you can save money on interest payments and benefit from more time to pay off your debt. In this guide, we’ll provide step-by-step instructions on how to complete a balance transfer with Chase online and over the phone; the whole process should only take a few minutes. Keep in mind, however, that you can’t complete a balance transfer with Chase if your debt is on another Chase card — in that case, check out our full list of balance transfer cards here. Otherwise, if you are considering transferring your credit card balance from a non-Chase card, our recommended Chase card is the Chase Freedom®.

Chase Freedom®

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on Chase Bank’s secure website

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Chase Freedom^®

Regular Purchase APR: 16.74% - 25.49% Variable

Intro Purchase APR: 0% Intro APR on Purchases for 15 months

Intro BT APR: 0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers for 15 months

Annual fee: $0

Rewards Rate: Earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate. Enjoy new 5% categories every 3 months. Unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.

Balance Transfer Fee: Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater

Credit required

good-credit

Excellent/Good

After the instructions, we list some best practices for completing a balance transfer with Chase.

Complete your transfer online

1. Login to your account. Click on “Pay & transfer” then select “Card balance transfers.”

2. Choose an offer. You should see your intro balance transfer offer listed. If your intro offer isn’t listed, contact a Chase rep. If you’ve had your card for a while, there may be no intro BT offer available, but sometimes Chase periodically has new offers.

3. Input the account number of the credit card with your debt and the amount that you want to transfer. The amount you enter must not be greater than $15,000 or greater than your available credit limit (including any fees). If you enter an invalid amount, a box will appear stating the exact maximum amount you’re able to transfer.

4. Next, you’ll review the terms and conditions associated with your offer. Once you read them, check the box below the T&C and click “Agree & continue.”

5. Lastly, review and confirm the balance transfer request is accurate and click “Set up transfer” to request your balance transfer.

Complete your transfer by phone

If you rather complete a transfer over the phone, simply call the number on the back of your card to speak to a representative. Have the following information ready:

Name on the account with the debt
Amount to be transferred

Chase balance transfer rules

Request your balance transfer as soon as possible. Chase requires balance transfers to be completed within 60 days from account opening to take advantage of intro offers.
Review the terms of your balance transfer offer to verify they’re correct. Make sure you receive the offer you expected and note when the intro period ends.
Continue to make payments towards your balance until the balance transfer posts to your account. This may take up to three weeks.
Pay each bill on time — late payments may cause Chase to cancel the offer.
Keep spending to a minimum so you don’t rack up more debt. Your goal should be to pay off your balance and excessive spending can lead you to fall into more debt.

Alexandria White |

Alexandria White is a writer at MagnifyMoney. You can email Alexandria at alexandria@magnifymoney.com

TAGS:

Featured Accounts from our PartnersAD

Use cash back to pay down debt faster. Earn 2% cash back on purchases and enjoy ultra-long 0% intro interest on Balance Transfers.
Learn More
Citi® Double Cash Card – 18 month BT offer
Intro 0% for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, then 14.74% to 25.74% (v).
Apply Now
The Amex EveryDay® Credit Card from American Express
Terms Apply | Rates & Fees
Get $150 sign-up bonus and unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase. 0% Intro APR for 15 Months after that 14.74% - 24.74% (V).
Learn More
Capital One® Quicksilver® Card

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This Cash Back Number May Surprise You

Best Travel Credit Cards With No Annual Fee

Getting Approved For 1 Of These Credit Cards Means You Have Excellent Credit

2 Credit Cards Charging 0% Interest until 2019

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Credit Cards

Best Credit Card Sign-Up Bonus For September 2018

Saturday, September 1, 2018

Alexandria White

As the credit card market gets increasingly more crowded, issuers are trying to gain customers with enticing sign-up bonuses. Typical sign-up bonuses require you to spend a given amount (usually ranging from $500 – $5,000) within the first few months of account opening (on average the first 3 months) before you can reap your reward. The type of bonus you earn can differ by issuer and come in the form of points, miles, cash back, and statement credit.

In this post, we list the best sign-up bonuses that you can earn from new credit cards, organized by credit cards for personal or business use and by category (travel, airline, cash back, and more).

Personal

Best travel rewards sign-up bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

The information related to Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card has been collected by MagnifyMoney and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication.

Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

Regular Purchase APR: 17.74% - 24.74% Variable

Annual fee: $0 Intro for the First Year, then $95

Rewards Rate: 2X points on travel and dining at restaurants worldwide & 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases

The bonus offer: Earn 50,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $625 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.What the points are really worth: 1 point is worth $.01, and when you redeem for travel via Chase Ultimate Rewards, 1 point is worth $.0125.

Other reasons to like this card:

25% more in redemption: When you redeem points for travel with Chase Ultimate Rewards® your points get 25% more value. For example, 50,000 points are worth $625 toward travel.
1:1 point transfer: Points can be transferred at a 1:1 rate to participating frequent travel programs currently including: British Airways Executive Club, Flying Blue AIR FRANCE KLM, JetBlue TrueBlue, Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer, Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards®, United MileagePlus®, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, IHG® Rewards Club, Marriott Rewards®, The Ritz-Carlton Rewards® and World of Hyatt.

Bottom Line: The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a good fit for people who frequently travel and would like an increased redemption value for their points with the 25% more value you receive when redeeming for travel with Chase Ultimate Rewards.

Best hotel credit card sign-up bonus: Marriott Rewards^® Premier Plus Credit Card

Marriott Rewards® Premier Plus Credit Card

The information related to Marriott Rewards^® Premier Plus Credit Card has been collected by MagnifyMoney and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication.

Marriott Rewards^® Premier Plus Credit Card

Regular Purchase APR: 17.74% - 24.74% Variable

Annual fee: $95

Rewards Rate: Earn 6X points for every $1 spent at over 6,500 participating Marriott Rewards and SPG hotels and 2X points everywhere else.

The bonus offer: Earn 75,000 Points after spending $3,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening with the new Marriott Rewards® Premier Plus Credit Card!What the points are really worth: The value of Marriott rewards points vary by redemption method, and there is no set monetary value.

Other reasons to like this card:

Free Night Award: Benefit from a Free Night Award each year after your account anniversary — valid for a one night hotel stay at a property with a redemption level up to 35,000 points. Other terms apply.
Elite status: Coming in 2019, receive 15 Elite Night Credits each calendar year. Restrictions apply.
Flexible redemption options: Redeem points for hotel stays, room upgrades, experiences, car rentals, TSA Precheck, gift cards, and more.

Bottom Line: The Marriott Rewards^® Premier Plus Credit Card is ideal for people who stay at participating Marriott Rewards and SPG hotels, as the rewards program is structured around those purchases and you can receive a free night stay each account anniversary.

Best airline credit card sign-up bonus: Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite™ Mastercard®

Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite™ Mastercard®

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on Citibank’s secure website

Citi^® / AAdvantage^® Platinum Select^® World Elite™ Mastercard^®

Regular Purchase APR: 17.74% - 25.74%* (Variable)

Annual fee: $99, waived for first 12 months*

Rewards Rate: Earn 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases*

The bonus offer: Earn 50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after making $2,500 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening*.

What the points are really worth: The value of AAdvantage® miles vary by redemption method, and there is no set monetary value.

Other reasons to like this card:

10% miles back: You can earn 10% of your redeemed AAdvantage® miles back, with a maximum of 10,000 AAdvantage® bonus miles per calendar year*.
Preferred boarding: You can board the plane faster when flying with American Airlines*.
First checked bag free: On domestic American Airlines flights, your first checked bag is free for you and up to four companions.
25% inflight savings: Receive a 25% savings on eligible inflight food and beverage purchases when you use your card on American Airlines flights*.

Bottom Line: The Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite™ Mastercard® is a great choice for American Airlines flyers who want to enjoy extra perks on their flights such as preferred boarding and inflight savings.

Best cash back sign-up bonus: Discover it® Cash Back

Discover it® Cash Back

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on Discover Bank’s secure website

Rates & Fees

Discover it^® Cash Back

Regular APR: 13.74% - 24.74% Variable

Annual fee: $0

Rewards Rate: 5% cash back at different places each quarter like gas stations, grocery stores, restaurants, Amazon.com, or wholesale clubs up to the quarterly maximum each time you activate. 1% unlimited cash back automatically on all other purchases.

The intro offer: Discover will match ALL the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year, automatically. There’s no signing up. And no limit to how much is matched.

Other reasons to like this card:

Conveniently redeem cash back: Your cash back can be redeemed at any time and for any amount. This is great since other cards often impose a $20-$25 minimum redemption amount.
No late fee on your first late payment: Discover will give you a pass on your first late payment, a good reminder to set up autopay or calendar alerts.

Bottom Line: The Discover it® Cash Back is a great option for people looking to earn additional cash back with the Cashback Match™ feature — all without a minimum spending requirement.

Best luxury card sign-up bonus: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

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The information related to Chase Sapphire Reserve^® has been collected by MagnifyMoney and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication.

Chase Sapphire Reserve^®

Regular Purchase APR: 17.74% - 24.74% Variable

Annual fee: $450

Rewards Rate: 3X points on travel immediately after earning your $300 travel credit. 3X points on dining at restaurants & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases. $0 foreign transaction fees.

The bonus offer: Earn 50,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.What the points are really worth: 1 point is worth $.01, and when you redeem for travel via Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 1 point is worth $.0150.

Other reasons to like this card:

50% more in redemption: Points redeemed for travel with Chase Ultimate Rewards earn 50% more in redemption value. For example, 50,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
1:1 point transfer: Easily transfer points at a 1:1 rate to participating frequent travel programs currently including: British Airways Executive Club, Flying Blue AIR FRANCE KLM, JetBlue TrueBlue, Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer, Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards®, United MileagePlus®, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, IHG® Rewards Club, Marriott Rewards®, The Ritz-Carlton Rewards® and World of Hyatt.
Airport lounge access: You can access over 1,000 airport lounges worldwide with a complimentary, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select.

Bottom Line: The Chase Sapphire Reserve® offers a fantastic sign-up bonus that can benefit from the 50% more value points earn when redeemed for travel with Chase Ultimate Rewards — great for travelers looking to maximize their points.

Best student credit card sign-up bonus: Citi ThankYou® Preferred Card for College Students

Citi ThankYou® Preferred Card for College Students

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on Citibank’s secure website

Citi ThankYou^® Preferred Card for College Students

Regular Purchase APR: 16.24% - 26.24%* (Variable)

Annual fee: $0*

Rewards Rate: Earn 2X Points on Dining Out & Entertainment and Earn 1X Points on All Other Purchases

The bonus offer: Earn 2,500 bonus points after spending $500 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.

What the points are really worth when redeemed for…

Travel with Citi’s travel portal: 1 point is worth $.01
Gift cards: 1 point is worth $.01
For purchases / statement credit: 1 point is worth $.0075
Shop with points, merchandise: 1 point is worth less than $.01
Cash back: 1 point is worth $.0005

Other reasons to like this card:

0% Intro period: There is an intro 0% for 7 months on Purchases* on purchases which is a decent intro period for a student card. After the intro period, standard APR is 16.24% - 26.24%* (Variable).
Citi® Price Rewind: When you register an item you paid for with your card, Citi will search for a lower price. If a lower price is found within 60 days, you may receive the difference between the price you paid and the lower price up to $200 per item and up to $1,000 per year.

Bottom Line: The Citi ThankYou® Preferred Card for College Students is a good card for students looking to maximize points on dining and entertainment purchases, while also potentially benefiting from money saving features like Citi® Price Rewind.

Business

Best cash back sign-up bonus for businesses: Ink Business Cash℠ Credit Card

Ink Business Cash℠ Credit Card

The information related to Ink Business Cash℠ Credit Card has been collected by MagnifyMoney and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication.

Ink Business Cash℠ Credit Card

Regular Purchase APR: 14.99% - 20.99% Variable

Annual fee: $0

Rewards Rate: Earn 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year. Earn 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year. Earn 1% cash back on all other card purchases with no limit to the amount you can earn.

The bonus offer: Earn $500 bonus cash back after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.Other reasons to like this card:

0% Intro period: This card offers an intro 0% for 12 Months on purchases allowing your business time to pay off any large purchases made during this period. There is also0% for 12 Months on balance transfers. After the intro period ends, a 14.99% - 20.99% Variable APR applies.
Higher rewards rate for select business purchases: Earn 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year. Earn 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year. Earn 1% cash back on all other card purchases with no limit to the amount you can earn..

Bottom Line: The Ink Business Cash℠ Credit Card is great for businesses that want a flexible cash back card that allows them to choose select business categories to earn the higher cash back rate.

Best travel points sign-up bonus for businesses: Ink Business Preferred℠ Credit Card

Ink Business Preferred℠ Credit Card

The information related to Ink Business Preferred℠ Credit Card has been collected by MagnifyMoney and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication.

Ink Business Preferred℠ Credit Card

Regular Purchase APR: 17.74% - 22.74% Variable

Annual fee: $95

Rewards Rate: Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases on travel, shipping purchases, Internet, cable and phone services, advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases—with no limit to the amount you can earn.

The bonus offer: Earn 80,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account openingWhat the points are really worth: 1 point is worth $.01, and when you redeem for travel via Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 1 point is worth $.0125.

Other reasons to like this card:

25% more in redemption: When you redeem points for travel with Chase Ultimate Rewards®, they are worth 25% more. For example, 80,000 points are worth $1,000 towards travel.
1:1 point transfer: If you’re a part of participating frequent travel programs, you can transfer points at a 1:1 rate. Partners currently include: British Airways Executive Club, Flying Blue AIR FRANCE KLM, JetBlue TrueBlue, Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer, Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards®, United MileagePlus®, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, IHG® Rewards Club, Marriott Rewards®, The Ritz-Carlton Rewards® and World of Hyatt.
Higher rewards rate for select business purchases: Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases on travel, shipping purchases, Internet, cable and phone services, advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases—with no limit to the amount you can earn. This is a great way for you to earn points on purchases your business spends a lot in.

Bottom Line: The Ink Business Preferred℠ Credit Card is a great card for businesses that travel since you can earn 25% more value in point redemptions with Chase Ultimate Rewards. Also, if your business wants to choose which categories they want to earn the higher rewards rate in, this card has several options with something for all businesses.

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How to maximize your sign-up bonus

Below we list some helpful tips for you to select the best sign-up bonus for your spending and how to make sure you actually earn the bonus. Here’s what you need to know:

Understand how the minimum spend requirement and time period works. Nearly all sign-up bonuses require a minimum spend for you to earn the bonus. For example, a card may require you to spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months of account opening to earn 5,000 bonus points. If you open your card January 1, then you have until March 30 to spend $1,000. Each sign-up bonus differs, so make sure to check the terms and conditions.
What qualifies as spending on purchases? Sign-up bonuses have clear terms that require you to spend a certain amount, that means certain transactions don’t count for the spending requirement. Transactions that aren’t often eligible often include: balance transfers, cash advances, travelers checks, foreign currency, money orders, wire transfers, interest, and fees of any kind.
Make a large purchase upfront to secure the bonus. If you plan on making a large purchase like a laptop or television, try and make it as soon as possible so you can meet the required spending for the bonus. But only do this if it’s feasible to pay it off soon after. If you make a large purchase upfront and are unable to pay it off before your statement is due, you will be stuck paying interest — unless your card has a 0% intro APR period. Still, you don’t want to fall into debt just to get the sign-up bonus.
Check other terms and conditions. A good rule of thumb is to look at the terms and conditions before you apply for any card. This allows you to see if the points / cash back expire or are only redeemable in certain ways. Reviewing the T&C can prevent you from missing out on your sign-up bonus.
Don’t be too greedy. To thwart people from nabbing sign-up bonuses and closing cards repeatedly, issuers may have rules that prevent customers from signing up for several cards from the same issuer over the course of a specific time period.
Take note: offers are time sensitive. Sign-up bonuses can change at any time, meaning an offer you click on may not be there later if you refresh or close the window.

How we picked the best sign-up bonus offers

The way we formulated this list was by looking at cards from all major issuers as well as some credit unions. From there we divided cards into two categories — travel points and cash back. When comparing cards in the travel category, we made sure to compare points worth, spending requirements, and rewards bonuses for redeeming via the issuer’s portal. For cash back cards, we simply looked at the size of the bonus and spending requirements. If there were cards with similar sign-up bonuses, we considered other features such as 0% intro period, APR and annual fees.

Let’s take an example, where 2 rewards cards both require you to spend $3,000 in the first 3 months of card membership:

Card A earn you 50,000 points
Card B earns you 60,000 points

Now someone may only look at the sign-up bonus for the Card B offer and think, “Wow, I earn 10,000 more points compared to Card A, I want Card B.”

But a closer look at the terms and conditions reveal that the points’ value differs for each card:

Card A’s points are worth $.0125 each when redeemed through the issuer’s portal
Card B’s points are worth $.01 each

Here’s the monetary value of the sign-up bonus for each card:

Card A: $625
Card B: $600

So the sign-up bonus that would be better is Card A, when considering points worth and redemption methods. Therefore, it’s always important to look at various aspects of a card, not solely the sign-up bonus.

Now let’s look at a cash back example:

Card A requires you to spend $1,000 within the first 3 months of card opening to earn $150 cash back
Card B requires you to spend $500 within the first 3 months of card opening to earn $150 cash back
Card C matches your cash back at the end of 12 months, and doesn’t require a minimum spending amount

It’s pretty clear that Card A is the worst value. Card B is better since you have to spend half the amount to earn the same sign-up bonus as Card A. However, if you spend over $15,000 in the first 12 months of card opening, Card C is the best option with unlimited cash back matching and no required spend.

Alexandria White |

Alexandria White is a writer at MagnifyMoney. You can email Alexandria at alexandria@magnifymoney.com

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Building Credit

Build Your Credit Score: 6 Secured Cards With No Annual Fees – September 2018

Saturday, September 1, 2018

Alexandria White

Secured cards are a great way to build or improve credit. When you open a secured card, you submit a security deposit that typically becomes your credit limit. This deposit acts as collateral if you default on your account, but you can get it back if you close your account after paying off your balance. As long as you use a secured card responsibly — for example, make on-time payments and use little of your available credit — you may see improvements in your credit score. Unfortunately, in addition to the upfront deposit, this credit-building tool can have extra costs, like an annual fee.

You can avoid that expense with one of these six no annual fee secured cards, which have a variety of uses:

Cards to consider

Rewards

Discover it® Secured

APPLY NOW

on Discover Bank’s secure website

Rates & Fees

Discover it^® Secured

Annual fee: $0

Minimum Deposit: $200

Regular APR: 24.74% Variable

The Discover it® Secured is a standout secured card that provides cardholders the opportunity to earn cash back while building credit. A cashback program is hard to find with secured cards, and the Discover it® Secured offers 2% cash back at restaurants & gas stations on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter. Plus, 1% cash back on all your other purchases. In addition, there is a new cardmember offer where Discover will match ALL the cash back earned at the end of your first year, automatically. This is a great way to get a lot of rewards without needing to do any extra work.

In addition to a cashback program, this card provides valuable credit resources such as free access to your FICO® Score and a Credit Resource Center — just note these services are available whether you’re a cardholder or not. Discover also takes the guesswork out of wondering when you’re ready for an unsecured card (aka a regular credit card) by performing automatic monthly account reviews, starting at eight months of card membership.

What to look out for: There is a high 24.74% Variable APR for this card, so you could end up paying a lot more than purchase prices if you carry a balance. Try not to overspend and make it a goal to pay each statement in full so you avoid interest charges.

Low deposit

Capital One® Secured Mastercard®

APPLY NOW

on Capital One’s secure website

Capital One^® Secured Mastercard^®

Annual fee: $0

Minimum Deposit: $49, $99, or $200

Regular Purchase APR: 24.99% (Variable)

The Capital One® Secured Mastercard® offers qualifying cardholders a lower security deposit compared to other secured cards. You will get an initial $200 credit line after making a security deposit of $49, $99, or $200, determined based on your creditworthiness. Typical secured cards require you to deposit an amount equal to your credit limit, so this card has added perks for people who qualify for the lower deposits.

You can also receive a credit limit increase without making an additional deposit after making your first five monthly payments on time. This is beneficial for people who need a higher credit limit and don’t want to (or can’t) tie up their money in a deposit. Also, this card comes with a credit resource center — which is available to everyone — and Platinum Mastercard® benefits that include travel accident insurance and price protection.

What to look out for: The $49 and $99 security deposits are not guaranteed and depend on your creditworthiness — that means you may still have to deposit $200. Also, it’s not a good idea A carry a balance on this card because it has one of the highest APRs at 24.99% (Variable).

Average deposit

Citi® Secured MasterCard®

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on Citibank’s secure website

Citi^® Secured MasterCard^®

Annual fee: $0

Minimum Deposit: $200

Regular Purchase APR: 24.24%* (Variable)

The Citi® Secured Mastercard® requires a $200 security deposit, which is typical of secured cards and a good amount to establish your credit line. You can deposit more money if you want to receive a higher credit line, but if you don’t have a lot of money available to deposit, coming up with $200 is manageable. This card doesn’t have any additional card benefits like rewards or insurances, but you can access Citi’s Credit Knowledge Center for financial management tips.

What to look out for: This card has a high 24.24%* (Variable) APR which isn’t ideal for people who may carry a balance. We recommend paying every statement in full so you don’t incur interest, but if you think you may carry a balance check out secured cards with low APRs.

Low APR

Visa® Secured Card from MidSouth Community FCU

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on MidSouth Community FCU’s secure website

Visa^® Secured Card from MidSouth Community FCU

Annual fee: $0

Minimum Deposit: $200

Regular Purchase APR: 10.65% Variable

Because MidSouth Community is a federal credit union, you need to be a member to qualify for this card. Membership is limited to people who work, live, worship, or attend school in the following Middle Georgia counties: Bibb, Baldwin, Crawford, Hancock, Houston, Jones, Monroe, Peach, Pulaski, Putnam, Twiggs, Washington, and Wilkinson. If you qualify, you may be able to get a secured card with an APR as low as 10.65% Variable.

What to look out for: This card is very restricted, therefore few people will be able to qualify for this low APR secured card.

Unrestricted low APR

Affinity Secured Visa® Credit Card

APPLY NOW

on Affinity Federal Credit Union’s secure website

Affinity Secured Visa^® Credit Card

Annual fee: $0

Minimum Deposit: $250

Regular Purchase APR: 12.35% Variable

The Affinity Secured Visa® Credit Card requires cardholders to join the Affinity FCU. You may qualify through participating organizations, but if you don’t, anyone can join the New Jersey Coalition for Financial Education by making a $5 donation when you fill out your online application. This card has an 12.35% Variable APR, which is one of the lowest rates available for a no annual fee secured card and is nearly half the amount major issuers charge. This is a good rate if you may carry a balance — but try to pay each statement in full.

What to look out for: There may be a membership fee associated with this card if you don’t qualify through participating organizations. The fee you may have to pay is low at $5, but it may be an issue for people who don’t want to pay anything to open a secured card.

Unrestricted federal credit union

Savings Secured Visa Platinum Card from State Department Federal

APPLY NOW

on State Department Federal Credit Union’s secure website

Savings Secured Visa Platinum Card from State Department Federal

Annual fee: $0

Minimum Deposit: $250

Regular Purchase APR: 13.74% Variable

The State Department FCU Savings Secured Visa Platinum Card is open to anyone, regardless of residence. If you aren’t eligible through select methods including employees of the U.S. Department of State or members of select organizations, you can join the American Consumer Council during the application process. There is no fee associated with joining since State Department FCU pays the $5 on your behalf. There is a rewards program with this card where you earn Flexpoints, which can be redeemed for a variety of options like gift cards and travel. The APR can be as low as 13.74% Variable, which is reasonable considering many secured cards from major issuers are above 23%.

What to look out for: If you decide to take out this card and become a member of the SDFCU by joining the American Consumer Council, make sure you do not go to the ACC’s website and submit a $5 donation. That fee is waived by the SDFCU when you fill out your credit application. Simply select “I do not qualify to join through any of these other methods:” and select the ACC from the menu to avoid the $5 fee.

Alexandria White |

Alexandria White is a writer at MagnifyMoney. You can email Alexandria at alexandria@magnifymoney.com

TAGS: CREDIT HISTORY, Secured Cards

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Best of, Earning Cashback

7 Best Cash Back Credit Cards for Dining Out in September 2018

Saturday, September 1, 2018

Alexandria White

If you’re someone who frequently dines out, cash back credit cards that reward you for it are a great way to put money back in your pocket. Cash back cards for dining can earn you rewards for purchases made through restaurants, bars and takeout establishments. This is a great way for foodies to reap extra rewards just by doing what they love — eating!

We picked the following cards because they offer competitive cash back rates above 2% for dining-related purchases, as well as have low or no annual fees. As with most rewards credit cards, you may lose your cash back rewards if your account is not in good standing.

Capital One® Savor® Cash Rewards Credit Card – 4% cash back

Capital One® Savor® Cash Rewards Credit Card

APPLY NOW

on Capital One’s secure website

Capital One^® Savor^® Cash Rewards Credit Card

Regular Purchase APR: 16.24% - 25.24% (Variable)

Annual fee: $0 intro for first year; $95 after that

Rewards Rate: 4% Cash Back on dining; 4% Cash Back on entertainment; 2% Cash Back at grocery stores; 1% Cash Back on all other purchases

The Capital One® Savor® Cash Rewards Credit Card enables you to earn unlimited 4% Cash Back on dining; 4% Cash Back on entertainment; 2% Cash Back at grocery stores; 1% Cash Back on all other purchases. Earn a one-time $500 cash bonus after you spend $3000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening. (The card website specifies that the one-time bonus is available by applying through the site, and may not be available if an applicant navigates away from the page. Also, the bonus may not be available for existing or previous accountholders.)

Uber Visa Card – 4% cash back

Uber Visa Card

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The information related to Uber Visa Card has been collected by MagnifyMoney and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication.

Uber Visa Card

Regular Purchase APR: 16.74% - 25.49% Variable

Annual fee: $0

Rewards Rate: 4% back on dining, 3% back on hotel and airfare, 2% back for online purchases, and 1% on everything else.

The Uber Visa Card offers unlimited 4% back on dining purchases that will benefit the biggest foodies. Additionally, earn 3% back on hotels and airfare, including vacation home rentals; 2% back on online purchases that include Uber, online shopping and video and music streaming services; and 1% back on all other purchases. Dining purchases include those made at restaurants, fast-food restaurants, bars and UberEATS. Your rewards come in the form of points with a value of $0.01 per point (so 2,500 points can be redeemed for a $25 statement credit, for example). Another cool perk: There is a great sign-up bonus: Earn $100 after spending $500 on purchases in the first 90 days. You can read our full review here.

AARP^® Credit Card from Chase Bank – 3% cash back

AARP® Credit Card from Chase Bank

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The information related to AARP^® Credit Card from Chase Bank has been collected by MagnifyMoney and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication.

AARP^® Credit Card from Chase Bank

Regular Purchase APR: 17.99% - 24.74% Variable

Annual fee: $0

Rewards Rate: Earn 3% Cash Back rewards on purchases at restaurants, from fine dining to fast food, 3% Cash Back rewards on purchases at gas stations, and 1% Cash Back rewards on all other purchases.

Don’t be led astray by the name: This card isn’t limited to people over 50 — anyone can apply. The AARP^® Credit Card from Chase Bank lets you Earn 3% Cash Back rewards on purchases at restaurants, from fine dining to fast food, 3% Cash Back rewards on purchases at gas stations, and 1% Cash Back rewards on all other purchases. Earn $100 bonus cash back after you spend $500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

Marvel Mastercard^® – 3% cash back

Marvel Mastercard®

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on MARVEL’s secure website

Marvel Mastercard^®

Regular Purchase APR: 16.49%-26.49% Variable

Annual fee: $0

Rewards Rate: Earn 3% cashback on Dining, Select Entertainment, Online at Marvel.com and Marvel's Official Merchandise Booths, and 1% cashback on all other Mastercard purchases.

The Marvel Mastercard^® is a great choice for Marvel fans who want to benefit from exclusive Marvel discounts, with the added benefit of earning a high cash back rate on dining purchases. You Earn 3% cashback on Dining, Select Entertainment, Online at Marvel.com and Marvel's Official Merchandise Booths, and 1% cashback on all other Mastercard purchases. Some of the Marvel related perks you earn include 10% off merchandise purchases at MarvelShop.com, free shipping offers and special discounts on Marvel Unlimited or Marvel digital comics. Terms apply.

There is also a new cardmember bonus of a $25 statement credit after your first purchase with your new Marvel Mastercard.

Sams Club^® Mastercard^® – 3% cash back

Sams Club® Mastercard®

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on Sam's Club’s secure website

Sams Club^® Mastercard^®

Regular Purchase APR: 11.65% Variable

Annual fee: $0

Rewards Rate: $5,000 cash back per calendar year and offers 5% cash back on gas (on first $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%), 3% on dining and travel, and 1% on other purchases.

The Sams Club^® Mastercard^® offers $5,000 cash back per calendar year and offers 5% cash back on gas (on first $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%), 3% on dining and travel, and 1% on other purchases. From now until Dec. 31, you can receive a $45 statement credit if you open your card online and make a $45 purchase on Samsclub.com on the same day you open your account. However, you do need a Sam’s Club membership to apply, and current membership fees start at $45 per year.

Take note that you’re limited to earning a maximum of $5,000 in cash back rewards in a calendar year. Checks are issued each February for the cash back earned during the previous calendar year. You will lose any cash back you earned if you end your membership or let it lapse, or if you accumulate less than $5 cash back in a calendar year.

Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi – 3% cash back

Costco Anywhere Visa® Card from Citi

APPLY NOW

on Citibank’s secure website

Costco Anywhere Visa^® Card from Citi

Regular Purchase APR: 16.99%* (Variable)

Annual fee: $0

Rewards Rate: 4% cash back on eligible gas for the first $7,000 per year and then 1% thereafter, 3% on restaurants & travel, 2% at Costco & Costco.com, 1% on all other purchases

The Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi requires a Costco membership (currently, annual memberships start at $60) and offers 4% cash back on eligible gas for the first $7,000 per year and then 1% thereafter, 3% on restaurants & travel, 2% at Costco & Costco.com, 1% on all other purchases. Take note that purchases made at bakeries and certain restaurants/cafes in department stores, groceries or warehouse clubs will only earn 1%.

Cash back comes as an annual credit card reward certificate in February billing statements, redeemable for cash or merchandise at U.S. Costco Warehouses. You must maintain your Costco membership to receive rewards, and you will also lose rewards if you accumulate less than $1 in cash back or if you don’t redeem them by the end of the year.

Alternative: Rotating cash back categories

Discover it® Cash Back – 5% cash back

Discover it® Cash Back

APPLY NOW

on Discover Bank’s secure website

Rates & Fees

Discover it^® Cash Back

Regular APR: 13.74% - 24.74% Variable

Annual fee: $0

Rewards Rate: 5% cash back at different places each quarter like gas stations, grocery stores, restaurants, Amazon.com, or wholesale clubs up to the quarterly maximum each time you activate. 1% unlimited cash back automatically on all other purchases.

The Discover it® Cash Back offers 5% cash back in different places (on up to $1,500 in purchases each quarter, then 1%) and unlimited 1% on all other purchases, automatically.Restaurants are slated to be a bonus category from July 1 through Sept. 30, 2018. Set a reminder to activate the bonus category. In addition to a cash back program, Discover will match ALL the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year, automatically. There’s no signing up. And no limit to how much is matched (new cardmembers only).

Are these deals the best for you?

Cash back rewards should only be pursued by responsible credit users who have no trouble paying off their balance on time and in full every month. If you’re a credit all-star who also has an affinity for dining out, these cards will provide the best perks.

If you’re apt to carry a balance, check out our picks for the best credit cards that can help you pay down debt faster.

As always, check the fine print on each card before signing up, taking special note of any fees. With those things in mind, decide which rewards structure best serves your typical spending activity and enjoy the cash back benefits — and the good eats.

Alexandria White |

Alexandria White is a writer at MagnifyMoney. You can email Alexandria at alexandria@magnifymoney.com

TAGS: cash back, Cash Back Credit Cards, Dining Out, Restaurants

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Credit Cards

Best Small Business Credit Cards in September 2018

Saturday, September 1, 2018

Alexandria White

Small business credit cards not only make it easier to separate personal and business finances, they offer business owners advantages they may not need or be able to get with a personal credit card. You might find the number of business credit card options overwhelming, so identifying your priorities will help you choose. Do you want rewards? Or do you merely need a card for short-term financing? The best small business credit card for you will depend entirely on your needs and goals.

Best small business credit cards for financing

0% APR financing

When to consider business cards with intro 0% financing: A business card with an intro 0% APR period can save you hundreds of dollars on interest compared to cards without 0% APR introductory periods. During the intro period, new purchases won’t accrue interest, and you can take your time paying off large purchases such as laptops and desks for your business.

The Blue Business℠ Plus Credit Card from American Express

The information related to The Blue Business℠ Plus Credit Card from American Express has been collected by MagnifyMoney and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication.

The Blue Business℠ Plus Credit Card from American Express

Regular Purchase APR: 12.99% - 20.99% Variable

Intro Purchase APR: 0% for 15 Months

Annual fee: $0

Rewards Rate: 2X Membership Rewards® points on everyday business purchases such as office supplies or client dinners. 2X applies to the first $50,000 in purchases per year, 1 point per dollar thereafter.

Credit required

good-credit

Excellent/Good

Why we like it: The Blue Business℠ Plus Credit Card from American Express offers small business owners the chance to finance new purchases with the longest intro period for purchases of any business card at intro 0% for 15 Months; 12.99% - 20.99% Variable APR after. Plus, you can earn rewards, receive purchase protection and get extended warranties — all with a $0 annual fee.

What to watch out for: You can lose the intro APR if a penalty APR applies to your account for any reason. To avoid this, always pay your minimum amount due.

Low interest rate

When to consider business cards with low interest rates: If you find your business has to carry a balance from time to time, it can be beneficial to have a low interest credit card that won’t cause you to rack up as much interest as other cards. But as a rule of thumb, try to pay your balance in full every month to avoid interest charges.

Bank of America® Platinum Visa® Business Credit Card

APPLY NOW

on Bank Of America’s secure website

Bank of America^® Platinum Visa^® Business Credit Card

Regular Purchase APR: 10.99% - 21.99% Variable APR

Annual fee: $0

Rewards Rate: Non-rewards card

Credit required

good-credit

Excellent

Why we like it: The Bank of America® Platinum Visa® Business Credit Card has the lowest APR at 10.99% - 21.99% Variable APR. If you qualify for the lowest rate and end up carrying a balance, you’ll be charged substantially less interest than other cards with high APRs. Although there are no rewards, new accounts can earn an $200 statement credit when you make at least $500 in net purchases within 60 days of your account opening. That’s the lowest spending requirement to get a bonus on a business card.

What to watch out for: You may not qualify for the lowest rate because the APR varies based on your personal or business’ credit worthiness.

Cash flow management

When to consider a business card for cash flow management: Some small businesses may not have a consistent cash flow, and that’s where a card with a flexible payment option comes in handy. You may be allowed to carry a balance interest free until your next statement if you make the minimum payment.

The Plum Card® from American Express OPEN

The information related to The Plum Card^® from American Express OPEN has been collected by MagnifyMoney and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication.

The Plum Card^® from American Express OPEN

Regular Purchase APR: N/A

Annual fee: $0 introductory annual fee your first year, then $250.

Rewards Rate: Get a 1.5% discount when you pay early, with no cap on what you can earn back.

Credit required

good-credit

Excellent/Good

Why we like it: The Plum Card® from American Express OPEN has an uncommon payment option where as long as you pay your minimum due, you can pay your balance in up to 60 days without accruing interest (terms apply). This ‘grace period’ is uncharacteristic of business cards (and all cards in general), providing you with twice as much time as other cards do to pay off your statement without incurring interest charges. There are no rewards, but you can Get a 1.5% discount when you pay early, with no cap on what you can earn back.

What to watch out for: To benefit from the extra-days-to-pay feature, make sure you pay your minimum due, or else you’ll miss out on the offer. Also, make sure this card is the best choice for your business because there’s a $0 introductory annual fee your first year, then $250.

Imperfect credit

When to consider a business card for imperfect credit: If you or your business has less-than-good credit, odds are you’ll not only have trouble qualifying for a credit card, but the terms you do qualify for won’t be ideal. However, you’re not out of luck — we found a card that considers small businesses with imperfect credit, and it has decent terms plus the foundation for you to improve your credit with responsible behavior.

Capital One® Spark® Classic for Business

APPLY NOW

on Capital One’s secure website

Capital One^® Spark^® Classic for Business

Regular Purchase APR: 24.74% (Variable)

Annual fee: $0

Rewards Rate: 1% Cash Back on every purchase, every day

Credit required

bad-credit

Average/Fair/Limited

Why we like it: The Capital One® Spark® Classic for Business is for business owners with Average/Fair/Limited credit. Capital One considers Average/Fair/Limited credit as someone who’s defaulted on a loan in the past five years or has limited credit history (holding credit for less than three years). So, if you or your business has less-than-perfect credit, you may have better odds qualifying for this card compared to the majority of business cards, which require good or excellent credit.

What to watch out for: Although this card states it’s for business owners with Average/Fair/Limited credit, that does not guarantee you will be approved. As with any credit application, lenders look at a variety of credit factors.

Available for service members

When to consider business cards for service members: The following business credit cards are provided by credit unions for service members and have added perks, such as low interest rates, rewards, special offers and discounts. These cards require credit union membership, but you can typically qualify depending on where you live or work.

Navy Federal Credit Union Visa® Business Card

APPLY NOW

on Navy Federal Credit Union’s secure website

Navy Federal Credit Union Visa^® Business Card

Regular Purchase APR: 10.15% - 18.00% Variable

Annual fee: $0

Rewards Rate: Rewards up to 1% return on each dollar spent

Credit required

excellent-credit

Good/Excellent

Why we like it: The Navy Federal Credit Union Visa^® Business Card has a $0 annual fee and provides an up to 15% discount on qualifying business purchases with Visa SavingsEdge®. You can receive discounts at restaurants, travel and shipping services, IT solutions and more at no additional cost. As a member of NFCU, you can also receive a discount on Geico auto insurance and access an Auto Buying Program where you can save on new and used cars — great if your business requires you and your employees to drive. Terms & limitations apply.

What to watch out for: The interest rate you receive depends on your creditworthiness, so you may not receive the lowest APR. Because membership is restricted, check here to see if you qualify for membership with Navy Federal Credit Union.

Navy Federal Credit Union Mastercard® Business Card

APPLY NOW

on Navy Federal Credit Union’s secure website

Navy Federal Credit Union Mastercard^® Business Card

Regular Purchase APR: 10.15% - 18.00% Variable

Annual fee: $0

Rewards Rate: Rewards up to 1% return on each dollar spent

Credit required

excellent-credit

Excellent

Why we like it: The Navy Federal Credit Union Mastercard^® Business Card has the Mastercard Easy Savings® Program, which provides you with an up to 10% discount on a wide range of purchases including car rentals, gas purchases, products and services like Bing Ads and Monster, and more. This can simply save your business money on everyday purchases and the program is free. NFCU members have access to perks that suit businesses that require driving for work, like the ability to save on Geico auto insurance and access to an Auto Buying Program where you can receive savings on new and used vehicles. Terms & limitations apply.

What to watch out for: The APR varies based on your creditworthiness, so you may not qualify for the lowest rate. Because membership is restricted, check here to see if you qualify for membership with Navy Federal Credit Union.

RBFCU Business Select Mastercard® credit card

APPLY NOW

on Randolph-Brooks Federal Credit Union’s secure website

RBFCU Business Select Mastercard^® credit card

Regular Purchase APR: 11.40% - 18.00% Variable

Annual fee: $0

Rewards Rate: 2% cash back on all purchases

Credit required

good-credit

Excellent/Good

Why we like it: The RBFCU Business Select Mastercard® credit card has a great cashback program with unlimited 2% cash back on every purchase. This flat rate is rare among business cards that tend to favor high rates only on select purchase categories. In addition to a cashback program, members of RBFCU can benefit from members-only pricing at select merchants like TurboTax® and Sprint® to save your business additional money. Terms apply.

What to watch out for: Not everyone will qualify for membership with RBFCU, so fill out this online form to check.

Best small business rewards credit cards

Travel perks

When to consider travel business cards: If you or your employees travel often, a travel card can be more valuable than typical credit cards because many offer travel insurance, airline fee credits, free Wi-Fi access and other travel-related perks.

The Business Platinum Card® from American Express OPEN

The information related to The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express OPEN has been collected by MagnifyMoney and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication.

The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express OPEN

Regular Purchase APR: N/A

Annual fee: $450

Rewards Rate: 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels on amextravel.com and 1.5 Membership Rewards® points per dollar on each eligible purchase of $5,000 or more.

Credit required

good-credit

Excellent/Good

Welcome Offer: Earn 50,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $10,000 and an extra 25,000 points after you spend an additional $10,000. Earn 50,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $10,000 & an extra 50,000 points after you spend an additional $15,000 all on qualifying purchases within your first 3 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 8/8/18.

Why we like it: We looked at business cards that offered travel perks, and The Business Platinum® Card from American Express OPEN emerged as the best overall business travel card because of its extensive benefits for business owners, including rewards potential, Welcome Offer, and added perks. You can take advantage of standout perks like access to over 1,000 airport lounges, credit for Global Entry or TSA Precheck and a $200 airline fee credit. Terms apply. These benefits can save your business a substantial amount of money and make travel less of a hassle.

What to watch out for: There is a steep $450 annual fee for this card. However, considering the value you receive with this card, the annual fee may be worth it. For example, the airline fee credit and Global Entry fee credit are valued at $300, decreasing the effective annual fee for this card.

Ink Business Preferred℠ Credit Card

The information related to Ink Business Preferred℠ Credit Card has been collected by MagnifyMoney and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication.

Ink Business Preferred℠ Credit Card

Regular Purchase APR: 17.74% - 22.74% Variable

Annual fee: $95

Rewards Rate: Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases on travel, shipping purchases, Internet, cable and phone services, advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases—with no limit to the amount you can earn.

Credit required

excellent-credit

Excellent

Why we like it: The Ink Business Preferred℠ Credit Card allows you to increase the value of your points by 25% when you redeem for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. This is a great way to increase the effective value of your points. Additional travel benefits include trip cancellation/trip interruption insurance and travel and emergency assistance services.

What to watch out for: The higher rewards rate only applies to select categories, so if you primarily spend outside the select categories, you’ll earn a subpar cashback rate. Consider other travel business cards that suit your spending more.

Capital One® Spark® Miles for Business

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on Capital One’s secure website

Capital One^® Spark^® Miles for Business

Regular Purchase APR: 18.74% (Variable)

Annual fee: $0 intro for first year; $95 after that

Rewards Rate: 2 Miles per $1 on every purchase, every day

Credit required

good-credit

Excellent/Good

Why we like it: The Capital One® Spark® Miles for Business offers a hard-to-find flat-rate rewards program at 2 Miles per $1 on every purchase, every day. This rate allows you and your employees to earn the same amount of miles on any purchase with no bonus categories or caps. You can easily redeem miles for travel, and there is no minimum redemption amount.

What to watch out for: This card comes with an annual fee at $0 intro for first year; $95 after that, and although it’s lower than most travel business cards, it may not be ideal for everyone. Keep in mind you will need to spend $4,750 a year (after year one) to recoup the fee.

Big intro bonuses

When to consider business cards with big intro bonuses: A large intro bonus can be a simple way for business owners to earn extra rewards within the first few months of account opening — as long as you fulfill the requirements. You can use the rewards you earn in a variety of ways, from travel to statement credits that can lower your business’ expenses. Many cards that have big intro bonuses also have good rewards and perks, providing long-term value in addition to the short-term reward.

Ink Business Preferred℠ Credit Card

The information related to Ink Business Preferred℠ Credit Card has been collected by MagnifyMoney and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication.

Ink Business Preferred℠ Credit Card

Regular Purchase APR: 17.74% - 22.74% Variable

Annual fee: $95

Rewards Rate: Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases on travel, shipping purchases, Internet, cable and phone services, advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases—with no limit to the amount you can earn.

Credit required

excellent-credit

Excellent

Intro bonus: Earn 80,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

Why we like it: The Ink Business Preferred℠ Credit Card has the highest value intro bonus and allows you to increase the value of your bonus by 25% when you redeem for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. You can see a large increase in your bonus value by redeeming this way. This card is also a good option for a business travel card.

What to watch out for: There are requirements that you need to follow in order to receive the intro bonus, so make sure you spend the required amount in the stated time period. Also, you miss out on added value by redeeming points outside of Chase Ultimate Rewards, so try to use the portal to receive the 25% more value on travel.

The Business Platinum Card® from American Express OPEN

The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express OPEN

Regular Purchase APR: N/A

Annual fee: $450

Rewards Rate: 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels on amextravel.com and 1.5 Membership Rewards® points per dollar on each eligible purchase of $5,000 or more.

Credit required

good-credit

Excellent/Good

Why we like it: Beyond the Welcome Offer, The Business Platinum® Card from American Express OPEN provides a rewards program, extensive travel perks, discounts and more benefits for you and your employees. This card is also our top pick for business travel cards.

What to watch out for: You need to satisfy two spending requirements to earn the full Welcome Offer — Earn 50,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $10,000 & an extra 50,000 points after you spend an additional $15,000 all on qualifying purchases within your first 3 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 8/8/18.

CitiBusiness®/ AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Mastercard®

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on Citibank’s secure website

CitiBusiness^®/ AAdvantage^® Platinum Select^® World Mastercard^®

Regular Purchase APR: 17.49% - 25.49%* (Variable)

Annual fee: $99, waived for first 12 months*

Rewards Rate: 2 AAdvantage® miles per $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases* and for every $1 spent on purchases at telecommunications, car rental merchants and at gas stations*, 1 AAdvantage® mile per $1 spent on other purchases*

Credit required

good-credit

Excellent/Good

Sign-up Bonus: Earn 70,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after making $4,000 in purchases within the first 4 months of account opening*.

Why we like it: The CitiBusiness®/ AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Mastercard® is one of few airline-specific business cards. This card has the largest limited-time offer compared to competitors and a typical spending requirement. In addition, there are great perks when you fly on American Airlines, such as in-flight discounts, first checked bag free and preferred boarding.

What to watch out for: This is an airline-specific card — if you don’t fly with American Airlines, you’ll miss out on some of the best perks.

Cashback rewards

When to consider cashback business cards: Cash back is a simple and straightforward way for your business to be rewarded for purchases. You can easily redeem your cash back as a statement credit, which is a great way to reduce your bill (just remember that redemptions can’t be applied to minimum payments).

Capital One® Spark® Cash for Business

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on Capital One’s secure website

Capital One^® Spark^® Cash for Business

Regular Purchase APR: 18.74% (Variable)

Annual fee: $0 intro for first year; $95 after that

Rewards Rate: 2% Cash Back on every purchase, every day

Credit required

good-credit

Excellent/Good

Why we like it: We looked at business credit cards offering cashback rewards and analyzed their rewards rates, fees and APRs, and among the group, The Capital One® Spark® Cash for Business rose to the top. It has a standout cashback program earning you 2% Cash Back on every purchase, every day. There are no bonus categories or caps — you’ll earn the same rate on every purchase. You can even make redeeming your rewards simple by setting up automatic redemption, great for businesses that don’t want to fuss with rewards.

What to watch out for: The annual fee is $0 intro for first year; $95 after that — so after year one, you will need to spend $4,750 a year to break even.

Capital One® Spark® Cash Select for Business

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on Capital One’s secure website

Capital One^® Spark^® Cash Select for Business

Regular Purchase APR: 14.74% - 22.74% (Variable)

Annual fee: $0

Rewards Rate: 1.5% Cash Back on every purchase, every day

Credit required

good-credit

Excellent/Good

Why we like it: The Capital One® Spark® Cash Select for Business has a decent rewards rate for business owners who want to avoid an annual fee at 1.5% Cash Back on every purchase, every day. This card is a good alternative to the Capital One® Spark® Cash for Business, offering all the same perks plus a $0 annual fee.

What to watch out for: The cash back rate is below the ideal 2%, and you can do better with a higher flat-rate card or with bonus category cards. But be aware they may have an annual fee.

Hotel rewards

When to consider business cards with hotel rewards: Traveling for business can get costly, but hotel rewards cards can help you save money on hotel stays and other expenses you may incur like meals. Whether you favor a specific hotel or often choose the best priced hotel, there are business cards for you that can earn you rewards and other money-saving discounts. Because hotel loyalty varies, we’re highlighting two cards with exceptional hotel rewards.

Starwood Preferred Guest® Business Credit Card from American Express

The information related to Starwood Preferred Guest^® Business Credit Card from American Express has been collected by MagnifyMoney and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication.

Starwood Preferred Guest^® Business Credit Card from American Express

Regular Purchase APR: 17.49% - 26.49% Variable

Annual fee: $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $95

Rewards Rate: 6 points for each dollar of eligible purchases at over 6,500 participating SPG® and Marriott Rewards® hotels across 110 countries worldwide.

Credit required

good-credit

Excellent/Good

Why we like it: The Starwood Preferred Guest® Business Credit Card From American Express is our top pick for businesses looking to earn rewards and perks on hotel stays. SPG® has numerous participating hotels where you and your employees can stay, and there are flexible redemption options for your points. For example, you have the ability to transfer points on a mostly one-to-one basis to over 30 airline frequent flyer programs. Additional benefits include credits towards SPG elite status, travel accident insurance and free Wi-Fi with Boingo and at SPG participating hotels (terms apply).

What to watch out for: The rate you earn on purchases outside of SPG and Marriott Rewards® hotels is lower than other hotel rewards cards, like the Hilton Honors American Express Business Card mentioned below. So, if you’re looking to earn a high rate on all purchases, check out other hotel rewards cards.

The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card

The information related to The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card has been collected by MagnifyMoney and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication.

The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card

Regular Purchase APR: 17.49%-26.49% Variable

Annual fee: $95

Rewards Rate: 12X at hotels and resorts in the Hilton portfolio, 6X on Select Business & Travel Purchases, 3X Everywhere Else. Terms & Limitations Apply.

Credit required

good-credit

Excellent/Good

Why we like it: The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card offers great benefits for business travelers who frequent hotels in the Hilton portfolio with a wide range of perks including complimentary Hilton Honors Gold Status. This gives you a 25% bonus on Base Points, space-available room upgrades and more benefits that may make your stays more comfortable. Other Hilton perks include a rewards program that allows you to earn Hilton Honors Bonus Points at a fast rate and Weekend Night Rewards (terms apply). In addition, you receive baggage and travel accident insurance, 10 free visits to over 1,000 Priority Pass airport lounges every year and the ability to connect your credit card transactions to Quickbooks®, among other things.

What to watch out for: You don’t want to carry a balance with this card because there is a 17.24% – 26.24% variable APR. Although this is a typical range, it’s still high and can lead to large interest charges if you don’t pay your bill in full. But, if you pay in full and on time, this won’t be an issue.

Best category bonuses

When to consider business cards with category bonuses: If you spent a lot in particular categories, credit cards with category bonuses may be a great way for you to earn rewards for that spending. For example, if you drive a lot for business, a card with gas rewards may be ideal. Below we list the business cards that offer the highest reward rates on dining, gas and office-supply spending

Dining & gas

Sam's Club® Business Mastercard®

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on Sam's Club’s secure website

Sam's Club^® Business Mastercard^®

Regular Purchase APR: 16.15% - 24.15% Variable

Annual fee: $0

Rewards Rate: 5% cash back on gas (on first $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%), 3% cash back on dining and travel, and 1% cash back on other purchases.

Credit required

good-credit

Good

Why we like it: The Sam’s Club® Business Mastercard® offers a high 5% cash back on gas (on the first $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%), 3% cash back on dining and travel, and 1% cash back on other purchases. This rate is ideal for businesses that primarily spend on gas because you earn the highest rate on those purchases compared to other cards. Business owners who often take out clients for meals may want to consider this card because of its cashback rate on dining purchases.

What to watch out for: You need to be a member of Sam’s Club to open this card, and as a business owner you may not have a need for a Sam’s Club membership. However, membership starts as low as $45 a year, and considering there’s no annual fee for this credit card, that’s a small amount.

Costco Anywhere Visa® Business Card from Citi

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on Citibank’s secure website

Costco Anywhere Visa^® Business Card from Citi

Regular Purchase APR: 16.74% Variable

Annual fee: $0

Rewards Rate: 4% cash back on gas, 3% on restaurants & travel, 2% at Costco & Costco.com, 1% on all other purchases

Credit required

excellent-credit

Excellent

Why we like it: The Costco Anywhere Visa® Business Card by Citi offers a tiered cashback program with 4% on eligible gas worldwide, including Costco (for the first $7,000 per year and then 1%), 3% on restaurant and eligible travel worldwide, 2% on all other purchases at Costco and Costco.com and 1% on everything else. This is a good rewards program for business owners with Costco memberships if you want to earn cash back in a wide range of categories.

What to watch out for: You need to be a Costco member to open this card, and membership starts at $60 per year. This is higher than Sam’s Club and definitely something to consider if you’re deciding between the two cards. Another important note is that you won’t earn as much cash back with this card as you would with the Sam’s Club® Business Mastercard®.

Gas & office supply stores

Bank of America® Business Advantage Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card

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on Bank Of America’s secure website

Bank of America^® Business Advantage Cash Rewards Mastercard^® credit card

Regular Purchase APR: 12.99% - 22.99% Variable APR

Annual fee: $0

Rewards Rate: 3% cash back on purchases at gas stations and office supply stores (up to $250,000 each calendar year, 1% after that), 2% cash back on purchases at restaurants, 1% cash back on all other purchases

Credit required

good-credit

Excellent

Why we like it: The Bank of America® Business Advantage Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card doesn’t require membership with a warehouse club like other gas cards and has a $0 annual fee. Business owners can earn a decent cash back rate at both gas stations and office supply stores, making this card ideal if you often spend in these categories.

What to watch out for: The gas cashback rate is lower than other business cards with gas as a category bonus and won’t earn you as much rewards.

Risks of using small business credit cards

While small business credit cards can provide a wide range of benefits for your company, they have drawbacks.

Here are some of the major risks:

Personal liability. As a business owner, you are solely responsible for all charges made on your account. That means if there are any unpaid balances on your account, whether from your spending or employee spending, you are liable.

Negative impact on you credit. If your account is in poor standing as a result of late payments, overdue balances, bankruptcy or other issues, the credit card issuer may report this information to the credit bureaus. As a result, your personal credit score may take a hit.

Not protected by the CARD Act. Business cards don’t receive the same consumer protections that personal credit cards receive with the CARD Act. The CARD Act requires credit card issuers to provide transparent terms as well as lower fees and interest rates for consumers. But, issuers of business cards don’t have to comply with those requirements. Therefore, a business card may have higher interest rates, more fees and confusing terms.

How to minimize the risks of business credit cards

Monitor employee spending. The ability to open employee cards is a great feature, but if you don’t stay on top of their charges, it can become risky. Some good practices include keeping records of all employees with card access, setting employee spending limits when available and monitoring your credit card statements. This way you can keep track of all spending made on your account and add limits when needed.

Avoid charging personal expenses. Use your business card the way it is intended to be used — exclusively for business purchases. Charging personal expenses makes managing your finances harder and complicates the use of your card.

Do not take out a cash advance. Cash advances are one of the most costly features of credit cards and are rarely a good choice because you’ll be hit with higher than normal interest rates and can rack up debt fast. As an alternative, check out small business loans.

Look at loans for long-term financing. Your business may need to borrow money for purchases like cars or other big-ticket items, and small business loans can be a great way to finance those purchases. Often with straightforward terms, loans can be a good alternative to charging purchases on your credit card. Compare small business loans here.

Do not try to bail out a failing business. If your business isn’t doing well, don’t take out a small business credit card with the hopes of bailing it out. Odds are you’ll only get into more debt and make the situation worse.

Best way to use credit cards for your business

Earn rewards. Almost all of the cards mentioned in this roundup provide rewards, allowing business owners to be benefit from typical business spending. You can use the rewards you earn in a variety of ways, like booking travel, applying cash back as statement credit to cover bills or redeeming them for gift cards for business expenses or employee incentives.

Manage cash flow. Business cards may provide expense-management tools so you can monitor spending and simplify everyday business transactions. You can use your card to automate business expenses like monthly phone bills or regular office-supply purchases.

Build business credit. Opening a small business credit card has the potential to build and improve your business credit. If you make on-time payments and use a relatively small amount of your available credit, your business’ credit can benefit greatly. Having a good business credit score can help you down the line if you plan on taking out a loan or other credit products.

Short-term borrowing. If your business plans on making purchases that can’t be paid immediately, some business credit cards offer 0% intro periods that are ideal for short-term borrowing and can be a better choice than a personal loan — when used responsibly. During the 0% intro period, you can carry a balance without incurring interest, and if you pay it off before the intro period ends, you can save on the interest that you would’ve incurred if you had taken out a loan.

Alexandria White |

Alexandria White is a writer at MagnifyMoney. You can email Alexandria at alexandria@magnifymoney.com

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Best Cash Back Credit Cards for Gas – September 2018

Saturday, September 1, 2018

Alexandria White

Gas in car_lg

Whether you’re hit by high gas prices in your area or you’re a heavy commuter, finding a credit card that offers a high rewards rate on gas purchases will definitely come in handy. There are cards that can earn you up to 5% cash back on eligible gas purchases, which can take the sting out of a stop to top off the tank.

Here are our top picks for gas credit cards.

Fort Knox Federal Credit Union Visa^® Platinum Card

Fort Knox Federal Credit Union Visa® Platinum Card

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on Fort Knox Federal’s secure website

Fort Knox Federal Credit Union Visa^® Platinum Card

Regular Purchase APR: 11.00% - 18.00% Variable

Annual fee: $0

Rewards Rate: Earn an unlimited 5% cash back on gas and 1% cash back on all other purchases.

The Fort Knox Federal Credit Union Visa^® Platinum Card lets you Earn an unlimited 5% cash back on gas and 1% cash back on all other purchases. This is a great rate that can earn you significant rewards. There is also no annual fee. Since Fort Knox is a credit union, you will have to join in order to obtain this card. Anyone can join for $15, of which $5 represents one share in the credit union; the remaining $10 covers your one-time membership fee. This card is great for big spenders in gas who don’t mind working with a credit union.

Sams Club^® Mastercard^®

Sams Club® Mastercard®

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on Sam's Club’s secure website

Sams Club^® Mastercard^®

Regular Purchase APR: 11.65% Variable

Annual fee: $0

Rewards Rate: $5,000 cash back per calendar year and offers 5% cash back on gas (on first $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%), 3% on dining and travel, and 1% on other purchases.

The Sams Club^® Mastercard^® offers $5,000 cash back per calendar year and offers 5% cash back on gas (on first $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%), 3% on dining and travel, and 1% on other purchases.. You need to be a Sam’s Club member to have this card, and annual memberships start at $45. Qualifying gas purchases include spending at gas stations, Sam’s Club fuel stations and Walmart fuel stations located in the U.S. and Puerto Rico; however, there are exclusions: Purchases at fuel stations at wholesale clubs (other than Sam’s Club), certain supercenters and supermarkets won’t earn 5%. Instead, they’ll earn 1%. Take note that the cash back redemption is limited to an annual check mailed out in February. You then have to go to a Sam’s Club to redeem your check.

Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi

Costco Anywhere Visa® Card from Citi

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on Citibank’s secure website

Costco Anywhere Visa^® Card from Citi

Regular Purchase APR: 16.99%* (Variable)

Annual fee: $0

Rewards Rate: 4% cash back on eligible gas for the first $7,000 per year and then 1% thereafter, 3% on restaurants & travel, 2% at Costco & Costco.com, 1% on all other purchases

The Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi offers 4% cash back on eligible gas for the first $7,000 per year and then 1% thereafter, 3% on restaurants & travel, 2% at Costco & Costco.com, 1% on all other purchases. Most gas credit cards limit you to only U.S. gas purchases and often exclude wholesale gas purchases, but not this card. There is a $0 annual fee for this card, but you need to have a Costco membership (currently $60). The main catch with this card is it’s not simple to redeem rewards — cash back will be provided as an annual certificate in February billing statements, redeemable for cash or merchandise at US Costco Warehouses.

Bank of America® Cash Rewards credit card - $200 Cash Rewards Offer

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on Bank Of America’s secure website

Bank of America^® Cash Rewards credit card - $200 Cash Rewards Offer

Regular Purchase APR: 14.99% - 24.99% Variable APR

Annual fee: $0

Rewards Rate: 1% cash back on every purchase, 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs, and 3% on gas for the first $2,500 in combined grocery/wholesale club/gas purchases each quarter

The Bank of America® Cash Rewards credit card - $200 Cash Rewards Offer has a good cashback rate for gas purchases. You’ll earn 1% cash back on every purchase, 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs, and 3% on gas for the first $2,500 in combined grocery/wholesale club/gas purchases each quarter. There is a $0 annual fee and if you redeem your cash back into a Bank of America checking or saving account you can receive a 10% bonus. Cardholders who will have the most benefit are Bank of America Preferred Rewards clients. As a Preferred Rewards client, you can increase your bonus to 25-75%, making your gas cash back an effective 3.75%-5.25%. There’s a sign-up bonus that can kickstart your rewards: $200 online cash rewards bonus after you spend at least $500 on purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.

Which card is the right fit for me?

Since there are many credit cards for you to maximize your rewards from gas purchases, it can be confusing to choose a card. There are cards that offer high rates without caps. Others come with additional bonus categories to consider.

The table below breaks down which gas card may be a good fit for you when factoring annual gas spending, cashback rate and annual fee. (Sign-on bonuses are not reflected.) Keep in mind: This only factors in spending on gas purchases and doesn’t consider if you spend in other categories or at the other cashback rates.

Here are several key takeaways:

The Bank of America® Cash Rewards credit card - $200 Cash Rewards Offer will earn you the most cash back ONLY if you’re a Preferred Rewards member with at least $100,000 in a BofA checking/savings account. Otherwise, the Fort Knox Federal Credit Union Visa^® Platinum Card will earn you the most cash back.
Although the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi doesn’t earn you the most cash back, it may be a better fit for Costco shoppers due to the other high-cashback categories.
You won’t earn the best cashback rate with the Bank of America® Cash Rewards credit card - $200 Cash Rewards Offer unless you’re a Bank of America Preferred Rewards client with $100,000 in a checking or savings account — allowing you to benefit from a 75% redemption bonus
The Sams Club^® Mastercard^® is a good option for current members who fuel up at Sam’s Club and spend $5,000 or less a year on gas.

		Card
		Fort Knox Credit Union Visa® Platinum	Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi	Bank of America® Cash Rewards Credit Card: without a BofA checking / savings	Bank of America® Cash Rewards Credit Card: with $100,000 in a BofA checking / savings	Sam's Club® Mastercard®
Spending	$1,000	$50	$40	$30	$53	$50
	$2,000	$100	$80	$60	$105	$100
	$3,000	$150	$120	$90	$158	$150
	$4,000	$200	$160	$120	$210	$200
	$5,000	$250	$200	$150	$263	$250
	$6,000	$300	$240	$180	$315	$300
	$7,000	$350	$280	$210	$368	$310
	$8,000	$400	$290	$240	$420	$320
	$9,000	$450	$300	$270	$473	$330
	$10,000	$500	$310	$300	$525	$340

*We did not include the Costco and Sam’s Club membership fees in our calculations.

Alexandria White |

Alexandria White is a writer at MagnifyMoney. You can email Alexandria at alexandria@magnifymoney.com

TAGS: cash back, credit card, Gas

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Best Cash Back Cards for Grocery Shopping in September 2018

Saturday, September 1, 2018

Alexandria White

Shopping for groceries can be a painful experience. There are numerous aisles, thousands of items and long checkout lines to contend with. Then there’s one more blow: watching the dollars add up at the register.

But signing up for a solid cashback credit card can be a good way to earn a percentage of your grocery purchases back and take some of the sting out of that shopping trip.

Here are the best cashback cards for grocery shopping.

Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express

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on American Express’s secure website

Terms Apply

Rates & Fees

Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express

Regular Purchase APR: 14.74%-25.74% Variable

Annual fee: $0

Rewards Rate: 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%). 2% cash back at U.S. gas stations and at select U.S. department stores. 1% cash back on other purchases.

Credit required

good-credit

Excellent/Good

The Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express, offers 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%). 2% cash back at U.S. gas stations and at select U.S. department stores. 1% cash back on other purchases. It comes with a $0 annual fee. This is a great rate for habitual shoppers so long as you spend up to $3,167 a year at supermarkets. If you spend more than that, then you might be better off with the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, which comes with a $95 annual fee but higher cashback potential.

The Welcome Offer is a $150 statement credit after you spend $1,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 3 months. This is a good way to maximize your rewards.

Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

APPLY NOW

on American Express’s secure website

Terms Apply

Rates & Fees

Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

Regular Purchase APR: 14.74%-25.74% Variable

Annual fee: $95

Rewards Rate: 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%). 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations and at select U.S. department stores. 1% cash back on other purchases.

Credit required

good-credit

Excellent/Good

The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express offers the highest cashback rate for big grocery spenders — 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%). This card does come with a $95 annual fee and you need to spend $1,584 a year on groceries to break even. If you spend $3,167 a year ($264 a month) or more on groceries you will benefit from this card more than the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express. You’ll also earn a high 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations and select U.S. department stores and 1% back on other purchases. There’s an added Welcome Offer: $200 statement credit after you spend $1,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 3 months.

Amazon Prime Rewards Visa^® Signature Card

Amazon Prime Rewards Visa® Signature Card

The information related to Amazon Prime Rewards Visa^® Signature Card has been collected by MagnifyMoney and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication.

Amazon Prime Rewards Visa^® Signature Card

Regular Purchase APR: 15.99% - 23.99% Variable

Annual fee: $0

Rewards Rate: Earn 5% back at Amazon.com and Whole Foods Market with eligible Prime membership, 2% back at restaurants, gas stations, and drugstores, and 1% back on all other purchases.

The Amazon Prime Rewards Visa^® Signature Card offers a grocery cash back program that is geared toward Whole Foods Market shoppers. You’ll Earn 5% back at Amazon.com and Whole Foods Market with eligible Prime membership, 2% back at restaurants, gas stations, and drugstores, and 1% back on all other purchases. This is a great rate if you frequently spend at Whole Foods Market and easily rivals offers from competing cards. There is no annual fee, but you will need a Prime membership to benefit from the 5% rate — currently, annual plans cost $99 or $49 for students. If you don’t have a Prime membership, check out the Amazon Rewards Visa^® Signature Card mentioned below.

Amazon Rewards Visa^® Signature Card

Amazon Rewards Visa® Signature Card

The information related to Amazon Rewards Visa^® Signature Card has been collected by MagnifyMoney and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication.

Amazon Rewards Visa^® Signature Card

Regular Purchase APR: 15.99% - 23.99% Variable

Annual fee: $0

Rewards Rate: Earn 3% back at Amazon.com and Whole Foods Market, 2% back at restaurants, gas stations, and drugstores, and 1% back on all other purchases.

The Amazon Rewards Visa^® Signature Card is similar to the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa^® Signature Card, but doesn’t require a Prime membership. This card also has no annual fee but offers a lower rate at Amazon.com and Whole Foods Market. You Earn 3% back at Amazon.com and Whole Foods Market, 2% back at restaurants, gas stations, and drugstores, and 1% back on all other purchases. This rate stands out for Whole Foods Market shoppers and can be more beneficial if you primarily shop at Whole Foods Market since there are no caps on the 3% rate (unlike other grocery cards on this list).

Bank of America® Cash Rewards credit card - $200 Cash Rewards Offer

APPLY NOW

on Bank Of America’s secure website

Bank of America^® Cash Rewards credit card - $200 Cash Rewards Offer

Regular Purchase APR: 14.99% - 24.99% Variable APR

Annual fee: $0

Rewards Rate: 1% cash back on every purchase, 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs, and 3% on gas for the first $2,500 in combined grocery/wholesale club/gas purchases each quarter

The Bank of America® Cash Rewards credit card - $200 Cash Rewards Offer has a decent cashback rate for groceries, however it is lower than what you’ll find with competing cards. You’ll earn 1% cash back on every purchase, 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs, and 3% on gas for the first $2,500 in combined grocery/wholesale club/gas purchases each quarter. There is a $0 annual fee and you can redeem your cash back directly into a Bank of America checking or saving account for a 10% bonus. People who will benefit most from this card are those who are Bank of America Preferred Rewards clients. As a Preferred Rewards client, you could increase your bonus to 25-75%, making your grocery cash back an effective 2.5-3.5%. If you apply online, you can earn a $200 online cash rewards bonus after you spend at least $500 on purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.

Huntington Voice Credit Card^®

Huntington Voice Credit Card®

APPLY NOW

on Huntington National Bank’s secure website

Huntington Voice Credit Card^®

Regular Purchase APR: 13.49% - 27.49% Variable

Annual fee: $0

Rewards Rate: 3X points in one of 10 categories (capped at $2,000 each quarter or 6000 points), and all other purchases earn 1X points.

The Huntington Voice Credit Card^® has a $0 annual fee and earns you 3X points in one of 10 categories (capped at $2,000 each quarter or 6000 points), and all other purchases earn 1X points. You also have the freedom to change your 3X category every quarter to suit your spending. But be aware that if you switch from grocery stores to another category, you’ll only earn 1X points on grocery spending. Points can be redeemed for cash and 1 point equals $0.01, therefore 5,000 points is equal to $50 cash rewards.

Which card is the right fit for me?

With numerous credit cards available to help maximize your grocery rewards, it can be confusing to know which to choose. Some cards provide unlimited rewards at a high rate, while most have caps on grocery spending.

The table below breaks down which grocery card may be a good fit for you when factoring in annual grocery spending, cashback rate and annual fee. (Sign-on bonuses are not reflected.) Keep in mind: This only factors in spending on grocery purchases and doesn’t consider if you spend in other categories or at the other cashback rates.

Here are a few key takeaways:

If you spend about $3,000 a year on groceries, you will benefit more from the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express, Amazon Rewards Visa^® Signature Card or the Huntington Voice Credit Card^®.
If you spend around $4,000 – $7,000 a year, you will benefit more from the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express.
If you spend on average $8,000 or more a year at Whole Foods Market, you will benefit more from the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa^® Signature Card.
The Bank of America® Cash Rewards credit card - $200 Cash Rewards Offer earns you subpar cash back unless you have $100,000 in a Bank of America checking or savings account.

		Card
		Amazon Prime Rewards Visa^® Signature Card	Amazon Rewards Visa^® Signature Card	Huntington Voice Credit Card^®	Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express	Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express	Bank of America® Cash Rewards credit card - $200 Cash Rewards Offer: without BofA checking/ savings	Bank of America® Cash Rewards credit card - $200 Cash Rewards Offer: with $100,000 in BofA checking/ savings
Spending	$1,000	-$49	$30	$30	$30	-$35	$20	$35
	$2,000	$1	$60	$60	$60	$25	$40	$70
	$3,000	$51	$90	$90	$90	$85	$60	$105
	$4,000	$101	$120	$120	$120	$145	$80	$140
	$5,000	$151	$150	$150	$150	$205	$100	$175
	$6,000	$201	$180	$180	$180	$265	$120	$210
	$7,000	$251	$210	$210	$190	$275	$140	$245
	$8,000	$301	$240	$240	$200	$285	$160	$280
	$9,000	$351	$270	$250	$210	$295	$180	$315
	$10,000	$401	$300	$260	$220	$305	$200	$350

*We included the $99 Prime membership fee into our calculations for the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa^® Signature Card and the $95 annual fee for the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express.

Alexandria White |

Alexandria White is a writer at MagnifyMoney. You can email Alexandria at alexandria@magnifymoney.com

TAGS: cash back, Grocery shopping

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Balance Transfer, Best of

Credit Scores That Get Balance Transfer Credit Cards

Saturday, September 1, 2018

Alexandria White

If you’re someone who struggles with credit card debt and high interest rates, a balance transfer might be a way to dig yourself out of indebtedness. There are various balance transfer credit cards that offer long 0% intro APR periods that provide you with ample time to pay off your balance. Depending on your credit score, you may qualify for some of the cards we list below.

Keep in mind that the credit score ranges listed below don’t guarantee that you will be approved for a card simply because you fall within the given credit range. Lenders consider numerous factors when determining eligibility.

Excellent credit

If you’re someone with the excellent credit (a score above 740*), you may qualify for some of the best balance transfer cards. Great balance transfer credit cards offer a long 0% intro period and/or no intro balance transfer fee. Here are our picks for balance transfer cards if you have excellent credit.

The Amex EveryDay® Credit Card from American Express

APPLY NOW

on American Express’s secure website

Terms Apply

Rates & Fees

Read Full Review

The Amex EveryDay® Credit Card from American Express

Intro BT APR: 0% for 15 Months

Balance Transfer Fee: $0 balance transfer fee.

Regular Purchase APR: 14.74%-25.74% Variable

Duration: 0% for 15 Months

Credit required

good-credit

Excellent/Good

Chase Freedom®

APPLY NOW

on Chase Bank’s secure website

Read Full Review

Chase Freedom^®

Intro BT APR: 0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers for 15 months

Balance Transfer Fee: Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater

Regular Purchase APR: 16.74% - 25.49% Variable

Duration: 0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers for 15 months

Credit required

good-credit

Excellent/Good

Citi Simplicity® Card - No Late Fees Ever

APPLY NOW

on Citibank’s secure website

Read Full Review

Citi Simplicity^® Card - No Late Fees Ever

Intro BT APR: 0%* for 18 months on Balance Transfers*

Balance Transfer Fee: 5% of each balance transfer; $5 minimum

Regular Purchase APR: 15.74% - 25.74%* (Variable)

Duration: 0%* for 18 months on Balance Transfers*

Credit required

good-credit

Excellent/Good

Citi® Double Cash Card – 18 month BT offer

APPLY NOW

on Citibank’s secure website

Read Full Review

Citi^® Double Cash Card – 18 month BT offer

Intro BT APR: 0% for 18 months on Balance Transfers*

Balance Transfer Fee: 3% of each balance transfer; $5 minimum.

Regular Purchase APR: 15.24% - 25.24%* (Variable)

Duration: 0% for 18 months on Balance Transfers*

Credit required

good-credit

Excellent, Good

Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card– 21 Month Balance Transfer Offer

APPLY NOW

on Citibank’s secure website

Read Full Review

Citi^® Diamond Preferred^® Card– 21 Month Balance Transfer Offer

Intro BT APR: 0%* for 21 months on Balance Transfers*

Balance Transfer Fee: 5% of each balance transfer; $5 minimum.

Regular Purchase APR: 14.74% - 24.74%* (Variable)

Duration: 0%* for 21 months on Balance Transfers*

Credit required

good-credit

Excellent/Good

Sphere® Credit Card from Santander

APPLY NOW

on Santander Bank, N.A’s secure website

Read Full Review

Sphere^® Credit Card from Santander

Intro BT APR: 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 billing cycles if taken within the first 90 days of account opening

Balance Transfer Fee: $10 or 4% of the amount of each transaction, whichever is greater

Regular Purchase APR: 14.24% to 24.24% Variable

Duration: 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 billing cycles if taken within the first 90 days of account opening

Wells Fargo Platinum Visa® Card

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on Wells Fargo Bank’s secure website

Read Full Review

Wells Fargo Platinum Visa^® Card

Intro BT APR: 0% for 18 months

Balance Transfer Fee: 3% Intro for 18 months, then 5%

Regular Purchase APR: 17.24%-26.74% (Variable)

Duration: 0% for 18 months

Credit required

good-credit

Excellent

Good credit

A credit score of 670 – 739* falls into the good credit range. With good credit you can still qualify for decent balance transfer cards. Listed below are the offers for best credit cards for people with good credit.

The Amex EveryDay® Credit Card from American Express

APPLY NOW

on American Express’s secure website

Terms Apply

Rates & Fees

Read Full Review

The Amex EveryDay® Credit Card from American Express

Intro BT APR: 0% for 15 Months

Balance Transfer Fee: $0 balance transfer fee.

Regular Purchase APR: 14.74%-25.74% Variable

Duration: 0% for 15 Months

Credit required

good-credit

Excellent/Good

BankAmericard® Credit Card

APPLY NOW

on Bank Of America’s secure website

BankAmericard^® Credit Card

Intro BT APR: 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for balance transfers made in the first 60 days

Balance Transfer Fee: Either $10 or 3% of the amount of each transaction, whichever is greater.

Regular Purchase APR: 14.74% - 24.74% Variable APR

Duration: 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for balance transfers made in the first 60 days

Credit required

good-credit

Excellent/Good

Discover it® Balance Transfer

APPLY NOW

on Discover Bank’s secure website

Rates & Fees

Read Full Review

Discover it^® Balance Transfer

Intro BT APR: 0% for 18 Months

Balance Transfer Fee: 3%

Regular APR: 13.74% - 24.74% Variable

Duration: 0% for 18 Months

Credit required

good-credit

Excellent/Good Credit

Citi Simplicity® Card - No Late Fees Ever

APPLY NOW

on Citibank’s secure website

Read Full Review

Citi Simplicity^® Card - No Late Fees Ever

Intro BT APR: 0%* for 18 months on Balance Transfers*

Balance Transfer Fee: 5% of each balance transfer; $5 minimum

Regular Purchase APR: 15.74% - 25.74%* (Variable)

Duration: 0%* for 18 months on Balance Transfers*

Credit required

good-credit

Excellent/Good

Citi® Double Cash Card – 18 month BT offer

APPLY NOW

on Citibank’s secure website

Read Full Review

Citi^® Double Cash Card – 18 month BT offer

Intro BT APR: 0% for 18 months on Balance Transfers*

Balance Transfer Fee: 3% of each balance transfer; $5 minimum.

Regular Purchase APR: 15.24% - 25.24%* (Variable)

Duration: 0% for 18 months on Balance Transfers*

Credit required

good-credit

Excellent, Good

Capital One® Quicksilver® Card - 0% Intro APR for 15 Months

APPLY NOW

on Capital One’s secure website

Read Full Review

Capital One^® Quicksilver^® Card - 0% Intro APR for 15 Months

Intro BT APR: 0% intro on balance transfers for 15 months

Balance Transfer Fee: 3%

Regular Purchase APR: 14.74% - 24.74% (Variable)

Duration: 0% intro on balance transfers for 15 months

Credit required

good-credit

Excellent/Good

Chase Freedom®

APPLY NOW

on Chase Bank’s secure website

Read Full Review

Chase Freedom^®

Intro BT APR: 0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers for 15 months

Balance Transfer Fee: Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater

Regular Purchase APR: 16.74% - 25.49% Variable

Duration: 0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers for 15 months

Credit required

good-credit

Excellent/Good

Fair credit

Those who have a credit score of 580 – 669* are likely to find it harder to qualify for a balance transfer credit card. There is the chance you may qualify for offers that are just OK, providing less time to pay off your balance. If you don’t qualify for a credit card, we recommend you look into personal loans. They are a good alternative to a credit card, and may represent a better option if you have fair credit.

We recommend using LendingTree, MagnifyMoney’s parent company, to shop for the best personal loan. With a single online form, you can see results from dozens of lenders and shop around for the best deal. By using LendingTree to look for a personal loan, a soft credit pull is performed, which means your credit score will not be negatively impacted. Here are options for fair credit:

Platinum Mastercard® from Aspire FCU

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on Aspire Federal Credit Union’s secure website

Read Full Review

Platinum Mastercard^® from Aspire FCU

Intro BT APR: 0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers for 6 months

Balance Transfer Fee: $5 or 2% of the amount of each balance transfer, whichever is greater

Regular Purchase APR: 9.90% - 18.00% Variable

Duration: 0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers for 6 months

Credit required

fair-credit

Average

LEARN MORE

on LendingTree’s secure website

LendingTree

Loan Amount: up to $35,000

Term: 24 to 60 Months

APR Range: 5.99%-35.99%

Origination Fee: Varies

Credit Required: Bad or Could be Better/Average/Good/Excellent

Soft Pull: You can get your rate without hurting your score.

Bad credit

When you have a score below 579* you fall into the bad credit category. Your best option is to work on improving your credit through such things as secured cards. With proper credit behavior, you can be on your way to a fair or good credit score and more options. Just remember to be patient. Once your credit improves, check out the balance transfer cards above.

*The credit score ranges listed above are for FICO Scores and obtained from Experian.

FAQ

How much time do I have to complete my balance transfer?

The amount of time your have to complete your transfer will vary by credit card. Many cards require you to complete your transfer between 30 to 60 days from account opening, but check your specific card agreement for specifics. A good rule of thumb is to complete your transfer as soon as possible; the 0% intro APR period often starts from the day your account is opened.

Will I be charged a transfer fee?

Many cards charge a balance transfer fee ranging from 3 to 5 percent of the amount you transfer. So if you transfer $1,000 to a card with a 3 percent fee, you will accrue a $30 fee and owe $1,030. But be advised: There are cards that have $0 intro transfer fees.

What happens if I don’t pay off my balance before the end of the intro period?

Any remaining balances will accrue interest. The rate depends on your card agreement.

Alexandria White |

Alexandria White is a writer at MagnifyMoney. You can email Alexandria at alexandria@magnifymoney.com

TAGS: Bad Credit, Balance Transfer, CREDIT SCORE

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6.99% To 24.99% APR
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Best of

7 Low Interest Rate Credit Cards – September 2018

Saturday, September 1, 2018

Alexandria White

Carrying a balance on your credit card is never ideal, but sometimes it’s unavoidable. And with credit card interest charges that can be upward of 25.00% APR, it can be hard to get out of debt because a large portion of your payment goes to interest.

Currently, you may find yourself struggling to pay off your balance, but worry not — there are low interest cards that have APRs starting at around 6%.

Low-interest cards are a great way to save money on interest when you find yourself carrying a balance. The APRs on these cards max out around 18% on average. Some low-interest cards mentioned here even have 0% APR intro periods that are helpful if you have an existing balance on a credit card and want to transfer it, or if you plan on making purchases that you need several months to pay off.

The seven main cards in this post are from credit unions, which often have lower rates than large banks. But they require memberships, which are sometimes restricted to certain states. In this post, we’ll explain the seven lowest interest-rate credit cards and what’s required to qualify. These cards are based on a usage period of around 24 months or more, which is typically not long enough for most intro 0% APR cards.

7 low interest rate credit cards

Visa^® Titanium Signature Rewards Card from Andrews Federal CU

Visa® Titanium Signature Rewards Card from Andrews Federal CU

APPLY NOW

on Andrews Federal Credit Union’s secure website

Visa^® Titanium Signature Rewards Card from Andrews Federal CU

Annual fee: $0

Regular Purchase APR: 6.99% - 18.00% Variable

The Visa^® Titanium Signature Rewards Card from Andrews Federal CU has the lowest ongoing APR on our list at 6.99% - 18.00% Variable. If you qualify for the lowest rate and end up carrying a balance, you may be charged little interest (compared with higher APR cards). This card is a good option if you have existing debt on a credit card, because you can transfer it during the balance transfer intro period.

Here are features to know about when using this card to pay off debt:

Intro purchase APR: Introductory Rate Special Offer - 0% APR for 12 months
Intro balance transfer APR: Introductory Rate Special Offer - 0% APR for 12 months on balance transfers processed within 90 days of account opening
Ongoing APR: 6.99% - 18.00% Variable
Balance transfer fee: 1.50% of the transfer amount or $50; whichever is greater

How to qualify: Anyone can apply for this card, regardless of residence. If you don’t meet one of the several eligibility requirements, you can join the American Consumer Council for a one-time $5 donation if you have used a major consumer product or service in the past 12 months, such as a motor vehicle, insurance, or housing.

TruWest Visa Platinum Card

APPLY NOW

on TruWest Credit Union’s secure website

TruWest Visa Platinum Card

Annual fee: $0

Regular Purchase APR: 7.70% - 22.00% Variable

The regular purchase APR on the TruWest Visa Platinum Card has a wider range than the other cards on this list at 7.70% - 22.00% Variable. However, this card has the longest 0% APR period from a credit union at 0% introductory APR for 18 months on purchases and balance transfers. This is a large amount of time for you to carry a balance interest-free.

Here are features to know about when using this card to pay off debt:

Intro purchase APR: 0% introductory APR for 18 months
Intro balance transfer APR: 0% introductory APR for 18 months
Ongoing APR: 7.70% - 22.00% Variable
Balance transfer fee: 3% of the amount of each balance transfer

How to qualify: Unfortunately, not everyone can apply for this card. It is restricted to people who live, work, own a business, or go to school in select Arizona and Texas communities or who work for select employers. You can read more about membership eligibility on TruWest’s website.

Visa® Platinum Card from Trustmark Bank

APPLY NOW

on Trustmark Bank’s secure website

Visa^® Platinum Card from Trustmark Bank

Annual fee: $0

Regular Purchase APR: 7.65%-12.65% Variable

The bank has a great low APR range. This is the best range on the list when considering both the minimum and maximum APR, and it benefits people who may not have the best credit because the highest interest rate is still lower than most credit cards. So what’s the catch? Unfortunately, this card has restricted membership (see below for details) and the 0% APR intro periods are very low compared to other cards.

Here are features to know about when using this card to pay off debt:

Intro purchase APR:
Intro balance transfer APR:
Ongoing APR:
Balance transfer fee: None

How to qualify: Anyone can apply, however you can’t apply online. You either have to go to one of their locations or call and have an application mailed to you.

BECU Visa® Credit Card from Boeing Employees CU

APPLY NOW

on BECU (Boeing Employees Credit Union)’s secure website

BECU Visa^® Credit Card from Boeing Employees CU

Annual fee: $0

Regular Purchase APR: 8.65% to 19.65% Variable

The is an overall standout card with a reasonable APR and great additional perks. For example, there is a Reprice Program where BECU will lower your rates as your credit score improves. This is a great feature, especially for people who don’t qualify for the lowest rate. Additionally, there are limited fees, such as no balance transfer fee — allowing you to maximize savings when you transfer debt from another card.

Here are features to know about when using this card to pay off debt:

Intro purchase APR:
Intro balance transfer APR:
Ongoing APR:
Balance transfer fee: None

How to qualify: This card has restricted membership with several ways to qualify: you need to live in Washington State or select counties in Oregon, have a relationship with select employers or associations, or have a business or organization that meets certain requirements. Find out more about membership here.

Visa® Advantage Card from NEFCU

APPLY NOW

on NEFCU’s secure website

Visa® Advantage Card from NEFCU

Annual fee: $0

Regular Purchase APR: 9.74%-17.99% Variable

The can be a decent option for Long Islanders who may carry a balance at some point. Note that the APR range is higher than other cards on this list, but your best option depends on cards’ membership criteria. The intro period for this card is sub par compared to others because the APR is greater than 0%.

Here are features to know about when using this card to pay off debt:

Intro purchase APR: ( APR, thereafter)
Intro balance transfer APR: ( APR, thereafter)
Balance transfer fee: None

How to qualify: This card is open to all Long Islanders. That means if you live, work, or attend school in Nassau or Suffolk counties in New York, you may qualify. You can also gain membership through a family member. Click here for more info on eligibility.

TruWest Platinum Points Visa Rewards Card

APPLY NOW

on TruWest Credit Union’s secure website

TruWest Platinum Points Visa Rewards Card

Annual fee: $0

Regular Purchase APR: 9.65% - 16.65% Variable

The starting APR for the is a bit higher than other low interest cards, but the max APR is fairly low. Similar to the TruWest Visa Platinum Card, the has a long 0 on purchases and balance transfers. This card also comes with a rewards program where you can automatically earn up to one point per dollar spent, though we recommend using this card to pay down debt and not earn rewards.

Here are features to know about when using this card to pay off debt:

Intro purchase APR:
Intro balance transfer APR:
Ongoing APR:
Balance transfer fee:

How to qualify: Like the other TruWest card, this card is restricted to people who live, work, own a business or go to school in select Arizona and Texas communities or who work for select employers. You can read more about membership eligibility on TruWest’s website.

Visa® Platinum Card from NIHFCU

APPLY NOW

on Nih FCU’s secure website

Visa^® Platinum Card from NIHFCU

Annual fee: $0

Regular Purchase APR: 9.74%-18.00% Variable

The has the highest starting APR of all the cards on this list. However, there is a decent on purchases and balance trasnfers, and the balance transfer fee is lower than average at .

Here are features to know about when using this card to pay off debt:

Intro purchase APR:
Intro balance transfer APR:
Ongoing APR:
Balance transfer fee:

How to qualify: This card restricts membership to people in the biomedical and healthcare industries in Md., N.C., Va., W.Va., or Washington D.C. You can also qualify if a family member is a current NIHFCU member. Visit NIHFCU’s site for more details.

Other options

Below, we’ve compiled a few options if you want a 0% APR intro card or if you want to consider a balance transfer card. All of these cards come from major banks, so anyone can apply.

Cards with a 0% APR intro period

Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card– 21 Month Balance Transfer Offer

APPLY NOW

on Citibank’s secure website

Read Full Review

Citi^® Diamond Preferred^® Card– 21 Month Balance Transfer Offer

Regular Purchase APR: 14.74% - 24.74%* (Variable)

Intro Purchase APR: 0%* for 12 months on Purchases*

Intro BT APR: 0%* for 21 months on Balance Transfers*

Annual fee: $0*

Balance Transfer Fee: 5% of each balance transfer; $5 minimum.

The Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card – 21 Month Balance Transfer Offer one of the longest intro 0% periods for balance transfers on the market, at intro 0%* for 21 months on Balance Transfers*. This is over a year and a half for you to rid yourself of debt. Note that there is a balance transfer fee of 5% of each balance transfer; $5 minimum. There is also an intro 0%* for 12 months on Purchases*. After the intro periods end, the APR is 14.74% - 24.74%* (Variable).

Cards with a 0% APR balance transfer intro period

Sphere® Credit Card from Santander

APPLY NOW

on Santander Bank, N.A’s secure website

Read Full Review

Sphere^® Credit Card from Santander

Regular Purchase APR: 14.24% to 24.24% Variable

Intro Purchase APR: 0% intro APR on purchases for the first 18 billing cycles

Intro BT APR: 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 billing cycles if taken within the first 90 days of account opening

Annual fee: $0

Rewards Rate: 1 reward point for every dollar spent, with no limits

Balance Transfer Fee: $10 or 4% of the amount of each transaction, whichever is greater

The Sphere^® Credit Card from Santander has one of the longest balance transfer intro periods in our database at 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 billing cycles if taken within the first 90 days of account opening (after, 14.24% to 24.24% Variable APR). Although this is a great amount of time for you to pay off transferred debt, it comes with a hefty balance transfer fee at $10 or 4% of the amount of each transaction, whichever is greater. This is something to consider before choosing a card, but the balance transfer fee may be worth it if you’re saving money from high-interest payments with your current card. Purchases can also benefit from a 0% intro APR on purchases for the first 18 billing cycles (after, 14.24% to 24.24% Variable APR). There is also a rewards program: earn 1 reward point for every dollar spent, with no limits. However, we recommend using this card to pay off debt and not just to earn rewards.How to qualify: This card is only available to people who live in: Conn., Washington D.C., Del., Maine, Md., Mass., N.H., N.J., N.Y., Pa., R.I., or Vt.

Chase Slate®

The Chase Slate® is one of our favorite balance transfer cards. It offers 0% Intro APR on Purchases for 15 months and 0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers for 15 months (after 16.74% - 25.49% Variable APR). This isn’t the longest intro period, but this card comes with a standout feature of an intro Intro $0 on transfers made within 60 days of account opening. After that: Either $5 or 5%, whichever is greater. This can save you on the typical 2-5% balance transfer fee many other cards charge.

The information related to the Chase Slate® has been collected by MagnifyMoney and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication.

The bottom line

If your goal is to reduce the amount of interest you pay on your credit card debt, look at cards with low APRs and membership requirements you can meet. Remember that your credit score will be a significant factor in the APR you receive, so be sure to look at both ends of the APR ranges when comparing cards since you may not receive the lowest rate.

Alexandria White |

Alexandria White is a writer at MagnifyMoney. You can email Alexandria at alexandria@magnifymoney.com

TAGS: credit card, low interest rate

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5.99% To 35.99% APR
Details
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6.99% To 14.87% APR
Details
Marcus by Goldman Sachs®
Advertiser Disclosure

6.99% To 24.99% APR
Details
LightStream
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3.09% To 14.24% APR
Details

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This Cash Back Number May Surprise You

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Alexandria White

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Capital One Quicksilver Card Review

Credit required

Excellent/Good

In this article we’ll cover:

Breaking down the balance transfer offer

Rewards breakdown

Key features

What to know before completing a balance transfer

How to complete a balance transfer with Capital One

What other cards should I consider?

For a flat-rate cashback program and a long balance transfer offer:

Credit required

Excellent, Good

For new purchases, balance transfers, rewards and a wide range of perks:

Credit required

Excellent/Good

Featured Accounts from our PartnersAD

Get $150 sign-up bonus and unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase. 0% Intro APR for 15 Months after that 14.74% - 24.74% (V).

Use cash back to pay down debt faster. Earn 2% cash back on purchases and enjoy ultra-long 0% intro interest on Balance Transfers.

Intro 0% for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, then 14.74% to 25.74% (v).

How To Do a Balance Transfer With Chase

Credit required

Excellent/Good

Complete your transfer online

1. Login to your account. Click on “Pay & transfer” then select “Card balance transfers.”

2. Choose an offer. You should see your intro balance transfer offer listed. If your intro offer isn’t listed, contact a Chase rep. If you’ve had your card for a while, there may be no intro BT offer available, but sometimes Chase periodically has new offers.

4. Next, you’ll review the terms and conditions associated with your offer. Once you read them, check the box below the T&C and click “Agree & continue.”

5. Lastly, review and confirm the balance transfer request is accurate and click “Set up transfer” to request your balance transfer.

Complete your transfer by phone

Chase balance transfer rules

Featured Accounts from our PartnersAD

Use cash back to pay down debt faster. Earn 2% cash back on purchases and enjoy ultra-long 0% intro interest on Balance Transfers.

Intro 0% for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, then 14.74% to 25.74% (v).

Get $150 sign-up bonus and unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase. 0% Intro APR for 15 Months after that 14.74% - 24.74% (V).

Best Credit Card Sign-Up Bonus For September 2018

In this review we’ll cover:

Personal

Best travel rewards sign-up bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Best hotel credit card sign-up bonus: Marriott Rewards® Premier Plus Credit Card

Marriott Rewards® Premier Plus Credit Card

Best airline credit card sign-up bonus: Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite™ Mastercard®

Best cash back sign-up bonus: Discover it® Cash Back

Best luxury card sign-up bonus: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Best student credit card sign-up bonus: Citi ThankYou® Preferred Card for College Students

Business

Best cash back sign-up bonus for businesses: Ink Business Cash℠ Credit Card

Ink Business Cash℠ Credit Card

Best travel points sign-up bonus for businesses: Ink Business Preferred℠ Credit Card

Ink Business Preferred℠ Credit Card

Learn More

How to maximize your sign-up bonus

How we picked the best sign-up bonus offers

Let’s take an example, where 2 rewards cards both require you to spend $3,000 in the first 3 months of card membership:

Now let’s look at a cash back example:

Featured Accounts from our PartnersAD

Get $150 sign-up bonus and unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase. 0% Intro APR for 15 Months after that 14.74% - 24.74% (V).

Use cash back to pay down debt faster. Earn 2% cash back on purchases and enjoy ultra-long 0% intro interest on Balance Transfers.

Intro 0% for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, then 14.74% to 25.74% (v).

Build Your Credit Score: 6 Secured Cards With No Annual Fees – September 2018

In this guide, we’ll cover:

Cards to consider

Rewards

Low deposit

Average deposit

Low APR

Unrestricted low APR

Unrestricted federal credit union

Personal Loans AD

LendingTree

SoFi

Marcus by Goldman Sachs®

Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

Best hotel credit card sign-up bonus: Marriott Rewards^® Premier Plus Credit Card

Marriott Rewards^® Premier Plus Credit Card

AARP^® Credit Card from Chase Bank – 3% cash back

Marvel Mastercard^® – 3% cash back

Sams Club^® Mastercard^® – 3% cash back

The Plum Card^® from American Express OPEN