Still 5% on PenFed Visa. I see they just added a "5% back on travel" card.
Such silly games we play for our cash rewards.
Schwab does this too. I have their card -- it was an easy choice since I already had a Schwab account. In fact, I think the Fidelity card was 1.5% until Schwab upped the ante to 2%, if I recall correctly.I also saw Fidelity had one for 2% back on everything and they deposit it into an IRA for you. I haven't received the letter yet, but I'll make a move if/when I do get it.
Schwab does this too. I have their card -- it was an easy choice since I already had a Schwab account. In fact, I think the Fidelity card was 1.5% until Schwab upped the ante to 2%, if I recall correctly.
I don't think has been mentioned here yet, but I've read and
heard several places that rewards program are one of the things
that credit-card companies are likely to cut back, to make up for
the lost revenues from the new law that cuts back on their sleazy
business practices and exploitation of dumb-asses.
So why would they cut back?
I think it was fearmongering from the CC industry; at least I hope that's all it was. The fact is, if they were the brutal heartless capitalists that people say they are, they wouldn't be keeping the "freeloaders" who pay in full each month if they weren't profitable. Sure, not as profitable as someone financing a $15,000 CC loan as 22%, but still...It was a classic divide and conquer attempt: get one group of credit card holders nervous about a bill that mostly helped a different group. Of course, much of the media (and some of us) fell for it without much critical thinking.
Yep, looks like fidelity's visa is only 1.5% now.
I've had mine for a bit over 2 years. Always was at 1.5%.
They only added AMEX during the last year. That was always advertised at 2%, but initially it was for IRA/529 funding. Now they have expanded that to contribute to any type of Fidelity account.
National City* 4-3-2-1 Everyday Rewards (cashback)
No notifications yet. I am watching...
I applied for the card before they eliminated NY as eligible for credit card accounts. I am still waiting for them to try to give me the boot for some weird reason. It hasn't happened yet.
All quiet on the western front (issuing bank is based in OH).
*Now owned by PNC
I have also gotten back into applying for CC's just to take advantage of sign up bonuses. We did a bunch of apps for Aadvantage cards from citicards and ended up with 2 cards for me and 2 for DW.
that sounds great, i have a few questions though. where did you get the Aadvantage card apps? are the cards AmEx? and each card gave you a sign up mile bonus?
I found the deal at slickdeals. Here is the thread from that discussion forum:
Citi AAdvantage Cards 30,000 Miles (30k) for Signing Up (Expires August 31, 2009) - SlickDeals.net Forums
1 card is amex, 2 other cards are mastercard (1 personal and one "business").
Me and DW applied for all 3 for each of us. So far, I was turned down for the business MC and we were each approved for the personal MC and Amex. No word on DW's business MC yet. Apparently citicards will only approve 2 credit cards within 60 days. So I'll reapply for the citibusiness card in 61 days from my original applications.
We have yet to receive the points since we just made the purchases to qualify last week. I think they claim they will award the points "6-8 weeks after qualifying purchases are made" or something like that.
There is one catch - annual fee of ~$85/yr that is waived the first year. Just cancel the card within 1 yr and you are good to go.
The slickdealers report being able to recycle this deal. They cancel the cards, wait a bit then reapply. Some report doing this 2x a year for many years. The current deal expires Aug 31 and is for 30000 pts/miles whereas the usual sign up bonuses are only 25000 miles.
The flyertalk.com forums has a discussion on this deal too and some good advice if you are interested and want to do the due diligence.
A bit of hoop-jumping, but worth it to me for a couple of international vacations (each time I do this). "Free" stuff is great ain't it?