Axos Bank Cashback Checking $300 Bonus w/ Direct Deposit

My Money Blog has partnered with CardRatings and may receive a commission from card issuers. Some or all of the card offers that appear on this site are from advertisers and may impact how and where card products appear on the site. MyMoneyBlog.com does not include all card companies or all available card offers. All opinions expressed are the author’s alone.

Updated with new offer. Axos Bank has a $300 bonus with relatively straightforward requirements using promo code FREEDOM300. You must open a new Cashback Checking account by 7/31/2024 and fund within 30 days of account opening. Set up direct deposit of $1,000+ each calendar month, and that will earn you $100 per month for 3 months ($300 total). Historically, they have been pretty flexible on what is considered direct deposit.

The fine print:

To be eligible to earn all or a portion of the cash incentive as part of the “FREEDOM300″ $300 promotion, an Axos Bank CashBack Checking account that includes the promotional code ” FREEDOM300″ must be opened between November 1, 2023, at 12 a.m. PST and July 31, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. PST. Axos Bank reserves the right to limit each primary account holder to one (1) checking account promotional offer per year, and customers who have held primary ownership of an Axos Bank or Axos Bank for Nationwide checking account at any time in the past 12 months may be disqualified from the “FREEDOM300” offer. Promotional terms and conditions are subject to change or removal without notice. Bonus cash may be taxable and reported on IRS Form 1099-MISC. Consult your tax advisor. After meeting the initial requirements mentioned above, the amount of cash bonus earned will depend on meeting the additional requirements outlined below:

To earn up to a $300 bonus, you must be approved for your new Axos Bank CashBack Checking account, fund it within 30 days of account opening, and have qualifying direct deposits that total at least $1,000.00 each calendar month. A cash bonus of up to $300 can be earned in the following manner during the first four (4) statement cycles. A statement cycle is a calendar month consisting of the days your account was open during that month. A maximum of three (3) payouts of $100 for each calendar month that the CashBack Checking account is receiving the direct deposit requirement, the bonus can be earned during the first four (4) statement cycles, and the bonus will be deposited into your Axos Bank CashBack Checking account within 10 business days following the end of the statement cycle in which the direct deposit requirement was met. Your Axos Bank CashBack Checking account must be open and in good standing at the time the bonus is paid to be eligible to receive the bonus, and your Axos Bank CashBack Checking account must remain open for 120 days, or an early closure fee of up to $300 may apply, equal to the amount of the total bonus earned up to $300.

I’ve done a few Axos Bank bonuses in the past (too recent for me to qualify for this), and the good news is that they do pay out reliably in my experience.

My Money Blog has partnered with CardRatings and may receive a commission from card issuers. Some or all of the card offers that appear on this site are from advertisers and may impact how and where card products appear on the site. MyMoneyBlog.com does not include all card companies or all available card offers. All opinions expressed are the author’s alone, and has not been provided nor approved by any of the companies mentioned.

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First Tech Credit Union: $300 Rewards Checking Account Bonus

My Money Blog has partnered with CardRatings and may receive a commission from card issuers. Some or all of the card offers that appear on this site are from advertisers and may impact how and where card products appear on the site. MyMoneyBlog.com does not include all card companies or all available card offers. All opinions expressed are the author’s alone.

Updated with new bonus details. First Tech Federal Credit Union has a new $300 checking bonus. This new promo is set to run through 6/30/24, but is specifically for their new Reward Checking account that pays up to 5.00% APY (on up to $15,000 balance) if you meet a bunch of different hoops including 20 debit card transactions with $500+ in monthly spend. However, you can still get the $300 without meeting the 5.00% APY requirements. This promo is also valid for existing First Tech Rewards checking account owners who have not set up a direct deposit yet.

Here’s how to make it happen:

1) Open a First Tech Reward Checking account. Already have one? You’re set!
2) Set up a new payroll direct deposit to your First Tech Rewards Checking of $1,000+ per month for a minimum of three months.
3) Earn your $300 bonus!

When I applied for a previous promo, First Tech CU paid the $8 membership fee for the partner organization on my behalf so that I could join the credit union, although they mentioned it might be eventually be reported on 1099-INT. I did not experience a hard credit check, although they did a soft check on Experian.

The monthly requirements for earning the 5.00% APY interest (on up to $15,000 balance) are:

  • 20 card transactions with $500+ in monthly spend.
  • Electronic statements
  • ACH / direct deposit $1,000+ monthly

Offer valid for enrollment between February 26, 2024 and June 30, 2024 for members without an existing direct deposit. Members with existing direct deposits or who are already enrolled in a First Tech direct deposit campaign are not eligible. Participant is defined as 18 years of age or older and the primary account owner on a First Tech Rewards Checking (FTRC) account. Direct deposits are considered new if there has been no direct deposit activity in the Participant’s share accounts on which they are the Primary Owner within the previous 18 months. Membership is required and is subject to approval. Fees could reduce earnings on the account. FTRC accounts must be personal accounts. Fiduciary, trust, business, or organization accounts are not eligible. Participant will be enrolled in the promotion upon receipt of new direct deposit transaction into the FTRC account (“Enrollment”). In order to receive any bonus payout, in addition to satisfying the payout conditions set forth in this disclosure, the Membership Savings account must be in good standing (not in default, closed, inactive, or otherwise not in good standing) during the period of time commencing with Enrollment and ending with the applicable date of payout. Any inquiries or disputes must be received by January 31, 2025.

New Direct Deposit Offer: New direct deposit must occur at least on New Direct Deposit Offer: New direct deposit must occur at least once per calendar month from the Participant’s employer payroll into the First Tech Rewards Checking (FTRC) account of which the Participant is the primary account owner. Direct deposits from a non-employer payroll source do not qualify. The monthly aggregate amount of all qualifying direct deposits must equal to at least $1,000 to earn the $300 bonus. Enrollment is the date of the initial direct deposit transaction. During the period of time commencing with Enrollment and ending 120 calendar days after Enrollment (“Enrollment Period”), at least one direct deposit transaction must occur each calendar month starting with the initial direct deposit transaction. A minimum of three direct deposit transactions must be received during the Enrollment Period. (EXAMPLE: If a member’s initial direct deposit is March 1, 2024, additional required direct deposits must occur at least once in each subsequent calendar month following the month in which the initial direct deposit is made, the last direct deposit must be received by June 29, 2024.) Only the Participant will receive credit for the direct deposits. Any qualifying bonus will be deposited to the Participant’s Membership Savings account the first week following the Enrollment Period. Bonuses will be considered dividends and may be reported on IRS form 1099-INT.

My Money Blog has partnered with CardRatings and may receive a commission from card issuers. Some or all of the card offers that appear on this site are from advertisers and may impact how and where card products appear on the site. MyMoneyBlog.com does not include all card companies or all available card offers. All opinions expressed are the author’s alone, and has not been provided nor approved by any of the companies mentioned.

MyMoneyBlog.com is also a member of the Amazon Associate Program, and if you click through to Amazon and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission. Thank you for your support.


Pepper Rewards App: 10% Back on Amazon or Walmart Gift Cards ($200 off $2,000)

My Money Blog has partnered with CardRatings and may receive a commission from card issuers. Some or all of the card offers that appear on this site are from advertisers and may impact how and where card products appear on the site. MyMoneyBlog.com does not include all card companies or all available card offers. All opinions expressed are the author’s alone.

Update 3/15/24: Offer is back with different terms (shorter 15-day window). I just noticed the offer changed after my $20 cash bonus showed up quietly in my account after the 30 day mark. So if you already signed up, go back and check to see if you have more points or “Anywhere Cash” to apply on your next purchase. I got the 5% back on my Amazon gift cards immediately (able to used instantly on the next purchase), and I’m still waiting on the additional 5% bonus after my window ends. I ended up buying $2,000 of Amazon gift cards (10% off = $200 savings), which also helped me reach the spending hurdle on a credit card bonus.

Here’s the new offer:

  • Download the Pepper Rewards app and be sure to enter a referral code 588494 on the first screen when joining. They don’t say anything about $20 for the first $100 purchase anymore so it’s probably gone, but I’d still try to make my first purchase $100+, just in case.
  • Get double points for the first 15 days. You can buy up to $500 in Amazon gift cards per day and $2,000 per month, for a total of $200 back on a $2,000 purchase. The standard is 5% back, for a total of 10% back (you might get more on select stores that go on sale). Be sure to finish up your purchases within the 15-day window.

Pepper is an iOS and Android app that sells discounted, new gift cards in exact amounts that are delivered instantly on your phone. This lets you to wait until the moment before purchase when you already have the final purchase price (in-person or online), and then go buy a discounted gift card via the app down to the penny. The main problem with gift cards is when you don’t use up the entire balance. This helps to avoid the waste.

My Money Blog has partnered with CardRatings and may receive a commission from card issuers. Some or all of the card offers that appear on this site are from advertisers and may impact how and where card products appear on the site. MyMoneyBlog.com does not include all card companies or all available card offers. All opinions expressed are the author’s alone, and has not been provided nor approved by any of the companies mentioned.

MyMoneyBlog.com is also a member of the Amazon Associate Program, and if you click through to Amazon and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission. Thank you for your support.


Cummins & Atmus Filtration Odd Lot Tender Opportunity / Exchange Offer (Preliminary Results)

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Update 3/15/24: This exchange offer is now expired and the preliminary results have been released. The final exchange ratio was 12.0298, which means 99 CMI shares will be exchanged for 1190.95 ATMU shares. Out of the 5,574,050 shares that will be accepted for tender, 1,006,609 of those shares were from odd lot holders. That’s a relatively high amount, but still less than 20% of the total and odd lot holders won’t be pro-rated. On the other hand, everyone else who held more than 99 shares will be pro-rated down to approximately 6.7% of tendered shares.

ATMU has been seeing a lot of short interest, and may even be experiencing a bit of a “short squeeze” right now. This may be partially due to people hedging their bets on the stock. ATMU stock is up about 17% since this exchange was announced in mid-February. You might have made more money simply buying ATMU at the announcement rather than participating in the exchange! (You could have even made more money letting people borrow those shares to short.) As I said, this is as much an educational opportunity as a profit opportunity. I’ll have to keep an eye out for the ATMU shares showing up in my account. The two choices are to (1) sell all shares immediately, or (2) hold the ATMU shares for a couple months until the short interests and other market pressures subside. I’ll probably do the former, but here is another opinion on the latter.

I have no idea what the value of ATMU will be when the shares arrive (rough guess 0-2 weeks) and when I sell, so I won’t bother to post speculative numbers. I will provide a final update after selling.

Original post from 2/25/24:

Back in May 2023, Cummins (CMI) spun off a company called Atmus Filtration Technologies (ATMU) which makes products for commercial vehicles and equipment (think big rigs, agricultural machines, and yellow construction equipment). Cummins still owns about 80% of ATMU and are trying to complete the split-off via an exchange offer to CMI shareholders: tender $100 of CMI and receive $107.53 of ATMU in return.

Similar to the Johnson & Johnson odd lot tender from last year, this ~7.5% premium is meant to incentivize the deal and make sure it happens successfully, and as a result it may be “oversubscribed” with tenders having to be pro-rated. However, there is an “odd lot” provision in the deal, where if you only have 99 shares of less of CMI and tender them all, you won’t be subject to pro-ration. This is a corner of the market where small individual investors have an advantage that the bigger money can’t access.

Please know upfront that I’m not an expert on this stuff, and there are risks involved. The following two articles and the official informational site explain the various details and risks in much better detail.

From the official site above that tracks the share prices for the exact tender ratio (upper limit not in effect at time of writing):

If the Exchange Offer is oversubscribed and Cummins cannot accept all tenders of Cummins Common Stock at the exchange ratio, then all shares of Cummins Common Stock that are validly tendered will generally be accepted for exchange on a pro rata basis in proportion to the number of shares validly tendered, which is referred to as “proration.” Stockholders who beneficially own “odd-lots” (less than 100 shares) of Cummins Common Stock and who validly tender all of their shares will not be subject to proration. Direct or beneficial holders of 100 or more shares of Cummins Common Stock will be subject to proration.

For each $100 of Cummins Common Stock accepted in the Exchange Offer, you will receive approximately $107.53 of Atmus Common Stock, subject to an upper limit of 13.3965 shares of Atmus Common Stock per share of Cummins Common Stock. The Exchange Offer does not provide for a lower limit or minimum exchange ratio. See “The Exchange Offer — Terms of the Exchange Offer” in the Prospectus. IF THE UPPER LIMIT IS IN EFFECT, YOU MAY RECEIVE LESS THAN $107.53 OF ATMUS COMMON STOCK FOR EACH $100 OF CUMMINS COMMON STOCK THAT YOU TENDER, AND YOU COULD RECEIVE MUCH LESS.

To quickly summarize the potential deal:

  • Buy 99 shares* of CMI at your broker, for an approximate cost of $26,133 (as of market close 2/23, will change daily).
  • Tender ALL your shares through your broker. You can’t own 100+ shares and only tender 99. The deadline is supposed to be March 13, 2024, but some brokers may require your tender instructions earlier than that. (At Fidelity, it is 03/12/2024 7:00 PM ET.) Your broker may have an online form to fill out (look for “Corporation Actions”, or you’ll have to call them).
  • If all goes smoothly (not guaranteed!), then you’ll get ~$28,100 of ATMU approximately 7 business days after the deadline. You can then sell the shares for cash if you are not interested in actually holding the stock as an investment. At the 7.5% premium, the potential profit is ~$1,960. You may get less depending on the relative share prices of CMI and ATMU.
  • * You can buy less than 99 shares for less financial commitment (and less upside), but you have to tender them all.

This is the type of deal that I find both interesting and educational, on top of having a positive expected value. Warren Buffett today wouldn’t bother with this deal, but Warren Buffett age 14 might. This is a calculated gamble, rather than a fixed return. There is risk involved, including either the deal being canceled somehow (you end up with 99 shares of CMI at whatever market price) or the limit ratio being reached and you get less than a 7.5% premium of ATMU shares. This is also an area where a broker with good customer service is useful (I use Fidelity). You should perform your own due diligence.

Disclosure: I ended up deciding to participate and bought 99 shares of CMI after publication of this post (which was on a Sunday night). During mid-day trading on Monday, I bought 99 shares at $265.xx a share. This is not a recommendation to buy.

My Money Blog has partnered with CardRatings and may receive a commission from card issuers. Some or all of the card offers that appear on this site are from advertisers and may impact how and where card products appear on the site. MyMoneyBlog.com does not include all card companies or all available card offers. All opinions expressed are the author’s alone, and has not been provided nor approved by any of the companies mentioned.

MyMoneyBlog.com is also a member of the Amazon Associate Program, and if you click through to Amazon and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission. Thank you for your support.


Truist Bank $400 New Checking Account Bonus 2024 (Regional Eligibility)

My Money Blog has partnered with CardRatings and may receive a commission from card issuers. Some or all of the card offers that appear on this site are from advertisers and may impact how and where card products appear on the site. MyMoneyBlog.com does not include all card companies or all available card offers. All opinions expressed are the author’s alone.

Updated with new offer. Truist Bank formed from the merger of BB&T and Suntrust Banks, now roughly the 10th largest US bank with branches in 17 states and DC. Trust has a new $400 checking bonus for new checking customers that have a mailing address within a state in their branch footprint: AL, AR, GA, FL, IN, KY, MD, MS, NC, NJ, OH, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, WV or DC. I usually don’t list bonuses that aren’t nationwide, but this is a sizable bonus with a large regional bank. If I lived in this area, I’d certainly rather open an account when they are giving out 400 bucks. Here are the steps:

  • Open a new Truist One Checking account online from 2/28/24 through 6/26/24. Minimum opening deposit is $50. Must open online with promo code TRUIST400DC24.
  • Receive at least one qualifying Direct Deposit* of $500 or more, AND
  • Complete at least 15 qualifying debit card purchases** within 90 days of account opening. All debit purchases must be posted to your account to qualify.

Note the following definitions for new customers:

Clients that are the primary account holder on an existing personal checking account with Truist or who have closed a personal checking account with Truist on or after 2/28/23 are not eligible to participate.

The Truist One Checking account has a $12 monthly maintenance fees that is waived each statement cycle by any one of the following:

  • $500+ in total qualifying Direct Deposits
  • Maintain a total combined ledger balance of $500 or more in Truist related accounts across personal deposits (excluding Truist HSA) and all investments as reflected on the business day before your statement cycle end date.
  • Having a personal Truist credit card, mortgage or consumer loan, excluding LightStream®.
  • Having a linked Small Business Checking Account.
  • Students under the age of 25.
My Money Blog has partnered with CardRatings and may receive a commission from card issuers. Some or all of the card offers that appear on this site are from advertisers and may impact how and where card products appear on the site. MyMoneyBlog.com does not include all card companies or all available card offers. All opinions expressed are the author’s alone, and has not been provided nor approved by any of the companies mentioned.

MyMoneyBlog.com is also a member of the Amazon Associate Program, and if you click through to Amazon and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission. Thank you for your support.


Wyndham Rewards Earner Cards: Up to 100,000 Bonus Points

My Money Blog has partnered with CardRatings and may receive a commission from card issuers. Some or all of the card offers that appear on this site are from advertisers and may impact how and where card products appear on the site. MyMoneyBlog.com does not include all card companies or all available card offers. All opinions expressed are the author’s alone.

Updated with limited-time offers. The Wyndham Rewards Earner credit cards currently all have increased bonuses of 75,000 to 100,000 points. They are supposed to be the best ever for this hotel-chain co-branded card, with points redeemable towards the Wyndham chain of hotels and Vacasa-managed vacation home rentals.

Wyndham Rewards Earner Card highlights:

  • 75,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first 6 months.
  • 5X points per $1 spent on Hotels by Wyndham and qualifying gas purchases.
  • 2X points per $1 spent on dining and grocery store purchases (excluding Target® and Walmart®).
  • 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases (excluding Wyndham Timeshare resort down payments).
  • Automatic upgrade to Wyndham Rewards Gold status.
  • 10% fewer Wyndham Rewards points required for go free® awards.
  • 7,500 bonus points each anniversary year if you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases.
  • No annual fee.

Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus Card highlights:

  • 100,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first 6 months.
  • 6X points per $1 spent on Hotels by Wyndham and gas purchasess.
  • 4X points per $1 spent on dining and grocery store purchases (excluding Target and Walmart).
  • 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases (excluding Wyndham Timeshare resort down payments).
  • Automatic upgrade to Wyndham Rewards Platinum status.
  • 10% fewer Wyndham Rewards points required for go free® awards.
  • 7,500 bonus points each anniversary year after annual fee renewal.
  • $75 annual fee.

Wyndham Rewards Earner Business Card highlights:

  • 50,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 90 days and an additional 50,000 bonus points after spending $15,000 on purchases within the first 12 months.
  • 8X points per $1 spent on Hotels by Wyndham and gas purchasess.
  • 5X points per $1 spent on eligible marketing, advertising, and utilities purchases.
  • 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases (excluding Wyndham Timeshare resort down payments).
  • Automatic upgrade to Wyndham Rewards Diamond status.
  • 10% fewer Wyndham Rewards points required for go free® awards.
  • 15,000 bonus points each anniversary year after annual fee renewal.
  • $95 annual fee.

Wyndham hotels have a relatively simple system that charges 7,500, 15,000, or 30,000 points for a “Go Free” award hotel night with no blackout dates (as long as a standard room is available for cash, you can book it with points). You can also redeem toward a discounted “Go Fast” cash and points rate. Resort fees may apply and cannot be paid with points. Note that when you have one of these credit cards, you get a 10% discount, so for example the 15,000 points tier would be actually be reduced down to 13,500 points.

You can also use the points for Vacasa vacation home rentals (like Airbnb or VRBO). Starting 3/26/24, it will cost 15,000 points per bedroom per night if the cash cost is up to $250/bedroom/night, or 30,000 points per bedroom per night if the cash cost is up to $500/bedroom/night. Details here and here. You can search for the place you want online at Vacasa.com, but you must call 800-441-1034 to book.

Wyndham points expiration – Important!

  • Wyndham Rewards points will expire if you have no activity on your account for a period of 18 months.
  • In addition, all Wyndham Rewards points expire 4 years after being earned — regardless of account activity.

From the official Terms & Conditions:

Except as may otherwise be required under applicable law, Wyndham Rewards points expire four (4) years after the checkout date of the stay for which the applicable points are posted to the Member’s account (the “Four Year Rule”), unless the points are forfeited or cancelled earlier due to membership inactivity (as more particularly described below), or otherwise in accordance with these Terms and Conditions. All accrued points in a Member’s Wyndham Rewards account may be cancelled or forfeited if the Member has no Account Activity (as defined below) for a period of approximately, but never less than, eighteen (18) consecutive months. For purposes of these Terms and Conditions, “Account Activity” means any (i) point earning, (ii) stay posted to a Member’s Wyndham Rewards account, regardless of whether or not such stay earns Wyndham Rewards points, and (iii) redemption or transfer activity involving a change in the Member’s Wyndham Rewards point balance, in each case, conducted in accordance with these Terms and Conditions.

For example, earning points via this credit card will only reset the 18-month inactivity clock. Look for the exact date in your online account page.

Wyndham Rewards includes over 9,000 hotels worldwide – from Days Inn motels to Wyndham Grand hotels. You can use this link to filter locations easily by country, state, and/or point level. Participating hotel chains include:

  • AmericInn by Wyndham®
  • Dolce Hotels and Resorts® by Wyndham
  • Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham®
  • Howard Johnson by Wyndham®
  • La Quinta by Wyndham®
  • Ramada by Wyndham®
  • Days Inn by Wyndham®
  • Super 8 by Wyndham®
  • Travelodge by Wyndham®
  • Wingate by Wyndham®
  • Wyndham Grand®
  • Wyndham Hotels and Resorts®
  • Wyndham Garden®

Depending on the hotel, you might get over 1 cent per point value (i.e. $300 cash hotel night for 30,000 points), but you might also get closer to 0.5 cent per point value (i.e. a $75 hotel night might require 15,000 points).

Bottom line. The Wyndham Rewards Earner credit cards all have limited-time bonuses. Used at the lowest tier, you could get 10 free nights for 75,000 points. However, know that you must redeem the points within 4 years at the longest, even with regular account activity. This chain isn’t of one of the big ones (I don’t think I’ve stayed at a Wyndham property in the last decade), but this card has good value potential during a limited-time offer.

Also see: Top 10 Best Credit Card Bonus Offers and Top 10 Best Business Card Offers.

My Money Blog has partnered with CardRatings and may receive a commission from card issuers. Some or all of the card offers that appear on this site are from advertisers and may impact how and where card products appear on the site. MyMoneyBlog.com does not include all card companies or all available card offers. All opinions expressed are the author’s alone, and has not been provided nor approved by any of the companies mentioned.

MyMoneyBlog.com is also a member of the Amazon Associate Program, and if you click through to Amazon and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission. Thank you for your support.


Point.me x American Express Membership Rewards: Free Award Flight Search Tool

My Money Blog has partnered with CardRatings and may receive a commission from card issuers. Some or all of the card offers that appear on this site are from advertisers and may impact how and where card products appear on the site. MyMoneyBlog.com does not include all card companies or all available card offers. All opinions expressed are the author’s alone.

American Express has partnered with the Point.me award travel tool to provide free flight searches for the airline loyalty programs that work with American Express Membership Rewards points. The special site is AmEx.Point.me, where you must log into your American Express account.

With point.me for Membership Rewards® points, eligible Card Members have access to a real time reward-flight search engine. POINT.ME makes it easy to see all of the options, and choose the flight that works best for you before transferring Membership Rewards® points to eligible airline loyalty programs through your Membership Rewards® account.

I am hopeful for this new service, as Membership Rewards has a lot of transfer partners but it can be hard to find the best flights across them all. (Bilt Rewards has also partnered with Point.me for free award searches.) The searches can take a while to finish, but hopefully it’s still better than searching manually. The full version of the Point.me website usually costs $12 a month or $129 a year for all airlines (first 3 searches free). There is also a more expensive Concierge service where a human expert will handle everything for $200/person.

Loyalty programs have been around for decades, especially in the airline industry. However, booking award travel can feel cumbersome, like you’re jumping through multiple hoops just to book a flight! This is where point.me comes in. We’re the first company to offer a tool that makes it easier to use miles and points for air travel. Not only does our tool show you flight options that are bookable using your points, we also guide you step-by-step to book the flight yourself!

Also see: Top 10 Best Credit Card Bonus Offers.

Top 10 Best Small Business Card Bonus Offers.

My Money Blog has partnered with CardRatings and may receive a commission from card issuers. Some or all of the card offers that appear on this site are from advertisers and may impact how and where card products appear on the site. MyMoneyBlog.com does not include all card companies or all available card offers. All opinions expressed are the author’s alone, and has not been provided nor approved by any of the companies mentioned.

MyMoneyBlog.com is also a member of the Amazon Associate Program, and if you click through to Amazon and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission. Thank you for your support.


Greenlight Debit Card For Kids: Free Subscription for PSECU Members ($60/year Value)

My Money Blog has partnered with CardRatings and may receive a commission from card issuers. Some or all of the card offers that appear on this site are from advertisers and may impact how and where card products appear on the site. MyMoneyBlog.com does not include all card companies or all available card offers. All opinions expressed are the author’s alone.

Greenlight is a popular reloadable debit card service for kids, where parents can manage and track their kids spending. You can also add an allowance, payments for recurring chores or one-time jobs, and teach them compound interest via “parent-paid interest”. I suppose its wise to show the kids how handle digital spending before the credit card offers arrive.

I decided to try out the new PSECU perk that offers the basic tier of Greenlight for free. (I did the PSECU $300 checking promo first.) You must enroll at Greenlight.com/PSECU and link a PSECU checking account in order to get the benefit. The “Greenlight Select” membership is a special tier for such partners, but is mostly comparable to the “Greenlight Core” tier on their website, which costs $4.99 a month. Included in the “Greenlight Select” membership:

  • Debit Mastercards for up to 5 kids. Send money instantly and keep tabs on spending with real-time notifications.
  • Educational app. The parents have their app where they get notified of every purchase, and the kids have their own app with educational games and short lessons (optional). Kids can divide their money into “savings” or “giving” baskets as well as create specific savings goals.
  • Parental controls. Created automated allowance payments. Set category and store-level spending limits.
  • 1% APY interest. This is the lowest tier and the lowest interest, although some other apps don’t pay any interest at all. You can get up to 5% APY on $5,000 if you upgrade to the $15/month tier.
  • Roundup feature. You can set it to round up purchases to the next dollar and put the difference in a savings account.
  • No overdraft fees. Does not allow overdrafts, so no overdraft fees.
  • Banking services provided by Community Federal Savings Bank, member FDIC.

Teaching compound interest with higher interest rates. It can be hard to visualize compound interest at low interest rates, so parents can increase it by paying a higher “interest” rate out of their own pockets. For example, here is an illustration of $100 earning a 25% interest rate (paid by the parent) as opposed to a 5% interest rate. It makes the idea of earning interest on interest more immediate and tangible. Ideally, this can teach them that delayed gratification turns it into future rewards. You can set interest rates from 1% up to 100%.

Unfortunately, to add on investments, I would have to upgrade to the $10 a month tier or higher. If I had a teen ready for investing, I’d probably use the Fidelity Youth account instead (available for age 13-17 only, and my kids aren’t that old yet).

For kids under 13, I think that Greenlight would serve as a nice alternative to piggy banks. (Greenlight has no minimum age requirement.) While I suppose $5 a month isn’t a lot of money for all these features, I still like “free” better. After a few quick internet searches for “Greenlight Select”, I found multiple local banks and credit unions in my area that offered this free tier of service. If you plan on paying for it, there is $30 bonus available with a 1-month free trial (bonus not stackable with this free offer).

My Money Blog has partnered with CardRatings and may receive a commission from card issuers. Some or all of the card offers that appear on this site are from advertisers and may impact how and where card products appear on the site. MyMoneyBlog.com does not include all card companies or all available card offers. All opinions expressed are the author’s alone, and has not been provided nor approved by any of the companies mentioned.

MyMoneyBlog.com is also a member of the Amazon Associate Program, and if you click through to Amazon and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission. Thank you for your support.


PSECU $300 New Checking Account Bonus 2024

My Money Blog has partnered with CardRatings and may receive a commission from card issuers. Some or all of the card offers that appear on this site are from advertisers and may impact how and where card products appear on the site. MyMoneyBlog.com does not include all card companies or all available card offers. All opinions expressed are the author’s alone.

Updated with 2024 promo details, free Greenlight kids debit card perk. Pennsylvania State Employees Credit Union (PSECU) has a $300 new checking account bonus that is broken up into two stages ($200+$100). That is also my referral link as I successfully did a similar $300 deal from last year. PSECU is a digital-first credit union with a very open membership. If you don’t satisfy the available free options, anyone can join with $10:

Don’t meet any of the criteria above? No problem! You can still become eligible for PSECU membership by joining the Pennsylvania Recreation and Park Society (PRPS).

PRPS is a statewide association providing education, advocacy, and resources for those working and volunteering to manage Pennsylvania’s 6,000+ local parks. Park and recreation departments provide safe and affordable recreation opportunities, creating stronger and more inclusive communities.

PRPS membership dues are $20, but we cover $10 when you select to join PRPS during our application process.

There may also be a required $5 initial deposit into a share savings account. I also experienced a hard credit check on Experian, which is (unfortunately) common amongst credit unions. Here are the details on the bonus requirements:

$200 Checking Bonus (Stage 1)

  • Become a PSECU member using promo link and promo code RIGHTNOTEREFER (should be automatically applied) and add a free checking account with debit card.
  • Sign up and log into digital banking (online or mobile).
  • Establish Qualifying Payroll Direct Deposit(s) that total at least $500 per calendar month.
  • Must be completed in the first 60 days of establishing your membership.

$100 Checking Bonus (Stage 2)

  • Continue recurring Qualifying Payroll Direct Deposits totaling at least $500 per calendar month for 3 consecutive months after Stage 1 requirements are met, with a total additional amount deposited of at least $1,500 during Stage 2.
  • Complete a minimum of 10 Eligible Debit Card Purchases. Eligible Debit Card Purchases are defined as individual purchases of at least $10 for a minimum overall purchase total of at least $100.
  • Must be completed within 120 days of establishing your membership.

My application process went smoothly and similar to other credit unions. I did have to upload a scan of the front and back of my driver’s license to help verify my identity (which is a good thing in my opinion) as well as answer some identity verification questions based on my credit report. The application took a couple days to process but I was able to get my account information and online access without any phone call or paperwork required. I did have to call them briefly to get my checking account number (didn’t want to wait on the free checks to arrive) in order to set up my direct deposit.

Added 2024: Another useful perk of PSECU for those with kids and teens is they include a free Greenlight subscription, which is a popular reloadable debit card service for kids. This is usually $5 a month ($60 a year).

Full terms and conditions:

*Hit the Right Note – Up to $300 Bonus Terms and Conditions
From 1.1.24 to 12.31.24, PSECU is running a new member incentive bonus. To receive up to $300, new members must sign up with promotional code RIGHTNOTEREFER and satisfy each of the requirements listed below. PSECU will deposit member incentive bonus into the Regular share within 45 days after the requirements are satisfied. Promotion open to U.S. Residents who are 18 years of age or older at the time the account is opened. Limit one (1) new member Hit the Right Note bonus per tax identification number used to open a new PSECU account. Joint owners listed on accounts are not eligible to be rewarded for this bonus unless they open their own account. You will not be eligible for the Hit the Right Note bonus if you are a current PSECU member, have closed an account within the past 12 months, or have received any new member incentive bonus within the past 12 months. Members who open accounts and/or loans by fraudulent, suspicious, or illegal means, including but not limited to providing PSECU with fraudulent or fabricated information, are not eligible to participate in this bonus offer. PSECU may adjust the deposited bonus or remove the deposited bonus at any time if PSECU suspects accounts and/or loans were opened by fraudulent, suspicious, or illegal means, including but not limited to providing PSECU with fraudulent or fabricated information. $5 is required to open and maintain a Regular share account. This $5 share deposit is also required to be eligible to receive the bonus, and the member must be in good standing as defined by PSECU’s Bylaws Article II, Section 1. A $5 minimum share purchase will be made on behalf of the new member by PSECU. If the member account is closed within the first year of membership, the initial $5 share will be retained by PSECU. The Annual Percentage Yield on PSECU’s Regular share account is 0.50%. This variable rate is current as of 12.1.23 and may change. Withdrawals and fees may reduce earnings on the account. The recipient of the bonus (up to $300) is solely responsible for payment of applicable taxes on that amount. If you have any questions, please seek the advice of a qualified tax professional. All decisions of PSECU regarding this promotion are final. PSECU may terminate or change the terms and conditions of this promotion without notice. Subject to all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations.

My Money Blog has partnered with CardRatings and may receive a commission from card issuers. Some or all of the card offers that appear on this site are from advertisers and may impact how and where card products appear on the site. MyMoneyBlog.com does not include all card companies or all available card offers. All opinions expressed are the author’s alone, and has not been provided nor approved by any of the companies mentioned.

MyMoneyBlog.com is also a member of the Amazon Associate Program, and if you click through to Amazon and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission. Thank you for your support.


Top 10 Best Credit Card Bonus Offers – March 2024 (Updated)

My Money Blog has partnered with CardRatings and may receive a commission from card issuers. Some or all of the card offers that appear on this site are from advertisers and may impact how and where card products appear on the site. MyMoneyBlog.com does not include all card companies or all available card offers. All opinions expressed are the author’s alone.

Updated and checked March 2024. That space in your wallet or purse is valuable, and you should be the one to get that value. By being smart and picky, you can find offers worth $500+ for a single card, all to encourage you to apply and try it out. This adds up to thousands of dollars in extra income (over $5,000 in 2023). These are the top 10 credit card offers that I would personally apply for right now (or have already). Notable recent changes:

  • Added Marriott 185k, CitiAA 75k, Hilton 100k, IHG 165k, Delta 70k+$200 credit, JetBlue 70k, Alaska 75k
  • Removed Southwest CP, Aeroplan 100k, Wyndham 75k

This is a companion post to my Top 10 Best Business Card Offers. Small business bonuses are on average even higher than those on consumer cards.

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card

  • 185,000 Marriott Bonvoy points after $6,000 in purchases in the first 6 months. See link for details.
  • $300 in Annual Dining Credits, valid at restaurants worldwide.
  • Priority Pass™ Select airport lounge membership included.
  • $100 Global Entry or $85 TSA PreCheck fee credit.
  • Free Night Award every year (worth up to 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy points) after your Card renewal month.
  • $650 annual fee.

Hilton Honors American Express Card

  • 100,000 Hilton Honors points after $2,000 in purchases in the first 6 months. Offer ends 4/17/24. See link for details.
  • Complimentary Hilton Honors(TM) Silver status with your Card.
  • No annual fee.

Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card

  • 70,000 Delta Skymiles after $3,000 in purchases within the first 6 months. See link for details.
  • 70,000 Skymiles are worth at least $700 in Delta airfare with “Pay with Miles” option.
  • $200 Delta flight credit after $10,000 in purchases on your card in a calendar year.
  • First checked bag free on Delta flights ($60 value per roundtrip, per person).
  • $0 annual fee for the first year, then $150.
  • There is also a 90k bonus miles offer on the Platinum version.

Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard

  • 75,000 American Airlines miles after $3,500 in purchases in the first 4 months. See link for details.
  • First checked bag free on domestic AA flights for you and up to 4 travel companions on the same reservation (up to $80 value per roundtrip, per person).
  • $0 annual fee for the first year, then $99.

The Platinum Card from American Express

  • 80,000 Membership Rewards(R) points after $8,000 in purchases in the first 6 months.
  • $200 Hotel Credits, $240 Streaming Credits, $200 Airline Fee Credits, $200 Uber Cash, $189 CLEAR Plus credit, $300 Equinox credit, $155 Walmart+ credit and more annually!
  • $100 Global Entry or $85 TSA PreCheck fee credit.
  • Premium airport lounge access through the American Express Global Lounge Collection®.
  • $695 annual fee.

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

  • 60,000 Ultimate Rewards points (worth $750 towards travel or transferrable to miles/points) after $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months. See link for details.
  • $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit, 5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards(R), 3x on dining and 2x on all other travel purchases.
  • $95 annual fee.
  • Subject to 5/24 rule.*
  • Upgrade pick: Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card. Higher travel perks including airport lounge access, higher annual fee.

Chase Aeroplan Credit Card

  • 60,000 points – 60,000 points after $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. Redeemable towards any travel purchase with Pay Yourself Back. See link for details.
  • Free first checked bags on Air Canada flights: one free checked bag for the primary cardmember and up to eight other travelers on the same itinerary.
  • Aeroplan 25K Elite Status benefits for the remainder of the first calendar year, plus the following calendar year.
  • $100 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit.
  • $95 annual fee.
  • Subject to 5/24 rule.

Capital One Venture X Rewards Card

  • 75,000 miles (worth $750 towards travel, or transferrable to airline miles) after $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months. See link for details.
  • $300 annual travel credit. Get up to $300 in statement credits when booking through Capital One Travel.
  • Additional 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary.
  • Priority Pass + Capital One airport lounge access. Additional cardholders are free, and also get their own Priority Pass!
  • Up to $100 credit towards TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fee.
  • $395 annual fee.

American Express® Gold Card

  • 60,000 Membership Rewards points after $6,000 in purchases in first 6 months. See link for details.
  • $120 in Uber Cash annually (good towards Uber Eats or Uber rides in the US).
  • $120 in annual dining credit at Grubhub, Seamless, and more.
  • 4X points at restaurants.
  • 4X points at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 per year.
  • $250 annual fee.

IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card

  • 165,000 IHG Points after $3,000 in purchases within first 3 months. See link for details.
  • Free Night after each account anniversary year (valued up to 40,000 IHG points).
  • $99 annual fee.
  • Subject to 5/24 rule.
  • Don’t like annual fees? The no-annual fee Traveler version also has a competitive offer with no annual fee.

British Airways Visa Signature Card

  • 75,000 Avios after $5,000 in purchases within first 3 months. See link for details and redemption tips.
  • 10% off British Airways flights starting in the US when you book through the website provided in your welcome materials.
  • Free Travel Together companion ticket when you spend $30,000 in calendar year.
  • $95 annual fee.

Chase United Explorer Card

  • 50,000 miles after $3,000 in purchases within 3 months. See link for details.
  • Free first checked bag for both you and a companion (a savings of up to $140 per roundtrip) when you use your Card to purchase your United ticket.
  • Expanded award availability. Having this card makes it easier to find that saver award economy ticket.
  • $0 annual fee for the first year, then $95.
  • Subject to 5/24 rule.

Capital One Venture Rewards Card

  • 75,000 miles (worth $750 towards travel, or transferrable to miles) after $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months. See link for details.
  • 2 Miles per dollar on all purchases.
  • Up to $100 credit towards TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fee.
  • $95 annual fee.

Bank of America Premium Rewards Card

  • 60,000 points (worth $600) after $4,000 in purchases within the first 90 days. See link for details.
  • 2 points for every $1 spent on travel and dining purchases and 1.5 points for every $1 spent on all other purchases. Eligible for 25%-75% boost with Preferred Rewards status.
  • $100 annual Airline Incidental Statement Credit.
  • Up to $100 credit towards TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fee.
  • $95 annual fee.

Hawaiian Airlines MasterCard

  • 65,000 Hawaiian miles after any purchase (of any amount) within the first 90 days. Any 6-digit code will work, like “000000”. See link for details.
  • Free first checked bag for primary cardmember.
  • One-time 50% off companion discount for roundtrip coach travel between Hawaii and The Mainland on Hawaiian Airlines.
  • $99 annual fee.

Alaska Airlines Visa Card (Bank of America)

  • 75,000 bonus miles + Companion Fare voucher after $3,000 in purchases within first 90 days. See link for details.
  • Companion fare voucher is “Buy one ticket, get one from $122” ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from just $23).
  • Free checked bag on Alaska flights for you and up to six other passengers on the same reservation (worth $60 roundtrip per person).
  • $95 annual fee.

Citi Premier Card

  • 60,000 points (worth $600 in gift cards, or transferrable to miles/points) after $4,000 in purchases in the first 3 months. See link for details.
  • 3X points for every $1 spent on restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, air travel and hotels.
  • Must not have gotten bonus from or closed a Citi Rewards+, ThankYou Preferred, Premier, or Prestige card in the past 24 months.
  • $95 annual fee.

U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card

  • 50,000 bonus points (worth $500 in statement credits) after $2,000 in purchases within 120 days. See link for details.
  • 4X points on travel and gas stations, 2X points on dining and grocery stores.
  • Up to $100 statement credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck.
  • $30 annual streaming bonus.
  • $0 annual fee the first year, $95/year thereafter.

Barclays AAdvantage Aviator Red Mastercard

  • 60,000 American Airlines miles after any purchase and paying the annual fee in full, both within the first 90 days. See link for details.
  • First checked bag free on domestic AA flights ($60 value per roundtrip, per person).
  • $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $99.

JetBlue Plus Card

  • 70,000 bonus TrueBlue points – 70,000 bonus points after $1,000 on purchases and paying the $99 annual fee in full, both within the first 90 days. Any 5-digit code should work, like “00000”. See link for details.
  • First checked bag free for the primary cardmember and up to 3 companions when tickets are purchased with your JetBlue Plus Card.
  • $99 annual fee.

Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Card

  • 50,000 Southwest points after $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. See link for details.
  • Southwest still gives everyone two free checked bags.
  • Timing for Companion Pass. If you can sign up for this one and perhaps also the small business version, and time the points to post in early 2024, you can qualify for a Companion Pass for 2024/2025.
  • $69 annual fee.
  • Subject to 5/24 rule.*

If you pay off your balances every month, then you can join me and many others in funding a huge chunk of your annual travel budget with cash credits, points, and miles. I mostly use my rewards points on family trips – domestic economy flights, mid-range hotels, and cheap car rentals. If you have credit card debt, you should focus on paying that off first as the interest charges could offset most of the perks.

* 5/24 Rule? Certain Chase cards have a “5/24 rule” which is an unofficial rule that they will automatically deny approval on new credit cards if you have 5 or more new credit cards from any issuer on your credit report within the past 24 months (2 years). This rule applies on a per-person basis, so if you are new, you might want to start with those Chase cards.

My Money Blog has partnered with CardRatings and may receive a commission from card issuers. Some or all of the card offers that appear on this site are from advertisers and may impact how and where card products appear on the site. MyMoneyBlog.com does not include all card companies or all available card offers. All opinions expressed are the author’s alone, and has not been provided nor approved by any of the companies mentioned.

MyMoneyBlog.com is also a member of the Amazon Associate Program, and if you click through to Amazon and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission. Thank you for your support.


Hilton Honors American Express Cards: 100,000 Bonus Points with No Annual Fee

My Money Blog has partnered with CardRatings and may receive a commission from card issuers. Some or all of the card offers that appear on this site are from advertisers and may impact how and where card products appear on the site. MyMoneyBlog.com does not include all card companies or all available card offers. All opinions expressed are the author’s alone.

Updated with limited-time offer. Hilton Hotels and American Express have co-branded credit cards with special perks for Hilton customers. Each person can only get one welcome offer, per card in your entire lifetime, so it’s best to apply during a temporary bump-up and/or limited-time offer.

Hilton Honors American Express Card

  • 100,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $2,000 in purchases on the Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 4/17/24.
  • 7X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged on your Card directly with hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio.
  • 5X Points per dollar on purchases at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. supermarkets, and at U.S. gas stations.
  • 3X Points for all other eligible purchases on your Card.
  • Enjoy complimentary Hilton Honors(TM) Silver status with your Card. Plus, spend $20,000 on eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year and you can earn an upgrade to Hilton Honors(TM) Gold status through the end of the next calendar year.
  • No foreign transaction fees.
  • No annual fee. (See Rates and Fees)
  • Terms Apply.

The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card

  • Welcome Offer: Earn 130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors Business Card within the first three months of Card Membership.
  • Earn a Free Night Reward from Hilton Honors after you spend $15,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year.
  • Earn another Free Night Reward from Hilton Honors after you spend an additional $45,000 in purchases on your Card in the same calendar year.
  • Earn Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases on your Card: 12X directly with hotels and resorts in the Hilton portfolio, 6X at U.S. gas stations, on U.S. purchases for shipping, on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers, on flights booked directly with airlines or with Amex Travel, on car rentals booked directly from select car rental companies, and at U.S. restaurants, 3X on all other eligible purchases.
  • Enjoy complimentary Hilton Honors(TM) Gold Status with your Hilton Honors Business Card (free breakfast, room upgrades based on availability, 5th standard reward night free).
  • $95 annual fee. (See Rates and Fees)
  • Terms Apply.

What are Hilton Honor points worth? The best value is from booking free hotel nights or using their “Points & Money” option where you pay with a combination of Hilton points and cash. Hilton has some really nice properties, but the value varies from hotel to hotel. I just ran a search and for the same 60,000 Hilton points, I could book rooms that cost $320 or $532 cash. I’ve seen some valuations around 0.6 cents per point, which I think is fair on average, but I would be more conservative at 0.5 cents a point. That would make 150,000 points = $750 value and 100,000 points = $500 value towards Hilton hotel stays.

The good part of Hilton points is that they have so many different hotel brands, from business-class DoubleTree to luxury Waldorf Astoria. Hilton also lets you transfer and pool points with other with other family or household members. As long as you keep them active (once every 12 months), I do like to keep some around. These credit cards are handy for creating activity.

Free Night Award details. The Free Night Award is valid any night of the week, includes resort fees and taxes, and does not come with a points limit, but there are some excluded hotels that are not bookable. (Often the timeshare/condo side of a resort is not bookable, but the hotel side is still eligible, such as with the Grand Wailea.) Here is selected fine print from the application terms about the Free Night Award:

The Free Night Reward can be redeemed for one standard accommodation, double occupancy, subject to availability at properties in the Hilton portfolio, excluding those listed at HiltonHonors.com/freenightreward. To redeem the Free Night Reward, you must call 1-800-446-6677. The Free Night Reward expire 12 months from date of issuance. […] The Free Night Reward includes all applicable resort fees and taxes on the cost of the room for the redeemed night.

Theoretically, this free night award could be used to book a room night that would otherwise now require 110,000 Hilton points. Indeed, I have redeemed my award for a night at the Grand Wailea in Maui, which was otherwise running $900+ a night. Amazing hotel, and very happy the resort fees were covered as well. However, you may need to book early enough that standard rooms are still available.

Bottom line. Hilton American Express cards offer regular Hilton customers a good opportunity to earn additional points towards free Hilton hotel stays as well as additional perks like status upgrades. The best time to apply for a Hilton co-branded American Express card is during a limited-time increase to their welcome offers. This is because American Express has changed their policy to only allow each person to get a welcome offer once per card.

Also see: Top 10 Best Credit Card Bonus Offers and Top 10 Best Business Card Offers.

Rates and Fees for Hilton Honors American Express Card

Rates and Fees for The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card

My Money Blog has partnered with CardRatings and may receive a commission from card issuers. Some or all of the card offers that appear on this site are from advertisers and may impact how and where card products appear on the site. MyMoneyBlog.com does not include all card companies or all available card offers. All opinions expressed are the author’s alone, and has not been provided nor approved by any of the companies mentioned.

MyMoneyBlog.com is also a member of the Amazon Associate Program, and if you click through to Amazon and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission. Thank you for your support.


Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select Credit Card Review: 75,000 Bonus Miles

My Money Blog has partnered with CardRatings and may receive a commission from card issuers. Some or all of the card offers that appear on this site are from advertisers and may impact how and where card products appear on the site. MyMoneyBlog.com does not include all card companies or all available card offers. All opinions expressed are the author’s alone.

Updated with limited-time offer. The Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard is the co-branded American Airlines card from Citi. Here are the updated card highlights:

  • 75,000 American Airlines miles after $3,500 in purchases within the first 4 months of account opening.
  • First checked bag free on domestic American Airlines itineraries for you and up to 4 travel companions on the same reservation – savings of up to $400 per round trip (they recently increased baggage fees again)
  • 2X AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent at gas stations
  • 2X AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent at restaurants
  • 2X AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases*
  • 1 Loyalty Point for every 1 eligible AAdvantage(R) mile earned from purchases.
  • $125 American Airlines Flight Discount after you spend $20,000 or more in purchases during your cardmembership year and renew your card.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees*
  • Preferred boarding on American Airlines flights
  • Receive 25% savings on inflight food and beverage purchases when you use your card on American Airlines flights
  • $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $99.

Bonus details. Note the following language for the personal card, which has been changed from 24 to 48 months. Having the business version is okay.

American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles are not available if you have received a new account bonus for a Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® account in the past 48 months.

To clarify, you can have one of both the consumer version of this card and the CitiBusiness® version designed for businesses under your name. The bonuses are also separate.

Baggage fee value. American Airlines recently announced they are going to charge a whopping $40 one-way for the first checked bag if you don’t prepay online ($35 if you prepay online). That’s $80 roundtrip for a single checked bag, per person. With this card, your first checked bag is free on domestic American Airlines itineraries for you and up to four companions traveling with you on the same reservation. $80 roundtrip x 5 people = $400 potential benefit.

Bottom line.  The Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum® Select® World® Elite® Mastercard® has® a® nice® bonus® offer®. As with most of these co-branded cards, a lot of the ongoing value comes when you fly on American and utilize the free first checked bag benefit for you and up to 4 companions (value of up to $80 per person, round-trip).

Also see: Top 10 Best Credit Card Bonus Offers.

My Money Blog has partnered with CardRatings and may receive a commission from card issuers. Some or all of the card offers that appear on this site are from advertisers and may impact how and where card products appear on the site. MyMoneyBlog.com does not include all card companies or all available card offers. All opinions expressed are the author’s alone, and has not been provided nor approved by any of the companies mentioned.

MyMoneyBlog.com is also a member of the Amazon Associate Program, and if you click through to Amazon and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission. Thank you for your support.