Archives for March 2026

5% Cash Back Cards: Restaurants, Home Improvement, Amazon – April through June 2026

Posted on March 29, 2026 // 57 Comments

Activation reminder for 2026 2nd Quarter. The credit cards below offer 5% cash back and up on specific categories, some fixed and some that rotate each quarter. It takes a little extra attention to which card you’re using, but it can add up to hundreds of dollars in additional rewards per year without changing your spending habits. I just load them into my Google/Apple Wallet and swipe through them. You can also buy gift cards for other retailers at places like Grocery Stores and Home Improvement stores with 5% back now but spend the gift cards later. New cardmembers may also get an upfront sign-up bonus.

Discover it Card

From April 1st through June 30th, 2026, you can earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 spent in the following categories:

  • Restaurants
  • Home Improvement Stores

Enroll after logging into your online account. 5% rewards won’t apply until after you activate your rewards, so it is best to activate now before you forget. No annual fee.

Discover it $100 bonus + Double Cashback Match details. If you are a new applicant and sign up via Discover Card referral link, you will get a $50 improved $100 Cashback Bonus after your first purchase within 3 months of being account opening. On top of that, you will also get Cashback Match for an entire year – a dollar-for-dollar match of all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year, automatically. During those 12 months, your 5% cash back rewards becomes 10% cash back, and your 1% cash back rewards become 2% cash back. You can verify this on the application by looking under “Terms and Conditions” or searching for “cashback match” and “statement credit offer”:

Refer a Friend: You will receive a $100 statement credit after making a purchase within three months of account opening. If the Referral Program is offered, we reserve the right to alter, change or terminate the Referral Program at any time. A Balance Transfer or Cash Advance does not qualify as a purchase. You must apply online through your friend’s digital referral link and be approved by 11:59pm ET, December 31, 2026 in order to be eligible for the $100 statement credit offer. Phone, mail-in, and other digital applications are not eligible for referral rewards. Offer may not be combined with any other introductory offer. Promotional award will be applied within 1-2 billing periods. Statement credits you receive may be taxable to you. Please contact your tax advisor.

Cashback Match: We’ll match all the cash back you’ve earned on your credit card from the day your new account is approved through your first 12 consecutive billing periods or 365 days, whichever is longer, and add it to your rewards account within two billing periods. You earn cash back only when they’re processed, which may be after the transaction date. We will not match: rewards that are processed after your match period ends; statement credits; or rewards transfers from Discover checking or other deposit accounts. Your account must be open and in good standing to receive your Cashback Match. This offer may not be available in the future and is exclusively for new cardmembers. No purchase minimums.

Chase Freedom Flex Card

From April 1st through June 30th, 2026, you can earn 5% cash back (or 5X Ultimate Rewards points) on up to $1,500 spent in the following categories:

  • Amazon
  • Chase Travel portal
  • donations to Feeding America®

(The categories are also the same for the old Chase Freedom card, which is no longer available to new applicants.)

Enroll each quarter online in your Chase account or at ChaseBonus.com. As long as you activate by the 14th of the last month in each quarter, the rewards are retroactive. Technically, you earn Ultimate Rewards points which may be worth even more when converted to airline miles or hotel points instead of cash if you have a Chase Sapphire Preferred or Chase Sapphire Reserve card. You could also use the Pay Yourself Back tool to additional value. Currently, the Chase Freedom Flex card is offering new applicants a $200 bonus if you sign up and make $500 in purchases in your first three months. No annual fee.

Citi Custom Cash Card

This card offers 5% cash back on your *single* top eligible spending category up to $500 each month (which effectively adds up to $1,500 a quarter). Eligible categories include broad ones like restaurants, gas stations, grocery stores, or select travel, but you only get 5% for the top category that month and 1% on everything else. To simplify things you could, for example, elect to only use this card for 5% cash back on gas all year long (up to $500 per month).

Currently, the Citi Custom Cash card is offering new applicants a $200 bonus after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. You’ll actually get 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back. No annual fee.

Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

  • 6% cash back at US supermarkets all year long (on up to $6,000 per year)
  • 6% cash back at select US streaming subscriptions (includes Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+, Netflix, Sling, Vudu, Fubo TV, Apple Music, SiriusXM, Pandora, Spotify, YouTube TV, and more).
  • $120 Disney Streaming Credit ($10 per month with no minimum or bundle required). You can now earn up to $10 back per month as a statement credit when you use your enrolled Blue Cash Preferred® Card to purchase a subscription, or bundle subscription, on DisneyPlus.com, Hulu.com, or Plus.espn.com U.S. websites, now with no minimum purchase requirement. Subscription is subject to auto-renewal.
  • 3% cash back at US gas stations and transit (taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more).
  • $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.

This card got even better for me with the new $10 a month Disney+ credit that is valid on any plan. I use this card all year long for 6% cash back on groceries up to the limit, get my $120 in Disney+ credit to more than offset the $95 annual fee, and then in December use up the $6k annual limit on gift cards bought in the supermarket aisle. New cardholders are also eligible for a $300 welcome offer after $3,000 in purchases within the first 6 months. See details in link.

U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa Signature Card

You must choose the two 5% cash back categories every quarter, out of a preset selection of specific categories:

  • Fast Food
  • Cell Phone Providers
  • Home Utilities
  • Ground Transportation
  • Select Clothing Stores
  • Electronics Stores
  • Car Rentals
  • Gyms/Fitness Centers
  • Sporting Goods Stores
  • Department Stores
  • Furniture Stores
  • Movie Theaters
  • TV, Internet, and Streaming Services

Unfortunately, you can’t pick a broad category like gas stations, restaurants, or grocery stores. Make sure to choose your categories each and every quarter, even if you want them to stay the same. If you do not choose your categories, all purchases revert to only earning 1% cash back for that quarter. No annual fee. Currently, new applicants are offered a $200 bonus after you spend $1,000 in eligible purchases within the first 120 days of account opening.


Amazon Prime Rewards Card

Earn 5% back at Amazon.com and Whole Foods all year long. Up to 10% cash back on select items during special promos. Prime membership required. New cardholder bonus of $150 instant Amazon gift card (no spending requirement). No annual fee.

Citi Dividend Card. This card has not been available to new applicants for years now, but if you still have the grandfathered card you can view and activate your quarterly 5% category here. Limit of $300 cash back for the calendar year.

Filed Under: Credit Cards, Deals & Offers //

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Review: 200,000 Points Limited-Time Offer

Posted on March 16, 2026 // 11 Comments

New limited-time 200k offer. The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express is the premium co-branded rewards card for Marriott hotels. This card has a hefty annual fee, but a closer look reveals it’s not as bad as it looks initially due to perks like flexible dining credits, airport lounge access, and elite status. Right now, there is a limited-time offer boost that is double the standard bonus. Here are the highlights:

  • 200,000 Marriott Bonvoy(R) bonus points after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 05/13/2026.
  • $300 Brilliant Dining Credit: Each calendar year, get up to $300 (up to $25 per month) in statement credits for eligible purchases made on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant(R) American Express(R) Card at restaurants worldwide.
  • Automatic Marriott Bonvoy(R) Platinum Elite Status.. With Marriott Bonvoy(R) Platinum Elite Status, you can receive room upgrades, including enhanced views or suites, when the stay is booked with a Qualifying Rate at hotels that participate in Marriott Bonvoy, subject to availability upon check-in.
  • Priority Pass(TM) Select airport lounge membership, with an unlimited number of visits to over 1,200 airport lounges in over 130 countries, regardless of which carrier or class you are flying. This allows you to relax before or between flights. You can enjoy snacks, drinks and internet access in a quiet, comfortable location. Enrollment required.
  • 6X Marriott Bonvoy(R) points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy.
  • 3X points at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines.
  • 2X points on all other eligible purchases.
  • Up to 21X Marriott Bonvoy(R) points for every $1 spent on eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy. Earn 6X points with the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant(R) American Express(R) Card. Earn up to 10X points from Marriott Bonvoy for being a Marriott Bonvoy member. Earn up to 5X points from Marriott Bonvoy with the 50% Bonus Points on Stays, a benefit available with your complimentary Platinum Elite status.
  • $100 Marriott Bonvoy(R) Property Credit: Receive up to a $100 property credit for qualifying charges at The Ritz-Carlton(R) or St. Regis(R) when you book direct using a special rate for a two-night minimum stay using your Card.
  • Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®. Receive either a statement credit every 4 years after you apply for Global Entry ($120) or a statement credit every 4.5 years after you apply for a five-year membership for TSA PreCheck® (up to $85 through a TSA PreCheck official enrollment provider) and pay the application fee with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
  • 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card renewal month. Award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy(R) points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy(R), such as Le Metropolitan, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel in Paris. Certain hotels have resort fees.
  • Each calendar year after spending $60,000 on eligible purchases on your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant(R) American Express(R) Card, you will be eligible to select a Brilliant Earned Choice Award benefit. You can only earn one Brilliant Earned Choice Award per calendar year. See https://www.choice-benefit.marriott.com/brilliant for Award options.
  • With Cell Phone Protection*, you can be reimbursed, the lesser of, your repair or replacement costs following damage, such as a cracked screen, or theft for a maximum of $800 per claim when your cell phone line is listed on a wireless bill and the prior month’s wireless bill was paid by an Eligible Card Account. A $50 deductible will apply to each approved claim with a limit of 2 approved claims per 12-month period. Additional terms and conditions apply. *Coverage is provided by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
  • 25 Elite Night Credits each calendar year.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • $650 Annual Fee.

Keep in mind the following:

You may not be eligible to receive a welcome offer if you have or have had this Card or the Starwood Preferred Guest® American Express Luxury Card or previous versions of these Cards. You also may not be eligible to receive a welcome offer based on various factors, such as your history with credit card balance transfers, your history as an American Express Card Member, the number of credit cards that you have opened and closed and other factors. If you are not eligible for a welcome offer, we will notify you prior to processing your application so you have the option to withdraw your application.

Welcome offer not available to applicants who (i) have or have had The Ritz-Carlton® Credit Card from JPMorgan or the J.P. Morgan Ritz-Carlton Rewards® Credit Card in the last 30 days, (ii) have acquired the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card from Chase, or the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card from Chase in the last 90 days, or (iii) received a new Card Member bonus or upgrade offer for the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card from Chase, or the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card from Chase in the last 24 months.

This is why you should be looking to get the best possible bonus when you do apply.

$300 Dining Statement Credit. As long as you make $25 in restaurant purchases on this card each month, they $300 in annual dining statement credits should be easily obtainable. This knocks down the scary $650 annual fee down to effectively $350 net. My first read of this perk was that you had to spend it at a Marriott hotel restaurant, but in fact you can make the purchase at any restaurant worldwide.

You can receive up to $300 in statement credits issued to your Card Account for eligible purchases charged to your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card at restaurants worldwide. Purchases by both the Basic Card Member and Additional Card Members on an eligible Card Account are eligible for statement credits. Each Card Account is eligible for up to $25 in statement credits per month, for a total of up to $300 per calendar year in statement credits across all Cards on the Account.

Priority Pass Select. Includes access at over 1,200 airport lounges for the cardholder plus two guests free. Enrollment required. I’m not sure how I’d value this perk, but I’ve definitely enjoyed it in the past.

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card Members must enroll in the Priority Pass Select program through the benefits section of their americanexpress.com account or by calling the number on the back of their Card to receive the benefit. Priority Pass is an independent airport lounge access program. At any visit to a Priority Pass Select lounge that admits guests, you may bring in two guests for no charge.

What is a reasonable estimate for the value of a Marriott Bonvoy point? Since 2022, Marriott no longer has a fixed hotel category chart for booking points. You can still use these points at either long-time Marriott brands (Ritz-Carlton, Renaissance Hotels, Courtyard, Residence Inn, Springhill Suites, Fairfield Inn & Suites) or former Starwood brands (Westin, Sheraton, The Luxury Collection, Four Points by Sheraton, W Hotels, St. Regis, Le Méridien, Aloft), but now it is “dynamic” awards where the points required are more linked to the actual cash cost than before.

Based on multiple real-world searches of redeemable properties, I choose to use a conservative estimate of 0.70 cents per Bonvoy point. Other estimates that I’ve seen are 0.8 cents per point. That means 200,000 Bonvoy points = estimated $1,400 redeemable value. Remember to compare the full price of the hotel price with all taxes, as that is what you would have to pay instead of just points. With the flexibility of points, you could book a week stay at a modest hotel or a couple nights at a luxury resort.

You can use the Marriott free night search tool to price out some sample hotels for yourself.

Free Night Award (85K) with Card Renewal. At your card anniversary (when you pay the annual fee), you will receive a Free Night Award that is good for one night (redemption level at or under 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy points) at a participating hotel. This is a much better perk than the other 35K and 50K free night awards out there. It’s definitely not hard to get $350 of value out of this award. Here are some sample hotels that I have tried to book in the past that came in at or under 85,000 points for selected dates:

  • The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Hawaii
  • JW Marriott Maldives Resort & Spa
  • Prince de Galles, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Paris
  • The St. Regis Deer Valley
  • The Ritz-Carlton Georgetown, Washington, DC
  • The Ritz-Carlton Bachelor Gulch, Colorado.
  • The Ritz-Carlton, Koh Samui (Thailand)
  • The Mauna Kea Beach Hotel (Big Island, Hawaii)
  • The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort
  • Wailea Beach Resort – Marriott, Maui

NEW: Certificates can be combined with up to 25,000 points for nicer hotels. Marriott now allows you to supplement your free night certificates with up to 25,000 points of your own. In other words, if your certificate is worth 85,000 points, the maximum hotel value you can redeem for is 110,000 points after adding 25,000 points of your own. Here are details on the Free Night Award Top Off option.

Bonvoy Points can also be transferred to airline miles with a bonus. You can convert your Bonvoy points to miles at 39 participating airlines. The standard ratio with most programs is 3:1 (60,000 Bonvoy: 20,000 airlines) miles. Most programs will add on a bonus 5,000 miles for every 60,000 points you transfer to frequent flyer miles (does not apply to American Airlines AAdvantage, Avianca LifeMiles, Delta SkyMiles and Korean Air SKYPASS.) If you’re a United MileagePlus® member, you’ll get 10,000 bonus miles for every 60,000 points you transfer. More information here.

Finally, Marriott points are also convertible to gift cards, but it takes 60,000 points to redeem for a $200 gift card for Marriott or retailers like Best Buy, Home Depot, or Nordstrom. That ratio isn’t all that great, so you’ll definitely get the most value via hotel night redemptions or airline miles transfer.

Bottom line. The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express has a long list of perks, including a flexible dining credit on restaurant purchases, airport lounge access, and a valuable free night award each card anniversary. During this limited-time offer, the net first-year value is over $1,000. I would value the points at $1,400 plus the $300 in annual dining credit, minus the $650 annual fee. As with all hotel cards, the value will only be there if you can use the points.

Also see: Top 10 Best Credit Card Bonus Offers.

Filed Under: Credit Cards, Deals & Offers //

Marriott Bonvoy Bevy American Express Review: 175,000 Points Limited-Time Offer

Posted on March 16, 2026 // 1 Comment

New limited-time 175k offer. The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy American Express is the mid-tier co-branded rewards card for Marriott hotels. Right now, there is a limited-time offer boost, making it worth a look. Here are the highlights:

  • 175,000 Marriott Bonvoy(R) bonus points after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 05/13/2026.
  • Free Night Award (50k). Earn 1 Free Night Award after spending $15,000 on eligible purchases on your Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card in a calendar year. Award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points) at a participating hotel. You can top-up the Free Night Award with up to 25,000 of your own points, getting you up to a 75,000 points award night.
  • 1,000 Bonus Points Per Stay. Earn 1,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points per paid eligible stay booked directly with Marriott for properties participating in Marriott Bonvoy.
  • Automatic Marriott Bonvoy(R) Gold Elite Status.
  • 6X Bonvoy points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy.
  • 4X Bonvoy points at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and U.S. Supermarkets (on up to $15,000 in combined purchases at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets per calendar year, then 2X points).
  • 2X points on all other eligible purchases.
  • 15 Elite Night Credits each calendar year.
  • $250 Annual Fee.

Keep in mind the following:

You may not be eligible to receive a welcome offer if you have or have had this Card, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card or previous versions of these Cards. You also may not be eligible to receive a welcome offer based on various factors, such as your history with credit card balance transfers, your history as an American Express Card Member, the number of credit cards that you have opened and closed and other factors. If you are not eligible for a welcome offer, we will notify you prior to processing your application so you have the option to withdraw your application.

Welcome offer not available to applicants who (i) have or have had The Ritz-Carlton® Credit Card from J.P. Morgan, the J.P. Morgan Ritz-Carlton Rewards® Credit Card, the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Rewards® Premier Plus Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Bonvoy® Premier Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Rewards® Premier Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Bonvoy® Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Rewards® Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Bonvoy® Premier Plus Business Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Rewards® Premier Plus Business Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Bonvoy Business® Credit Card from Chase, or the Marriott Rewards Business® Credit Card from Chase in the last 30 days, (ii) have acquired the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card from Chase in the last 90 days, or (iii) received a new Card Member bonus or upgrade offer for the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card from Chase, or the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card from Chase in the last 24 months.

This is why you should be looking to get the best possible bonus when you do apply.

What is a reasonable estimate for the value of a Marriott Bonvoy point? Since 2022, Marriott no longer has a fixed hotel category chart for booking points. You can still use these points at either long-time Marriott brands (Ritz-Carlton, Renaissance Hotels, Courtyard, Residence Inn, Springhill Suites, Fairfield Inn & Suites) or former Starwood brands (Westin, Sheraton, The Luxury Collection, Four Points by Sheraton, W Hotels, St. Regis, Le Méridien, Aloft), but now it is “dynamic” awards where the points required are more linked to the actual cash cost than before.

Based on multiple real-world searches of redeemable properties, I choose to use a conservative estimate of 0.70 cents per Bonvoy point. Other estimates that I’ve seen are 0.8 cents per point. That means 175,000 Bonvoy points = estimated $1,200 redeemable value. Remember to compare the full price of the hotel price with all taxes, as that is what you would have to pay instead of just points. With the flexibility of points, you could book a week stay at a modest hotel or a couple nights at a luxury resort.

You can use the Marriott free night search tool to price out some sample hotels for yourself.

NEW: Certificates can be combined with up to 25,000 points for nicer hotels. Marriott now allows you to supplement your free night certificates with up to 25,000 points of your own. In other words, if your certificate is worth 50,000 points, the maximum hotel value you can redeem for is 75,000 points after adding 25,000 points of your own. Here are details on the Free Night Award Top Off option.

Bonvoy Points can also be transferred to airline miles with a bonus. You can convert your Bonvoy points to miles at 39 participating airlines. The standard ratio with most programs is 3:1 (60,000 Bonvoy: 20,000 airlines) miles. Most programs will add on a bonus 5,000 miles for every 60,000 points you transfer to frequent flyer miles (does not apply to American Airlines AAdvantage, Avianca LifeMiles, Delta SkyMiles and Korean Air SKYPASS.) If you’re a United MileagePlus® member, you’ll get 10,000 bonus miles for every 60,000 points you transfer. More information here.

Finally, Marriott points are also convertible to gift cards, but it takes 60,000 points to redeem for a $200 gift card for Marriott or retailers like Best Buy, Home Depot, or Nordstrom. That ratio isn’t all that great, so you’ll definitely get the most value via hotel night redemptions or airline miles transfer.

Bottom line. The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy American Express is having a limited-time offers, such that the first-year value is over $900, assuming that you are looking to redeem Bonvoy points at a Marriott hotel.

Also see: Top 10 Best Credit Card Bonus Offers.

Filed Under: Credit Cards, Deals & Offers //

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Card Review: 4 Free Night Awards + $100 in Airline Credits

Posted on March 16, 2026 // 17 Comments

The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless credit card is one of the co-branded rewards card for Marriott hotels (which includes The Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis, JW Marriott, W Hotels, Sheraton, Westin, Marriott, Renaissance, Courtyard, Residence Inn, and Fairfield brands). Right now, there is a special offer that is higher than the standard offer. Here are the highlights:

  • Earn 3 Free Night Awards (each night valued up to 50,000 points) after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening. Earn 1 additional Free Night Award after spending $4,000 total on eligible purchases within 4 months of account opening. You are also now allowed to top off the award nights with up to 25,000 of your own points, in order to reach a 75,000 point award night. Certain hotels have resort fees.
  • 2026 Exclusive Offer: Get up to $100 in statement credits after spending $500 on eligible airline purchases. The credit are split up semi-annually. Spend $250 between Jan. 1 and June 30 to earn a $50 statement credit. Earn another $50 statement credit after spending $250 or more between July 1 and Dec. 31.
  • Earn 3X points per $1 on the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases each year on grocery stores, gas stations, and dining.
  • 1 Free Night Award (valued up to 35,000 points) every year after account anniversary.
  • 1 Elite Night Credit towards Elite Status for every $5,000 you spend.
  • Earn up to 17X total points per $1 spent at over 7,000 hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy(R) with the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless(R) Card.
  • 2X points for every $1 spent on all other purchases.
  • Automatic Silver Elite Status each account anniversary year. Gold Status when you spend $35,000 on purchases each account year.
  • 15 Elite Night Credits each calendar year.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • $95 annual fee.

Keep in mind the following:

This credit card is not available to you if (1) you currently have any of the following cards or (2) you received a new cardmember bonus for any of the following cards within the last 24 months: Marriott Bonvoy® Premier credit card, Marriott Rewards® Premier credit card, Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® credit card, Marriott Rewards® Premier Plus credit card, Marriott Bonvoy Bold® credit card.

The new cardmember bonus is not available to you if (1) you currently have or had any of the following cards within the last 30 days: Marriott Bonvoy® American Express® Card, The Starwood Preferred Guest® Credit Card from American Express; or if (2) you applied and were approved for any of the following cards within the last 90 days or (3) received a new cardmember bonus or upgrade bonus for any of the following cards within the last 24 months: Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card, Starwood Preferred Guest® Business Credit Card from American Express, Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, Starwood Preferred Guest® American Express Luxury Card, Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card.

What is a reasonable estimate for the value of a Marriott Bonvoy point? Since 2022, Marriott no longer has a fixed hotel category chart for booking points. You can still use these points at either long-time Marriott brands (Ritz-Carlton, Renaissance Hotels, Courtyard, Residence Inn, Springhill Suites, Fairfield Inn & Suites) or former Starwood brands (Westin, Sheraton, The Luxury Collection, Four Points by Sheraton, W Hotels, St. Regis, Le Méridien, Aloft), but now it is “dynamic” awards where the points required are more linked to the actual cash cost than before.

Based on multiple real-world searches of redeemable properties, I choose to use a conservative estimate of 0.70 cents per Bonvoy point. Other estimates that I’ve seen are 0.8 cents per point. That means 50,000 Bonvoy points = estimated $350 redeemable value. Remember to compare the full price of the hotel price with all taxes, as that is what you would have to pay instead of just points. With the flexibility of points, you could book a week stay at a modest hotel or a couple nights at a luxury resort.

You can use the Marriott free night search tool to price out some sample hotels for yourself.

NEW: Certificates can be combined with up to 25,000 points for nicer hotels. Marriott now allows you to supplement your free night certificates with up to 25,000 points of your own. In other words, if your certificate is worth 50,000 points, the maximum hotel value you can redeem for is 75,000 points after adding 25,000 points of your own. Here are details on the Free Night Award Top Off option.

Bonvoy Points can also be transferred to airline miles with a bonus. You can convert your Bonvoy points to miles at 39 participating airlines. The standard ratio with most programs is 3:1 (60,000 Bonvoy: 20,000 airlines) miles. Most programs will add on a bonus 5,000 miles for every 60,000 points you transfer to frequent flyer miles (does not apply to American Airlines AAdvantage, Avianca LifeMiles, Delta SkyMiles and Korean Air SKYPASS.) If you’re a United MileagePlus® member, you’ll get 10,000 bonus miles for every 60,000 points you transfer. More information here.

Finally, Marriott points are also convertible to gift cards, but it takes 60,000 points to redeem for a $200 gift card for Marriott or retailers like Best Buy, Home Depot, or Nordstrom. That ratio isn’t all that great, so you’ll definitely get the most value via hotel night redemptions or airline miles transfer.

No annual fee alternative. The Marriott Bonvoy Bold card is also offers bonus points and some (lesser) perks, but with no annual fee.

Bottom line. The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless credit card is currently offering a special offer for new cardholders. As with all hotel cards, the value is dependent on your unique travel preferences. If you stay at Marriott/Starwood properties regularly, the free night award every year should easily cover the annual fee.

Also see: Top 10 Best Credit Card Bonus Offers.

Filed Under: Credit Cards, Deals & Offers //

Moomoo Investing App Promo: Up to $1,000 of NVDA Cash Deposit Bonus, or 3% ACAT Transfer Bonus + 8.1% APY for 2 Months

Posted on March 12, 2026 // 77 Comments

Updated offers March 2026. Brokerage app Moomoo is offering a couple of new promotions for new customers (or existing ones that haven’t funded their accounts yet), one for cash deposits and one for ACAT transfers.

Cash deposit bonus. New customers can get $1,000 of NVDA stock + 8.1% APY for 2 months via referral link if they make a net deposit of $100,000+ by 8/31/26. The minimum hold period is 180 days for the $1,000 tier. The extra 4.75% APY is only valid for 2 months on the first $20,000 of cash sweep deposits. Full terms here. There are also lower tiers:

To be clear, this is for cash deposits, not ACAT transfers. You can invest the cash into stocks and options, but you can’t withdraw during the hold period. Earning $1,000 on $100,000 for a 180 day hold works out to 2% annualized, which is not nearly as good as in the previous version of this offer where it was a 60-day hold and thus 6% annualized.

ACAT transfer bonus.If you have existing investments of ETFs or stocks, new customers can get a 3% transfer bonus + 8.1% APY for 2 months. Maximum bonus is $600 on $20,000 transferred. The 3% bonus is paid out in quarterly installments and fully paid after a year. You must transfer “stocks, certain options, ETFs, and cash to MFI using an ACAT transfer from your existing brokerage account.” For the 8.1% APY, the extra 4.75% APY is only valid for 2 months on the first $20,000 of cash sweep deposits. Full terms here.

A 3% transfer bonus with a year minimum hold is pretty good, too bad it is only for new customers and the cap is at $20k transferred. Here the details of the 3% bonus:

A 3% match of the first transfer amount. The match amount is limited to the first $1-$20,000 transferred in. The match will be given as a “Cash Coupon” and credited in four equal quarterly installments. The first installment will be unlocked on Day 90 following the settlement date of the Qualified Transfer-In; the second on Day 180; the third on Day 270; and the fourth on Day 360. Each installment equals 25% of the Cash Coupon; the total Cash Coupon equals 3% of the Transfer Amount.

What Moomoo calls a “Cash Coupon” is not a direct cash credit to your account; it works like a coupon that rebates a future stock trade. You may have to activate it and then make a trade to claim it. In the past, I have chosen to just buy (and then sell) enough SGOV (again, a conservative T-Bill ETF) to trigger it in a simple manner if you don’t have other stock trades you plan to make. For example, you might need to buy a single $101 share of SGOV to trigger a $100 cash reward into your account. It was a bit of a hassle, but I’ve always managed to convert all my Moomoo “Cash Rewards” or “Cash Coupons” converted to actual cash.

Filed Under: Deals & Offers, Investing //

Wells Fargo $400 Checking Bonus

Posted on March 9, 2026 // 7 Comments

I’ve been opening new bank accounts for bonuses for over 20 years now, and the bonuses have only gotten bigger over time. People still hate switching bank accounts (a big fraction are on the very first checking account they ever opened), which means that banks have to offer big bounties to convince them to switch.

You may be surprised that the well-known banks often offer some of the biggest bonuses, but those are also the banks that pay 0% interest on their deposits, while the bank goes off and earns at least 4% (more as they are lending it out too). If you leave $5,000 in a checking account, that’s at least $200 a year the bank is earning on you, and that can go on for decades.

Right now, Wells Fargo will give you a $400 bonus when you open a new Everyday Checking account and make $1,000 or more in qualifying direct deposits within 90 days of account opening. Offer marked to end 4/7/2026.

The Wells Fargo Everyday Checking account monthly service fee is $15, but it is waived with one of the following each fee period:

  • $1,500 minimum daily balance.
  • $5,000 or more in qualifying deposit balances, investment balances, or both.
  • $500 or more in total qualifying electronic deposits.
  • A primary account owner who is 17 to 24 years old (they want this to be your first checking account!)
  • A qualifying monthly non-civilian military direct deposit with the Wells Fargo Worldwide Military Banking program.

In the past, Wells Fargo has not done a “hard credit check” upon a new account opening, while also being very flexible with what qualifies as a direct deposit.

Filed Under: Banking, Deals & Offers //

Best Interest Rates Survey: Bank Accounts, Treasury Bills, Money Markets, ETFs – March 2026

Posted on March 8, 2026 // 2 Comments

Here’s my monthly survey of the best interest rates on cash as of March 2026, roughly sorted from shortest to longest maturities. Banks and brokerages love taking advantage of idle cash, and you can often earn more interest while keeping the same level of safety by moving to another FDIC-insured bank or NCUA-insured credit union. Check out my *fixed!* Ultimate Rate-Chaser Calculator to see how much extra interest you could earn from switching. Rates listed are available to everyone nationwide. Rates checked as of 3/8/26.

TL;DR: Savings account interest rates dropped slightly on average overall. You can still get 4.6% if you accept certain hoops/restrictions, but most are under 4% now. Short-term T-Bill rates were flat at ~3.6%. Top 5-year CD rates are ~4% APY, while 5-year Treasury rate is ~3.7%.

High-yield savings accounts*
Since the huge megabanks still pay essentially zero interest, everyone should at least have a separate, no-fee online savings account to piggy-back onto your existing checking account. The interest rates on savings accounts can drop at any time, so I list the top rates as well as competitive rates from banks with a history of competitive rates and solid user experience. Some banks will bait you with a temporary top rate and then lower the rates in the hopes that you are too lazy to leave.

  • The top saving rate at the moment: Pibank at 4.60% APY (no min), but they have some weird restrictions; like you can only use wire/Plaid to deposit and wire transfers to withdraw funds?! CineFi (no min) dropped a bit to 4.25% APY, a division of First Entertainment Credit Union. OnPath FCU also dropped to 4.25% APY with $25,000 minimum balance. CIT Platinum Savings held at 3.75% APY with $5,000+ balance. There are many banks in between.
  • SoFi Bank is at 3.30% APY (new customers can get up to 4.00% APY for 6 months + $325 bonus with qualifying direct deposit. You must maintain a direct deposit of any amount (even $1) each month for the higher ongoing APY. SoFi has historically competitive rates and full banking features.
  • Here is a limited survey of high-yield savings accounts. They aren’t the top rates, but a group that have historically kept it relatively competitive such that I like to track their history. This month they start at 3.30% APY on up.

Short-term guaranteed rates (1 year and under)
A common question is what to do with a big pile of cash that you’re waiting to deploy shortly (plan to buy a house soon, just sold your house, just sold your business, legal settlement, inheritance). My usual advice is to keep things simple and take your time. If not a savings account, then put it in a flexible short-term CD under the FDIC limits until you have a plan.

  • No Penalty CDs offer a fixed interest rate that can never go down, but you can still take out your money (once) without any fees if you want to use it elsewhere. Marcus has a 13-month No Penalty CD at 3.95% APY ($500 minimum deposit). Farmer’s Insurance FCU has a 9-month No Penalty CD at 4.00% APY ($1,000 minimum deposit). USALLIANCE Financial CU has a 11-month No Penalty CD at 3.90% APY ($500 minimum deposit). CIT Bank has a 11-month No Penalty CD at 3.75% APY ($1,000 minimum deposit).
  • USALLIANCE Financial CU has a 12-month CD at 4.05% APY ($500 minimum deposit). Early withdrawal penalty is 180 days of interest.
  • Farmer’s Insurance FCU has a 12-month CD at 4.00% APY with new money required. $1,000 minimum to open. Early withdrawal penalty is 90 days of interest.

Money market mutual funds
Many brokerage firms that pay out very little interest on their default cash sweep funds (and keep the difference for themselves). Note: Money market mutual funds are highly-regulated, but ultimately not FDIC-insured, so I would still stick with highly reputable firms.

  • Vanguard Federal Money Market Fund (VMFXX) is the default sweep option for Vanguard brokerage accounts, which has a 7-day SEC yield of 3.59% (changes daily, but also works out to a compound yield of 3.65%, which is better for comparing against APY). Odds are this is much higher than your own broker’s default cash sweep interest rate.
  • Vanguard Treasury Money Market Fund (VUSXX) is an alternative money market fund which you must manually purchase, but the interest will be mostly (100% for 2025 tax year) exempt from state and local income taxes because it comes from qualifying US government obligations. Current 7-day SEC yield of 3.62% (compound yield of 3.68%).

Treasury Bills and Ultra-short Treasury ETFs
Another option is to buy individual Treasury bills which come in a variety of maturities from 4-weeks to 52-weeks and are fully backed by the US government. You can also invest in ETFs that hold a rotating basket of short-term Treasury Bills for you, while charging a small management fee for doing so. T-bill interest is exempt from state and local income taxes, which can make a significant difference in your effective yield.

  • You can build your own T-Bill ladder at TreasuryDirect.gov or via a brokerage account with a bond desk like Vanguard and Fidelity. Here are the current Treasury Bill rates. As of 3/6/26, a new 4-week T-Bill had the equivalent of 3.70% annualized interest and a 52-week T-Bill had the equivalent of 3.54% annualized interest.
  • The iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF (SGOV) has a 3.54% 30-day SEC yield (0.09% expense ratio) and effective duration of 0.10 years. The Vanguard 0-3 Month Treasury Bill ETF (VBIL) has a 3.54% 30-day SEC yield (0.06% expense ratio) and effective duration of 0.10 years.

US Savings Bonds
Series I Savings Bonds offer rates that are linked to inflation and backed by the US government. You must hold them for at least a year. If you redeem them within 5 years there is a penalty of the last 3 months of interest. The annual purchase limit for electronic I bonds is $10,000 per Social Security Number, available online at TreasuryDirect.gov.

  • “I Bonds” bought between November 2025 and April 2026 will earn a 4.03% rate for the first six months. The rate of the subsequent 6-month period will be based on inflation again. More on Savings Bonds here.
  • In mid-April 2026, the CPI will be announced and you will have a short period where you will have a very close estimate of the rate for the next 12 months. I will post another update at that time.

Rewards checking accounts
These unique checking accounts pay above-average interest rates, but with unique risks. You have to jump through certain hoops which usually involve 10+ debit card purchases each cycle, a certain number of ACH/direct deposits, and/or a certain number of logins per month. If you make a mistake (or they judge that you did) you risk earning zero interest for that month. Some folks don’t mind the extra work and attention required, while others would rather not bother. Rates can also drop suddenly, leaving a “bait-and-switch” feeling.

  • La Capitol Federal Credit Union pays 6.50% APY on up to $10,000 if you make 15 debit card purchases of at least $5 each per statement cycle. Anyone can join this credit union via partner organization, Louisiana Association for Personal Financial Achievement ($20).
  • OnPath Federal Credit Union (my review) pays 6.00% APY on up to $10,000 if you make 15 debit card purchases, opt into online statements, and login to online or mobile banking once per statement cycle. Anyone can join this credit union via $5 membership fee to join partner organization. You can also get a $150 Visa Reward card when you open a new account and make qualifying transactions.
  • Genisys Credit Union pays 6.75% APY on up to $7,500 if you make 10 debit card purchases of $5+ each per statement cycle, and opt into online statements. Anyone can join this credit union via $5 membership fee to join partner organization.
  • Oklahoma Central Credit Union pays 6.00% APY on up to $10,000 if you make 15 debit card purchases (non-ATM) per statement cycle. Anyone can join this credit union if they are “affiliated with another credit union”.
  • First Southern Bank pays 5.50% APY on up to $25,000 if you make at least 15 debit card purchases, 1 ACH credit or payment transaction, and enroll in online statements.
  • Credit Union of New Jersey pays 6.00% APY on up to $25,000 if you make 12 debit card purchases, opt into online statements, and make at least 1 direct deposit, online bill payment, or automatic payment (ACH) per statement cycle. Anyone can join this credit union via $5 membership fee to join partner organization.
  • Andrews Federal Credit Union pays 5.25% APY (decreased) on up to $25,000 if you make 15 debit card purchases, opt into online statements, and make at least 1 direct deposit or ACH transaction per statement cycle. Anyone can join this credit union via partner organization.
  • Capitol Credit Union pays 6.00% APY on up to $15,000 if you make 12 debit card purchases, opt into online statements, and make at least 1 direct deposit or ACH transaction per statement cycle. Anyone can join this credit union via partner organization ($5 to Wild Basin Wilderness).
  • Find a locally-restricted rewards checking account at DepositAccounts.

Certificates of deposit (greater than 1 year)
CDs offer higher rates, but come with an early withdrawal penalty. By finding a bank CD with a reasonable early withdrawal penalty, you can enjoy higher rates but maintain access in a true emergency. Alternatively, consider building a CD ladder of different maturity lengths (ex. 1/2/3/4/5-years) such that you have access to part of the ladder each year, but your blended interest rate is higher than a savings account. When one CD matures, use that money to buy another 5-year CD to keep the ladder going. Some CDs also offer “add-ons” where you can deposit more funds if rates drop.

  • United Fidelity Bank has a 5-year certificate at 4.15% APY ($1,000 minimum), 4-year at 4.10% APY, 3-year at 4.10% APY, 2-year at 4.10% APY, and 1.5-year at 4.05% APY. Early withdrawal penalties are not disclosed clearly online.
  • Advancial Federal Credit Union has has a 5-year certificates at 3.97%/4.07%/4.18% APY APY based on either a $1,000/$25,000/$50,000 opening balance. Early withdrawal penalty for the 5-year is 365 days of interest. Anyone nationwide should be able to join via membership with partner organization US Dog Agility Association, but I would call to verify first.
  • Mountain America Credit Union (MACU) has a 5-year certificate at 4.00% APY ($500 minimum), 4-year at 4.00% APY, 3-year at 4.05% APY, 2-year at 4.20% APY, and 1-year at 3.80% APY. Early withdrawal penalty for the 4-year and 5-year is 365 days of interest. Anyone can join this credit union via partner organization American Consumer Council (use promo code “consumer” when joining).
  • You can buy certificates of deposit via the bond desks of Vanguard and Fidelity. You may need an account to see the rates. These “brokered CDs” offer FDIC insurance and easy laddering, but they don’t come with predictable early withdrawal penalties. Right now, I see a 5-year non-callable brokered CD at 3.90% APY (callable: no, call protection: yes). Be warned that both Vanguard and Fidelity will list higher rates from callable CDs, which importantly means they can (and will!) call back your CD if rates drop significantly later.

Longer-term Instruments
I’d use these with caution due to increased interest rate risk (tbh, I don’t use them at all), but I still track them to see the rest of the current yield curve.

  • Willing to lock up your money for 10 years? You can buy long-term certificates of deposit via the bond desks of Vanguard and Fidelity. These “brokered CDs” offer FDIC insurance, but they don’t come with predictable early withdrawal penalties. You might find something that pays more than your other brokerage cash and Treasury options. Right now, I see a 10-year CDs at 4.05% APY (non-callable) vs. 4.12% for a 10-year Treasury. Watch out for higher rates from callable CDs where they can call your CD back if interest rates drop.

All rates were checked as of 3/8/26.

* I no longer recommend fintech companies due to the possibility of significant loss due to poor recordkeeping and the lack of government protection in such scenarios. The point of cash is absolute safety of principal.

Photo by Giorgio Trovato on Unsplash

Filed Under: Banking, Deals & Offers, Investing // Tagged:

Berkshire Hathaway 2025 Annual Shareholder Letter by Greg Abel

Posted on March 5, 2026 // 2 Comments

Berkshire Hathaway (BRK) recently released its 2025 Letter to Shareholders (also see full 2025 Annual Report). Usually, this is when I read Warren Buffett’s teachings and share my personal takeaways (2024, 2023, 2022, etc). Sadly, the time has come when the new CEO, Greg Abel, must take over this duty.

In the letter, Abel does a nice job of listing all the often-unique strengths of Berkshire Hathaway and Warren Buffett. Longtime shareholders will be familiar with these attributes, but I suppose it’s good that he repeats them himself.

  • Corporate culture built around honesty, transparency, and straightforward communication with shareholders.
  • Decentralized structure where subsidiary CEOs operate autonomously with minimal headquarters oversight.
  • Strong culture of trust: managers are expected to run their businesses independently and ethically.
  • Long-term ownership mindset focused on decades, not quarters.
  • Preference for owning high-quality businesses with durable competitive advantages.
  • Disciplined capital allocation, including a willingness to hold large cash reserves until attractive opportunities appear.
  • Insurance operations provide “float,” which acts as low-cost capital for investments.
  • Limited use of leverage and avoidance of excessive financial risk.
  • Preference for permanent ownership rather than buying businesses to sell later.

As noticed by @TCII_Blog, Buffett is explicitly listed as someone that will be consulted on any share buybacks in the full annual report:

Berkshire’s common stock repurchase program permits Berkshire to repurchase its Class A and Class B shares at prices below Berkshire’s intrinsic value, as conservatively determined by Berkshire’s Chief Executive Officer after consultation with the Chairman of the Board. We are not committed to a minimum or subject to a maximum repurchase amount. We will not repurchase our stock if it reduces our consolidated cash, cash equivalents and U.S. Treasury Bills holdings to below $30 billion. Financial strength and redundant liquidity will always be of paramount importance at Berkshire. There were no share repurchases in 2025.

No buybacks in 2025, but on 3/5/26, Greg Abel announced that they have started buying back shares again (WSJ gift article). We can only assume that means both he and Buffett agree that BRKB very recently traded below their “estimate of intrinsic value, conservatively determined.”

In addition, Abel also announced that he will be using his entire after-tax annual salary as CEO (currently ~$15 million after-tax/$25 million gross) to purchase Berkshire Hathaway shares. In other words, he will have “skin in the game”.

Abel, who succeeded Buffett as CEO in January, also said in a regulatory filing that he personally bought about $15 million in Berkshire shares and plans to purchase more annually.

“I’m committed to doing this every year,” Abel said during an interview televised on CNBC. “My entire salary, as long as I’m CEO. We’ll file our 10-K, I’ll write the letter, and after the 48-hour cooling-off period, I’ll purchase.”

I’m not a billionaire like Abel, but starting with a $50 bonus from the now-gone ShareBuilder brokerage site in the early 2000s, I’ve built up a nice little position in Berkshire Hathaway. Whenever there is a new brokerage bonus, I prefer to buy BRKB shares because the long-term return will likely at least match the S&P 500, and it never distributes dividends. This means no 1099-DIV forms to deal with at the end of the year, ha. I also never sell the shares, only move them around for ACAT transfer bonuses or they get merged into other brokers, so no 1099-B. This all adds up when you open as many new brokerage accounts as I do…

As a 20+ year shareholder now, I feel that Abel has been saying and doing all the right things so far. Charlie Munger famously said “Greg will keep the culture!”, and so I wish him the best and am holding all my shares for now. In fact, I think it’s quite possible that Berkshire will perform even better price-wise in the next decade as Abel takes a more active role in areas that he likes. Buffett had his strengths and preferences, and Abel has his own.

However, nobody knows what will actually happen, and people can change over time. Look at how many billionaires out there have been corrupted by power and money. I’ll miss the Buffett wisdom, but I’ll still be watching (and hopefully learning) from Berkshire’s activities since I have my own “skin in the game”.

Filed Under: Inspirational, Investing //

Robinhood HOOD Rewards Season 2026 Promos: Up to 3% ACAT Transfer Bonus

Posted on March 1, 2026 // 2 Comments

Robinhood is running “HOOD Rewards Season” from 2/19-3/25, which includes the return of some competitive account transfer bonuses. Noteworthy are the 3% total match if you have $10,000 in margin (which you can “create” beforehand) and the 2% match that includes 401k rollovers. However, note that they have very long minimum holding periods where you are stuck at Robinhood (and can’t pursue other opportunities) or they will clawback the bonus. Transfers must be initiated by March 25, 2026 to qualify.

  • 2% bonus on ACATS transfers to your Robinhood joint or individual taxable brokerage account from an external brokerage. 5-year minimum hold period + Robinhood Gold ($5/mo or $50/year) membership for a year required.
  • 3% total bonus on ACATS transfers (1% extra) with a margin balance of $10,000 or more to your Robinhood joint or individual taxable brokerage account from an external brokerage.
  • 2% bonus on ACATS transfers to your Robinhood IRA, including 401k rollovers. 5-year minimum hold period + Robinhood Gold ($5/mo or $50/year) membership for a year required.
  • 3% bonus on IRA contributions. This is a standard offer for Robinhood Gold customers, but still worth noting if you are joining the Robinhood ecosystem. 5-year minimum hold period.
  • Robinhood will also cover outgoing transfer fees (up to $75) if you transfer $7,500+ in assets.
  • 2% bonus on crypto transfers. They are also announcing new products/features on March 4, 2026.

Full terms at Robinhood.com/hoodrewardstransfer.

The 2% bonus on taxable account transfers requires a subscription with Robinhood Gold ($5/mo) and customers must stay subscribed to Gold for 1 year after receiving each Gold match to keep the full Gold match. A 1% match is available to non-Gold customers, no subscription required. The funds that earned the match be kept in the account for at least 5 years to avoid a potential chargeback of the bonus. Transfer must be initiated by March 25,2026 to qualify. Offer only applies to self-directed individual or joint taxable accounts. For more information refer to Hood Season Account Transfer Bonus at robinhood.com/hoodrewardstransfer??

The additional 1% margin bonus is available to all customers who are approved for a margin account and transfer a margin balance of at least $10,000 using ACATS.

If you don’t want to move your money around all the time, I think this is a pretty good promo. If you move over a $100,000 portfolio for 5 years, that’s $3,000. If you move over a $1,000,000 portfolio for 5 years, that’s $30,000. If you have a $100,000 portfolio parked at Merrill Edge, given the upcoming Preferred Rewards changes, compare this bonus against potential cash back. Might be better to take the upfront money than to chase a higher tier. Robinhood now has over $300 billion in assets under custody.

It’s not hard to “create” a $10,000 margin balance by buying some extra SGOV/VBIL in your account right before the ACAT transfer (assuming you have enough equity collateral), do the transfer, and then pay off the margin by selling the SGOV/VBIL right after the transfer is completed. You’ll just pay a little margin interest in the meantime, should be less than $10 as your SGOV/VBIL will earn interest as well (price should increase in interim if no dividend distribution). Robinhood wants investors that use margin, as they tend to be more profitable.

Filed Under: Deals & Offers, Investing //