Daffy: Fintech Donor Advised Fund For Flat $3 a Month

October 24, 2021 By Jonathan Ping Leave a Comment
My Money Blog has partnered with CardRatings and Credit-Land for selected credit cards and may receive a commission. All opinions expressed are the author’s alone, and has not been provided nor approved by any of the companies mentioned.

A donor-advised fund (DAF) helps you manage the timing of your charitable giving while also maximizing your tax benefits (allowing you to give more). You get the tax break at the time of contribution, which means you might give more when your income and tax rates are higher.

DAFs also let you contribute things like appreciated stock shares and appreciated cryptocurrency and avoid the taxes on unrealized capital gains. Here are some examples of the potential tax advantages of donating appreciated stock. Your contributions can then be invested to grow a tax-deferred manner until you decide to make a grant to the charities of your choice.

Fidelity, Vanguard, and Schwab all have donor-advised funds that can accept such donations, but they both charge an administrative fee of 0.60% of assets (usually with $100 minimum). If you put in the minimum $25,000 that Vanguard requires, that works out to $150 a year. (Fidelity and Schwab have no minimum contribution requirement.)

Daffy is a new DAF startup that starts at only $3 a month, or a flat $36 a year regardless of asset size. However, upon closer inspection, you have to upgrade to their $20 a month “Benefactor” tier to donate appreciated stock or cryptocurrency.

Here are Daffy’s minimum contribution requirements:

At sign-up, you can commit to the Daffy Pledge or make a minimum one-time contribution of $100. For the Daffy Pledge, the minimum contribution is either $10 per week or $25 per month. The minimum stock contribution is $1,000 and the minimum crypto contribution is .001 BTC (10,000 Satoshis).

We require Daffy members to make at least one donation recommendation of at least $25 per year.

Members may recommend an unlimited number of donations in any given month. The minimum donation recommendation is $20.

At the base $3 a month tier, you can still invest in one of 9 preset portfolios that include standard, ESG, and crypto focuses. Their primary pitch appears to be one of convenience: Simply decided how much you want to give, and Daffy will help make the rest a little easier. Set up a regular monthly donation via credit card and Daffy will cover the transaction fees. Now you don’t need to keep a stack of receipts. You can also give more anonymously without ending up on a bunch of mailing lists.

I’ve had a Fidelity Charitable DAF for a couple years now, and it has been a good experience even though I am a small fry customer. I primarily wanted to be able to donate appreciated assets occasionally and then give most of it away. I don’t maintain an exceptionally large balance, so the fees incurred aren’t very high (currently the $100 a year minimum). At $3 a month, I was hoping Daffy would save me some fees, but it would actually cost me more at the $20 a month tier since I donate appreciated stocks. Perhaps you can downgrade and/or upgrade only during the times when you need the extra features.

If you don’t plan on donated appreciated assets, then Daffy is the lowest-cost DAF that I am aware of that lets you manage the timing of your charitable contributions and invest it tax-free until you decide to make a grant.

Filed Under: Deals & Offers, Giving Back, Investing
Last updated: October 24, 2021
My Money Blog has partnered with CardRatings and Credit-Land for selected credit cards, and may receive a commission from card issuers. 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.

Discover Bank Bonus: $150/$200 ($15,000/$25,000 Deposit)

October 24, 2021 By Jonathan Ping 9 Comments
My Money Blog has partnered with CardRatings and Credit-Land for selected credit cards and may receive a commission. All opinions expressed are the author’s alone, and has not been provided nor approved by any of the companies mentioned.

disc_osaDiscover Bank has brought back this bonus for their online savings account. If you open a new account through either this link with promo code NW21 or this link with promo code CY21 (note the two different promo codes) by 12/15/21, you can receive one of the following bonuses:

  • Deposit at least $15,000 within 30 days of opening to earn a $150 bonus, or
  • Deposit at least $25,000 within 30 days of opening to earn a $200 bonus.

This offer has been available in the past and is only for new Discover customers, but if you haven’t grabbed it yet it’s a solid bonus. DoC comments report that cumulative deposits have worked, so something to consider.

Offer not valid for existing or prior Discover savings customers or existing or prior customers with savings accounts that are co-branded or affinity accounts provided by Discover. Account must be open when bonus is credited.

The Discover Online Savings Account has a current interest rate of 0.40% APY as of 10/24/21, which is a competitive rate although not the highest available. There are no minimum balance requirements and no monthly fees. Interest is compounded daily and paid monthly.

If you deposit the minimum amount of $15k, the $150 bonus is effectively another 1% of your initial deposit. The $200 bonus on $25,000 deposited is a lower percentage, but if you have the extra cash then it may still be a good rate. There is no fixed minimum time period where you have to keep the money there after getting the bonus, so your effective ROI can be quite high since the bonus should post shortly after you complete the required deposits. Keep in mind that you must still have an open account for the bonus to post.

I did not experience a hard credit pull when opening my Discover bank account on a previous bonus. Historically, their rates are competitive but not the rate leaders. Their overall feature set is not exceptional (average speed transfers), so it is not my primary savings account at this time. Maybe it is convenient if your primary card is the Discover It card?

Bottom line. The Discover Savings account is a simple, barebones piggy-back savings account with no minimum balance and no monthly fees. The rates are historically competitive but rarely the highest. With no monthly fees, this is a solid low-risk bonus if you have the funds available and have never had a Discover bank account before.

Filed Under: Banking, Deals & Offers
Last updated: October 24, 2021
My Money Blog has partnered with CardRatings and Credit-Land for selected credit cards, and may receive a commission from card issuers. 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.

Hanscom Federal CU Thrive Review: 5.00% APY Saving Habit Builder and Maintainer

October 20, 2021 By Jonathan Ping 80 Comments
My Money Blog has partnered with CardRatings and Credit-Land for selected credit cards and may receive a commission. All opinions expressed are the author’s alone, and has not been provided nor approved by any of the companies mentioned.

savebuttonbankHanscom Federal Credit Union (HFCU) has hiked back up the rate on their CU Thrive account to 5.00% APY, which is a capped certificate of deposit that rewards consistent saving. The rate is set for 12 months, and during those 12 months you can transfer up to $500 every month from a HFCU checking account. No monthly fees. However, you cannot make any withdrawals during those 12 months, or you will be subject to an early withdrawal penalty of 90 days interest.

This product is not meant for big balances. Instead, it is meant to encourage the creation AND maintenance of a modest savings habit. 5.00% APY is more than 10 times what the top “high-yield” savings accounts offer right now.

How much interest can I earn? At 5% APY, if you maxed out this account and set aside the full $500 a month for 12 months, at the end you’d have put in $6,000 and earned about $150 in interest by the end of the year (~$162 if you made every transfer on the 1st of the each month by my quick calculations). $6,000 also happens to be just about the same amount as a full Roth IRA contribution (hint hint) or the foundation of a solid emergency fund.

At the end of the 12 months, all accrued savings plus earned dividends will be transferred into your primary savings account. It will NOT automatically renew at maturity. Each member can only have one CU Thrive account open at one time, but after one 12-month period ends you can open up another one to keep up the savings habit (assuming it is still offered). Full disclosure (PDF).

Eligibility details. To open a CU Thrive account, you must first open an HFCU checking account in addition to the savings account required for all members. HFCU offers a free checking account with no direct deposit and no minimum balance requirement. HFCU membership is open to active duty or retired military along with many other groups (see application), but anyone can also join the Air Force Association, Paul Revere Chapter for a one-time $20 fee and be eligible. On the application, choose the option “I am a member of or will be joining a sponsoring member organization.” You must also keep $25 in the share savings account as long as you are a member.

New refer-a-friend program. HFCU has a referral program which offers an additional $30 cash bonus after your new savings and checking accounts are open and in good standing for 90 days. The referring member gets $30 as well. If you would like a referral from me, please me send your full name, e-mail address, the text “HFCU referral” via my contact form. I will use this information only to fill out their referral form.

Account opening process (from a few years ago). I started the online application and had to provide the usual personal information and then answer questions based on my credit report to verify my identity. Based on my free credit monitoring, they did not perform a hard pull on my credit report. You can fund with an online bank transfer but they also gave me the option to fund with credit card up to $2,000 (not sure if this is still an option today). They didn’t mention if this would be considered a cash advance or not, but it showed up as a purchase for me. Finally, you must print out, sign, and mail in a signature card. You can also open an account in-person. All of their physical branches appear to be located in Massachusetts.

My 1-year experience. I had set the maximum $500 to be transferred every month to my CU Thrive account from my HFCU Checking account. I made 11 transfers but missed one because my checking balance was too low on the date of automatic transfer. My fault. When that happens, the account basically just skips the transfer. There is no penalty, you just don’t get to add that money to the account. I called them but they said there was no way to replace that transfer, even if I moved more money into the checking account a day later. Other than that, everything went very smoothly and I was paid my interest as promised. At the 1-year maturity date, the funds were automatically transferred to my HFCU savings account and the CU Thrive no longer shows up on my online account page. I can now open up another CU Thrive account, if I wish.

I also discovered that Hanscom Federal has paid a Loyalty Dividend to its Credit Union members for over 20 consecutive years. When I had this account, I earned another $1.57 in bonus loyalty dividends on top of my $78.46 of interest earned.

In addition to the CU Thrive and free checking options, HFCU also has a Kasasa Cash Checking account that offers up to 1.00% APY on balances up to $15,000 if you make at least 12 debit card or credit card purchases per month, complete at least 1 ACH Credit/Direct deposit per month, and enroll in online statements. This isn’t the highest Kasasa rate available nationwide, but if you’re already a member, it may be convenient.

Bottom line. The CU Thrive account is a good option for people looking to build up a savings habit, with 5.00% APY for 12 months. However, the system really works best if you use HFCU’s free checking as your primary checking account. (You may also consider their Kasasa Cash checking account with higher interest but debit card activity requirements.) Juggling it as an external savings account is perfectly possible, but you have to keep on top of your transfers to avoid idle cash earning zero interest. I received all of the interest promised, the customer service was nice and polite when contacted, and any errors were my own.

Filed Under: Banking, Deals & Offers, Reviews
Last updated: October 20, 2021
My Money Blog has partnered with CardRatings and Credit-Land for selected credit cards, and may receive a commission from card issuers. 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.

5% Cash Back Cards: Walmart, PayPal, Amazon.com, Target.com – October through December 2021

October 19, 2021 By Jonathan Ping 36 Comments
My Money Blog has partnered with CardRatings and Credit-Land for selected credit cards and may receive a commission. All opinions expressed are the author’s alone, and has not been provided nor approved by any of the companies mentioned.

5percentbackAdded new Chase Freedom Flex offer. The credit cards below offer up to 5% cash back on specific categories that rotate each quarter. It takes a little extra attention, but it can add up to hundreds of dollars in additional rewards per year without changing your spending habits. You can also buy gift cards at places with 5% back now but spend the gift cards later. New cardmembers may also get an upfront sign-up bonus.

Chase Freedom Flex Card

From October 1st through December 31st, 2021 you can earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 spent in the following categories:

  • Walmart including Walmart Discount Stores, SuperCenters, Neighborhood Markets, Walmart.com, Walmart branded gas stations operated by Walmart, and Walmart Pay.
  • PayPal purchases paid using your Freedom Flex. Friends and Family or Person-to-Person (P2P) transactions are excluded.

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

(Added: Chase is also adding a “Top Spend Category Bonus” where you can earn 5% cash back on up to $1500 in total spend in the eligible rewards category where you spend the most from October 1 – December 31, 2021. See link for details on the stacking possibilities.)

Enroll each quarter online in your Chase account or at ChaseBonus.com. As long as you activate by December 14th, the rewards are retroactive. Technically, you earn Ultimate Rewards points which can also be 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 get 25% to 50% more than 1 cent/point 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.

Discover it 14 ImageDiscover it Card

From October 1st through December 31st, 2021, you can earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 spent in the following categories:

  • Amazon.com
  • Walmart.com
  • Target.com

Enroll after logging into your online account (look on the right-hand side). 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 details. If you are a new applicant and sign up via my Discover Card referral link, you will get a $50 improved $100 Cashback Bonus after your first purchase within 3 months of being account opening. 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”:

Cashback Match: We’ll match all the cash back rewards 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 will receive a $100 Statement Credit after making a purchase that posts to your account within three months of account opening. You must apply through your friend’s referral link and be approved by December 31, 2021 in order to be eligible for the $100 Statement Credit offer. Offer may not be combined with any other introductory offer. Promotional award will be applied within 8 weeks.

American Express Blue Cash Preferred Card.

  • 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).
  • 3% cash back at US gas stations and transit (taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more).

I use this card all year long for groceries and put all my streaming services on it, 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 sizeable welcome offer. 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.

Amazon Prime Rewards Card. Earn 5% back at Amazon.com and Whole Foods all year long. Prime membership required. New cardholder bonus varies by person. No annual fee.

Citi Custom Cash Card. This new card offers 5% cash back on your top eligible spending category up to $500 spent each month. The maximum amount of $500 per month is less than the $1,500 per month of many cards above, but the category shifts according to your spending. You could, for example, only use this card for gas all year long.

Citi Dividend Card. This card is no longer available to new applicants, 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.

Don’t settle for the “1% on everything else” that these cards offer. Get 2% cash back or higher. Check out the card-specific reviews for details.

Filed Under: Credit Cards, Deals & Offers
Last updated: October 19, 2021
My Money Blog has partnered with CardRatings and Credit-Land for selected credit cards, and may receive a commission from card issuers. 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.

Chase Freedom Flex Review: $200 Bonus, 5% Back on Groceries For First Year, 5% Rotating Categories, No Annual Fee

October 19, 2021 By Jonathan Ping 5 Comments
My Money Blog has partnered with CardRatings and Credit-Land for selected credit cards and may receive a commission. All opinions expressed are the author’s alone, and has not been provided nor approved by any of the companies mentioned.

New “Top Spend Category 5% Offer” for October-December 2021: The Chase Freedom Flex has a new promotion in addition to the 5% quarterly category for Q4 2021:

This offer is separate from your quarterly bonus category offer, but automatically added to your account when you activate your Q4 bonus categories. You’ll earn 5% cash back on up to $1500 in total spend in the eligible rewards category where you spend the most from October 1 – December 31, 2021. That’s 4% additional cash back on top of the 1% cash back per $1 USD spent that you earn on all purchases.

Here are the eligible rewards categories:

Travel (including Transit), Dining, Home Improvement Stores, Grocery Stores (not including Target and Walmart purchases), Drugstores, Gas Stations, Select Live Entertainment, Select Streaming Services, Fitness Clubs.

This means if dining is your top spending category for Q4 2021, you would get a total of 7% cash back (or 7X Ultimate Rewards points) on your dining. If you are still in the new customer offer (see below) and grocery stores is your top spending category for Q4 2021, you would get a total of 9% cash back (or 9X Ultimate Rewards points) on your grocery store purchase. Also stackable with the PayPal 5% below if you used PayPal to buy something in your top spend category. A little confusing, but could be an interesting promo. Unfortunately, not available on older Freedom cards, only Freedom Flex.

Full review:

The Chase Freedom Flex Card application is the new 5% cash back rotating category card for Chase, including the notable addition of 3% cash back on dining out and drugstore purchases. All of the popular features from the old Freedom remain as well: Up to 5% cash back on select categories throughout the year, no annual fee, and the ability to earn Ultimate Rewards points (useful in combination with Chase Sapphire cards). Highlights:

  • $200 cash bonus (20,000 Ultimate Rewards points) after $500 in purchases in your first 3 months.
  • Intro offer: 5X points (5% cash back) on grocery store purchases (not including Target(R) or Walmart(R) purchases) on up to $12,000 spent in the first year.
  • 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases, then a variable APR of 14.99 – 23.74%.

Here are the ongoing features of the Freedom Flex:

  • 5X points (5% cash back) on rotating quarterly categories.
  • 5X points (5% cash back) on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards(R).
  • 3X points on dining out, take-out, and eligible delivery services.
  • 3X points on drugstore purchases.
  • 1X points on all other purchases.
  • Cell phone insurance is one of the noteworthy World Elite Mastercard benefits. “Up to $800 per claim and $1,000 per year in cell phone protection against theft or damage for phones listed on cardmembers’ monthly bill.”
  • 5% total cash back on all Lyft rides through March 2022.
  • Complimentary DoorDash DashPass for the first three months*, followed by a 50% discount price at the current rate for the next nine months.
  • No annual fee.

From October 1st through December 31st, 2021 you can earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 spent in the following categories:

  • Walmart including Walmart Discount Stores, SuperCenters, Neighborhood Markets, Walmart.com, Walmart branded gas stations operated by Walmart, and Walmart Pay.
  • PayPal purchases paid using your Freedom Flex. Friends and Family or Person-to-Person (P2P) transactions are excluded.

Activate each quarter in your online account or at ChaseBonus.com. As long as you activate by the end of each quarterly window, the rewards apply retroactively.

Remember that these cards earn Ultimate Rewards (UR) points, which can then be redeemed for cash at 1 UR point = $0.01. Therefore, you can either view a category as 3X points per dollar points, or 3% cash back. When UR points are transferred to a Chase Sapphire Preferred or Chase Sapphire Reserve card, they can become much more valuable when converted to frequent flier miles or hotel points. For example, if you have the Chase Sapphire Reserve, 5x points = 5 United miles per dollar spent, 5 Hyatt points per dollar spent, or 7.5% value back towards travel redeemed at the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal.

This is a new card (different than the regular Chase Freedom Visa), so everyone should be eligible for the bonus, but Chase does have 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 2 years (aka the 5/24 rule). This rule is designed to discourage folks that apply for high numbers of sign-up bonuses. This rule applies on a per-person basis, so in our household one applies to Chase while the other applies at other card issuers.

If you have an existing Chase card like the original Freedom card, you may be able to convert to this card by calling them directly. You won’t get the sign-up offer, but you will get the new ongoing features.

Bottom line. The Chase Freedom Flex Card application is a unique rewards card that lets you earn 5% cash back on select categories each quarter, in addition to a constant 3% cash back on dining out and drugstore purchases. If you have a Chase Sapphire card, the “flexibility” is even greater.

Filed Under: Credit Cards, Deals & Offers, General
Last updated: October 19, 2021
My Money Blog has partnered with CardRatings and Credit-Land for selected credit cards, and may receive a commission from card issuers. 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.

Chase Southwest Credit Cards: Up to 100,000 Bonus Points Worth Over $1,300 in Wanna Get Away Airfare (Highest Ever Offer!)

October 19, 2021 By Jonathan Ping 14 Comments
My Money Blog has partnered with CardRatings and Credit-Land for selected credit cards and may receive a commission. All opinions expressed are the author’s alone, and has not been provided nor approved by any of the companies mentioned.

Updated bonus and perks: Southwest has increased their new customer bonus offers on the Plus/Premier cards to their highest-ever levels, and also added brand-new perks to the cards which are valid for all cardholders. If you can time your points earning so that the sign-up bonuses show up in early 2022, you could earn the Companion Pass in early 2022 and have it last from 2022 all the way through the end of 2023. Details below.

Full review:

Southwest Airlines offers the unique Companion Pass, which lets you pick one person to fly with free when you book both paid AND award flights (including to Hawaii!) on Southwest. Importantly, points earned from credit cards are qualifying points toward the requirement, including sign-up bonuses! You can often get very close to that magic 125,000 points with a calendar year when you add up the potential miles from these Southwest consumer and business cards. This is on top of the value of redeeming those points for miles (ex. 75,000 points can get you $1,100+ in Wanna Get Away airfare).

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus credit card

  • Highest ever: Up to 100,000 points. 50,000 bonus points after $2,000 on purchases in first 3 months after account opening, plus 50,000 more bonus points after $12,000 total on purchases in the first 12 months.
  • 3,000 bonus points after each Cardmember anniversary.
  • 2X points on Southwest(R) purchases.
  • NEW: 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare.
  • NEW: 2X points on internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming.
  • 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
  • NEW: 2 EarlyBird Check-In(R) each year
  • NEW: 25% back on inflight purchases
  • All points earned count towards Companion Pass(R).
  • $69 annual fee.

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier card

  • Highest ever: Up to 100,000 points. 50,000 bonus points after $2,000 on purchases in first 3 months, plus 50,000 more bonus points after $12,000 total on purchases in the first 12 months.
  • 6,000 bonus points after each Cardmember anniversary.
  • NEW: 3X points on Southwest(R) purchases.
  • NEW: 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare.
  • NEW: 2X points on internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming.
  • 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
  • NEW: 2 EarlyBird Check-In(R) each year
  • NEW: 25% back on inflight purchases
  • All points earned count towards Companion Pass(R).
  • $99 annual fee.

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority card

  • Highest ever: Up to 100,000 points. 50,000 bonus points after $2,000 on purchases in first 3 months, plus 50,000 more bonus points after $12,000 total on purchases in the first 12 months.
  • 7,500 bonus points after each Cardmember anniversary.
  • NEW: 3X points on Southwest(R) purchases.
  • NEW: 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare.
  • NEW: 2X points on internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming.
  • 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
  • NEW: 2 EarlyBird Check-In(R) each year
  • NEW: 25% back on inflight purchases
  • NEW: 1,500 Tier Qualifying Points towards A-List Status for every $10,000 in spend
  • 4 Upgraded Boardings per year when available.
  • $75 Southwest annual travel credit.
  • $149 annual fee.

The following are business credit cards:

Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business card

  • 80,000 points after $5,000 in purchases within the first 3 months.
  • 9,000 bonus points after each Cardmember anniversary.
  • NEW: 4X points on Southwest(R) purchases.
  • 3X points on Rapid Rewards® hotel and car partners.
  • NEW: 2X points on rideshare.
  • 2X points on social media and search engine advertising, Internet, cable and phone services and 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
  • 4 Upgraded Boardings per year when available.
  • Inflight WiFi Credits (up to 365 x $8 credits per year).
  • Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® Fee Credit in the form of a statement credit of up to $100 every four years.
  • $199 annual fee.

Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business card

  • 60,000 Rapid Rewards points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months.
  • 6,000 bonus points after each Cardmember anniversary.
  • NEW: 3X points on Southwest(R) purchases.
  • 2X points and Rapid Rewards® hotel and car rental partners.
  • NEW: 2X points on rideshare.
  • 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
  • NEW: 2 EarlyBird Check-In(R) each year
  • $99 annual fee.

Value of Rapid Rewards points. Redeeming Southwest points for flights varies in a narrow range, but a very reasonable approximation from my experience is 1.3 cents in Wanna Get Away airfare in per point. That works out to $650+ in Wanna Get Away airfare for every 50,000 points or $1,300+ in Wanna Get Away airfare from 100,000 points (you are still liable for taxes and fees from $5.60 one-way). Importantly, Southwest does NOT have blackout dates or seat restrictions when you redeem with points. This means that Southwest points are much easier to use than a “saver award” on traditional airlines.

Now, if you manage to qualify for the the Companion Pass on every trip that you book with those points, that doubles the potential value of each award redemption. In other words, 125,000 Rapid Rewards, would usually get you $1,850 in Wanna Get Away airfare, but with the Companion Pass you’d get an extra companion ticket for every flight booked.

There may be other options like gift cards, but the redemption value is less than half the value you could get from redeeming for flights.

Southwest points expiration policy, per Southwest.com:

Do the points I earn expire?

No, your Rapid Rewards points do not expire. However, if you choose to close your account, the points in your account will be terminated.

Southwest still includes two free checked bags per person. The fees on the other airlines have crept up to $30 per bag, each-way. That adds up.

Our family policy is to not try out a new credit card unless it offers us $500 in total value. Just the free award flights from the points are enough to satisfy that rule, and then you can add on the potential value of the companion tickets.

Card restrictions. All of these Southwest credit cards are subject to “5/24” restrictions, which means that your application will be automatically denied if you have opened 5 or more credit cards in the last 24 months (check your credit reports). Our household strategy is to have one person only apply for Chase 5/24 cards, and the other person applies for everything else. There is also this language on the consumer card:

The product is not available to either (i) current Cardmembers of any Southwest Rapid Rewards® Credit Card, or (ii) previous Cardmembers of any Southwest Rapid Rewards Credit Card who received a new Cardmember bonus within the last 24 months. This does not apply to Cardmembers of the Southwest Rapid Rewards Business Card and Employee Credit Card products.

Basically, you can get one sign-up bonus from a Southwest consumer card once every 24 months. You can also get one sign-up bonus from a Southwest business card once every 24 months.

Stack your Companion Pass with Chase Ultimate Rewards points. If you have the Chase Sapphire Preferred or Chase Sapphire Reserve, you can transfer Ultimate Rewards points to Southwest points on a 1:1 basis. If you book an award flight with those Southwest points while you have the Companion Pass, you can double the value of your Ultimate Rewards points as well.

Bottom line. Southwest credit cards offer new cardholders the opportunity to earn hundreds of dollars worth of Wanna Get Away airfare, but if you time things right and maybe combine a personal and business card, you can also grab the Southwest Companion pass, which provides a free companion ticket on every flight bought with cash or points booked both during the rest of the year in which you earned it, AND the full next calendar year. Finally, Southwest still includes two free checked bags per person on every flight.

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

Filed Under: Credit Cards, Deals & Offers, General
Last updated: October 20, 2021
My Money Blog has partnered with CardRatings and Credit-Land for selected credit cards, and may receive a commission from card issuers. 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.

American Express Business Platinum Card Review: 120,000 Bonus Points, $400 Dell Credit, $120 Cell Phone Credit, $200 Airline Fee Credit

October 15, 2021 By Jonathan Ping 6 Comments
My Money Blog has partnered with CardRatings and Credit-Land for selected credit cards and may receive a commission. All opinions expressed are the author’s alone, and has not been provided nor approved by any of the companies mentioned.

(Update: This card has been updated with new statement credits, an improved welcome offer, and the announcement that the annual fee will increase to $595 to $695 for applications received on or after 1/13/2022. Consider applying for this card while the annual fee is $100 less but the new perks are already in place.)

The Business Platinum® Card from American Express is the ultra-premium AmEx business card with a very long list of new perks and statement credits. You also get the best airline lounge access program (Delta Sky Club + their own Centurion lounges) and an improved welcome offer. I’ve tried to keep it brief, but there is a lot to cover:

  • 120,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with your Card in the first 3 months.
  • 0% Intro APR for 12 months from the date of the account opening on purchases eligible for Pay Over Time. After that, your APR will be 14.24% to 22.24% based on your credit worthiness and other factors as determined at the time of account opening.
  • 5X points on flights and prepaid hotels on amextravel.com.
  • 1.5X points per dollar on on eligible purchases in key business categories, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more everywhere else. Cap applies. 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.
  • Get 35% back when you redeem points for flights. Use their “Pay with Points” option for all or part of a flight with your selected qualifying airline, and you can get 35% of the points back, up to 500,000 bonus points per calendar year. See details below.
  • Over $1,000 in specific statement credits on select purchases with your Card, including up to $400 with Dell Technologies, up to $360 with Indeed, up to $150 with Adobe and up to $120 on wireless telephone purchases. Enrollment required.
  • $200 Airline Fee Credit, Get up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year toward baggage fees and more at one qualifying airline.
  • Up to $100 Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck. Get a statement credit available every 4 years after you apply for Global Entry ($100), which includes TSA PreCheck®.
  • $179 CLEAR membership credit. Breeze through security with CLEAR(R) where available and get up to $179 back per year on your membership when you use your Card.
  • $595 annual fee ($695 if application is received on or after 01/13/2022). (See Rates and Fees)
  • Terms Apply.

Note the following language: “Welcome bonus offer not available to applicants who have or have had this product.” You can only get the welcome offer on the Platinum Business AmEx once time per lifetime, so it is best to apply during an improved offer (and also the time when perks have been added but before the annual fee increase).

New annual statement credit details:

  • $400 Dell Technologies credit. Get up to $400 back per year toward U.S. purchases with Dell Technologies. Enrollment required.‡
  • $360 Indeed credit ($90 per quarter). Enroll and get up to $360 in statement credits per year for purchases with Indeed on the Business Platinum Card. That’s up to $90 back per quarter.
  • $150 Adobe Creative Solutions credit. Enroll and get up to $150 in statement credits per year for purchases with Adobe on annual prepaid plans for eligible Creative Cloud for teams and Acrobat Pro DC with e-sign for on the Card.
  • $120 wireless telephone credit ($10 per month). Enroll and get up to $120 in statement credits per year for wireless telephone service purchases made directly with a wireless provider in the U.S. on the Business Platinum Card. That’s up to $10 back per month.‡

American Express Global Lounge Collection. Some other travel cards give you Priority Pass Select, which is nice but not as inclusive as the Platinum card’s list of 1,300+ airport lounges across 140 countries. Domestically, you get Delta Skyclub access (an individual Skyclub membership costs $495 from Delta alone) as well as the new Centurion Lounge network built specifically for American Express cardholders.

  • The Centurion® Lounge
  • The International American Express Lounges
  • Delta SkyClub®
  • Priority Pass Select
  • Airspace Lounge
  • Escape Lounges

35% Airline Bonus details. Let’s say your selected airline is Delta, and you want to buy a couple economy Delta tickets for $1,000 using their Pay with Points features. This means that $1,000 ticket booked through AmEx Travel will only cost you 65,000 Membership Rewards points net (100,000 points and then 35,000 point rebated back). This improves the 1 cent per point value to 1.54 cents per point value. This means that 120,000 Membership Rewards points can be worth $1,848 in airfare on your selected airline.

Transfer partners. You can transfer Membership Rewards points to 16 airline and 3 hotel partners including Delta, British Airways, Hawaiian, JetBlue, Air Canada, Hilton, Starwood Preferred Guest, and Choice Hotels. If you’re good at snagging award tickets, you can get even better value this way.

Bottom line. The Business Platinum® Card from American Express is the ultra-premium AmEx business card that includes a HUGE list of perks. Add them up for your own situation and see how it compares with the annual fee. Keep in mind that the annual fee can also count as a business expense. (See Rates and Fees)

The net first-year value of this card is easily over $1,000, as it is definitely one of the Top 10 Best Business Card Offers.

Filed Under: Credit Cards, Deals & Offers, General
Last updated: October 18, 2021
My Money Blog has partnered with CardRatings and Credit-Land for selected credit cards, and may receive a commission from card issuers. 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.

Quontic Bank High Interest Checking Review: 1.01% APY on the Portion of Daily Balances up to $150,000

October 12, 2021 By Jonathan Ping 5 Comments
My Money Blog has partnered with CardRatings and Credit-Land for selected credit cards and may receive a commission. All opinions expressed are the author’s alone, and has not been provided nor approved by any of the companies mentioned.

The Quontic Bank High Interest Checking account has recently increased their eligible balance amount, with the result being the rare combination of a competitive interest rate with a high balance limit. Here are the highlights:

  • Earn 1.01% APY on the portion of the daily balances up to $150,000.
  • Additional tiers apply. APY earned is based on the portion of the daily balance within the specified tiers.
  • No minimum balance requirement.
  • No monthly fees.
  • $100 minimum deposit required to open an account.

In order to qualify for the higher rate, you must complete the following qualifying debit card transactions each statement cycle:

10 debit card point of sale transactions of $10 or more per statement cycle required to earn the maximum APY on the portion of the account daily balance tier.

If you meet those requirements, here is the exact interest rate breakdown:

– the portion of the daily balance $150,000 or less will earn 1.01% APY
– the portion of your daily balance above $150,000 and up to and including $1,000,000.00 earns from 1.01% to 0.45% APY, depending on the balance
– the portion of your daily balance above $1,000,000 will earn from 0.45% to 0.00%, depending on the balance in the account.
– If the qualifying activity requirement is NOT fulfilled, the interest rate paid on the entire balance will be 0.01% APY

Note the following details about qualifying point-of-sale (POS) transactions:

The following activities are not considered qualifying POS debit card transactions and do not count toward earning rewards: ATM- processed transactions; transfers between accounts; purchases made with debit cards not issued by our bank; cash over portions of point-of-sale transactions; Peer-to-Peer (P2P) payments (such as Apple Pay Cash*); loan payments or account funding made with your debit card and purchases made using third-party payment accounts.

I’ve shared other checking accounts with debit card requirements, but the main difference here is the rare combination of competitive interest rate and very high eligible balance. 1.01% APY on a $150,000 balance would result in earning $1,515 of interest in a year. The difference between that and an account paying 0.50% APY is $765 more interest over a year. There is also no monthly direct deposit requirement with this account.

Note: Earnings of $1,500 with 1.01% APY and $765 with 0.50% APY is calculated based on only $150,000 maintained in the High Interest Checking account for an entire year, with nothing debited to or credited from the account during its duration.

Filed Under: Banking, Deals & Offers
Last updated: October 21, 2021
My Money Blog has partnered with CardRatings and Credit-Land for selected credit cards, and may receive a commission from card issuers. 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.

Instacart Express: Free 6 Month Membership with Chase Credit Card

October 12, 2021 By Jonathan Ping Leave a Comment
My Money Blog has partnered with CardRatings and Credit-Land for selected credit cards and may receive a commission. All opinions expressed are the author’s alone, and has not been provided nor approved by any of the companies mentioned.

Chase has partnered with Instacart to offer a free 6-month membership to Instacart Express (~$50 value) when you add an eligible Chase credit card as a payment method. You also get a $10 off $35 coupon. You can see the full list here, but it’s nearly every Chase credit card including hotel, airline, and ones that earn Ultimate Rewards points.

From October 11, 2021, through January 31, 2022, customers who sign up for an Instacart Express membership with an eligible Chase credit card can receive a free membership until April 30, 2022, and $10 off their next order of $35 or more. Customers who were Express members on or after September 30, 2021 are not eligible for this offer.

Tip #1: Turn off auto-renewal immediately after activation. When you activate this offer, it will be set to auto-renew on April 30, 2022 at $99 for a full year. However, you can cancel this auto-renew today, and your membership will automatically end on April 30, 2022 instead. You will have to navigate to “Menu” and then “Instacart Express” and scroll down to “Cancel membership” and click past a few “Are you sure???” prompts. You should reach this final page:

Tip #2: Keep the Instacart app installed on your phone with notifications on. I’ve used Instacart a handful of times, and they reliably send me new coupons via app notifications. (I don’t get the same coupons via e-mail.) I’ve gotten $20 off $20 orders and similar, which stacked with Instacart Express membership can be a pretty good deal when you consider your total time spent shopping.

Instacart Express usually costs $9.99 a month (or $99 a year upfront) and includes free delivery on $35+ orders and reduced service fees. They claim the average savings is $7 per order. Hat tip to vacasmugen at SD.

Filed Under: Credit Cards, Deals & Offers
Last updated: October 18, 2021
My Money Blog has partnered with CardRatings and Credit-Land for selected credit cards, and may receive a commission from card issuers. 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 – October 2021 (Updated)

October 11, 2021 By Jonathan Ping 13 Comments
My Money Blog has partnered with CardRatings and Credit-Land for selected credit cards and may receive a commission. All opinions expressed are the author’s alone, and has not been provided nor approved by any of the companies mentioned.

Updated October 2021. 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. We do this multiple times a year for thousands of dollars in extra income. These are the top 10 credit card offers that I would personally apply for right now (or have already). Notable recent changes:

  • Added Southwest 100k, Hawaiian 80k, Marriott 125k+FreeNight, Delta 70k/90k, Wyndham 90k, Citi Premier 80k, Platinum 100k, Sapphire 100k, IHG 150k.
  • Removed United Quest 100k, CapOne 100k, JetBlue 60k, Hyatt 50k, United 70k, Freedom Flex Grocery offer, Barclays AA, Marriott 5 Free Nights.

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.

Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Card

  • Up to 100,000 Rapid Rewards points. 50,000 points after $2,000 on purchases in first 3 months, plus 50,000 more points after $12,000 in total purchases in first 12 months.
  • Southwest still gives everyone two free checked bags.
  • Companion Pass. The timing might be perfect to qualify for a Companion Pass in 2022/2023.
  • $69 annual fee.
  • Subject to 5/24 rule.

The Platinum Card from American Express

  • 100,000 Membership Rewards points after $6,000 in purchases in the first 6 months. Plus 10X points on eligible purchases at restaurants worldwide and when you Shop Small in the U.S., on up to $25,000 in combined purchases, during your first 6 months. See link for details.
  • $200 Hotel Credits, $240 Streaming Credits, $200 Airline Fee Credits, $200 Uber Cash, $179 CLEAR Credit, $300 Equinox credit, $100 Shop Saks 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

  • 100,000 Ultimate Rewards points (highest ever, worth $1,250 minimum towards travel and more) after $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months. Up to 25% boost in Ultimate Rewards redemptions. See link for details.
  • Pay Yourself Back: 100k points = $1,250 back on dining, groceries, and home improvement through 9/30/21.
  • 2X points on Travel and Dining at restaurants worldwide.
  • $95 annual fee.
  • Subject to 5/24 rule.*
  • Alternative: Chase Sapphire Reserve Card. 60k bonus worth $900 towards UR travel. Up to 50% boost on Ultimate Rewards redemptions, 3X on Travel and Dining, Priority Pass airport lounge access, $550 annual fee, $300 annual travel credit.

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Card

  • Both 125,000 Marriott Bonvoy points and 1 Free Night Award (value up to 50,000 points) after $5,000 in purchases within the first 3 months. Limited-time offer. See link for details.
  • Additional Free Night after each account anniversary year (value up to 35,000 Marriott points).
  • $95 annual fee.
  • Subject to 5/24 rule.

Gold Delta Skymiles Card from American Express

  • 70,000 Delta Skymiles after $2,000 in purchases within the first 3 months. Limited-time offer expires 11/10/2021. See link for details.
  • 70,000 Skymiles are worth at least $700 in Delta airfare with “Pay with Miles” option.
  • First checked bag free on Delta flights ($60 value per roundtrip, per person).
  • $0 annual fee for the first year, then $95.
  • There is also a 90k limited-time offer on the Platinum version.

Hawaiian Airlines World Elite MasterCard

  • Up to 80,000 Hawaiian miles. 60k after $2,000 in purchases within 90 days + additional 20k after $4,000 in total purchases within first 6 months. 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.

U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card

  • 50,000 bonus points (worth $500 in statement credits) after $3,000 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.

Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus Card

  • 90,000 total bonus points. 60k points after $1,000 in purchases in first 90 days, plus additional 30k points after $2,000 in purchases in first 6 months. See link for details.
  • 90k points worth between 3 and 12 free nights. Wyndham hotel award nights cost between 7,500 to 30,000 points.
  • Automatic upgrade to Wyndham Rewards Platinum status.
  • $75 annual fee.

Hilton Honors American Express Card

  • Up to 130,000 Hilton Honors points. 80k points after $1,000 in purchases in first 3 months, plus another 50k points after a total of $5,000 in purchases in the first 6 months. See link for details.
  • Free Honors Silver status (5th standard reward night free, 2 bottles of water in your room).
  • No annual fee.

IHG Rewards Club Premier Card

  • 150,000 IHG Rewards club points after $3,000 in purchases within the first 3 months. See link for details.
  • Free Night after each account anniversary year (valued up to 40,000 IHG points).
  • 4th Award Night Free (Book 3 nights in a row with points, 4th is free)
  • $0 intro annual fee first year, then $89.
  • Subject to 5/24 rule.*

American Express® Rose Gold Card

  • 60,000 Membership Rewards points after $4,000 in purchases in first 6 months. Limited-time offer. 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 at restaurants.
  • 4X points at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 per year.
  • $250 annual fee.

Citi Premier Card

  • 80,000 points (worth $800 in gift cards at ThankYou.com) 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.

Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Mastercard

  • 60,000 American Airlines miles after $3,000 in purchases in the first 3 months. See link for details.
  • First checked bag free on domestic AA flights ($60 value per roundtrip, per person).
  • $0 annual fee for the first year, then $99.

Capital One® Venture® Rewards Card

  • 60,000 miles (worth $600 towards travel) after $3,000 in purchases within the first 3 months. See link for details.
  • 2X miles on ALL purchases..
  • Up to $100 credit towards TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fee.
  • $95 annual fee.

Bank of America Premium Rewards Card

  • 50,000 points (worth $500 towards travel) after $3,000 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.
  • $100 annual Airline Incidental Statement Credit.
  • Up to $100 credit towards TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fee.
  • $95 annual fee.

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 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.

Filed Under: Credit Cards, Deals & Offers Tagged With:
Last updated: October 19, 2021
My Money Blog has partnered with CardRatings and Credit-Land for selected credit cards, and may receive a commission from card issuers. 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 Small Business Credit Card Bonus Offers – October 2021

October 11, 2021 By Jonathan Ping 17 Comments
My Money Blog has partnered with CardRatings and Credit-Land for selected credit cards and may receive a commission. All opinions expressed are the author’s alone, and has not been provided nor approved by any of the companies mentioned.

Updated for October 2021. Do you have small business income or work as an independent contractor? Freelance, Uber/Lyft, Amazon, eBay, Etsy, Airbnb? A small business credit card separates your personal and business expenses and can build up your business credit profile. If you are not a corporation or LLC, you can apply as a sole proprietorship, with your name as the business name and your Social Security number as the Tax ID number. These are the top 10 credit card offers that I would personally apply for right now (or have already). Recent changes:

  • Added Amex Platinum 120k, Hyatt 75k+100, Hawaiian 90k, Marriott 125k+2FreeNights, Barclays AA 80k, BofA $500, Wyndham 90k, Spark Miles 50k, United 150k.
  • Removed AmEx Plum, United 150k, BofA $750, Southwest 100k, Amex Gold 70k+$300, JetBlue 100k, Wells Fargo $500.

This is a companion post to my Top 10 Best Credit Card Bonus Offers for personal cards. Notice that small business bonuses are on average even higher than those on consumer cards.

Business Platinum® Card from American Express

  • 120,000 Membership Rewards points after $15,000 on eligible purchases in the first 3 months.
  • Very long list of additional perks including $400 annual Dell credit, $120 annual wireless phone service credit, $200 airline fee credit, $179 CLEAR credit, airport lounge access, and more. See link for details.
  • $595 annual fee ($695 if application is received on or after 01/13/2022).

Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card

  • Both 125,000 Marriott Bonvoy points and 2 Free Night Awards (worth up to 50k each, so total 100k value) after $5,000 in purchases within the first 3 months. Limited-time offer. See link for details.
  • Additional Free Night Award upon card anniversary (worth up to 35,000 Bonvoy points). Earn another additional Free Night Award after spending $60K in purchases on your Card in a calendar year.
  • Annual fee is $125.

World of Hyatt Business Card

  • 75,000 Hyatt points after $7,500 in purchases in the first 3 months. See link for details and rough valuation of points.
  • Up to $100 in Hyatt statement credits – spend $50 or more at any Hyatt property and earn $50 statement credits up to two times each anniversary year.
  • $199 annual fee.
  • Subject to 5/24 rule.

Hawaiian Airlines Business MasterCard

  • Up to 90,000 Hawaiian miles. 50,000 miles after $1,000 in purchases within the first 90 days, plus an additional 40,000 miles after $6,000 in purchases within the first 12 months. See link for details.
  • Receive a one-time 50% off companion discount for roundtrip coach travel between Hawaii and The Mainland on Hawaiian Airlines.
  • $99 annual fee.

Chase Ink Business Preferred Card

  • 100,000 Ultimate Rewards points (worth $1,250 towards flexible travel) after $15,000 in purchases in the first 3 months. See link for details.
  • 3X points on the first $150,000 spent on travel, shipping purchases, internet/cable/phone services, and advertising purchases with social media sites and search engines.
  • Primary rental car coverage when renting for business purposes.
  • $95 annual fee.
  • Subject to 5/24 rule.*

Chase Ink Business Unlimited Card

  • $750 bonus cash back after $7,500 in purchases in the first 3 months. See link for details.
  • Flat 1.5% cash back on all purchases with no limit.
  • No annual fee.
  • Subject to 5/24 rule.*

Chase Ink Business Cash Card

  • $750 bonus cash back after $7,500 in purchases in the first 3 months. See link for details.
  • 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on cellular phone, landline, internet and cable TV services each account anniversary year.
  • No annual fee.
  • Subject to 5/24 rule.*

Bank of America Business Advantage Cash Rewards Card

  • $500 statement credit after $5,000 in purchases in the first 90 days. See link for details.
  • 3% cash back on your choice of six categories. 2% cash back on dining and unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases. The 3% and 2% cash back applies to the first $50,000 in combined category/dining purchases each calendar year, 1% thereafter.
  • No annual fee.

Wyndham Rewards Earner Business Card

  • 90,000 total bonus points. 60k points after $1,000 in purchases in first 90 days, plus additional 30k points after $2,000 in purchases in first 6 months. See link for details.
  • 90k points worth between 3 and 12 free nights. Wyndham hotel award nights cost between 7,500 to 30,000 points.
  • Automatic upgrade to Wyndham Rewards Diamond status.
  • $95 annual fee.

Hilton Honors American Express Business Card

  • Up to 180,000 Hilton Honors points. 130k points after $2,000 in purchases in first 3 months, plus another 50k points after a total of $10,000 in purchases in the first 6 months. See link for details.
  • Free Weekend Night Reward certificate after you spend $15,000 on purchases in a calendar year.
  • $95 annual fee.

US Bank Business Leverage Card

  • 75,000 bonus points after $7,500 in purchases (on the Account Owner’s Card only) in first the 4 months. 75,000 bonus points can be redeemed for $750 in cash back. See link for details.
  • Availability may be restricted to certain states.
  • $0 annual fee for the first year, then $95.

Barclays AAdvantage Aviator Business Card

  • Up to 80,000 American Airlines miles. 50,000 miles after $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days. Additional 30,000 miles after a total o f $6,000 in purchases in the first 12 months. Limited-time offer. See link for details.
  • First checked bag free on domestic AA flights ($60 value per roundtrip, per person).
  • $95 annual fee.

Capital One® Spark® Miles for Business Card

  • 50,000 miles (worth a $500 statement credit) after $4,500 in purchases in the first 3 months. See link for details.
  • Flat 2X points per dollar spent on all purchases with no limit.
  • $0 annual fee for the first year, then $95.

Alaska Airlines Visa Business Card (Bank of America)

  • 60,000 Alaska miles + Companion Fare Voucher after $3,000 in purchase within 90 days. Limited-time offer. See link for details.
  • Companion fare voucher is “Buy one ticket, get one for $121” ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from just $22).
  • Free checked bag on Alaska flights for you and up to six other passengers on the same reservation.
  • $50 annual fee for company, plus $25 per card.

* Note: 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 on your credit report within the past 2 years. This rule applies on a per-person basis, so if you are new, you might want to start with those Chase cards.

Filed Under: Credit Cards, Deals & Offers
Last updated: October 15, 2021
My Money Blog has partnered with CardRatings and Credit-Land for selected credit cards, and may receive a commission from card issuers. 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.

Hawaiian Airlines World Elite MasterCard Review: 80,000 Bonus Miles + First Checked Bag Free

October 11, 2021 By Jonathan Ping Leave a Comment
My Money Blog has partnered with CardRatings and Credit-Land for selected credit cards and may receive a commission. All opinions expressed are the author’s alone, and has not been provided nor approved by any of the companies mentioned.

(Update: The sign-up bonus for this consumer card is now up again slightly to 80k total Hawaiian miles, and the business card version is now up to 90k total Hawaiian miles.)

The Hawaiian Airlines World Elite MasterCard is the official co-branded consumer card with perks like Hawaiian miles for purchases, a free checked bag, and companion ticket discounts. Right now there is a limited-time offer of up to 80,000 bonus miles. Here are the highlights:

  • Up to 80,000 bonus miles. 60k after $2,000 in purchases within 90 days + additional 20k after $4,000 in total purchases within the first 6 months.
  • One-Time 50% Off Companion Discount for roundtrip coach travel between Hawaii and North America on Hawaiian Airlines.
  • $100 annual companion ticket discount each year for roundtrip travel between Hawaii and North America on Hawaiian Airlines.
  • Free first checked bag on Hawaiian Airlines flights book with card (primary cardholder only)
  • 3X miles for every $1 spent on purchases made directly from Hawaiian Airlines
  • 2X miles per $1 spent on gas, dining, and grocery store purchases, and 1X mile per $1 spent on every other purchase.
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • $99 annual fee

ShareMiles. A unique feature of Hawaiian Airlines is that with this card, they allow you to receive Hawaiian miles from other members without a fee. This is handy if your family members have a few miles here and there, as you can now pool them all together to reach an award level.

Domestic award travel discount. These are from their standard award chart to help you value these miles if you don’t have this card:

  • Interisland flights: 7,500 miles one-way (SuperSaver), 10,000 (Saver), and 15,000 (Flex)
  • Hawaii to Mainland US roundtrip in Coach: 40,000 miles roundtrip (SuperSaver), 60,000 (Saver), and 80,000+ (Flex)
  • Hawaii to Mainland US roundtrip in First Class: 80,000 (Saver), and 160,000+ (Flex)

However, if you do have a Hawaiian Airlines card, then you can receive certain discounts:

  • Interisland flights: 8,500 miles one-way (Saver), and 12,500 (Flex)
  • Hawaii to Mainland US roundtrip in Coach: 35,000 miles roundtrip (SuperSaver), 50,000 (Saver), and 60,000+ (Flex)

As you might expect, grabbing a SuperSaver award seat means that you’ll have to book early as there are only a limited amount of such seats available per flight. They often also involve a layover on another island, which adds a few couple hours to your total travel time. Still, if you are flexible with your flight times, I have reliably been able to redeem my Hawaiian miles for a flight with a value around 1 cent per mile.

There is also a business card version of this card, the Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Business Mastercard.

Bottom line. The Hawaiian Airlines World Elite MasterCard offers a unique set of perks for regular customers of Hawaiian Airlines, including miles for purchases, free checked bags, and companion ticket discounts.

I don’t receive any commission for this updated offer. I will be adding this offer to my ongoing list of Top 10 Best Credit Card Bonus Offers.

Filed Under: Credit Cards, Deals & Offers
Last updated: October 18, 2021
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