Citi ThankYou® Preferred Card $250 Bonus Review

by Hu$tler on May 16, 2012

in Credit Card bonuses

The Citi ThankYou® Preferred Card is offering 25,000 bonus points after making $2000 in purchases within the first 4 months. The 25,000 bonus points is worth $250 in gift cards to retailers like Gap, Banana Republic, Bed Bath & Beyond, CVS Pharmacy, Land’s End, etc. The card has no annual fee.

With no annual fee, there is no cost for keeping this Citi card. You get some of the best cardholder privileges for free. The 25,000 bonus points, redeemable for $250 gift cards, is worth applying for the card alone. Your regular variable APR will be 12.99%, 16.99% or 22.99%, depending on your credit score.

Card Features:

  • $250 gift card – When you redeem the 25,000 bonus ThankYou® Points received after $2000 in purchases within 4 months of account opening.
  • Earn 1 point for every $1 you spend on all purchases
  • Receive an anniversary bonus every year you’re a cardmember
  • No expiration and no limit on the points you can earn
  • Redeem ThankYou Points for merchandise, travel rewards, gift cards, cash and more
  • No annual fee*

You will earn 1 point for every $1 spent for all your purchases on this card. Your points won’t expire as long as you make at least one purchase every 12 months.  Earn 200 additional points by enrolling in Account Online and signing up for Paperless Statements. They also have over 400 retailers to shop from to earn more points through their  ThankYou Bonus Center. For being a loyal cardholder, there is an Anniversary Bonus each year up to 3% which is calculated as a percentage of ThankYou Points earned from purchases during that year.

The ThankYou points can be redeemed for gift cards, music, cash, electronics, etc, through the Citi ThankYou network.  There are many options to choose from such as flights, hotels, travel certificates, baby products, health products, sporting goods, and books. For those that want cash redemption, you need 8,000 points to get a $50 check.

Another perk with Citi is their Private Pass, which gives you exclusives access to concerts, restaurants, sporting events and more. You will get full retail purchase protection which guarantee you against against theft, fire or accidental breakage of up to $1,000 for up to 90 days from the date of purchase. The Citi ThankYou Preferred card gives you extended warranty up to one more year and price protection up to 60 days. You will also get Auto rental insurance for renting a car with this Citi card.

You will feel secure and protected with their credit card security services. They offer excellent security benefits such as $0 Fraud Liability Protection on unauthorized purchases, identity theft solutions, personal photo on card option, fraud and security protection services, lost or stolen card reporting, emergency cash or card replacement, various internet account services, and many more.

Overall, you will find the Citi ThankYou Preferred Card to be one of the best cards with 25,000 bonus points. Cardholders enjoy all the benefits such as retail purchase protection, price protection and extended warranty on the things you purchase. The no annual fee is just icing on the cake, not to even mention all the benefits and privileges for free.

Check out our complete credit card bonuses list!

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Cash Back Rebate Shopping Strategy & Bonuses

by Hu$tler on May 16, 2012

in Free Random Money

As you know, there are many cash back rebate shopping sites. You should definitely take advantage of these sites if you shop online at all. They give you 1% to 30% cash back just by shopping through their portal. For example, my favorite shopping portals are Mr. Rebates and Big Crumbs. For Mr. Rebates, they even give you $5 bonus just for signing up(you must make at least one purchase). A lot of these sites have $5 or $10 bonus for new members. The strategy here is to sign up all of them, make the one purchase requirement, and get the bonus on top of the cash back.  However, some sites required the minimum $10 to cash out by Paypal or check. Then use your account to refer your wife/husband, kids, family members, friends, etc to get more referral bonuses. You could make hundred of dollars in referral money.

Instant Cash Bonus Referral

  1. Mr. Rebates – $5 bonus for signing up. You can earn 20% of your referred friend’s cash-back rebates on every purchase they make through Mr. Rebates (at no cost to them). You get that extra 20% for every purchase your referred friend makes.
  2. Ebates – $10 gift card or $5 bonus with one purchase requirement. You must have $5 minimum to cash out and every referral earn you a $5 bonus. From now until 6/30/2012, refer 3 new members for an extra $30 bonus.
  3. Shopathome – $5 bonus for signing up, $5 for the referrer. $20 balance to cash out.
  4. Extrabux – No sign-up bonus for new members. However, you get $5 for every new member that you refer. $10 for payout.
  5. QuickRewards – Place one shopping order, or if you’re short on cash, complete one survey on the site, and they’ll give you a bonus $3 to your account. Request it right away to PayPal if you’d like. Earn 5% for all referrals.

% Cash Back Referral

  1. BigCrumbs- Great for those that shop on Ebay since you get high cash back. Earn cash back up to 5 generations of referrals.
  2. BabyMint – Complete the online membership application (Referral Code 4981167). Tell a friend or family member about BabyMint and they will receive 5 BabyMint Bucks when they join. After they earn at least $25 in their BabyMint account, you too will receive 5 BabyMint Bucks TM in your account. 1 BabyMint Buck = $1.

Other Popular Reward Sites

  1. UPromise – great site for college saving. Cash back for offline available. Special programs for parents to save up for their children college fund.
  2. MyPoints - Earn points by visiting sites, signing up for offers, taking surveys, and referring friends. Points can be redeemed for merchandise.

The Chase Hyatt Credit Card is offering two Free Night Awards(worth up to $1800) after your first purchase. The two Free Night Awards are valid for use for any available standard room within one year from issuance at any Hyatt Hotel or Resort worldwide(even Category 5 & 6). They have no resort fees, no internet fees, no blackout dates, and no redemption fees. The two free night awards and all the benefits come with only a $75 annual fee.

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Discover Miles Card Review- Earn 20,000 Bonus Miles worth $200!

by Hu$tler on May 15, 2012

in Credit Card bonuses

If you’re looking for a no annual fee credit card that rewards you for spending on traveling and dining, look no further than the Miles by Discover® Card , which is currently offering 20,000 Bonus Miles for new cardmembers(Earn 10,000 Bonus Miles with every $2,000 in purchases within the first 6 months).  You’ll get 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 12 months. There is absolutely no annual fee with the Miles by Discover.

Allowing you to earn 1X mile for every dollar spent, this card offers no limit to the number of miles you can earn. Best of all, the Discover Miles gives you the ability to earn 2X miles when you use your card for travel (e.g. airline tickets, hotel rooms, car rentals, cruises, and vacation packages) and restaurant (e.g. full-service restaurants, cafes, cafeterias, and even fast food locations) purchases. Once your points stack up, you can redeem them with all the flexibility you need. Book your own travels and skip the in-house travel agent to avoid any usual restrictions and blackout dates. Would you rather do some shopping with your earned points? No problem; redeem your miles for cash or for gift certificates ($25 for every 5,000 miles).

Key Features:

  • Earn 10,000 Bonus Miles with every $2,000 in purchases within the first 6 months – up to 20,000 Bonus Miles
  • 1 Mile on every $1 you spend – Plus flexible redemption options like travel credits, merchandise, gift cards or cash
  • 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 12 months, then the variable purchase APR of 10.99% – 15.99%*
  • No restrictions on travel–fly on any airline, book any hotel or car, with no blackout dates
  • Travel benefits include secondary collision damage insurance when you rent a car with your Miles by Discover card
  • Discover is ranked #1 in customer loyalty–16 years in a row! (2012 Brand Keys Customer Loyalty Engagement Index report)
  • Great rewards with no annual fee, no rewards redemption fee, and no additional card fee
  • *Click apply to view rates, fees, rewards, limitations and other important information
With no annual fee, competitive interest rates, and a ton of rewards geared towards the traveler and diner, the Discover Miles should be in your wallet. Apply for your card today!

Find more credit card bonuses now!

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My Banking Direct Review – 1.15% APY Rate

by Hu$tler on May 14, 2012

in Bank deals & offers

My Banking Direct is offering a 1.15% APY rate on its money market account for balances of at least $5,000. A division of New York Community Bank, MyBankingDirect offers a promotional 1.15% APY for balances between $10K and $150K. The free online banking has no monthly service charges, free bill pay, and free ATM card. As with all Money Market Account, you’re limited to 6 of these withdrawals per month.

Pros:

  • High interest rate on MMA’s
  • Easy to open an account
  • Free Bill Pay

Cons:

  • Must request login information for their website
  • There’s a $5 monthly fee to link to outside bank accounts for ACH transfers from within account
  • Account number and routing number cannot be found online, and cannot be requested via email
  • The website is difficult to navigate

However, they do charge $4.95 per month to be able to use MoneyHQ in order to do ACH transfers from the account, with the lone initial funding exception. No cost if you initiate ACH transfer from another bank. As with all Saving accounts, anything over 1% is considered great these days. Check out other bank rates to see which one is worth your time.

Chase Preferred Sapphire Card is offering new cardholders 40,000 bonus points after you spend $3,000 in purchases within the first 3 months. With 40,000 bonus points, you can redeem for $500 towards airfare and hotel accommodations. The annual fee of $95 is waived for the first year of card ownership.

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Business Green Rewards Card from American Express Review – 5,000 Bonus Membership Reward Points

by Hu$tler on May 14, 2012

in Credit Card bonuses

The Business Green Rewards Card from American Express is offering 5,000 bonus Membership Rewards points after you make your first purchase. It is a charge card, which must be paid in full each month, hence there is no pre-set spending limit or finance charges. With the purchasing power that evolves with your business, you can cover more expenses while earning points that you can use to reinvest in your business. Card members are enrolled in Membership Rewards with points that can use to pay for travel, business expenses, Amazon.com purchases, and more. There is also a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $95 for a full range of rewards and membership benefits.

Card Features:

  • Receive 5,000 bonus points on your first purchase
  • No pre-set spending limit* or finance charges
  • Earn one Membership Rewards® point for every dollar you spend
  • Redeem points toward top-tier rewards including travel, merchandise, office equipment, and gift cards for you or your employees
  • $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $95

You’ll earn 5K bonus points with your first purchase which can be used on travel, business expenses, and more in their Membership Rewards program.  It offers 1 point for every dollar you spend on purchases, 2 points for every dollar you spend with American Express Travel, and up to 10 points for every dollar when you shop over 300 brands online at membershiprewards.com/earn. There is no limit to the points you can earn, and points don’t expire.

With membership points, you can book flights on any airline, without blackout dates or seat restrictions. Either pay down your statement balance or shop with points at Amazon.com. Get gift cards from leading brands and restaurants or use points at Ticketmaster to purchase tickets for concerts, theater, sports, and more.

Extended Benefits:

  • BAGGAGE INSURANCE PLAN -Travel in comfort knowing you can be covered by the Baggage Insurance Plan when you purchase your Common Carrier Conveyance (plane, train, ship, helicopter, or bus) on your eligible Card.
  • CAR RENTAL LOSS & DAMAGE INSURANCE -Simply use your eligible Card to reserve and pay for an auto rental and decline the collision damage waiver at the rental counter. As a Cardmember you can be covered if the car is damaged or stolen.
  • GLOBAL ASSIST HOTLINE -Guarantees you 24/7 medical, legal, financial, and emergency assistance when you’re more than 100 miles from home.
  • ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE -Guarantees you 24/7 help, when you’re more than 50 miles from home-whether you’ve got a flat, empty tank, or need a tow to the nearest garage.
  • Purchase protection -Can protect eligible purchases made with the Card against accidental damage and theft for up to 90 days from the date of purchase. The coverage is limited to $1,000 per occurrence, up to $50,000 per Cardmember account per calendar year, and is in EXCESS of other sources of indemnity.
  • Return Protection -If a store or vendor won’t return an eligible item you purchased with your Card, we may refund your purchase price up to $300 per item (excluding shipping and handling), up to $1,000 per account each year.
  • Extended Warranty -Can extend the terms of the original U.S. manufacturer’s warranty for up to 1 additional year on eligible purchases with warranties of 5 years or less, when the purchase is charged to the Card. Coverage is limited to the actual amount charged to your Card for the item or up to $10,000; whichever is less not to exceed up to $50,000 per Cardmember account per calendar year.

American Express will protect your identity with Fraud Protection Guarantee against fraudulent use of your American Express Card. If your identity may have been stolen, they will sort things out right away. Any unauthorized charge will be investigated and you are not responsible for paying until your case is resolved. They offer the tools and the representatives that can help support your business when you need them. With 5,000 bonus points for first use and no annual fee for the first year, it’s easy to give the Business Green Rewards card a try for your business.

Disclaimer: This content is not provided or commissioned by American Express. Opinions expressed here are author’s alone, not those of American Express, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by American Express. This site may be compensated through American Express Affiliate Program.

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Best Bank Rates Nationwide, May 2012

by Hu$tler on May 14, 2012

in Bank deals & offers

The following savings accounts are available to everyone. Make sure to read their terms and conditions in order to get the high rate. Find the best bank rate available nationwide!

Bank or Credit UnionAPYTermsHard InquiryReview
TIAA Direct1.25%$25 min to openYesReview
MyBankingDirect1.15%$5000 min to openYesReview
FlagStar1.15%4 month guaranteedYesReview
EverBank1.05%6 month guaranteedYesReview
Acacia Federal1.00%direct deposit or 3 billpaysYesReview
Salem Five Direct1.00%Guaranteed til AugustYesReview
Barclays1.00%$0 min to openYesReview
Alliant CU Savings0.95%Join local PTA to qualifyYesReview
Incredible Bank0.93%$2500 min to openYesReview
SFGI Direct Savings0.91%$500 min to openNoReview
OneUnited Bank0.90%$1000 min to openNoReview
ING Direct0.90%$100K or moreNoReview
Clear Sky Savings0.85%No fee, $1 to openNoReview

The rewards checking accounts of up to $25K will only be listed below with the exception of Consumers Credit Union and INOVA Federal Credit Union. They offer customers a high yield typically up to $25K for meeting certain monthly requirements. They include 10 debit purchases, direct deposit/ACH transfer, and sign up for e-statements. Click on the details for each bank to see all requirements.

Bank or Credit UnionRate: APY1 Year EarningsMaximumReview
Consumers Credit Union4.09%$409$10kReview
INOVA Federal CU3.00%$600$20KReview
ABCO Federal CU2.52%$630$25KReview
Provident CU2.26%$565$25KReview
Community Bank of Raymore2.01%$502$25KReview
Community Bank of Pleasant Hill2.01%$502$25KReview
Connexus Credit Union2.00%$500$25KReview
Bank of Blue Valley2.00%$500$25KReview

The American Express Premier Rewards Gold Card is offering 25,000 membership rewards points for spending $2,000 within the first 3 months. The 25,000 bonus membership rewards points can be redeemed for $250 gift cards of your choice. There is no annual fee for the first year, a saving of $175.

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Chase United MileagePlus Explorer Card 40,000 Bonus Miles & Loaded Benefits

by Hu$tler on May 13, 2012

in Credit Card bonuses

United merger with Continental has announced a vastly improved Chase United MileagePlus Explorer Card with loaded benefits + up to 40,000 bonus miles. The new Chase United MileagePlus Explorer card is much better than its predecessor with bag check fees waivers for all cardmembers + one guest. You get priority boarding in which cardmembers and companions can board immediately after first-class and elite travelers. Another extra perk with the Chase United MileagePlus Explore includes free access to the United Club – a $100 value. Some other improvements with their frequent flier redemption policy include  no seat restrictions or blackout dates and all seats can be acquired with miles.

Here are the main features:

  • Earn up to 40,000 bonus miles
  • Earn 25,000 bonus miles after first use and 5,000 additional bonus miles after your first Card use and for adding an authorized user within two months of opening your account. Plus, earn 10,000 bonus miles when you spend $25,000 or more on your Card each calendar year.
  • Your first year is free Pay no annual fee for the first year you are a Cardmember, a $95 value.
  • Check your first bag for free
  • As a Cardmember, you and your companion can each check your first bag for free when you fly United and Continental-operated flights, up to a $50 savings per person round trip.
  • Enjoy priority boarding privileges – You’ll be invited to board your flight ahead of general boarding with priority boarding.
  • Visit the United ClubSM with two passes every year – Relax in style before your flight and enjoy complimentary snacks, beverages and Wi-Fi.
  • Earn double miles on United purchases*
  • Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on tickets purchased from United or Continental and 1 mile per $1 for everything else.
  • Your miles don’t expire – Your miles don’t expire as long as you are a Cardmember with no limit to the number of miles you can earn.
  • Receive access to exclusive events – Enjoy exclusive access to purchase once-a-lifetime experiences from Inside Access from Chase.
  • Enjoy the assurances of better protection – Spend and travel without worry with the suite of exceptional purchase and travel protection benefits that come with your Card.

You will find the Chase United MileagePlus Explorer to be a top notch card and extremely beneficial.  With the abundant of sign-up bonus miles, there is no annual fee for the first year and $95 thereafter. They want you to try it out for a year, and cancel at no cost as long as you do it before the one year anniversary. For the first purchase, you will net the industry standard 25,000 sign-up miles bonus. Simply add a second cardholder, at no cost, will net you another 5,000 bonus miles. Another 10,000 bonus miles can be earned every year if $25,000 is spent on the card. The last 10,000 bonus miles can be difficult if your spending is no more than $2000 per month. Apply for this awesome card today!

Check out our complete credit card bonuses list!

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Chase Ink Bold with Ultimate Rewards – Up to 50,000 Bonus Points = 2 Free Flights!

by Hu$tler on May 12, 2012

in Credit Card bonuses

Chase Ink Bold with Ultimate Rewards Business Card is now offering up to 50,000 Bonus Points- enough for two free flights in the continental U.S. Card members get 25,000 bonus points after first purchase and an additional 25,000 points for spending $10,000 within 3 months of card membership. The card requires you to pay off your balance in full each month along with flexible spending limits. The annual fee is waived for the first year, and $95 for future years.

In the past when I sell items on eBay and Craigslist, I have applied for a business card under sole proprietorship with my name as business ID and Social Security number as tax ID. The business card helps me tremendously when it comes to filing taxes.

Rewards Program

The 50,000 bonus points is worth $500 cash in real money, via statement credit or check. Some people prefer to get two free airline tickets worth up to $312.50 each ($625 total value). Cardholders can earn one point for every dollar that they spend on the card. With Ultimate Rewards Travel Booking Tool, you can earn 2 points for every dollar that you spend on airline tickets. Also, earn up to 10 points for every dollar that you spend on the Ultimate Rewards shopping mall with no expiration date.

Features:

  • Earn 25,000 Bonus Points after your first purchase – That’s $250 in rewards of your choice!
  • Plus, 25,000 additional bonus points after you spend $10,000 within 3 months of opening your account.
  • No limit in the number of points you can earn – and points do not expire
  • Earn 5X points per $1 on the first $50,000 spent annually at office supply stores, and on cellular phone, landline, internet, and cable TV services
  • Earn 2X points per $1 on the first $50,000 spent annually at gas stations and for hotel accommodations when purchased directly with the hotel
  • Earn 1X point per $1 on all other purchases, with no limits on how much you can earn- redeem your points for what you want through Ultimate Rewards
  • Points can be redeemed for unrestricted travel through Ultimate Rewards and just about anything else
  • Pay no foreign transaction fees when you use your card on purchases made outside the United States.
  • No Annual Fee the First Year – that’s a $95 savings!

More Benefits

Auto Rental Collision Damage is included whenever using the Chase Ink Bold for rental services. The insurance provides full collision and theft automotive coverage. Likewise, whenever you have a trip delay more than 12 hours, Chase will reimburse your meals, hotel rooms, and other expenses during your delay. Other benefits include Trip Cancellation Insurance(reimburses travel related items under certain circumstances), Travel Accident Insurance(reimbursement for up to $100K), and Lost Luggage Reimbursement. Concierge service is also provided with the Chase Ink Bold.

With the Chase Ink Bold being a Visa card, it is far more widely accepted business card than the American Express Business Gold card. I highly recommend the Chase Ink Bold with their competitive rewards program, exclusive perks, and great customer services.

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Fandango 2 For 1 Movie Tickets for All Visa Signature Card Holders

by Hu$tler on May 11, 2012

in Hot Deals

Every Friday Fandango offers 2 For 1 Movie Tickets for All Visa Signature Card Holders which sells movie tickets for AMC Theatres, Carmike Cinemas, Century Theatres, Cinemark Theatres, Edwards Theatres, Regal Cinemas and United Artists Theatres, as well as American Cinematheque, Brenden Theatres, and many more. The offer is good for every Friday until August 17, 2012. If you can go out on Friday, then make sure to get the $5 off $25 in Fandango Bucks gift cards for the rest of the week.

From the website:

Tickets must be purchased on a Friday for a Friday show time. Limit 1 movie ticket per Visa Signature card purchase, per 30 day period following the date of a purchase in connection with this offer.

Many cards with great sign-up bonuses are Visa Signature Card. Here’s a short list of Visa Signature cards below of the top bonuses:

Also, for less than $12 a year, you can join AMC Stubs to get your Fandango service fee waived. It’s a good deal if for those go see a lot of movies.

The Chase British Airways Visa Signature Card is offering up to 100,000 bonus Avios signup- that’s enough for a roundtrip business class trip! You’ll get 50,000 Avios points on your first purchase. If you spend $10,000 in the first year, you’ll get 25,000 more Avios. For spending $20K total in the first year, they will throw in an additional 25,000 Avios for a cool one hundred thousand bonus miles! However, it comes with a $95 annual fee.

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Chase Exclusives: 10% Extra Cash Back + 1% Mortgage Cash Back Program

by Hu$tler on May 11, 2012

in Bank deals & offers

There is a little known program called Chase Exclusives whereas Chase checking account customers get special bonuses to holders of select credit cards. Those with a Chase Freedom card($100 bonus) or Ink Bold card(50K points bonus) + a Chase checking account($200 bonus offer details), you are eligible for Chase Exclusives. Usually it takes 1-2 months for opening the credit card to have Chase Exclusives to begin automatically, but just give them a call to have the Chase Exclusives process expedited.

Benefits of Chase Exclusives:

  • 10% Extra Cash Back + 10 cents per purchase on Chase Freedom – For those with the Chase Freedom Visa card($100 bonus), you’ll get cash back with up to 5% cash back on rotating categories and 1% back on everything else. E.G. Cardholders get 5% back on all purchases at grocery stores (up to $75 cash back a quarter based on $1,500 in purchases). By having a Chase checking account, you will get an additional 10 points + 1 extra point for every $10 in purchases. It’s the same as getting 1.1% cash back on regular purchases or 5.1% cash back on rotating categories.
  • Chase Ink Bold Business Card Bonus Promotion -  with up to 50,000 point signup offer for spending $10,000 in 3 months, the Chase Ink Bold Business Card has no Annual Fee for the first year. It offers 25,000 points after the first purchase, plus an additional 25,000 points when the cardmembers spends $10,000 within the first three months.. With a Chase checking account to get into Chase Exclusives, you’ll get 2 points per $1 on the first $50,000 spent annually at gas stations and on hotel accommodations when purchased directly with the hotel. Chase Exclusives also offers all Chase Business Checking customers with a linked Ink from Chase card no monthly service fees on their Chase Business Checking account when they spend $1,000 on their Ink from Chase card each statement period.
  • 1% Mortgage Cash Back program – For those homeowners with a Chase checking account and a Chase mortgage, they earn 1% cash back on your mortgage payments (principal + interest). Make sure to open a Chase checking account first, then inquire about Chase Exclusives 1% cash back mortgage program within 60 days of closing. Find more details on Chase 1% cash back mortgage program by visiting their site.

With those three benefits alone, you’ll be sure to benefit from Chase Exclusives. They even allowed customers getting one checking account bonus per year, hence a lot of people recycle this process for an easy $200 every year. Apply for a Chase Freedom card today because it’s simply one of the best cash back credit cards out there today!

Chase Freedom Visa: This card offers a $100 bonus after $500 in purchases within the first 3 months. In addition, you will earn 5% cash back on categories such as gas, groceries, department stores, travel, etc. The categories change every 3 months with 5% cash back up to $1,500 in purchases each quarter. You’ll get 1% cash back on everything else with no minimum purchase or rebate caps. Best of all, there is absolutely no annual fee!

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