Discover® More® Card - $50 Cashback Bonus® Credit Card Review

If you have a very good credit score and you are looking for good cash back programs, then you might want to get hold of the Discover® More® Card - $50 Cashback Bonus® credit card by Discover. This one offers $50 cashback when your purchases hit $599 during the first 3 months upon activation.

Cardholders will be able to ear a 5% Cashback Bonus through the rewards program when the credit card is used for gas, restaurants, movies, travel, and more. General purchases can also earn you and all other purchases also get you a 1% Cashback Bonus automatically.

Discover also throws in an additional bonus with the Discover More Card with an opportunity to double up the cashback bonus when redeeming the rebates from Discover Card Partners for gift certificates. You do not have to worry about any annual limit on the rebates that you can earn. The rebates also do not expire as long as you keep the account active within a 3-year period.

The credit card also gives some platinum benefits in addition to the rewards program in place. This includes an accident insurance when you travel worth $500,000, coverage for auto rentals, fraud protection, and security protection. Of course there are also discounts for card holders for a lot of services and products when card holders avail of them at participating retailers and merchants.

Take note that the highest rebates will not be applicable to all purchases. The 1% rebate will only take effect when you spend over $3,000 in a year. This means that the actual rebate will be lesser than 1% and that depends on how much you spend using the credit card.

Thumbs up Features: 0% intro rate, no annual fee, double cash rebates when used with participating merchants and retailers.

Thumbs down Feature: Low interest rate is not available for all applicants

Important Rates and Fees information

0% Intro APR: this applies for all purchases within the first six months and 0% for balance transfers for the first year of the card

• Purchases APR: 12.99% minimum

• Cash Advance APR: 23.99%

• No Annual Fee and no fees for additional card holders

• Late payment fee: $19 for balances through $250 and $39 for balances over $250

• Cash Advance Fee: 5% for every cash advance; minimum of $10 and no max

Summary of Rewards Program

Rebate minimum of 0.25%, maximum of 5%

• Earn the 5% Cashback Bonus for spending on travel, restaurants, gas, movies, and more; all other purchases automatically earn 1%

• Inactivity of the account for 36 months may result into invalidity of portion or all of the cashback bonus

• Get the $50 Cashback Bonus when you spend at least $599 for the first three (3) months of your credit card

Other Features

You can personalized the design of the credit card
• Various services related to the account online
• Travel accident coverage of up to $500K
• Security and fraud protection services
• Insurance when you rent a vehicle
• Discounts for different services and products with participating retailers and merchants

VERDICT

Discover® More® Card - $50 Cashback Bonus® Credit Card is ideal for those who spend around $3,000 in a year (for the 1% cash rebate), those who want get double cash rebate by using their credit card with participating retailers, and those who actually pay in full every month after the expiration of the intro rate to avoid hurting their pockets with the finance charges.

Posted on 15th June 2010 by Randell in Cash Back Credit Cards - Comments (0)

Review of Discover® More® Card—Black Credit Card

The Discover® More® Card – Black is designed for people who have impressive credit ratings and who are looking to get huge rewards for it. A competitive credit card indeed, the Discover® More® Black lets card holders enjoy 5% Cashback Bonus® on specific purchasing categories, including travel, restaurants, movies, gas purchases, and more.
If you’re looking for a credit card which processes points immediately after your purchase, this is definitely the right card for you. Discover® More® Black lets you earn up to 1% on your general purchases and a maximum of 1% Cashback Bonus® on any purchase you use your card on.

Cardholders are also given the added benefit of earning a double Cashback Bonus® once they claim their rebates on gift certificates issued by participating partners of Discover® More® Card®.

The best part about this credit card is that it has no cap on the amount of rebates which can be claimed by a single card holder. Your rebates will also be valid as long as you’ve kept your card active during the 36-month-period. You don’t have to worry about expiring benefits again. Plus, the goodies don’t stop at the rewards program.

The Discover® Card® Black shares common perks with its Platinum sibling, including a maximum of $500,000 of travel insurance, fraud insurance, and auto rental insurance. The security system for this card is pretty impressive. Participating retailers and merchants will also give Discover® More® Card Black holders special discounts for every item they purchase.

The card is perfect for:
• Those who are planning to spend more than $3000 a year to earn the 1% cash rebate.
• Those who plan to use the card in participating retailers and merchandisers.
• Good little boy or girls who pay their monthly dues on time.

Word of caution
The highest cash rebate won’t be applied to all purchases made with the card. To enjoy the 1% cash rebate, you will have to spend $3000 first within one year. For other purchases made before the $3000 mark, less than 1% rebate will be given. For example, if you owned this card and spent $4000 with it, only $1000 will be given 1% cash rebate. This doesn’t include the promo 5% Cashback Bonus®.
Also, low interest rates are not given to all card holders. This will depend on your credit score.

Attractive card features: Probably what makes the card competitive over equivalents is the number of participating retailers and merchandisers who offer double cash rebates. With this card, you also get to enjoy a 0% introductory fee, and absolutely no added annual fees.

Posted on 14th June 2010 by Randell in Best Credit Card Offers - Comments (0)

TrueEarnings® Card from Costco and American Express

TrueEarnings AMEX Business Card

This is the second review of the The TrueEarnings® Card from Costco and American Express. You can find the first review here: http://www.dollarbanker.com/credit-cards/trueearnings-amex-business-card-from-costco-best-cash-back-card-for-costco/

The TrueEarnings® Card from Costco and American Express is one of a kind credit card that you will benefit from if you love shopping in bulk from wholesalers like Costco. American Express has collaborated with Costco to benefit credit card users and consumers in a lot of ways.

Here is a quick glimpse of the features of TrueEarnings® Card from Costco and American Express:

  • Earn cash back every time you buy something. You’ll get 3% for your first $3,000 of gasoline and 1% moving forward, 2% for travel, 3% for dining, and 1% for all the other stuff you purchase.
  • No need to shell out for any annual fee if you have paid for a Costco Membership
  • Two memberships in one. Your AmEx TrueEearnings Card also serves as your Costco Membership Card
  • 0% APR for 6 months
  • Fraud protection
  • It is more than a Costco Card

    Every time you buy at Costco using your Amex TrueEarnings credit card, you get a 1% cash back reward. You basically get something from what you take out of your pocket.

    What is great with this credit card is that the cash back rewards are not just limited to what you buy from Costco stores. You also get 2% cash back when you spend for hotels, airplane tickets, and car rentals using your TrueEarnings® Card from Costco and American Express.

    The TrueEarnings card also gives you additional coverage for damage or car rental loss. You don’t have to pay extra for this service since you automatically qualify for the insurance when you use your card for the car rental.

    Another bonus you can get when you use your TrueEarnings® Card from Costco and American Express is a 3% cash back for gasoline purchases. This is effective for your first $3,000 of gasoline purchases and is limited to 1% thereafter. It is still an excellent feature even with the restriction.

    Aside from the travel spending, gasoline purchases, and Costco shopping, the TrueEarnings® Card from Costco and American Express also gives you 3% cash back for all you spend while enjoying your favorite dish in your favorite restaurant.

    There are no limits on how much of cash back rewards you can earn. You can see the TrueEarnings® Card from Costco and American Express rewards adding up over time when you purchase regularly. It is safe to say that you will see your rewards grow exponentially.

    You can even get more cash back when you get an additional card member.

    Easy Credit Card Management

    TrueEarnings® Card from Costco and American Express comes with a line of tools that can help manage your account online. If you need to view your account statement, check your rewards, make payments, or transfer balances, you can do everything with a few clicks of a button.

    It is easy to set up payments to automatically pay for your cellphone, utility bills, and other recurring expenses. You can do whatever you need to do with your account 24×7 in the comfort of your own home, office, or even a coffee shop.

    The TrueEarnings® Card from Costco and American Express sends you an annual summary and monthly monitoring of your spending. How you spend your money every month is broken down into categories like dining, travel, entertainment, and others. This clear monitoring can help you a lot come tax season.

    Aside from the easy account management and no annual fees if you paid for your Costco membership, the TrueEarnings® Card from Costco and American Express gives you purchase protection which can extend up to 90 days. This coverage includes protection from accidental damage or theft.

    Verdict

    We recommend the TrueEarnings® Card from Costco and American Express to Costco members and non-Costco members alike. Aside from saving money buying in bulk you can enjoy a lot of rebates by using the credit card.

    Posted on 12th June 2010 by admin in Business Credit Cards - Comments (0)

    Discover® More® – Platinum Credit Card

    While the Platinum tag is a thing of the past, and the card goes with the $50 Cashback Bonus® name now, it retains all the privileges of the old Platinum card. You can probably get the most cash rebates and rewards with this credit card as long as you know how to use it properly. Compared to other credit cards in the market, the Discovery® More® Platinum Credit Card offers impressively high rebates in the following areas:

    • 5% on home improvement stores, airlines, car rentals, hotels and cruises
    • 5% and 20% rebates for over 100 stores online
    • Double rebated for select, redeemed gift cards
    • 0% introductory APR for purchases made on the first 6 months
    • 0% APR for up to a year of balance transfers
    • A rare 25-day grace period for payments
    • Extra security (a separate card number issued for online shopping)

    How the Regular Rebate Formula Works

    It is important to note that this card is a tiered credit card, so your cash rebate will depend on how much you purchase with it. If you spend well enough, you can earn up to 2% cash rebate on all of your purchases. The rewards will be computed based on your annual expenditures. For every 1,500 yearly expenses, you’ll get a 0.25% cash rebate.

    For $1500 to $3000 spent, you’ll earn 0.50% cash rebate. For expenses exceeding $3000, you earn an impressive 1% cash rebate.

    Seasonal 5% Rebates for Specific Categories

    The high 5% cash rebate will be applied to specific categories, depending on the calendar date. While they’re not applicable for all of your purchases throughout the year, if you buy from the right merchant at the right time, you’ll get to enjoy the cash rebate. For the first quarter of the year, you can earn 5% rebates on hotels, car rentals, cruises, and airlines.

    During the second quarter of the year, you can enjoy 5% rebates on fashion retailers and home improvement stores. For the third quarter of the year, the 5% rebate is given for gas purchases, theme parks and hotels. Lastly, the fourth quarter’s 5% cash rebate can be earned through grocery purchases, movie tickets, and restaurant expenses.

    Shop Discover Feature

    The platinum cars also works as a Shop Discover® Card. This means that you can earn anywhere between 5% and 20% cash rebate whenever you purchase anything from participating online stores using the card. Make sure that you use your separate card number for security purposes whenever you’re doing some online shopping.

    Take note, though, that you can log in to your Discover® More® account to shop with your card. Don’t go directly to the merchant’s website if you want to earn your points. Your credit card’s online account will let you navigate the same merchant pages, but transacting this way is more secure because Discover® More® can track your progress.

    The list of participating stores will be given to you once you get this credit card.

    Downside: This is not the card to use if you have a bad credit score. Just like its sibling, the Discover® More® Card Black, this is a credit card which rewards those who have impressive credit ratings. If you have a history of not paying your monthly dues on time, despite the generous grace period, this card won’t give you the best benefits.

    Posted on 11th June 2010 by Randell in Best Credit Card Offers - Comments (0)

    Discover® More®—Clear Credit Card

    If you have a clear slate on your credit card history, then there’s no reason for you not to get the Discover® More® Card—Clear. Of course, you also need to earn a minimum of $15,000 annually to own this card. Despite the seemingly stringent prerequisites, though, you’ll be happy to know that this credit card probably has the most flexible cash rebate system in the market.

    For starters, those who were lucky enough to have this card don’t need to pay additional annual fees. Discover’s Get More Program also allows holders to get rebated even from items they purchase on a daily basis. Depending on the season, you can get 5% cash rebate for purchasing gas, grocery items, or materials for your home improvement projects.

    You can also treat yourself to dinner, or go out of town with your partner and family, and enjoy the same cash rewards at the end of the day. Of course, as with other Discover® More® Cards, you need to schedule your expenses well to take full advantage of the Platinum card’s rotating 5% cash rebate promo.

    If you don’t wish to use the automatic cash back reward, you may also choose to double your rewards by asking for gift certificated from participating merchants, instead. There are currently 60 popular brands which honor the Discover® More® Clear card.

    As with other Platinum cards, the Discover® More® Clear also allows you to enjoy a maximum of $500,000 worth of insurance for travel accident, fraud, and car rental accident. The cash rewards for this credit card aren’t limited per year, so you can earn as many rebates as you want, for as long as you want. The only catch is that you need to keep your credit card active for 36 months.

    Like – Flexible cash rewards and low interest rates for holders with good credit scores

    Dislike – This card only benefits those with high, or at least clear credit scores.

    Posted on 9th June 2010 by Randell in Best Credit Card Offers - Comments (0)

    Discover® More® Card—Monogram

    If you just can’t do away with style, even in your credit card, and that style just needs to go with impressive cash rebates, you need to get a Discover® More® Card – Monogram. This credit card lets you earn cash rebates from popular purchase categories, without, of course, forgetting about the flair. You can personalize the design that’s going to be printed on the face of your card. Your initials will also be displayed in front of it.

    If you think that the Monogram is all about face-value (pun intended), you’re wrong. The cash rewards you’ll get when you use this credit card is real and very practical. You can earn 5% cash rebates whenever you purchase plane tickets, cruise tickets, movie tickets, and the like. Of course, the 5% Cashback Bonus rotates throughout the year. This means that if you want to take advantage of your card fully, you should try to schedule your expenses.

    For example, the Discover® More® 5% Cashback Bonus for the first quarter of the year can be earned by purchasing travel tickets, hotel rooms, and cruises from participating merchants. The 5% cash rebate from restaurant expenses, hotel stays, theme parks, and home improvement will be scheduled some other time of the year. A table of the 5% cash rebate will be given to holders of this card.

    While you don’t actually get to plaster your own design on the card, several stylish card designs are available for you to choose from. What’s more, you can enjoy double rebates whenever you use gift certificates from participating partners of Discover® More®. Aside from the absence of any annual fees, you get to enjoy 0% balance transfer and purchase interest rates for the first six months.

    Several benefits shared with the Platinum card are also offered. This includes a maximum of $500,000 auto rental, travel accident, and/or fraud insurance. The card also has impressive security protection features, including a separate number for online transactions.

    To enjoy the 1% cash rebate, though, you will have to spend more than $3000 a year. The cash rebates before the $3000-mark will be rewarded accordingly, using a tiered system.

    Thumbs up: The most unique and attractive feature of this card is the fact that you can customize its appearance. The cash rewards system, on the other hand, is pretty standard with other Discover® More® credit cards.

    Thumbs down: The only downside to this credit card is the fact that its low interest rate can’t be offered for all card owners. You need to have an impressive credit rating to own this card.

    Posted on 9th June 2010 by Randell in Best Credit Card Offers - Tags: Business Credit Cards - Comments (0)

    The Biodegradable Discover® More® Credit Card Review

    If you’re concerned that all those plastic credit cards are doing more damage to the planet, you can be environmentally friendly without missing out on the perks of Discover® More® Biodegradable Card’s credit benefits. Do this by getting the Biodegradable Discover® More® Card. What makes this credit card unique is that it’s the first and possibly the only green credit card available in the market today.

    Let’s begin with the credit card itself. The Biodegradable Discover® More® Card lives up to its name, and is 99% biodegradable after five short years of being in a landfill or compost. Because you’re concerned about the environment, Discover® More® will also reward you with 5% cash rebates on popular purchase categories, like movies, gas, restaurants, travel, and other items.

    For other purchases, you’ll get to earn a generous 1% cash rebate. You can also get Double Cash Rebates using the Cashback Bonus® whenever gift checks you’ve issued from Discover® More® partners are redeemed. These rebates also have no annual limit, and will not expire as long as you’ve kept your credit card active for the next three years.

    If you think that’s already too good to be true, you’ll be pleasantly surprised with what comes next. With this credit card, you can enjoy 0% interest rates on all purchases and balance transfers for the first six months. If that doesn’t have you shopping for (earth-friendly) goodies, nothing will. To recap, below is a summary of all of the card’s pros and cons.

    Good news: It’s biodegradable, gives 5% cash rebates on popular purchase categories, and 1% cash rebate on all other purchases. It has no annual rebate limit as long as your card was actively used during the 3 year term, and you don’t have to pay interest rates on purchases and balance transfers for the first six months.

    Bad news: You shouldn’t be delayed in your monthly payments. The card has no stated grace period for payments, and the penalty is pretty hefty, amounting to 29.99% APR.

    Posted on 9th June 2010 by Randell in Best Credit Card Offers - Comments (0)

    Zync from American Express (SM) Credit Card Review

    American Express launched a few months ago the Zync from American Express (SM) which pushes for a line of customizable credit card benefits for card holders.

    Overview

    The Zync from American Express (SM) is specifically designed for the hip young urban crowd who do not want to bring with them the AMEX of their parents.

    The Zync credit card is like the usual American Express which requires payment of your due every end of the month and it does not have a pre-determined spending limit. This saves you the worry of paying for interest and going over your credit limit.

    The marketing material used by American Express for the Zync credit card uses a language that can be understood by everyone, even by those who are not so familiar yet with personal finance. It also focuses on building a good credit history.

    The rewards program of the credit card can also be customized to fit your need. It offers points for expenses in four different areas when individuals apply for the credit card.

    How the Zync from American Express works

    Zync allows CardMembers to select from 4 varying “packs” with each offering 2x the rewards for the different categories and giving you options on how you can spend the rewards you get. For every credit card, you will be able to get one point for each dollar you spend. You will also be able to take advantage of 3x the rewards points when you buy through 250 online partner retailers via the Bonus Points Mall.

    The card comes with an annual fee of $25. The 3 of the 4 packs charges $20 each. The Eco credit card has no options and will allow card holder to get 2x the rewards points when you use it with participating green merchants.

    Rewards

    The Zync card offers different packs:

    Go Pack – This is ideal for those who travel a lot. The card will give you 2x the rewards points when you spend for airfare and it also comes along with a nice set of travel-related benefits.

    Social Pack – Earn double the regular rewards points when you use the card for events and when you dine out at your favorite restaurants. It also gives you special access to tickets for events even before the general public gets to know about them.

    Connect Pack – If you are the kind of spender who charges a lot for the internet, cell phone, or other communication related services then you will enjoy this Zync pack which gives 2x the rewards points for this kind of purchases. You can get mobile devices from mebershiprewards.com and you will be able to save 25% less of rewards points for your purchase. This means you can stretch your rewards points farther.

    Eco-Pack – This pack is meant for those who want to incorporate something green with their spending. This one has no annual fee, but it pushes for a lot of benefits. You can earn twice the rewards points for purchases you make with participating green merchants as selected by the Greenopia. You can also get 25% discounts on points you use when you buy eco-friendly stuff at membershiprewards.com/eco. You also get tips on how to live green via Greenopia’s Eco-concierge. American Express also buys a dollar’s worth of carbon offsets from the TerraPass for every Eco-Pack membership sold.

    Benefits

    Looking at the 4 different packs, the Go pack offers the most number of added benefits:

    • Card holders will be signed up for the Credit Card Registry that gives assistance for Emergency Passport Replacement and reimburses up to $25,000 for fraudulent charges.

    • You also get as much as 25% discount when you rent a car from Budget or Avis.

    • Save as much as 20% on fees when you rent a vehicle from Hertz. This also comes with 2 days free use of a GPS when you rent the car for at least 3 days.

    • When you reserve for AMEX Vacation packages through 2010 , you will be able to get $50 credit.

    All of the four cards have these benefits:

    You get access to the online bills payment system, track spending via online graphs, and automatic payments.

    • You can download you spending info to MS Money, MS Excel, or QuickBooks.

    • When you purchase an item with a warranty of up to 5 years, you can extend the warranty of up to a year.

    • Get purchase protection and return protection.

    • No deductible guarantee on fraud protection.

    • 24 hour roadside courtesy assistance and insurance for your car rental

    • When you are about 100 miles from your home, you will have access to their Global Assist Hotline.

    Thumbs up features: You are able to select the categories where you can earn double the rewards points; benefits of having an AMEX credit card; online features to help you manage your finances; reputation of American Express.

    Thumbs down features: The cards have an annual fee of $45 each except for the Eco Pack; Other credit cards may offer more generous rewards points system; no option for cash back.

    Verdict

    The Zync from American Express is ideal for those who want the freedom to customize their benefits. If you do not mind paying your balance in full each month, then Zync is packed with the benefits you might be looking for in a credit card.

    The Travel Pack being offered also gives you the most value considering the $25 extra they charge for the different packs of the Zync Credit Card from American Express.

    Posted on 5th June 2010 by Randell in Best Credit Card Offers - Comments (0)

    Review of Discover® More® Card—American Flag

    If you want to show your patriotism every time you bring out your credit card, you might want to get a Discover®  More® - American Flag edition. This, however, is exclusively for people who have impressive credit ratings. Despite the stiff requirements, the rewards from this card are worth it. You’ll get to have Platinum membership benefits with the American Flag Edition of Discover® More®.

    For starters, when you get this card, you won’t have to worry about annual fees. The card also has a nice feature called the 5% Cashback bonus. In other words, you get to have rotating cash rebates for certain purchase categories on the list. For every item that you spend your money on, you’ll get points (5% if you’re on the right purchase category) which you can use to treat yourself later on.

    Of course, you will have to follow a few rules if you want to get your reward. For example, you’ll have to make sure that you pay your credit card dues on time, otherwise, you’ll end up paying hefty fees for being late with your payments. Also, you’ll have to spend more than $3000 annually if you want to take advantage of the 1% cash rebate on all other purchases which don’t fall under the 5% cashback bonus promo for that season.

    The best part is that all of these points don’t expire. There’s also no maximum number of points you can earn when you use your credit card. As long as you keep your credit card active, you can earn points for as long as three years. You can also earn as many points as you want as long as you pay your credit card dues on time.

    What’s the catch? We’re not quite sure yet, but we do know that the American Flag Edition of Discover® More® gives other Platinum benefits including a generous ceiling of $500,000 for travel insurance, car rental insurance, and fraud. You’ll also get the necessary security features, including zero liability should your credit card be used for transactions which you did not authorize.

    Posted on 1st June 2010 by Randell in Business Credit Cards - Comments (0)

    Miles Credit Card by Discover Card

    The Miles Credit Card by Discover Card is designed for those with good credit who want to take advantage of earning points for their purchases to exchange for travel rewards. Every dollar you charge to this card for your purchases will earn you one mile.

    Through Discover’s travel rewards program, cardholderscan gain double miles through $3,000 restaurant and travel purchases. You will also earn a mile for every dollar you spend for general purchases.

    Cardholders can redeem their miles do lower the airfare or cover for the entire cost of it when traveling with most US-based airlines. You can also exchange the miles for gift cards that you can use purchasing from fifty brand-name partners or you can redeem it as cash.

    During the first year of the card, cardholders will be earning 1,000 miles as bonus every month that they use the card. That is a clear 12,000 bonus miles for the first year if you at least use the card every month. The maximum miles you can earn annually is 60,000 miles. The miles will not expire as long as the account will be active within a 3-year period.

    Like the other credit cards of Discover, the Miles Card also provides platinum benefits to card holders. You will be able to get coverage when you rent vehicles, get travel accident insurance of as much as $500,000, and other online account related features.

    The Miles credit card by Discover offers a 0% introductory interest rate for purchases and if you want to transfer any balance from your other credit cards for its first six months. There is also no annual fee. The APR is pretty competitive but take note that the better your credit score is, the better rate you will receive.

    Thumbs up features: no annual fee; 0% intro rate; bonus miles; rewards program.

    Thumbs down feature: the low rates are not available to everyone

    Fees and Cost

    • No annual fee
    • 0% intro rate for purchases and also balance transfers for the first six months
    • 11.99 through 19.99% APR for purchases
    • 23.99% APR for Cash advance and Penalty Default interest rate
    • $0.50 minimum finance charge
    • Cash advance fee is 3% or minimum of $5
    • Over the credit limit fee is $15 for balances through $15 and $29 for balances over $500; same fees apply for late payments made

    Summary of Rewards Program

    • Earn 1 mile for every dollar of spending
    • Get double miles for the first $3,000 of spending on travel purchases
    • For the first year of the account, card holders can get a maximum of 12,000 miles as bonus; that is 1,000 miles for every month the credit card is used
    • No blackout dates and restrictions for the redeemed miles
    • You can redeem the miles for cash rebates and gift certificates
    • The rewards do not have an expiration but inactivity for longer than 18 months may partially or completely forfeit the bonus

    Other Features

    • Car rental insurance
    • Up to $500K accidental insurance when you travel
    • Security protection services
    • Fraud protection
    • Online services related to your account

    Verdict

    The Miles by Discover credit card is ideal for those who want a flexible rewards program that can be used for travel without being limited to any in-house travel arrangements. This credit card allows you decide and plan out your travel itinerary.

    Posted on 27th May 2010 by Randell in Airline Miles Credit Cards - Comments (0)