Posts tagged rewards program
Chase Ink(SM) Bold with Ultimate Rewards(SM) $50 Cash Bonus
Sep 1st
The Chase Ink(SM) line of small business credit cards are excellent ways for start-ups to acquire a line of credit to help them grow. However, if you’re more interested in finding a card to make everyday purchases, simply for convenience, look no further than the Chase Ink(SM) Bold with Ultimate Rewards(SM) charge card. Charge cards, unlike credit cards, require the balance to be paid in full each and every month. Failure to do so could result in extensive penalties, including the closure of your account.
As an added bonus, signing up for the Chase Ink(SM) Bold with Ultimate Rewards(SM) will net you 5,000 bonus points after making your first purchases, which is enough for $50. In addition to the 5,000 bonus points, you also have the opportunity to earn an additional 47,500 every year! Here’s how:
- 7,5000 bonus points when you spend $25,000 annually on your card
- 15,000 bonus points when you spend $50,000 annually on your card
- 25,000 bonus points when you spend $100,000 annually on your card
Each tier level includes the first, so for example if you spend $50,000 next year on your Chase Ink(SM) Bold with Ultimate Rewards(SM), you would earn 22,500 in bonus points. This is in addition of course to their rewards program, where you’ll earn 2 points on all airfare purchases book through Chase Ultimate Rewards and 1 point on everything else. Quick math would suggest you can earn over 150,000 points a year by spending $100,000. Not too shabby.
Additional benefits of the Chase Ink(SM) Bold with Ultimate Rewards(SM) are that points never expire, the annual fee of $95 is waived for the first year of card ownership and additional cards for employees are free of charge.
To take advantage of this limited time bonus offer, visit the Chase Ink(SM) Bold with Ultimate Rewards(SM).
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This article written by Michael .
All content copyright Cash Money Life; if you are reading this on another website it has been illegally reproduced in violation of copyright laws.
Credit Card Rewards For The Faithful Consumer
Aug 30th
The companies Chase and Circuit City Stores have come up with an innovative and novel idea with its Chase Card Circuit City Rewards program. This is a relatively new program courtesy of these two companies with reputable backgrounds and it has the goal of enabling the Chase credit card users and giving them the chance to earn rewards for their purchases from Circuit City stores.
Citibank $50 Statement Credit Back To School Offer
Aug 14th
If you’re a student in need of a credit card, you’ll want to do your homework on which card is the best for you. Are you looking for a credit card with a low APR so you can carry a reasonable balance from month to month? Perhaps you’re the type of student that puts all of their purchases on a credit card and am looking for something with a great rewards program?
No matter the circumstances, Citibank has three excellent college student credit cards available and for a limited time, is offering a $50 statement credit, just for signing up and making $50 worth of purchases in the first 90 days. Details on the Citi Forward® Card for College Students, Citi mtvU™ Platinum Select® Visa Card for College Students and Citi® Dividend Select® Card for College Students are below.
- $50 statement credit when you make $50 in purchases within 90 days of being a cardmember.
- No cosigner required.
- No annual fee.
- Promotion ends September 30th.
- $0 liability on fraudulent charges.
- 0% intro APR on purchases for 7 months. Following the intro period, your APR adjusts to a variable 12.99% to 22.24% based on your credit history.
Citi Forward® Card for College Students – Cardholders can earn up to a 2% APR reduction if they pay their bill on time and keep their balance under the credit limit for three consecutive months. An initial bonus of 8,500 ThankYou® points are earned when you sign up for paperless statements and make at least $250 in purchases during the first three months. The Citi Forward® Card for College Students does not have an annual fee.
Citi® Dividend Select® Card for College Students - Students have the opportunity to earn 5% cash back on all purchases made at supermarkets, drugstores, gas stations convenience stores and utilities (including cable) for the first six months (1% thereafter). There are also rotating categories throughout the year that allow students to earn 2% cash back and the Citi® Dividend Select® Card for College Students does not carry an annual fee.
Citi® mtvU™ Platinum Select® Visa Card for College Students – Good grades can turn into good rewards with the Citi® mtvU™ Platinum Select® Visa Card for College Students as students can earn 4,000 bonus ThankYou® points for turning in A’s. 5 ThankYou® points are earned on all purchases made at restaurants, bookstores, record stores, movie theaters and video rental stores and just like it’s brethren, the Citi® mtvU™ Platinum Select® Visa Card for College Students does not have an annual fee.
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Citibank $50 Statement Credit Back To School Offer
Credit Card Rewards: Gainers and Losers
Aug 13th
If you are a credit card user, I am sure you love to use your cards and receive 1%, 2% or even 3% cashback. But have you ever thought about who actually pay for all those credit card rewards, cashbacks, points, miles, you are getting when you use a rewards credit card to buy stuff?
I haven’t, even though I am a credit card person. I use credit cards whenever and wherever I can because first, it’s convenient, then, I don’t have to pay the money back right away (sometimes it can be delayed more than a month depending on when the purchase is made and the card’s billing cycle), and, best of all, I can get at least 2% cashback of the amount I pay. With all these benefits, it’s just too hard to not to use the plastics. As for the above question of who pay for my rewards, I know I do because it must come from the payment made to the credit card issuers, right? And I make those payments.
Well, somebody just told me what I thought isn’t entirely true.
Yes, I make the payments to credit card companies and yes, the cashbacks I earned ultimately comes from me. But if digging a little deeper to the root of how credit card payment system works and and the credit card rewards program, it becomes clear that we, the credit card users, get the benefits (or the rewards) largely at the expenses of those who pay everything with cash, at least that’s what a report published last month says. In the report, Who Gains and Who Loses from Credit Card Payments? (PDF file), the authors concluded that
Merchant fees and reward programs generate an implicit monetary transfer to credit card users from non-card (or “cash”) users because merchants generally do not set differential prices for card users to recoup the costs of fees and rewards.
So this is how it works: For a store to accept credit cards, it has to pay the bank, the credit card issuer, a fee. Obviously, that fee is not going to be absorbed by the store. So it is passed along to its customers by increasing the prices of products or services it sells. The result is that people who shop at the store pay a higher price, with or without credit cards. And since nowadays most credit cards give at least 1% back to the cardholders for using the cards, the price increase is even bigger because banks will no give card users that 1% out of their own pockets. If you use a credit card with 1% cashback at the store, you at least get some of the increased cost back in terms of credit card rewards. For those who shop at the same store, but pay with cash, they don’t get anything back while still paying the same higher price as those who use credit cards do.
So how much advantage have we credit card users taken from cash users?
On average, each cash-using household pays $151 to card-using households and each card-using household receives $1,482 from cash users every year.
That’s a lot of money to get from others in one year, isn’t it? And
On average, and after accounting for rewards paid to households by banks, the lowest-income household ($20,000 or less annually) pays $23 and the highest-income household ($150,000 or more annually) receives $756 every year.
because low-income people usually use cash more and people with high income are more likely to use credit cards.
Now that you know where your credit card rewards come from, are you going to change the way you pay your purchases? Even though reading the report didn’t make me feel any better about using credit cards, but I guess I will keep using my cards. Breaking the habit isn’t easy. Plus I really like my cashbacks.
Photo credit: TheTruthAbout
Original Post on The Sun’s Financial Diary
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Credit Card Rewards: Gainers and Losers
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Fess Up to Your Addictions: How to Satisfy Them on a Frugal Budget
Aug 12th
This past year, I’ve turned into a bit of a frugal diva: I’ve devised a monthly budget that I stick to religiously, analyzed my spending through pie charts and graphs, and said "no" to things that I wanted to say "yes" to (like a trip to New York). However, there are just some things I can’t deprive myself of, like Starbucks coffee or dinner at Chili’s. But because I’ve become such a penny-pincher, I can’t bring myself to pay full price for these indulgences. So, I’ve been on a mission scouring the Internet for coupons, became a member of rewards programs, and kept an eye out for sales, discounts or less expensive options. Along the way, I’ve learned some tips that save me money and still let me splurge from time to time.
Revel in Rewards Programs
Working as a Starbucks barista 10 years ago has made me a life-long, loyal customer. However, I’m not one to spend my money recklessly, so their $4.00 drinks obviously don’t fit well into my budget.
My frugal solution is to satisfy my addiction for less: I became a Starbucks Gold Card member, which entitles me to free additions, such as syrups and choice of milk. Every 15th drink, I earn a free one. Because I’m there so often, this equates to two free drinks a month. I guess you could say there is a benefit for being a glutton.
Rewards programs such as these help reduce the damaging effects of spending money. For instance, I use my debit card for my day-to-day purchases. My financial institution offers a rewards program that allows me to earn points: 1 point for every $2.00 spent. A few times a year, I redeem my points towards cash gifts or gift cards. I easily make up the difference of the $25 annual fee the rewards program charges, and then some.
Coupons Equal Cash Savings
Why pay full price for something if you can find a coupon to help save a few bucks? That’s been my philosophy this past year. If there’s something I need, I first search for a coupon, usually online.
Recently, I needed to purchase a few new shirts since my old ones were becoming embarrassingly ratty. A local department store was having a one-day sale. I thought it would be a terrific opportunity to not only take advantage of the sale, but see if I could conjure up a coupon as well.
Lo and behold, I found a 20% off coupon online that could be used in conjunction with their sale prices, most which were already deeply discounted up to 50% off. Since I planned to only purchase a few shirts, I made sure to stick to my plan and not buy items I didn’t need. That can be one of the downfalls of coupons and deeply-discounted sales; it’s easy to get caught up in the low-ball prices and purchase excessively.
A Gaggle of Options
Thanks to the invention of the Internet, options are seemingly endless at the touch of your fingertips. Not long ago, hotel and flight options were limited to a few select name-brand entities. Today, however, it’s a completely different story.
My sister recently announced her engagement. Since she lives almost 3,000 miles east of me, I will obviously be traveling to her wedding. Luckily, I have a year to plan my trip, budget my money, and find the best deals on flights and a hotel. I recently became aware of a website where people rent out their apartments to travelers, called airbnb.com. For half the cost of a hotel room, I can rent an entire studio in Manhattan. According to previous traveler reviews, I should be able to find a nice place at a very reasonable price, something that would have been much more difficult to do 10 years ago.
There’s no need to completely deprive yourself of luxuries when you’re on a budget. Using some of these options to help save money and still fund some addictions or fun activities is just a smarter way to live.
AT&T Universal Savings and Rewards Card $50 Statement Credit
Aug 3rd
Citibank recently launched a new co-branded credit card with AT&T that offers great savings for AT&T customers, and also doubles as a calling card. If you were thinking about getting an iPhone, but were turned off by the cost of the service, then the AT&T Universal Savings and Rewards Card might be for you – considering you can receive a 10% discount per month for the first year, and additional discounts after that. Interest? Read on!
AT&T Universal Savings and Rewards Card $50 Statement Credit
Great rewards program: The AT&T Universal Savings and Rewards Card is a rewards credit card designed for people with a good credit history. Cardholderscan earn 1 ThankYou Points on every dollar spent on non-AT&T purchases through the ThankYou Network, up to 50000 points per calendar year, and 1 point per dollar spent on AT&T purchases. Points can be redeemed for various merchandise, travel, experiences, gift cards, and more.
Additional AT&T savings: Cardholders will also receive up to 10% savings for the first 12 months on eligible AT&T purchases.
Doubles as a calling card and other phone benefits: The AT&T Universal Savings and Rewards Card acts both as a credit card and a calling card. You may be able to find better calling card rates, depending on how you use it, but the card also comes with 2 free directory assistance inquiries per month, wireless phone loss and theft insurance, and up to 30 free phone minutes per month.
$50 statement credit. The AT&T Universal Savings and Rewards Card comes with a generous $50 statement credit when you spend $50 in eligible purchases within the first 3 months of owning the card.
Applying the savings to a new iPhone Purchase – Save $250 or more!
If you have been considering a new iPhone, then take a look at how the AT&T Universal Savings and Rewards Card can save you a considerable amount of money. First is the $50 statement credit, then you save 10% on AT&T purchases for the first 12 months, followed by 5% savings after the 12 months are over. So for an iPhone you could save over $250 or more!
- $50 on purchase (statement credit)
- $20 (10% off the purchase of iPhone 4)
- $120 (10% off monthly plan for first year, assuming $100/mo).
- $60 (5% off monthly plan for second year).
More AT&T Universal Savings and Rewards Card details
$50 Statement Credit after you make $50 in eligible purchases within the first 3 months of becoming a cardmember*- Save up to 10% on eligible AT&T purchases for the first 12 months**
- 2 free directory assistance calls and 30 prepaid calling minutes per month
- Zero liability on unauthorized purchases
- No annual fee*
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This article written by Ryan Guina. Ryan is the founder and editor of Cash Money Life. He is a writer, small business owner, entrepreneur, and professional in the corporate world. He served over 6 years in the USAF and also writes about military money topics at The Military Wallet.
All content copyright Cash Money Life; if you are reading this on another website it has been illegally reproduced in violation of copyright laws.
AT&T Universal Savings & Rewards Card $50 Bonus
Jul 31st
The AT&T Universal Savings and Rewards Card from Citibank, which was the first ever credit card I got more than 13 years ago, is a credit card that’s designed for those with good credit who desire a credit card with an excellent rewards program.
This card acts both as a credit card and a calling card, but those who choose to use the card for calls may find the rates high compared to other calling card services. However, the card does provide two free directory assistance inquiries per month, up to 30 free phone minutes per month, and wireless phone loss and theft insurance.
Through the rewards program, cardholders earn 1 point per dollar spent on AT&T purchases and one point per dollar on all other purchases. AT&T Spend and any other transactions do not qualify to earn ThankYou Points. Cardholders will also receive up to 10% savings for the first 12 months on eligible AT&T purchases. Points can be redeemed for various merchandise, travel, experiences, gift cards, and more. There’s, however, a limit on the rewards points you can accumulate in one year. The maximum number of points that can be earned per year is 50,000, and points expire in five years.
The card has no annual fee, and the APR for purchases and balance transfers is reasonable for those who plan to carry a revolving balance. However, there is a minimum cap for cash advances, which means that no matter how low the Prime Rate falls (the APR is tied to the Prime Rate), the interest rate will not go below the minimum cap.
In addition to the calling card benefits and the rewards program, the card offers a variety of platinum cardholder services that includes up to $1,000,000 in travel accident insurance, auto rental insurance, lost and stolen card reporting, and fraud protection services.
Therefore, those who plan to take advantage of the calling card feature, the rewards program, the introductory rate on balance transfers, and the additional platinum services will benefit most from what the AT&T Universal Savings and Rewards Card has to offer.
The following is a quick summary of the card’s main benefits:
- 1 ThankYou Point for each dollar spend on eligible purchases
- Save up to 10% on eligible AT&T purchases for the first 12 months
- 2 free directory assistance calls and 30 prepaid calling minutes per month
- Zero liability on unauthorized purchases
- No annual fee
Right now the AT&T Universal card is having a promotion to let you earn $50 statement credit after making $50 purchase within the first 3 months of becoming a card member.
Original Post on The Sun’s Financial Diary
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AT&T Universal Savings & Rewards Card $50 Bonus
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Citi Forward Card $200 Gift Certificate Promotion and More
Jul 26th
Here are some current credit card bonus promotions if you are looking for extra incentives when deciding which card to apply for:
- Citi Forward Visa Card will give you a $200 gift certificate to Restaurant.com if you use your Citi Forward Card to make at least $100 purchase between now and September 15, 2010. With the Forward Card, you can earn 5x ThankYou Points for every $1 spent at restaurants, on books, movies and music, and get 1 reward point for every $1 you spend on all other purchases. Besides, you can receive up to 2,500 when you sign up for Paperless Statements once you receive your new Citi Forward Visa Card. For more information about the card, check out my Citi Forward Card review. The card has no annual fee.
- Chase Freedom Card is offering $100 cash back bonus after spending $799 in the first three months after account opening. The Freedom Card is one that I wrote quite often here. The card has no membership fee and it allows you to earn as much as 5% cash back on selected categories that are rotated every quarter. The Freedom Card is part of Chase Ultimate Rewards program. The program has a discount offer of Home Depot and Kohl’s gift cards right now. You can buy a $25 gift card for only 2,000 rewards points. Usually, the same gift card costs you 2,500 points. See Chase Ultimate Rewards program review for details on rewards categories that are eligible for 5% cash back. The card has no annual fee.
- Costco AMEX TrueEarnings Card will let you get $25 statement credit after you use your new card to make the first purchase. With this card, you can enjoy 3% cash back on gas purchases or at restaurants 2% cash back on travel, and 1% cash back everywhere else, including at Costco if you are a member. The card has no annual fee.
- Bank of America Upromise Card will give you $25 bonus after you use your newly approved card to make the first qualified purchase. With the Upromise Card, you are able to earn 10% extra college savings on Upromise participating grocery and drug store items, 2% extra college savings on eligible gasoline purchases at Exxon or Mobil gas stations, and 1% college savings on all other purchases. Cash backs earned can be invested in Upromise 529 College Savings Plan. The card has no annual fee.
Original Post on The Sun’s Financial Diary
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Citi Forward Card $200 Gift Certificate Promotion and More
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Citibank $50 Back To School Offer
Jul 22nd
Citibank recently announced a $50 Statement Credit for new Citibank cardholders for any of their three most popular student credit cards, the Citi® mtvU™ Platinum Select® Visa Card for College Students, Citi Forward® Card for College Students, and the Citi® Dividend Select® Card for College Students. All three of these cards are good enough to be among the best student credit cards.
I don’t recommend credit cards for all students, but if you use credit cards responsibly, then getting a credit card while in college can be a good way to build your credit history and improve your credit score.
Citibank $50 Back to School Offer
All of these cards have a few common points, namely they don’t require a cosigner, which is required for many student credit cards due to the recent changes in the Credit CARD Act. Here are some of the other common features, followed by some of the card specifics:
- $50 statement credit when you make $50 in purchases within 90 days of being a cardmember.
- No annual fee.
- No cosigner required.
- $0 liability on fraudulent charges.
Citi® mtvU™ Platinum Select® Visa Card for College Students. The Citi® mtvU™ Platinum Select® Visa Card for College Students offers up to 4,000 ThankYou® Points annually for maintaining good grades (up to 2,000 per semester for straight-A’s). Students can earn 5 ThankYou® Points for all purchases made at bookstores, record stores, restaurants, movie theaters and video rental stores.
Citi Forward® Card for College Students. The Citi Forward® Card for College Students offers a unique rewards program, which separates it from the rest of the student credit card pack. Perhaps the most unique aspect is rewarding good credit behavior; The Citi Forward® Card for College Students allows cardholders to reduce their APR by up to 2% when you make on time payments each period and your balance remains below your credit limit. In addition, this card offers 8,500 bonus ThankYou® Points after signing up for paperless statements and making $250 in charges within the first three months.
Citi® Dividend Select® Card for College Students. The Citi® Dividend Select® Card for College Students offers a best in class cash back rewards program for certain categories, including 5% cash back at supermarkets, drugstores, gas stations & utilities for 6 months; 1% thereafter. Cardholders can also earn at least 2% cash back in popular rotating categories like restaurants, apparel, hotel and more. All other purchases earn a flat 1% cash back.
Use your card wisely. The $50 statement credit is a great bonus, and these card offerings are a solid option if you are looking for a new student credit card. Just make sure you use your cards wisely, and you can be on the path toward building a solid credit rating. This offer is good until September 30, 2010.
~$~
This article written by Ryan Guina. Ryan is the founder and editor of Cash Money Life. He is a writer, small business owner, entrepreneur, and professional in the corporate world. He served over 6 years in the USAF and also writes about military money topics at The Military Wallet.
All content copyright Cash Money Life; if you are reading this on another website it has been illegally reproduced in violation of copyright laws.
Visa Black Credit Card Review
Jul 20th
Billing itself as “The World’s Most Prestigious and Versatile Credit Card,” Barclays’ Visa Black Card has garnered a lot of attention in recent months. What does this card offer to its users and who can benefit the most from it?
If you like the idea of exclusive deals, then the Visa Black Credit Card might appeal to you. Barclay claims to limit this particular card to 1% of U.S. residents. And it’s made of patent-pending carbon, which makes it stand out from the plastic cards up for grabs elsewhere.
How much will this exclusivity cost you? You can expect to pay an annual fee of $495. Since this annual fee is substantially higher than run-of-the-mill credit cards, it’s worth noting that membership gives you access to a rewards program and 24-hour concierge service.
Visa Black Credit Card Review: Concierge Service & Rewards
First, the good: the concierge service can help you with travel arrangements, restaurant reservations, and more, whether you need it for your business or not. For instance, you can learn more about local events, arrange for gifts or flowers, set up conference services, and gain assistance in tracking down the right gifts.
This can be of help when you’re away from home or vacationing — you won’t have to pay extra for flaky Wi-Fi access or waste time hunting for a place to eat if you can call the concierge service. You can email in your requests if that’s easier than phoning, too.
As for the rewards program, how does 1% cash back on your purchases or airline points without blackouts or restrictions sound? To be honest, it may be hard to make up or justify the annual fee on this card unless you use it often. At any rate, you can redeem your rewards by logging into your account or by calling customer service for a Redemption Specialist.
For alternative cards that offer better rewards and/or no annual fees, check out this list of top rewards cards:
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For additional options, here’s where to check out some great cash back credit cards; most of these have no annual fee!
Visa Black Credit Card Terms
To sweeten the deal, the Visa Black Card offers luxury gifts and a Travel Lounge Priority Pass. If you spend a lot of time in the air, you’ll be able to stop by airport lounges in more than 100 countries, over 600 airport lounges total.
What about the APR? It’s going to be 13.24% at the account’s opening. Not necessarily the lowest rate card out there. The APR will vary based on the Prime Rate. For cash advances, the APR is 21.99%, variable based on the Prime Rate.
In the event you’re already carrying a balance on another card, you have the option of transferring that balance over to the Black Card. For six months, that balance won’t accrue any interest. After the introductory period, your APR for balance transfers will rise to 13.24% based on your credit history. Now if you’re interested in seeing other cards of this sort, here’s where to check out some top balance transfer cards.
Additional Benefits of the Visa Black Card
Book your travel fare with the Black Card and you’ll receive worldwide travel insurance worth $250,000, if your travel’s eligible. Afraid of losing your bags? There’s baggage delay insurance, which covers $100 a day for 3 days. And if you’re renting a car, there’s a collision damage waiver. No one expects trouble when they book their travel itinerary, but the Black Card has you covered with trip interruption/cancellation insurance.
Your purchases have some coverage, too. Purchase Security means that you have 90 days to make a claim on eligible items; you’ll see the item replaced or repaired, or you’ll be reimbursed, up to $500 per eligible claim. With the Warranty Manager Service, you’ll be able to access warranty registration and Extended Warranty Protection for things you purchase. For the Extended Warranty Protection service, that means your purchase’s original warranty period will be doubled, up to a year’s time.
Is this the right card for you? For the average consumer, it may be possible to find less exclusive credit cards with more favorable APRs, which is important if you tend to carry a balance. However, despite the substantial annual fee, you might be able to make the card pay for itself if you’re already predisposed to be a heavy duty credit user who pays off the balance each month.
I would suggest that you compare your credit cards against the services offered by this particular card. Will the upgrade in benefits justify leaving your other cards behind? Don’t forget to look over the Terms and Conditions, which will disclose the penalties as well as the benefits of the Black Card.
This is a post from The Smarter Wallet.
Chase Sapphire Preferred $250 Cash Back Bonus
Jul 14th
The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card has launched a limited time bonus promotion where new cardholders can earn 25,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 in purchases within the first three months. The 25,000 bonus points can be redeemed for $250 in cash OR a plane ticket worth up-to $312.50. If you book a flight for more than that amount, you can simply pay the difference when cashing in your points. Chase previously launched the Chase Freedom Visa® – $100 Bonus Cash Back Card and with this new Sapphire Preferred offer, it’s evident Chase is serious about obtaining your business.
If you’re concerned about acquiring a card purely for the bonus offer, don’t be because the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card comes with many other benefits. The annual fee of $85 is waived for the first year of card ownership, making this card a steal for the first 12 months. In addition to the annual fee waiver, the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card has a rewards program where 1 point = $1 and at the end of the year, you receive a 7% dividend on the points you’ve accumulated throughout the year!
All Chase Sapphire Preferred Cardholders will have access to a live customer service representative 24/7/365. You’re given a phone number that leads directly to a human being, meaning no more touch-tone madness! Points can be redeemed in increments of $1 (after $20), so if you want to redeem $32 worth of points, you can. Finally, cardholders can earn double points for every flight they book through the Chase Ultimate Rewards website.
To sign-up now and take advantage of this limited time offer, visit the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card.
The Consumerism Commentary Podcast is in full swing with new episodes every Sunday. Listen and subscribe now!
Chase Sapphire Preferred $250 Cash Back Bonus
Chase Sapphire Credit Card $100 Bonus
Jul 8th
Chase Sapphire Card is currently offering $100 bonus after the first purchase for new account holders. The bonus will be rewarded as 10,000 rewards points which can then be redeemed for an equivalent $100 statement cash, gift card, and much more. In addition, with the Sapphire Card, you can:
- Earn 1 point for each $1 spent on purchases.
- Earn an additional 1 point for each $1 of eligible airfare net purchases made online through the program’s booking tool.
The points you earned can be redeemed for statement credit. Points redemptions start at 2,500 points for a $25 statement credit to apply to any purchase(s) made with your Chase credit card and in 100-point increments for each additional $1 of credit. Statement credits will post to your account within 5-7 business days and will appear on your monthly Chase credit card billing statement within 1-2 billing cycles. In addition, you’ll get 10 points for every dollar spent shopping at select merchants through the Chase Ultimate Rewards Mall.
There are no maximum number of points you can accumulate in the rewards program and points earned will not expire, which means that you’ll be able to earn unlimited points with this travel rewards credit card. The card has no annual membership fee.
If you are looking for a premier travel rewards credit card, get the Chase Sapphire Card and enjoy the $100 bonus.
Original Post on The Sun’s Financial Diary
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Chase Sapphire Credit Card $100 Bonus
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Guide To Your Search For The Best Credit Card Rewards
Jul 5th
Credit card companies or banks thrive to offer their credit cards rewards program o attract more consumers to spend using their credit card.
KeyBank iPod Touch New Account Bank Deal
Jun 23rd
Sometimes I wonder if KeyBank has some sort of deal with Apple because they love giving away iPod nanos and iPod touches as new account bonus promotions. This time, it’s an iPod touch for their Key Express Free Checking and Key Advantage Money Market Checking accounts. If you fancy a Key Privilege Checking or Key Privilege Select Checking account, you get both an iPod touch and a $25 iTunes gift card for your troubles.
It’s not clear what version of the iPod touch you’ll get but the 32GB 3rd Generation unit costs $260 on Amazon.com.
Key Express Free Checking, Advantage Money Market Checking
Open a Key Express Free Checking or an Advantage Money Market Checking by July 30, 2010, make one KeyBank Rewards debit card transaction, and either two direct deposits or automated payments each of $100 or more by October 1, 2010 to get a free iPod Touch. Qualified direct deposits are limited to payroll, Social Security, pension, and government benefits. Automated payments exclude Key Bill Pay, debit card automated payments, PayPal® transactions, and account-to-account balance transfers. You will receive the iPod touch within 90 days of meeting the requirements.
Key Privilege Checking, Key Privilege Select Checking
The requirements for the iPod touch and the $25 iTunes gift card mirror that of the iPod touch alone except the eligible accounts are the Key Privilege Checking and the Key Privilege Select Checking accounts. The difference is that Key Privilege Checking has a $25,000 minimum combined balance across all KeyBank accounts and Key Privilege Select Checking has a $100,000 minimum combined balance.
This deal is available in Cleveland, Eastern OH, Idaho, Western NY, Oregon, Seattle Cascades, South Puget Sound, Central NY, Rochester, Maine, Northwest OH, Michigan, and Capital Region NY.
Here is the bank promotion page.
The KeyBank Rewards Program has a $20 annual fee that is waived for the first year. As expected, the value of the iPod touch and the $25 iTunes® card will be reported on a Form 1099-INT.
KeyBank iPod Touch New Account Bank Deal from personal finance blog Bargaineering.com.
Citi Diamond Preferred Rewards Card $100 Bonus
Jun 17th
For a limited time only, Citibank has launched a promotion with their Diamond Preferred Rewards Card where all new cardholders will earn a $100 statement credit soon after they generate at least $300 in new purchases within the first three months. Citibank has effectively become the first credit card issuer to offer a cash-back amount of at least $100 in quite some time, so hopefully you will see more of these in the future.
Even without the $100 Statement credit, the Citi Diamond Preferred Rewards Card puts a great offer in front of you. With an introductory rate of 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 or 7 months and a standard rewards program of 1 point for every dollar spent, there were already a few good reasons to sign up for this card but with this cash bonus now available, there’s no reason to pass this offer up.
The $100 Citi bonus is not offered everywhere and only select websites can advertise it. Time is running out to take advantage of this offer so to sign-up for the Citi Diamond Preferred Rewards Credit Card and receive a $100 credit statement after making your qualifying purchases, visit Citi’s Diamond Preferred Rewards Card application page.
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Citi Diamond Preferred Rewards Card $100 Bonus
Citi Diamond Preferred Rewards Card $100 Cash Bonus
Jun 11th
The Citi Diamond Preferred Rewards Card is currently offering a $100 Cash Bonus – one of the best credit card rewards bonuses on the market right now.
For a limited time, Citibank is offering new Diamond Preferred Rewards Card members a $100 statement credit when they make $200 worth or purchases within the first 3 months of card ownership.
Citi Diamond Preferred Rewards Card $100 Cash Bonus
The $100 cash bonus is just another reason why the Citi Diamond Preferred Rewards Card is one of the top rewards credit cards currently on the market. The Citi Diamond Preferred Rewards Card also offers an introductory rate of 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers for up-to 15 months and a standard rewards program of 1 point for every dollar cardmembers spend. Like all good credit cards, there is no annual fee.
How to get the $100 Cash Bonus
This offer is not available everywhere – Citi is launching it on select websites. To make sure you get the $100 statement credit, you will need to look for the “$100 statement credit” logo similar to the one you see in this article, as well as meet the spending criteria of $300 within the first 3 months of card ownership.
To take advantage of this offer, visit the Citi Diamond Preferred Rewards Card application page.
The $100 cash bonus comes in the form of a statement credit, which can be applied to your balance.
Here is some more information about the Citi Diamond Preferred Rewards Card:
- Receive a $100 Statement Credit after $300 in purchases within the first 3 months of cardmembership
- 0% APR on Balance Transfers and Purchases for up to 15 months*
- Earn 1 ThankYou® Point for every $1 spent on all purchases
- Redeem ThankYou Points for merchandise, travel rewards, gift cards, cash and more
- Earn an average of 4 points per dollar spent when you shop through the ThankYou Bonus Center
- No annual fee
See the Citi Diamond Preferred Rewards Card Review for more information.
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This article written by Ryan Guina. Ryan is the founder and editor of Cash Money Life. He is a writer, small business owner, entrepreneur, and professional in the corporate world. He served over 6 years in the USAF and also writes about military money topics at Military Finance Network.
All content copyright Cash Money Life; if you are reading this on another website it has been illegally reproduced in violation of copyright laws.
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Citi Diamond Preferred Rewards Card $100 Cash Bonus!
Jun 8th
For a limited time only, Citibank has launched a promotion on their Diamond Preferred Rewards Card where new cardholders can earn a $100 statement credit after making $300 in purchases with the first three months of card ownership. It’s been a long time since a cash back offer of at least $100 was given by a credit card issuer and it’s nice to see Citibank making the first move.
In addition to the $100 statement credit, the Citi Diamond Preferred Rewards Card already brings a great offer to the table. With an introductory rate of 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers for up-to 15 months and a standard rewards program of 1 point for every dollar spent, the reason to apply is already tempting but when you add the slick look, no annual fee and now a $100 statement credit, this offer is just too good to pass up.
This bonus is not offered everywhere so you’ll need to make sure you apply only where you see the $100 statement credit graphic, like the one above. To sign-up for the Citi Diamond Preferred Rewards Credit Card and receive a $100 credit statement after making your qualifying purchases, visit Citi’s Diamond Preferred Rewards Card application page.
Advantages of Using A Credit Card Over A Debit Card
Jun 7th
A debit card could be the best option for you if you have issues with financial responsibility and controlling your spending and debt levels. However, while a debit card is a more responsible version of a credit card, it does not replace a credit card completely. For example, following are five things which a credit card can do which a debit card can’t.
Reward You
Even the most basic credit cards are likely to have a rewards program and even though most credit cards also have an annual fee, you can ensure your rewards outweigh the costs of using your credit card if you spend around $2,000 a month on your card which is not hard when you charge groceries and other bills and expenses. You can also often choose the rewards you want and you can choose a credit card which builds airline rewards points, gives you cashback when you spend, allows you to choose from a range of merchandise or rewards you with gift vouchers for your favourite stores.
Builds Your Credit History
While many financial experts will tell you that there is really no such thing as a good credit history, successfully applying for a credit card and using it responsibly can go a certain distance towards showing that you have the ability to manage a credit card, make your repayments on time and stay below the limit.
Emergency Cash Flow
Unlike a debit card which accesses your own funds, when there are not enough funds available in an emergency, a credit card can step up and help you manage your cash flow. Using your credit card in an emergency requires that you are able to determine what qualifies as an emergency so that you do not find yourself making emergency shoe purchases or taking emergency holidays and instead use your credit available to cover true emergencies like your car breaking down or an unexpected doctor’s bill.
Security of Not Losing Your Own Money
While you may do everything right in protecting your credit card details and identity when you use your card, you may lose your wallet or be fooled by a skimming scam and have your credit card information used fraudulently. Unlike a debit card, when your credit card is used fraudulently you are not losing your own money, you are instead having the fraudster run up a credit card debt which you can explain to your credit card provider when you report your card missing or stolen or you notice the fraudulent transactions, and your own funds and savings are not affected.
Interest-Free Days
Most credit cards will offer you an interest-free period of around 55 days. This means that you can make purchases on your card and not be charged interest for up to 55 days if you have paid the balance to zero during the previous interest-free period. While you use your credit card provider’s money to do your groceries and pay your bills, your wages can stay safely in a high interest savings account, or in the offset account of your home loan, to earn you or save you interest. Then you simply take the amount you need before the end of the interest-free period and repay your purchases, keeping the interest earned or saved in your savings or offset account for yourself.
While a credit card can get you into a lot of trouble if you don’t know how to use it properly and don’t have the discipline to pay your balance to zero each month, there are many important features a credit card has which can be an advantage over using a debit card. If you want to enjoy the advantages of a credit card without being tempted to rely on it, you can supplement the advantages with a debit card which in most cases can be linked free to your existing transaction account.
This is a guest post from Alban. Alban is a personal finance writer. He helps people to compare and choose the best credit cards online.
Photo credit: SolanD
Original Post on The Sun’s Financial Diary
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- TradeKing $50 Bonus
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Advantages of Using A Credit Card Over A Debit Card
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Sallie Mae Bank Review: Savings Accounts See Rate Increases
May 18th
We’ve checked out the high yield CDs and online savings products from Sallie Mae before. But these products have recently gone through some promising interest rate increases, which is great news for savers! So I was prompted to write about these offerings again.
Sallie Mae Bank Review: Savings Accounts See Rate Increases
We’re all familiar with Sallie Mae as a corporation that’s in the student loan business. But they now have a banking side, where they offer great savings options to families that are keen on saving for their children’s education. Here’s a summary of how you can start saving through Sallie Mae:
#1 The Sallie Mae High Yield Savings Account
At this time, Sallie Mae’s High Yield Savings Account is currently offering an attractive APY of 1.40%, which is at the top end of interest rates among bank products nationwide. What more, this product requires no minimum balance and has no monthly fees. Of course, it’s FDIC insured. But what I really like about this account is that if you decide to join Upromise as well, you’ll receive a cash bonus in this account that is the equivalent of a 10% annual match of your Upromise rewards earnings. Upromise is a rewards program that you can join for free. You can earn rewards here by simply shopping and spending on everyday items at grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations and online retailers.
Apply for a Sallie Mae High Yield Savings Account through this link.
Here’s how the cash bonus feature for this savings account works:
- Become a member of Upromise and also open a Sallie Mae High Yield Savings Account.
- You’ll need to link these two accounts in preparation for the 10% annual match transfer.
- Either start an automatic savings program that allows you to contribute at least $25 a month into your SLM savings account OR deposit a minimum balance of $5,000 into your savings account within three months after account open.
- Start using your Upromise registered credit cards in order to earn rewards.
At the end of the calendar year, your Upromise rewards will be evaluated. Your SLM account bonus will be determined as 10% of your annual Upromise rewards, which you’ll then receive by February of the following year. I find this to be a great incentive to start saving!
#2 Sallie Mae Certificate of Deposit Accounts
There are also high yield CD accounts available at Sallie Mae for your savings needs. These certificates of deposit don’t require a minimum balance and have no monthly fees. The terms available are as follows:
- 12 months, returns a rate of 1.55%
- 36 months, rate has increased to 2.40%
- 60 months returns a rate of 3.00%
Apply for a Sallie Mae Certificate of Deposit through this link.
Take note that both the SLM High-Yield Savings Account and their Certificates of Deposit are products offered by Sallie Mae Bank, member FDIC.
#3 Upromise 529 Savings Plans
It is also worthwhile noting that as a Upromise member, you can open 529 college savings plans which have great tax benefits. The rewards you earn through this program can be invested in mutual funds chosen for your 529 accounts.
Sallie Mae’s Tips For Paying For College
Step 1: For anyone who is college bound, see if you qualify for an FAFSA (Free Application For Federal Student Aid) grant or student loan. You can finance a college education by applying for need based scholarships. You can supplement your financial requirements with funds from your SLM online savings account, CDs and 529 savings accounts, or other investments.
Step 2: Look into federal student loans.
Step 3: Address any gaps with a pay-interest-as-you-go private education loan such as those offered by Sallie Mae.
Sallie Mae Bank Review: Savings Accounts See Rate Increases
Rewarding Yourself with Rewards Programs
May 6th
Rewards programs and loyalty incentives are not the exclusive domain of credit card companies. Many retail establishments are realizing the benefit of offering their repeat customers loyalty-based rewards that are not tied to a credit card and are giving free merchandise, meals and discounts in exchange for them. But how do you know if your favorite shops and cafes have a reward program? Not all of them are obviously advertised or promoted so one of the most valuable things you can do whenever you go out shopping or out to eat is to ask. And don’t limit yourself to asking in national chain businesses only because many independently owned coffee shops, bookstores and restaurants in your neighborhood could offer this incentive.
Major Rewards Programs
It would be impossible to list all the rewards programs out there in this space, so you’ve got to do a little research on your own. Some of my personal favorite loyalty and reward programs from national chains include:
Borders Rewards – Unlike some other bookstores, membership in Borders Rewards is free. For every $150 per year that you spend in “qualified purchases,” you get $5 in “Borders Bucks” that you can spend online or in-store. You also get special sales and coupons sent to your email address. For more information or to join, visit the Borders Website.
Subway – Not only can you eat fresh at Subway, you can also eat cheap when you get the Subway Rewards card. For every dollar you spend you earn 1 reward point. 10 points gives you a free cookie, 15 points a free bag of chips and 75 points a free foot-long or salad. To get a full list of all the foodstuffs you can redeem your points for or to get details about the program, visit the Website.
Best Buy – When you are a member of the Best Buy Rewards program, you earn one point for every dollar you spend at Best Buy. Once you have earned 250 points you receive a $5 rewards certificate to use in the store. Best buy has also partnered with Borders and Expedia, so you can even earn Best Buy Rewards points while shopping there. To find out more, visit the Reward program Website.
Keeping Rewards Rewarding
A rewards program still needs to be used responsibly in order to actually benefit you. Remember, these programs are usually created to stimulate sales — they aren’t charitable actions. So keep the following in mind before whipping your reward card out:
- It is never a good idea to spend money for the sole purpose of gaining points toward the program. No matter how tempting the sound of “free” may be, money in the bank is always more valuable than rewards points.
- Comparison shopping is still important. Yes, if you buy a new television at Best Buy you could earn $20 in rewards points, but if the television is $50 cheaper elsewhere, then it doesn’t make any sense.
- Rewards expire. Keep track of yours and understand when they will expire. Strategically make useful and smart purchases so that you can gain points in time to combine them with old points and avoid expiration.
- Read the reward program literature. Sometimes, certain purchases are not qualified while other items might receive double points. You must become familiar with the guidelines of your program to get the most out of it.
Original Post on The Sun’s Financial Diary
Special bonus offers
- Scottrade 3 Commission Free Trades
- Lending Club $25 Sign Up Bonus
- Ohio CollegeAdvantage 529 Plan $25 Bonus
- TradeKing $50 Bonus
- Sallie Mae Savings Account 1.40% APY
Rewarding Yourself with Rewards Programs
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