Popular Deals
Last Chance to Get 5% Cash Back on All Purchases with the Citi CashReturns Card
April 14th, 2008The Citi CashReturns card offers 5% cash back on all purchases for the first three months that you hold the card, with NO limit to the cash you can earn. It’s a truly incredible deal, especially if you can get a large credit limit. 5% is enough so that it even becomes profitable to pay your taxes with your credit card.
However, all good things must come to an end and the offer must have become too expensive for Citi to continue as the 5% offer was pulled from their site today. Instead, the card will only earn a flat 1% cash back, with an “additional 20% bonus” for your first year. Reading the fine print, what it really means is that you’ll earn a 1.2% rebate for the first year.
The 5% offer is still available for a limited time here, though it will probably be gone by Wednesday.
Edit 4/15: The 5% offer is likely to disappear at any time now. You can check to see if it is still active at this link.
Discover More Card: $100 Signup Bonus After $500 in Purchases
April 13th, 2008Sign up for a Discover More card by July 7, 2008 and receive a $100 cash back bonus after making $500 in purchases in the first three months. The deal also offers a 3.9% APR on balance transfers until January 2012, but carries a 3% balance transfer fee with no cap.
To apply for this offer, visit apply.discovercard.com and use promotion code: DANX. (Via FW).
Discover Acquires Diners Club International from Citi
April 9th, 2008On Monday, Discover announced that it had reached a deal with Citigroup to purchase Diners Club International for $165 million. This acquisition should eventually result in increased global acceptance of Discover, enabling Discover cardholders to use their cards at international merchants that accept Diners Club. In turn, international Diners Club cardholders would be able to use their Diners Club card at merchants who accept Discover in North America. Discover expects that integration of the networks would take two to three years.
Currently Discover is only accepted in North and Central America, the Carribbean and China, so adding the Diners Club network will significantly expand its global reach and make it a bigger player among upscale consumers and business travelers.
Chevron and Texaco Credit Cards Add New Benefits
April 8th, 2008Chevron and Texaco released a redesign of their personal credit cards yesterday, along with several benefits for new cardholders:
- Complimentary road service provided by GE Motor Club during the first year to assist with free towing, fuel deliveries, jump start and/or tire services.
- ATM access through the Cirrus network
- Zero fraud liability
- A bonus 20 cents/gallon for 90 days
- $20 Chevron or Texaco gift card after first purchase
The free road service offer is valid on new accounts until the end of the year, while the gift card offer is valid on new accounts opened between April 1 and May 31, 2008. More details can be found at http://www.chevrontexacocards.com.
It should be noted, however, that you’ll still be better off in the long term instead using one of the many gas cards rebating at least 5%, since the Chevron/Texaco cards do not offer rebates past the initial 90 days.
Bank of Hawaii Introduces New Platinum Hawaiian Airlines Visa Card with 20,000 Bonus HawaiianMiles
April 7th, 2008Bank of Hawaii recently announced it will begin offering a new Hawaiian Airlines credit card. Its features appear largely similar to the existing B of A Hawaiian Airlines Visa. The Bank of Hawaii credit card’s benefits include:
- 20,000 Bonus HawaiianMiles after your first purchase*
- 50% discount companion certificate for travel between the Mainland U.S. and Hawaii
- Earn 1 HawaiianMile per dollar you spend on your everyday purchases.
- Earn 2 HawaiianMiles per dollar you spend on tickets purchased directly from Hawaiian Airlines and when using your card in-flight.
- ShareMiles with friends and family
- Credit card balance counts towards Bankohana status.
Full terms and conditions will be available along with the application beginning April 21, 2008.
American Express 4 Free Movie or Museum Tickets Promo
April 6th, 2008Amex is now running a promotion where you can get 4 free movie or museum tickets by meeting specific purchase requirements at select merchants, which in most cases means making 2 or 3 separate purchases. Once you have completed the purchase requirements, you’ll need to send in the receipts along with the appropriate redemption form to receive your tickets. If no participating theater or museum is nearby, you’ll receive a $40 Amex gift certificate instead. For the full list of participating merchants, museums and theaters, see the promotion website.
For those that live near a Del Taco restaurant, eating there seems to be the easiest way to fulfill the terms of the promo, particularly since there is no minimum purchase requirement. While you have until May 31, 2008 to complete all of your purchases for the other merchants, Del Taco purchases must be made by May 20, 2008. (Via SD).
Advanta Life-of-Balance Platinum Card: 2.99% on Balance Transfers for Life With No BT Fee
April 3rd, 2008The Advanta Life-of-Balance Platinum Card now offers balance transfers at 2.99% for the life of the balance with no balance transfer fees.
With a fixed rate at 2.99% and interest rates being where they are, it doesn’t make sense to park this money in a savings account, but this card could be a good option for transferring higher rate balances.
Green Credit Cards: An In-Depth List
March 31st, 2008With Earth Day rapidly approaching, we have a good excuse to review our green options when it comes to plastic (or corn, if you prefer). After all, even Leo DiCaprio has recently been touting a new HSBC green credit card for the Hong Kong market. What does it mean for a credit card to be green? Well, the HSBC card is made from environmentally-friendly materials, requires the use of digital billing to cut down on paper waste, and donates a portion of each charge towards a local environmental protection project. While that card is not available in the US yet, there are a number of other green credit cards already here.
Green Credit Cards
Here’s a rundown:
- The Brighter Planet Visa
Every $1,000 spent in purchases with the card earns 1,000 points that will fund an estimated 1 ton of carbon offsets. In addition, you’ll earn 1,000 bonus points with your first transaction and another 1,000 points for using paperless statements. Also, until December 2008, Bank of America will match each two base points earned with the contribution of another point, equivalent to a 50% bonus. - World Asssets Visa Signature Card
For every purchase made on the card, 10 cents will be donated to nonprofit groups like the Ocean Conservancy and Global Fund for Children. In addition, the card earns WorldPoints which can be used towards cash rewards, travel rewards and more. - Salmon Nation Visa
A percentage of the income derived from the Salmon Nation Visa program goes directly to Ecotrust, a conservation organization aiming to strengthen communities and the environment from Alaska to California. - GE Earth Rewards Credit Card
This card from GE Money allows you two rewards options: 1) You can choose to contribute either a full 1% of your net purchases to emission reduction projects or 2) 0.5% towards emission offsets and 0.5% cash back for yourself. On Earth Day each year you’ll receive a statement that shows how your reward was spent to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. - World Wildlife Fund Card
1% of each purchase will go towards the World Wildlife Fund, an organization with a mission to save endangered species and protect endangered habitats. In addition, Chase will donate $50 for each new account opened online. - GreenPay MasterCard
For each net $1 spent on gasoline and household utilities, the GreenPay Rewards program will provide 10 pounds of carbon offsets. For each $1 spent on everything else, the program will provide 5 pounds of carbon offsets. In addition, 10,000 pounds of CO2 will be removed as a first purchase bonus. - Nature Conservancy Visa
0.65% of your net purchases will go to the Nature Conservancy, a leading conservation organization committed to protecting ecologically important lands and waters. In addition, new card members will receive a complimentary 1 year membership and subscription to Nature Conservancy magazine. - Bass Pro Shops Outdoor Rewards Platinum Plus Visa Card
With each card purchase, Bass Pro Shops and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation will make a contribution to help conservation efforts, with a guaranteed yearly contribution as high as $1.5 million, at no additional cost to you. You’ll also receive a $25 gift card after your first use.
Green Rewards Programs
Credit card issuers have expanded your rewards options recently, so that even general-use credit cards can earn green rewards. Here’s a sampling:
- Wells Fargo Enhanced Rewards
Wells Fargo credit card users can enroll in an optional rewards program where the points that they earn can be used towards various green rewards, such as a solar charger or a garden composter. You can also choose to redeem reward points to support renewable energy projects and receive certificates for your donations. Enrolling in the rewards program costs $19 (or 2,000 points) a year for your credit card only, or $29 a year to enroll both your credit card and Check Card. - Bank of America WorldPoints
Bank of America offers any of its credit card holders who earn WorldPoints to redeem them for a wide range of eco-friendly products and projects. Any Bank of America credit card that earns WorldPoints is eligible to earn these rewards at no additional cost. - Citi Thank You Network
As part of its Thank You rewards network, Citi also offers a range of environmentally-responsible rewards. For instance, your Thank You points can be redeemed in exchange for having trees planted or for energy-saving CFL light bulbs.
Another Green Alternative
There’s also another option to consider when going green: instead of selecting a credit card specifically because it is green, you can always choose the best cash back card available and donate the cash rewards to your favorite environmental cause. It is slightly less convenient, but there at least three obvious benefits: 1) any donations will be tax-deductible, 2) you should be able to earn more rewards for your charity, and 3) you’ll have more choice as to exactly how your money is spent.
Regardless of the card you choose, chances are your issuer allows and even encourages your use of electronic-only statements. That’s one sure-fire way to get greener, and save both trees and gas.
Amazon.com Visa: $20 off $200 on Electronics, Computers and Cell Phones
March 28th, 2008A number of promo codes are currently available to Amazon.com Visa card holders, valid until May 15, 2008:
- $20 off $200 on electronics, computers and cell phones: 2IK9E6R8
- 10% off $50 on music : CDJLXT8U (Limit $20 per customer)
- $5 off $50 on DVDs: DVD5BFHR
Only one offer of each type is allowed per household, and it does not appear to be targeted, meaning that any Amazon.com Visa can be used. (Via FW).
United Mileage Plus Visa: 21,000 Miles + $200 Morton’s GC After $250 in Purchases
March 28th, 2008This offer is via FW:
As a valued Mileage Plus® member, you are invited to apply for a Mileage Plus Visa ®1 and soon see your mileage balance grow.
As a new cardmember, after you spend $250, you’ll earn 21,000 bonus miles2 and a $200 gift card to use at any of the 78 worldwide locations of Morton’s The Steakhouse3. Enjoy a spectacular dining experience with exceptional hospitality and service.
You will also enjoy these Mileage Plus Visa benefits:
Earn one mile for every eligible $1 in purchases4
Exclusive cardmember redemption opportunities 5
Earn travel certificates after first purchase 6
No pre-set spending limit 7
Apply by April 30, 2008!
The application is here and a description of the gift card offer can be found here, though neither of those links specifically mentions the number of bonus miles that will be awarded. It should also be noted that this promo does not waive the first year’s annual fee like the standard offer.