Tag: capital one

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Cards That Earn Bonus Rewards On Every Dollar Spent

There are plenty of options for cards that earn bonus rewards for spending. These are cards that offer you either cash back or points on each purchase you make. Some of the most popular rewards credit cards will give you bonus points or bonus cash back. The Discover It, for example, offers bonus cash back on rotating categories. The idea of rotating categories is that the categories will switch quarterly. You will earn 5% cash back (or 5% points, depending on the card) for that quarter.

Popular categories for the bonus rotating categories include purchases made at gas stations, grocery stores, dining, online shopping, home improvement stores, and department stores. They can be anything that the credit card company chooses and thinks that their customers will enjoy. Typically there is a cap on the spending in the bonus categories. Going back to the Discover It example, it has a $1,500 spending cap for their rotating bonus categories.

Fixed bonus categories would refer to cards that offer bigger bonuses on certain categories all the time. For example, the Barclaycard Rewards MasterCard offers two points per dollar spent on all gas station, grocery store and utility purchases. This is offered year round with no spending cap. With no annual fee, cardholders get great rewards at a fixed rate all year long.

What if I don’t like rotating categories?

If rotating categories are not for you and you would prefer to get great rewards all year long on all purchases, you are in luck. We have put together a great list of options for you. Each of these cards offers greater than 1% cash back on all purchases. Take a look and see if any of them are right for you!

Citi Double Cash

Want to earn cash back—twice? The Citi Double Cash card lets you do just that. Earn 1% cash back on every purchase, plus earn another 1% cash back for every payment that you make. In addition to the great cash back offer, the Citi Double Cash card offers a 0% introductory rate for the first 15 months that you have the card.

After that, the card offers a competitive APR of 12.99-22.99%, based on your creditworthiness. There is no annual fee for the Citi Double Cash card, so you have nothing to lose with this gem. No worries about spending in certain categories, or registering for rotating rewards. You get the same rewards year round, with no spending cap other than your credit limit. There is no limit to the cash back that you can earn with this card.

Capital One Quicksilver Card

Unlimited cash back is the name of the game with the Capital One Quicksilver Card. You will earn 1.5% cash back on every purchase you make using this card with no limit to the cash back you can earn. There are no specific spending categories or bonus categories to think about. Just use this card for any purchase and get the full reward. Capital One Quicksilver also offers you a $100 cash back reward after you spend $500 in the first three months that you have the card. This is a substantial bonus right off the bat for new cardholders, at 20% cash back!

The cash back rewards are easy and flexible to redeem. You can redeem them at any time for a check, gift card(s), statement credit, or even merchandise. There is no annual fee for this card. You can also enjoy a 0% introductory APR for a limited time on all purchases and balance transfers made using the Capital One Quicksilver card. After the introductory period, the APR will be 12.9-22.9% on purchases and all balance transfers. Another great perk is being able to track your credit score for free so that you can stay on top of any changes right as they occur.

Capital One BuyPower Card

Are you in the market for a new vehicle? The Capital One BuyPower Card might be just the answer. This card offers you 5% cash back rewards on the first $5,000 you spend each year, and 2% on all purchases you make after that. This is a huge reward. You can use the cash back rewards toward the purchase of a new Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, or Cadillac.

The earnings never expire, as long as you have the card. You can really rack up a lot of cash back toward your next vehicle with this card. Because there are no rotating categories, you can use this card for any and all purchases, and watch your cash back rewards add up. Also, Capital One BuyPower card offers an introductory 0% APR for the first 12 months that you have the card, for all purchases and balance transfers. When the introductory period ends, you will pay 11.90, 15.90, or 19.90% variable APR, depending on your creditworthiness.

Looking For Travel Rewards?

Rewards cards come in many shapes and forms. Some offer cash back or credit toward a new vehicle, like the cards listed above. Others will offer some pretty tremendous travel rewards for those who really want to maximize their rewards. Travel rewards are some of the best in the credit card world, since you can often get more than $1 for each point or mile earned. Here are a few of the best ones we can find for you.

Barclaycard Arrival Plus

Super value can be found for travelers when they have the Barclaycard Arrival Plus card. You can earn 40,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 in the first 90 days that you have the card. Earn 2 points for every dollar spent on travel purchases or earn one point for every dollar spent on every other purchase. One of the biggest perks of this card is that cardholders get an extra 10% rewards when booking their travel through Barclaycard or anytime they redeem their miles for statement credits.

The Barclaycard Arrival Plus also offers a 0% introductory APR for the first 12 months on purchases and balance transfers. After that, the APR will be either 14.99% or 18.99%, depending on your creditworthiness. There is an $89 annual fee for this card, but that is waived for the first year.

Capital One Venture Rewards Card

Earn travel rewards fast at a rate of 2 points per dollar spent on every purchase you make with the Capital One Venture Rewards Card. Earn an additional 40,000 points when you spend $3,000 in the first three months of having the card. Cardholders will get a 0% introductory APR rate for the first 12 months after approval on purchases and balance transfers, with a 13.9-20.9% APR after that period ends.

The miles that you earn using the Capital One Venture Rewards card can be flexibly redeemed for flights, hotel, rental cars, and other travel benefits. There are no blackout dates or restrictions on airlines if you book through Capital One. If you prefer to book through your travel agent, the Purchase Eraser feature will allow you to redeem your miles and get credit within 90 days of making a travel purchase using your Capital One Venture Rewards card. Track your credit simply, with your credit score being available every month on your statement or through the online access. There is a $59 annual fee, which is waived for the first year.

BankAmericard Travel Rewards Card

With the BankAmericard Travel Rewards Card, you will earn 1.5 points per dollar spent on all purchases made with the card. There is no limit to the number of points that you can earn. Apply online and earn an additional 10,000 points by spending $500 within the first three months. This adds up to a $100 statement credit when you book any travel rewards.

Conveniently, there are no blackout dates and no restrictions on your travel rewards. There is no annual fee for the BankAmericard Travel Rewards card. Cardholders will enjoy a 0% introductory APR for the first 12 months on purchases and balance transfers when they are approved for the card. After that, an APR of 14.99-22.99% will apply. There are no foreign transaction fees for this card.

Wyndham Rewards Visa

The Wyndham Rewards Visa is a great card for those who love to travel and want to earn free nights at Wyndham hotels and participating partners. Earn 5 points for every dollar spent on participating hotel stays, and earn 2 points for every dollar spent on all other purchases.

You can earn an additional 30,000 points after making your first purchase using the Wyndham Reward Visa card, and another 5,500 bonus points each year. That is enough for a one night stay at any participating hotel. This card has a $69 annual fee, which is not waived for the first year. The APR is 15.24% or 19.99%, depending on your credit history.

Citi Hilton HHonors Reserve

With the Citi Hilton HHonors Reserve card, you will quickly build up plenty of points toward your next vacation at any Hilton hotel or participating partner. You can earn 10 HHonors points for every dollar spent on hotel stays at participating hotels. Or earn 5 HHonors points for other travel purchases, including flights and rental cars. Earn 3 HHonors points on all other purchases made using the card.

Cardholders will enjoy Gold Elite status with HHonors, which will be upgraded to Platinum status if you spend $40,000 in one calendar year. Spend $10,000 per year and earn a free weekend night each year on your anniversary. Earn two free weekend night certificates after spending $2,500 within the first 4 months after being approved for the card. This card has a $95 annual fee. There is a variable 15.24% APR for this card.

Final Thoughts

As you can see, there are a variety of rewards cards available right now, with more being added frequently. One of them is right for you. Some people prefer rewards cards with straight cash back rewards options, but if you are not a fan of rotating categories and just want to earn tons of points, or you are a frequent traveler (or want to become one), then choosing one of the awesome travel rewards cards that are available will help you quickly earn points toward your next travel adventure!

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Review of the no annual fee Capital One Venture Card

Finding the right travel rewards credit card fit for your specific needs and spending habits can be a challenge, especially given the onslaught of advertisements flooding the television and online. Capital One is arguably the leader in terms marketing efforts pushed out to the masses, with notable celebrity endorsements and amusing commercial spots. But all the pomp and circumstance surrounding a credit card does not always mean it is the best option for spenders. To help you determine if the Capital One VentureOne credit card is the one for you, we’ve cut through the fluff to bring you the clear upsides and downsides to the card. Here is our review of the no annual fee Capital One VentureOne credit card.

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VentureOne Card Basics

The VentureOne credit card offered by Capital One is a flat-rate travel rewards card. Card members earn 1.25 miles on every dollar spent, regardless of the category of purchase. Each rewards mile through Capital One is worth $0.01, and there is no cap on how many miles can be earned. Also, miles don’t expire, making this an attractive travel card for those who do some heavy spending.

Currently, Capital One is offering a bonus to new card members of the VentureOne card. A one-time 20,000 bonus – or $200 worth of miles – is credited to the card member’s account if at least $1,000 in purchases is made within the first three months after account opening. The combination of miles earned on everyday spending and the initial bonus potential makes the VentureOne card stand out among some of its travel credit card peers.

As a true travel rewards credit card, VentureOne card members are restricted in terms of how miles are redeemed. For now, accumulated miles can only be used as a statement credit toward travel-related purchases. As an example, a card member who purchases airfare on her Capital One VentureOne credit card could use her accumulated 20,000 miles – or $200 – to offset the total cost of her flight. What makes the VentureOne card unique is that there is no need to redeem miles through a dedicated travel site; instead, card members can book their travel how they see fit, directly through the provider or through a partner site. That means no blackout dates and no other pesky restrictions as seen with other travel rewards cards.

Miles cannot be exchanged for cash back or gift cards, nor can a statement credit be applied for anything other than a travel purchase. If you’re seeking out a travel credit card with more flexibility in terms of how miles can be redeemed, the VentureOne card may not be the best choice for you.

Capital One Perks

In addition to the rewards program, Capital One VentureOne card members have a slew of perks at their fingertips. The most notable is the Credit Tracker app, which provides access to the individual’s credit score and activity at no cost. Through Credit Tracker, card members can also gain valuable information regarding what implications changes to their credit profile will have on their score, for better or worse.

Card members also have access to online banking through Capital One, as well as mobile and tablet apps that are helpful for checking balances and payments on the go. In terms of enhanced security, VentureOne card members receive real-time alerts regarding suspicious or fraudulent activity on their account, either through phone, e-mail or text. On top of that, lost or stolen cards are covered by a $0 fraud liability protection program.

One of the unique features of the Capital One VentureOne credit card is the Second Look program, through which Capital One keeps an eye out for duplicate or unusual charges. Should a questionable charge post to the card member’s account, the bank automatically sends an e-mail alerting them to the issue. Capital One also offers Apply Pay for card members who are comfortable using mobile payment applications, as well as personalized payment due dates and various ways to establish payments. Card members have access to 24-hour travel assistance services, auto rental insurance, and travel accident insurance with the VentureOne credit card.

What the Card Costs

Capital One states that the VentureOne credit card is for individuals with excellent credit, typically meaning a credit score of 720 or higher is required for approval. Once approved, the interest rate for purchases starts at 0% and remains there for the first 12 months after accounting opening. Currently there are no promotional APR offers for balance transfers. After the promotional period ends, both purchases and balance transfer rates are based on individual creditworthiness, and will be 12.24%, 17.24% or 22.24%. Cash advance transactions carry a standard APR of 23.24%.

The VentureOne credit card does not assess an annual fee, nor does it carry any foreign transactions fees. From this perspective, the travel rewards card is relatively inexpensive. However, other fees are charged for specific transactions. Card members who initiate a cash advance pay a fee of either $10 or 3% of the amount advanced, whichever is greater. Late payment costs $35, although there are no fees for exceeding the credit limit.

The Final Word

The Capital One VentureOne credit card is a great choice for individuals seeking a travel rewards card that is simple to understand and easy to use. The VentureOne card comes with a flat-rate rewards program, meaning there are no special categories to keep track of over time. Additionally, card members have the ability to redeem rewards through statement credits for travel purchases, without the need to book travel directly through CapitalOne. The introductory APR for purchases, the additional card member perks, no annual fee and potential for bonus miles within the first three months come together to make this a solid travel rewards credit card.

Individuals who want to maximize on a sign-up bonus or who want to earn more miles with purchases may be better off with a different travel credit card. Capital One offers a travel credit card (Venture) that earns higher rewards and provides a sign-up bonus that is double that of the VentureOne card; however, card members who hold the Venture credit card are assessed an annual fee for access to greater rewards.

 

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A Comparison of the Top 3 Fixed Value Travel Rewards Cards

Travel credit cards offer some of the best rewards in the business. Usually you can earn tons of points, and, in some cases, these points can be redeemed for travel rewards worth more than $1 per point. Let’s take a closer look at the top three fixed value travel reward cards that you can choose from right now.

 

BankAmericard Travel Rewards

The BankAmericard Travel rewards card has great earning potential and very nice bonus opportunities. There is no annual fee for this card. You will earn 1.5 point for every dollar spent, with no limit to the amount of miles that you can earn.  They offer a 10,000 point bonus to new cardholders after spending $500 in the first three months that you have the card, if you apply online; this corresponds to a $100 statement credit! There is a 0% introductory APR on balance transfers and purchases for the first 12 months. After the introductory period, the APR will range from 14.99-22.99%, depending on your credit. There are no foreign transaction fees.

Redeeming your points earned using the BankAmericard Travel Rewards card is simple. There are no blackout dates, and no restrictions. BankAmerica checking and savings customers will receive a bonus of 10% of their annual points each year, based on their total spending for the year. Chip technology makes this card very safe to use, and helps reduce fraud and unauthorized transactions.

 

Barclaycard Arrival Plus

The Barclaycard Arrival Plus is one of the most popular travel rewards cards, and it is not hard to see why. Cardholders pay an $89 annual fee, which is waived for the first year. You will earn double miles on all purchases, with no limit to the miles you can earn. New cardholders will receive a bonus of 40,000 miles after spending $3,000 in the first three months. This is the equivalent of a $400 travel credit! Barclaycard Arrival Plus offers a 0% introductory APR for the first 12 months for purchases and balance transfers, with an APR of 14.99-18.99% at the end of that period.

Booking your travel is simple with the Barclaycard Arrival Plus. There are no blackout dates or restrictions that apply. For each travel booking, you earn 10% bonus miles, based on the travel spending, making each mile you redeem worth even more. The card is EMV chip enabled, giving you confidence that fraud is unlikely and your personal information is safe. There are also no foreign transaction fees.

Apply Now: Barclaycard Arrival PlusTM World Elite MasterCard®

For those who do not want to pay an annual fee, there is another version of the Barclaycard Arrival that offers no annual fee with smaller, yet still substantial travel rewards available. Link: Barclaycard ArrivalTM World MasterCard®

 

 

Capital One Venture

Capital One has an excellent option for those who love to travel. The Capital One Venture Rewards card offers two points for every dollar spent on all purchases. Earn an additional 40,000 bonus points by spending $3,000 in the first three months you have the card. There is no limit to the number of points that you can earn. There is no annual fee for the first year, after that you will pay an annual fee of $59. There is no introductory APR rate, the APR is 13.9-20.9%, depending on your credit.

Redeem your Capital One Venture rewards with the No Hassle guarantee for flights, hotels, rental cars, gift cards and more, with no blackout dates or restrictions. Capital One will help you book your travel, or you can use the Purchase Eraser to pay for the cost of booking the travel through an agent. There are no foreign transaction fees to use this card abroad and it comes with smart chip technology. Capital One offers free credit tracking for customers, too, making it easy to stay on top of your credit score.

For those who wish to earn travel rewards without having to pay any annual fee, the Capital One VentureOne card has no annual fee, offers 1.25 points for every dollar spent, and a bonus of 20,000 points for spending only $1,000 in the first three months.

 

Conclusion

Each of these travel rewards credit cards has something great to offer. If you’re looking for the most rewards possible, the Barclaycard Arrival Plus stands out from the crowd. It offers the highest fixed travel rewards rate in the industry right now, and the flexible process to redeem the points (as well as additional bonuses available when you redeem for travel rewards) makes this our first choice. Take a look for yourself to compare the options, and see if you agree!

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Capital One BuyPower Credit Card Review

For Chevrolet, Buick, GMC or Cadillac loyalists, your card has arrived! With the Capital One BuyPower credit card, you can earn tons of points that can go toward the purchase of your next vehicle. Use this card over the course of a year or two and you will find that you can build up a great rewards account that will seriously bring down the price of your next car!

 

 

The Benefits

Solid Points Earning Potential

You will earn 5% points on all purchases for the first $5,000 you spend, and 2% after that. This can add up quickly, as you will have 25,000 points after the first $5,000. There is no cap on the points that you can earn, and they never expire. So feel free to use this card consistently if you know that you will be sticking with one of these brands for your next new car.

No Annual Fee

The Capital One BuyPower credit card has no annual fee, so you can accumulate tons of points toward your next car without ever having to pay an annual fee.

0% Intro APR 

Cardholders will enjoy a 0% intro APR for the first 12 months that they have the card. After that, the APR will be between 11.90%-19.90%, depending on your credit history and the current prime rate.

No Balance Transfer Fees

The Capital One BuyPower credit card has no balance transfer fees. This is great for someone who wants to take advantage of the introductory 0% APR, but, since you won’t be earning any points if you are not spending, then you might want to move your balance transfers to another card if you are trying to build up points toward your next vehicle.

Redemption Options

You have several options when it comes to redeeming your points from the Capital One BuyPower credit card. When you are ready to make a purchase of your next Chevrolet, Buick, GMC or Cadillac, you will select your model and negotiate a price with the dealer. You can then apply your points in several ways:

  • Apply points to the overall purchase price
  • Use points for a down payment
  • Apply points to upgrades and extras

Often, when you combine the extra deals with any current incentives being offered, you can really get terrific pricing or great add-ons.

Capital One Extras

As a Capital One cardholder, you will be eligible for many great perks, including extended warranties, excellent travel insurance coverage, trip cancellation insurance, identity theft and fraud protection, concierge service and more.

The Nitty Gritty

The Capital One BuyPower credit card has no annual fee. There is a 0% introductory APR that lasts for the first 12 months. After that, you will pay 11.90-19.90% in interest rates. Balance transfer fees are $0. Cash advance fees are 3%. There are no foreign transaction fees. Earn 5% points on the first $5,000 you spend, and 2% on every dollar spent after that. There is a late payment fee of up to $35.

Conclusion

While this card may be great for Chevrolet, GMC, Buick and Cadillac lovers, there are definitely other cards out there that offer similar, if not better cash back options. You could always use that cash back toward a new vehicle. Consider your options, and you may decide to not limit yourself to being only able to redeem your points toward a new vehicle.

Capital One is always a great company for a credit card, and they do have plenty of other options. The Discover it® is another popular choice for those looking for a flexible cash back rewards credit card.

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Card Comparison: Chase Freedom vs. Capital One Quicksilver

It’s time for yet another credit card comparison!  Up today are the Chase Freedom® and Capital One Quicksilver credit cards.  Each offer up cash back to card holders, but have their differences in bonus cash back execution.  Which one is superior?  Let’s check it out below, and see which one reigns supreme!

 

Here are links to full reviews of these cards:

Chase Freedom Credit Card Review

Capital One Quicksilver Review

Apply Now: Chase Freedom®

 

Sign-Up Bonus

The sign up bonus is a very important factor for anyone signing up for a credit card. For the Capital One Quicksilver Credit card, you’ll see yourself netting $100 for spending $500 in three months.  The winner here is clear, the Chase Freedom® credit card.

 

Bonus Spending

With the Capital One Quicksilver credit card, you’ll net one and a half percent back on every purchase that you make on the card.  There are no categories or rotating calendars to remember.  The Chase Freedom card gives you 1% cash back on every dollar spent, as well as 5% cash back in a rotating group of categories (Restaurants and Lowe’s for April-June, Gas Stations and Kohl’s for July-September, and Amazon/Zappos/Department stores for the rest of the year).  The winner here, in my opinion, is the Quicksilver credit card, since you don’t have to remember any pesky categories!

 

Other Benefits

With your 15 months of 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers (then a variable APR of 13.99%-22.99%) and cash back rewards, you can’t go wrong with the Chase Freedom card.  Furthermore, you’ll have access to the Ultimate Rewards travel network if you have another credit card that earns Ultimate Rewards points with Chase.  This is huge, as it gives you the versatility to really expand on your rewards.

For the Quicksilver credit card, it offers 0% APR until March 2015.  Afterwards, it’ll be 12.9%-22.9%.  It also has no foreign transaction fees, and is a Visa Signature card, with purchase protection and travel benefits.  So, I would say that it depends on what your life is like for the winner between these cards.  If you value travel, and have another Chase card, the Freedom card wins in my book.  But, if you like travelling abroad, you could see the Quicksilver card winning this round.

 

Conclusion

So, who is the winner here?  It’s hard to say.  I think that the 5% benefits puts the Chase Freedom card ahead of the Quicksilver credit card.  But, I still am a firm believer in higher return for regular spending, not in specific categories.  So, if you see yourself spending a lot on these cards, I would edge yourself towards the Quicksilver credit card.  Ultimately, it’s up to you to analyze your spending and see which card is the best for you and your family.  Which one did you choose? Or, did you choose both?  Let us know below in the comments!

Apply Now: Chase Freedom®

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Card Comparison: Capital One Venture vs. Discover it

There are many great credit cards out there.  The Discover it® credit card is an awesome one because of its large cash back rotating categories and its no annual fee.  Another card, the Capital One Venture, is an excellent one as well, and is advertised often in multiple venues.  But, how do they compare?  Let’s check them out below and see how the benefits of each stack up!

Apply Now: Discover it® 

 

Annual Fee

One major category of benefits that is important to cardmembers is the annual fee for opening the credit card.  There is good news in this category for one of the cards: there is no annual fee for the Discover It credit card.  So, any benefits you earn could potentially be “free” if you manage your expenses well and not pay interest on a revolving balance each month.  However, the Capital One Venture credit card features a $59 annual fee, which is waived for the first year.  Advantage: Discover It.

 

Introductory APR

An introductory APR is important for some, since opening up a new credit line may be for a new, large purchase that will take time to pay off.  With an intro APR, you have interest-free lending for a specific amount of time.  For the Capital One Venture credit card, you’ll have 13.9-20.9% APR, depending on your credit history.  For the Discover It credit card, the period is 14 months of 0% APR, with an APR of 10.99 and 22.99 percent after that.  Advantage: Discover It.

 

Sign-Up Bonus

Another big draw for customers, the sign-up bonus is that beautiful mannequin in the window to draw you in.  For the Capital One card, you’ll earn $200 cash back with $2,000 in spending over three months.  For the Discover It credit card, there actually is no sign up bonus!  Advantage: Capital One Venture.

 

Bonus Categories

These two credit cards each feature unique ways of giving you cash back, either they offer “bonus categories” that rotate four times a year, or straight 2% back on every purchase.  The Discover It card offers 5% cash back for each category, up to $1,500 cash back.  At the time of writing, the Discover It card has ‘Home Improvement’ as a category for the second quarter, which includes any store in that category, as well as Bed Bath and Beyond.

The next quarter will be gas stations, and the final quarter ‘holiday shopping.’  In addition, the Discover It card has an online shopping mall offering 5%-20% cash back for purchase.  The Capital One card offers 2% back, but on every purchase you make.  Winner: I would say it depends on your spending preferences– if a lot of your purchases fall in the Discover It bonus categories, that’s the clear winner.

 

Regular Spend 

You will also receive bonus points for regular spend.  The Discover It card offers you one point per dollar of regular spending, but the Capital One card offers 2% back on every purchase.  Advantage:  Capital One.

 

Redemptions

One thing to note is that for the Capital One Venture card, if you redeem for cash back, you won’t get the full value of your points (only a 1% cash back rate).  Thus, the Venture is the winner for travel rewards and the Discover it wins in the cash back category.

 

Other Benefits

The Capital One card offers no foreign transaction fees, and easy redemption for travel with your cash back.  However, the Discover It card offers free FICO scores every month, and no foreign transaction fees, which are valuable benefits in my book.  I would say that this is a tie.

 

Verdict

With no annual fee, the Discover it® credit card is certainly a valid contender.  However, the $59 annual fee Capital One card offers two points back on every purchase you make on the card, allowing you to most likely rack up benefits quicker with this card. That said, it really depends on how you plan to redeem your points. If you’re looking strictly for cash back rewards, the Discover it® is your best bet.

Apply Now: Discover it® 

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Best Cash Back Credit Cards of 2014

Simply put, cash back credit cards are great. They put money back in your pocket – cold, hard cash. Sure, some critics may argue, with plenty of merit, that there are other types of rewards cards—such as travel cards—that may ultimately give you more value in return for your points. But, if you are not the jetsetting type, or you simply do not travel enough to take full advantage of the rewards, then cash back can be the way to go.

Lots of people can benefit from travel rewards, but EVERYONE can benefit from cash back. With that said, let’s take a look at some of the best cash back credit cards out there!

Chase Freedom

After hearing about the cash back and bonus rewards offered by Chase Freedom, it may be difficult to debate whether or not it comes out on top for this year. This card offers 5% cash back on many categories that people spend money in nearly every day—groceries, gas and restaurants. Although the categories rotate somewhat each quarter, at least one of the biggest categories is almost always on the list.

Because of this, you can earn massive cash back rewards using the Chase Freedom. For example, the current bonus categories include restaurants and Lowe’s stores, both popular among many credit card users. Next quarter will be gas stations and Kohl’s department stores. As you can imagine, at a 5% cash back, you can reclaim a significant amount of your hard earned cash—by spending it!

The cash back program is sweeter than others, and here are a few reasons why. First, another thing we love about the Chase Freedom is the sign up bonus. You will get a bonus of $100 in your cash back account after you spend a mere $500 in the first three months. Just about every cardholder will hit this limit, making it a nearly sure thing.

Add in the introductory 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months, and you have yourself a true front runner. Oh, and if that is not enough, add an authorized user and get another $25 bonus, if you do this within the first 3 months. Did we mention that there is no annual fee? There really isn’t. Finally, those who have Chase checking accounts will get a 10% annual bonus cash back reward at the end of the year.

 

Discover it

Another great cash back rewards card is the Discover it. This is another card that offers plenty of benefits, with no annual fee. Discover it also offers 5% rewards on rotating categories, making it easy to really build up a nice cash back rewards account. You will still get 1% cash back on all of your other spending, but the bonus categories are certainly very nice.

With an introductory APR of 0% for the first 14 months, you can pay off your purchases and balance transfers without accruing any interest whatsoever. Discover is also very forgiving, and does not charge you any late payment fee for the first late payment that you make. Be careful after that, though, because you will be charged $35 if you forget again!

Another feature of the Discover it card is the free FICO credit score you receive with your monthly statement. This makes it that much easier to stay on top of your score, which is a nice added benefit.

Apply Now: Discover it®

 

BankAmericard Cash Rewards 

Earning a consistent 1% on all purchases and a consistent 2% on groceries is great for most people. On top of that, you earn 3% on all gas station purchases. With the price of gas so high, getting 3% cash back is pretty nice and helps take the sting out of filling the tank.

The BankAmericard Cash Rewards credit card also offers $100 cash reward as a bonus, which you can earn by spending only $500 on purchases in the first 3 months. Another great perk, for Bank of America customers, is that you can earn a 10% annual bonus when you have a checking or savings account with them in addition to the credit card account.

 

Capital One Quicksilver 

Although most cash rewards credit cards offer a basic 1% back on all regular purchases, the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit card offers a 1.5% cash back reward rate. In addition, there is a great sign up bonus of $100 after spending $500 in the first 90 days, which is not hard to do!

Add in the fact that there are no annual fees, and no limit to the spending or cash back that you can earn, and you have yourself another great card to choose from. Although there are no bonus categories or rotating bonuses, this card offers a steady value to customers.

How to Choose?

As mentioned in the beginning of this post, cash back rewards are not always the best or most valuable options, but they are certainly more of a sure thing when it comes to redeeming your rewards. Frequent travelers should be exploring some of the other rewards cards out there, but cash back rewards still offer plenty of great things—like cash back!

Read the fine print, make sure you understand rotating categories and how they apply, any caps on spending, and any associated fees that you might pay before you decide which card is going to be best for you. All in all, these cards are definitely all solid choices.

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Card Comparison: Barclaycard Arrival vs. Capital One Venture

There are often cards out there that compete for the same group of customers.  The Barclaycard Arrival PlusTM World Elite MasterCard® and the Capital One Venture Credit Card could qualify for such a battle- they both a great common benefit, two points/miles for every dollar spent on the card, but which one is better?

Let’s dive in, benefit by benefit, and see which one reigns supreme!  I have a feeling that this one may be a tough one to decide.

Tip: We rank both of these rewards card below the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card.

 

Sign Up Bonus

For the Barclaycard Arrival PlusTM World Elite MasterCard®, 40,000 miles (or $400) awaits you after spending $3,000 in 3 months, a very solid sign up bonus.  The Capital One Venture Credit Card offers 20,000 miles, or $200 in travel.  Both very solid offers for these cards, but the winner is Barclaycard Arrival PlusTM World Elite MasterCard®.

Daily Spend

For daily spend, you’ll receive the same amount of bonus points on both credit cards- two points per dollar spent.  I like this way of doing things- you don’t have to remember what categories earn you what, nor do you have to ‘sign up’ for benefits every quarter like other cards.  It’s a draw in this category!

Ease of Redemption

For redeeming your miles, the Barclaycard Arrival PlusTM World Elite MasterCard® wins, only because it offers up 10% back of the points you redeem, every time you redeem.  The Venture card does not offer such a benefit.  Both cards allow you to make an airfare or hotel purchase at whatever site you wish, as long as you pay with the card, you’ll be able to redeem your points.  The Barclaycard wins again!

Annual Fee

In terms of annual fees, the Venture card wins this round.  At only $59 (and waived for the first year), it beats out the Arrival World MasterCard’s $89, which is also waived for the first year.  So, in terms of price, the Venture Card wins this round.

Other Benefits

In terms of other benefits, both credit cards offer up no foreign transaction fees.  After that, avariable APR of 14.99% or 18.99%, based upon your creditworthiness will kick in.  You also get free FICO scores each month and a TripIt Pro subscription.

The Venture credit card only offers up the standard Visa Signature benefits, which may include concierge service, hotel upgrades, event ticket deals, and other exclusive perks.  Read all about them here.  I would say that the Barclaycard wins this round (this is starting to become a bloodbath!)

Conclusion

So, which one reigns supreme?  I would say that far and away the Barclaycard Arrival PlusTM World Elite MasterCard® is the winner here.  Not only does it earn the same type of bonuses, but you get a larger sign-up bonus, better benefits, like FICO reporting and TripIt Pro.  It seems that there have been offers in the past of 50,000 miles for sign up with the Venture credit card, but I don’t see that offer available now.

If it did come up again, I could see the argument being made to switch to the Venture credit card.  What are your thoughts?  Do you see the way I do?  Do you have one of these cards (or both), and swear by them?  We want to know!  Comment in the section below and we will be sure to incorporate your thoughts!

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Capital One Venture vs. Chase Freedom Credit Card

There are a lot of credit cards out there in the world.  Some are very similar to each other.  It’s often hard to choose which one to put in that last slot in your wallet.  This post is designed to help you decide between two very worthy credit cards: the Capital One Venture Rewards card and the Chase Freedom® credit card.

They are from two very different issuing banks, but the purpose of the cards remains the same: to get you the most cashback for your purchases!  Let’s see which one reigns king in this review!

 Capital One Venture vs. Chase Freedom

 

Annual Fee

The annual fee on any credit card is a big sticking point for some potential cardholders.  So, let’s dive into the details on that!  For the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, you’ll have no annual fee for the first year.  However, after the first year, you’ll be charged $59 per year to keep the card.  The Chase Freedom card, on the other hand, has no annual fees, ever.  So, this category goes to the Chase Freedom card.

 

Sign-Up Bonus

Another way credit card companies get you to sign up for their card is through their Sign Up bonus, which I believe is one of the more important aspects of any credit card.   I’d say Chase Freedom® wins this round.

 

Bonus Points

Regular spending is also where you can rack up the meat of your points earning on these cards.  For the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, you’ll earn 2% back on every purchase.  There are no limits to this agreement.  The Chase Freedom card, on the other hand, collects 1% back on all purchases, but has a ‘category bonus’ that changes four times each year that can earn 5% cash back.  For example, the quarters for 2013 were:

▪   Q1 (January 1 – March 31): Gas stations, movie theaters and Starbucks stores

▪   Q2 (April 1 – June 30): Restaurants and Lowe’s home improvement stores

▪   Q3 (July 1 – September 30): Gas stations and Kohl’s

▪   Q4 (October 1 – December 31): Amazon.com, Zappos.com and select department stores

For this group, I’d say that Chase Freedom® definitely wins, since your total amount of purchases will add up to more than what you spend in these categories, most likely.

 

Using Your Points

The way you redeem your points for each credit card is a little different as well.  For the Capital One card, you simply choose the travel expense that you would like to redeem your points for, and you’re done.  The Chase Freedom card is a simple cash back card, but you can transfer your points into your Ultimate Rewards account if you’d like.  You’re stuck redeeming with Chase’s travel partners though (airlines like British Airways, Southwest, and United).

 

Conclusion

While both cards offer great benefits, the Capital One  Venture Rewards credit card is one of the best out there.  It’s low annual fee (after the first year), constant 2% cash back, and easy use of points earned makes it a champion over the Chase Freedom card.  The Freedom card, though, is a great option for those that don’t want an annual fee but would like to still earn some bonus points!

Apply Now: Chase Freedom®

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Top Credit Card Offers from Capital One in 2014

There are many banks out there that issue credit cards.  American Express, Chase, Barclays…there are almost too many to count.  One bank, however, issues some very distinct and intriguing card products that we would like to discuss today: Capital One.  Famous for their “No Hassle” card commercials, there are many more offerings than that out there for credit card holders.  Let’s check out a few below!

 

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

This credit card is one of the only ones that features a sign up bonus of 20,000 miles when you spend $2,000 on purchases within the first three months.  Every dollar you spend also earns you two miles in their program.  The purchase APR varies between 13.9% and 20.9%.  Annual fee is nothing for the first year, and the $59 after that.

Read our full review here.

 

Spark Cash for Business

The Spark Cash for Business Credit card is a good option for those with a small business (even an eBay account works).  With this card, instead of miles earned through purchases, you’ll earn cash back, at a rate of 2% per dollar spent on every purchase.  Plus, there is an opportunity to earn $300 in bonuses.  The APR ranges from 13.9% to 20.9%.  The Annual fee is free for the first year, and $59 after that.

Read our full review here.

 

Quicksilver Rewards

Another cash back credit card, this is a personal card, not a business one.  You’ll earn 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day, plus, one-time only, you’ll earn $100 back when you spend $500 in the first three months of card membership.  Furthermore, you’ll have a 0% intro APR until February 2015.  After that, the APR will be somewhere between 12.9% and 20.9%.

Read our full review here.

 

Journey Student Rewards

There is also an option for students!  For those that open a Journey Student Rewards credit card, you’ll earn 1% cash back on every purchase.  And, to encourage responsible spending, you’ll earn a 25% bonus on the cash back you’ve earned every month you pay on time, for a total of 1.25% cash back.  There is no annual fee, and APR sits at 19.8%.

Read our full review here.

 

Is one of these for you?

There are many credit cards out there from Capital One.  The major factors that you must decide when choosing one of them are what follows.  Do you value a sign up bonus?  Many of their cards do not have one, so choose carefully.  Do you value miles, or cash back?  Capital One seems to offer an even split of both.

How about big purchases that you’re looking forward to?  Some cards that I wrote about above have zero percent APR for the first few months.  If you plan on making a big purchase and need a few extra months to pay it off, these cards may be a great option for you!  Finally, does an annual fee matter to you?  If it does, choose one of the cards that do not have one.  All of these cards are great options for those of you looking for a new Capitol One credit card, and I wish you luck!