A good travel rewards card, which offers 3-4x points on travel (4x if you're a PenFed Honors Advantage Members, or 3x if not), 1.5x on everything else, and a 50K points signup bonus (if you spend $3K in the first 90 days), for an annual fee of $95 (or $0, if you're a PenFed Honors Advantage Member).
Issuer
PenFed Credit Union
PenFed Credit Union
Network
Visa
Visa
Credit Score Required
Average (670-739)
Average (670-739)
X
Pros
- 4x points on travel purchases if you're a PenFed Honors Advantage Member. (If you're not, then it's 3x points on travel purchases.)
- 1.5x points on all other purchases.
- 50,000 points signup bonus (when you spend $3,000 in the first 90 days).
- Complimentary Priority Pass Airport Lounge Annual Membership.
Cons
- Annual fee of $95 (or $0, if you're a PenFed Honors Advantage Member).
Rewards & Perks
- 4x points on travel purchases if you're a PenFed Honors Advantage Member. (If you're not, then it's 3x points on travel purchases.)
- 1.5x points on all other purchases.
- 50,000 points signup bonus (when you spend $3,000 in the first 90 days).
- Complimentary Priority Pass Airport Lounge Annual Membership.
Rates & Fees
- Annual fee: $95 (but $0 if you're a PenFed Honors Advantage Member)
- Purchase APR: 15.99-17.99% (variable)
Total savings over 5 years: $0
Official Card Description (from card issuer):
- Earn more everywhere you go!
- 50,000 Bonus Pointsƚ when you spend $3000 in the first 90 days
- Up to $799^ total Travel value
- 4X Points** on all Travel categories for PenFed Honors Advantage Membersƚƚ
- 3X Points** on all Travel categories
- 1.5X Points** on all other purchases
- 0% Balance Transfers Promo APR for 12 months, 3% fee applies to each transaction. Subject to credit approval.
- Balance Transfers Promo APR for 12 months, 3% fee applies to each transaction. Subject to credit approval. On transfers made from now until September 30, 2022. After that, the APR for the unpaid balance and any new balance transfers will be 17.99%. A 3% balance transfer fee applies to each transfer. This transaction is subject to credit approval. If you take advantage of this balance transfer, you will immediately be charged interest on all purchases made with your credit card unless you pay the entire account balance, including balance transfers, in full each month by the payment due date.
- Annual Fee: $95 (waived for existing PenFed Honors Advantage Membersƚƚ)***
- Purchase Variable APR*: 15.99% to 17.99%
- Refer to PenFed.org for Terms/Conditions
A no annual fee card, which offers 5x points on gas, 3x at supermarkets, restaurants, TV/cable/radio, and streaming, 1x on everything else, plus a signup bonus of 15,000 points (if you spend $1,500 in the first 90 days).
Issuer
PenFed Credit Union
PenFed Credit Union
Network
Visa
Visa
Credit Score Required
Average (670-739)
Average (670-739)
X
Pros
- 5x points on gas.
- 3x points at supermarkets (including most Target and Walmart locations†), restaurants, and TV/radio/cable, and streaming services.
- 1x points on all other purchases.
- 15,000 points signup bonus (after spending $1,500 in the first 90 days).
- No annual fee.
Rewards & Perks
- 5x points on gas.
- 3x points at supermarkets (including most Target and Walmart locations†), restaurants, and TV/radio/cable, and streaming services.
- 1x points on all other purchases.
- 15,000 points signup bonus (after spending $1,500 in the first 90 days).
Rates & Fees
- Annual fee: $0
- Purchase APR: 14.49-17.99% (variable)
Total savings over 5 years: $0
Official Card Description (from card issuer):
- Get Rewarded on Everyday Purchases
- 5x Points** on gas paid at the pump and EV charging stations
- 3x Points** at the supermarket (including most Target and Walmart locations†), restaurants, and TV, radio, cable, streaming services
- 1x Points** on all other purchases
- 15,000 Bonus Pointsƚ when you spend $1,500 in first 90 days
- 0% Balance Transfers Promo APR for 12 months, 3% fee applies to each transaction. Subject to credit approval.
- Balance Transfers Promo APR for 12 months, 3% fee applies to each transaction. Subject to credit approval. On transfers made from now until September 30, 2022. After that, the APR for the unpaid balance and any new balance transfers will be 17.99%. A 3% balance transfer fee applies to each transfer. This transaction is subject to credit approval. If you take advantage of this balance transfer, you will immediately be charged interest on all purchases made with your credit card unless you pay the entire account balance, including balance transfers, in full each month by the payment due date.
- Annual Fee: $0
- Purchase Variable APR*: 14.49% to 17.99%
- Refer to PenFed.org for Terms/Conditions
A secured card designed for people with bad credit, which has a $29 annual fee and no rewards.
Issuer
Synovus Bank
Synovus Bank
Network
Mastercard
Mastercard
Credit Score Required
Bad (<580)
Bad (<580)
X
Pros
- If you apply for this card, it won't be recorded in your credit bureau file (unlike applying for a regular, i.e., "unsecured" credit card, which would result in your credit score dropping a few points or so for a certain number of months).
Cons
- Like most cards for people with bad credit, this card offers no rewards.
- Because it's a secured card, it requires a (refundable) deposit, which will then be the funds that get used when you buy things with your card.
Rewards & Perks
- This card has no rewards.
Rates & Fees
- Annual fee: $29.
- APR: 21.49% (variable).
- Foreign transaction fee: 3%.
Total savings over 5 years: $-145
Official Card Description (from card issuer):
- Receive Your Card More Quickly with New Expedited Processing Option
- No Credit History or Minimum Credit Score Required for Approval
- Quick and Complete Online Application; No credit inquiry required!
- Includes Free Real-Time Access to Your Credit Score and Ongoing Credit Monitoring powered by Experian
- Full-Feature Platinum Mastercard® Secured Credit Card; Try our new Mobile App for Android users!
- Good for Car Rental, Hotels; Anywhere Credit Cards Are Accepted!
- Monthly Reporting to all 3 Major Credit Bureaus to Establish Credit History
- Credit Line Secured by Your Fully-Refundable Deposit of $200 -- $2,000 Submitted with Application
- Just Pay Off Your Balance and Receive Your Deposit Back at Any Time
- 24/7 Online Access to Your Account
- Nationwide program; available in all 50 US states *See Card Terms.
- Get a fresh start! A discharged bankruptcy still in your credit bureau file will not cause you to be declined.
A credit card designed for people with bad credit, which has a $0-99 annual fee (varies based on the person) and has no rewards.
Issuer
Celtic Bank
Celtic Bank
Network
Mastercard
Mastercard
Credit Score Required
Bad (<580)
Bad (<580)
X
Pros
- If you have bad credit, this card can help you start building up your credit (assuming you make your payments on time).
Cons
- Like most cards for people with bad credit, this card offers no rewards.
Rewards & Perks
- This card has no rewards.
Rates & Fees
- Annual fee: Between $0-99.
- APR for purchases: 24.9%.
- Foreign transaction fee: 1%.
Total savings over 5 years: $-471
Official Card Description (from card issuer):
- Pre-qualify for a card today and it will not impact your credit score
- Less than perfect credit is okay
- Mobile account access at any time
- Fraud protection for stolen or lost cards
- Account history is reported to the three major credit bureaus in the U.S.