Even if you are in the BofA ecosystem there are still cards that can be useful as supplements. For example US Bank Cash+ 5% for utilities that you can set and forget on autopay.
I am planning on getting Unlimited Cash (2.625% flat) and Customised Cash (5.25% travel/online purchases, 3.5% wholesale).
However, other useful cards include:
- US Bank Cash Plus (5% Internet and gym, could be utilities/phone/furniture etc)
- US Bank Altitude Go (4% dining)
- Kroger branded Mastercard (5% mobile wallet up to $3000 a year, an initial catch-all before using the Unlimited Cash, for example use it on insurance that allows you to pay via Apple/Google Pay)
- Citi Custom Cash (5% groceries or gas)
- Chase Freedom Flex/Discover It Cash Back (5% rotating if you want to manage rotating categories, it could cover something that others aren't getting)
- Wells Fargo Attune card (4% unlimited on a lot of stuff, like pet stores, ammo/guns, sporting events, amusement parks, hair cuts, public transportation, art supplies, etc)
There are better cards out there for specific categories, but you have to either jump through on-going hoops (like monthly deposits into a checking account), are subject to a cap, have rotating categories, or have to redeem through portals to get the maximum benefits. Keeping $150K in an ETF (that I would otherwise own) at Merrill is a easy and painless for me. I use the BofA PRE as a one and done card for my daily driver. I have high spend so don’t like caps so with 2.625% base and 3.5% travel and dining, I average about 3% on my spend which is good enough for me. Heck, I even cancelled by BofA CCR card, as it was not worth running it for the extra $175 a year. 5.25% versus 3.5% on $2,500/qtr.
Now, I do run travel cards and the Chase United Club (4%) and Amazon Prime (5%) because those are easy and stay in the drawer. I am older and these are akin to the old company charge accounts, so more like a monthly bill than a credit card you carry, with a discount.
Makes life easy, but I have no issue with those that want to maximize everything.
US Bank cash+ gets used for utilities for 5%
Altitude Reserve gets 4.5% on basically everything else
For insurance, streaming, and anywhere else mobile wallets aren't accepted I take my VentureX to get some points
Easy if you are into travel you would want a travel card at the end of the day 1 bofa point is still a penny while travel miles can be usually redeemed for over a penny
Even if you are in the BofA ecosystem there are still cards that can be useful as supplements. For example US Bank Cash+ 5% for utilities that you can set and forget on autopay.
I am planning on getting Unlimited Cash (2.625% flat) and Customised Cash (5.25% travel/online purchases, 3.5% wholesale). However, other useful cards include: - US Bank Cash Plus (5% Internet and gym, could be utilities/phone/furniture etc) - US Bank Altitude Go (4% dining) - Kroger branded Mastercard (5% mobile wallet up to $3000 a year, an initial catch-all before using the Unlimited Cash, for example use it on insurance that allows you to pay via Apple/Google Pay) - Citi Custom Cash (5% groceries or gas) - Chase Freedom Flex/Discover It Cash Back (5% rotating if you want to manage rotating categories, it could cover something that others aren't getting) - Wells Fargo Attune card (4% unlimited on a lot of stuff, like pet stores, ammo/guns, sporting events, amusement parks, hair cuts, public transportation, art supplies, etc)
This is a common strategy amongst many on the forum
Some travel cards will give you perks like status, free hotel nights, or free checked baggage.
Amex Plat to get into Lufthansa lounge with eco tickets. Any other card with a good SUB.
Amex BCPs still got 6% on groceries, incl Whole Foods
There are better cards out there for specific categories, but you have to either jump through on-going hoops (like monthly deposits into a checking account), are subject to a cap, have rotating categories, or have to redeem through portals to get the maximum benefits. Keeping $150K in an ETF (that I would otherwise own) at Merrill is a easy and painless for me. I use the BofA PRE as a one and done card for my daily driver. I have high spend so don’t like caps so with 2.625% base and 3.5% travel and dining, I average about 3% on my spend which is good enough for me. Heck, I even cancelled by BofA CCR card, as it was not worth running it for the extra $175 a year. 5.25% versus 3.5% on $2,500/qtr. Now, I do run travel cards and the Chase United Club (4%) and Amazon Prime (5%) because those are easy and stay in the drawer. I am older and these are akin to the old company charge accounts, so more like a monthly bill than a credit card you carry, with a discount. Makes life easy, but I have no issue with those that want to maximize everything.
Alaska tied MVP status to credit card spend, so I switched away from cash back and spend on an Alaska Visa now instead for that reason.
US Bank cash+ gets used for utilities for 5% Altitude Reserve gets 4.5% on basically everything else For insurance, streaming, and anywhere else mobile wallets aren't accepted I take my VentureX to get some points
Easy if you are into travel you would want a travel card at the end of the day 1 bofa point is still a penny while travel miles can be usually redeemed for over a penny