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Southside Bank: The Best Bank For Your Needs

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Southside Bank: The Best Bank For Your Needs

By Publishing Team | Filed Under: Bank Info, Reviews

southside bank

If you are a Texan who is looking for a low-cost local bank that meets your needs and has competitive interest rates, then Southside Bank maybe the bank you are looking for. This reputable bank has served thousands of customers in Texas for over half a century. Southside offers both individual and business customers banking services. The bank also deals with mortgage lending, wealth management, and investment planning. It is an excellent choice for people who are looking to open a checking account. There are eight different checking accounts, including specialty accounts for teenagers and veterans.

Quick Navigation

What Is Southside Bank?
Southside Bank Products
Southside Bank Advantage Investment Money Market Account
Checking Accounts
Certificates of Deposit Accounts and IRAs
Credit and Debit Cards
Southside Bank Fees
South State Bank Other Services
Locations & Branches
How to Open a Southside Bank Account
Mobile App & Online Banking
Southside Bank Login
Southside Bank Mobile Apps
Conclusion

What Is Southside Bank?

Southside Bank is a Texas-based financial institution that has been in business for over 60 years. The bank markets itself as a community bank and its lack of expansion ambitions beyond the borders of Texas is evidence of its community-focused philosophy. This bank has branches in parts of eastern, central, northern, and southern areas of the Lone Star State. This bank manages customer assets valued at over $6.37 billion and it has a large ATM network in Texas. Southside customers’ deposits are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).

Southside Bank Products

Southside offers a varied portfolio of retail and business account types. The savings accounts offer competitive APY rates as long as the minimum deposit requirement is met. The bank charges no fees. Some low-interest accounts and HSAs are also available without deposit requirements. The bank also offers Money Market Accounts (MMA) to customers willing to deposit large amounts of money. Customers can link some MMAs with their checking accounts.

Southside Bank Advantage Investment Money Market Account

Investment Money Market Account

Image via: Pixabay

The Southside Bank Advantage Investment Money Market Account has a minimum deposit of $50. You can access this account through the bank’s branches, ATMs, and using the bank’s mobile and online banking tools. The account charges a $10 monthly service fee. The fee can be waived if you maintain a balance over $1,000. Current interest rates for this account are as follows:

  • $10,000 and under at 0.11percent APY

  • $10,000 – $19,999 at 0.16percent APY

  • $20,000 – $29,999 at 0.25percent APY

  • $30,000 – $249,999 at 0.60percent APY

  • $250,000 and up at 0.84percent APY

Checking Accounts

phone and visa card

Image via: Pixabay

Southside offers eight different checking account. These accounts are perhaps the best product from the bank. Most of these accounts have no fees apart from the transaction fees that may be charged if you exceed the allowed free transactions per month. The bank’s interesting-bearing options have very competitive rates.

Certificates Of Deposit Accounts And IRAs

The bank also offers Certificate of Deposit (CD) and Individual Retirement Accounts (IRA). The bank has several CD offers. The yields vary depending on the length of time you will leave your money with the bank. The bank allows a minimum deposit of $25,000 for its Certificate of Deposit and Individual Retirement Accounts. You can access your money for these accounts through the bank’s branches, online, or through the mobile app. The CD accounts from this bank charge no fees.

The current yields from Southside Bank’s  CD account are:

  • A one-month CD yields 0.84 percent APY

  • A three-month CD yields 1.10 percent APY

  • A 6-month CD yields 1.40 percent APY

  • The one-year CD yields 1.60 percent APY

  • It’s three-year CD yields 2.20 percent APY

  • If 5-year CD yields 2.40 percent APY

The bank’s IRAs have terms and yields similar to those of the bank’s Certificate of Deposits.

Credit and Debit Cards

Credit and Debit Cards

Image via: Pixabay

Southside account holders receive a MasterCard debit card that can be used at ATMs and at select retailers. The bank uses EMV chips and offers MasterCard’s ID Theft Protection tool. In addition, the bank issues a wide variety of credit cards.

Southside Bank Fees

The bank has an impressive selection of competitive checking and business accounts. There are no monthly fees for Southside Bank’s checking account and the accounts don’t have a lot of requirements either. The bank will charge $0.25 for each transaction for checking accounts but allows 253 free transactions per month. Incoming domestic wire transfers cost $7.00 for Southside account holders. Non-customers pay $25.00 to receive their domestic wire transfer at Southside. Outgoing domestic wire transfers cost $22.00, while repetitive outgoing wire transfers incur a charge of $12.00 for each. Outgoing International transfers cost $52.50 to process.

Cash deposits incur a fee of $0.10 after the 10 “rolls of coin” free monthly deposits. Overdraft fees are processed at $30 each. While it is free to use Southside Bank ATMs, using other ATMs in the AllPoint Network will cost you $0.75 for balance inquiries and $1.5 for withdrawals.

South State Bank Other Services

South State Bank Other Services

Image via: Pixabay

Other services offered by Southside Bank include:

  • Business loans

  • Business lines of credit

  • Business credit cards

  • SBA Loans

  • Commercial real estate loans

  • Wealth Management

Locations & Branches

Southside Bank is headquartered in Tyler, Texas. It operates exclusively in Texas and currently has 70 branches.  The bank, however, is also part of the Allpoint ATM Network which has 50,000 ATMs scattered all over the US. You can access these ATMs in every state and you can find them at Target, Walgreens, Costco, and more stores.

The bank has ATMs and branches in the following cities:

  • Tyler

  • Fort Worth

  • Irving

  • Longview

  • Flint

  • Grapevine

  • Gun Barrel City

  • Whitehouse

  • Lindale

  • Jasper

  • Arlington

  • Euless

  • Lufkin

  • Jacksonville

  • Granbury

  • Dallas

How To Open A Southside Bank Account

Southside accepts both online and in-person account applications. When using the online option, click or tap on the “Open Now” menu on top of the bank website.  Be sure to keep your social security number, government-issued identification, and the minimum deposit on hand when opening the account online. You will need to scan and upload PDF documents. You can apply in person at any of the bank’s branches.

Mobile App & Online Banking

Southside offers online banking, mobile apps, and banking by text. If you enroll for online banking, you can view your transaction history, account balance, make inter-account money transfers, set up automatic bill payment, and process domestic and international wire transfers.

The bank has Android and iOS mobile apps. The bank’s apps get average reviews from most customers. The mobile app offers many of the same features as online banking but you cannot use the app to locate branches or ATMs for remote check deposits. Customers can use the text banking option too.

Southside’s website offers a list with the different codes for text banking. You can send these to the bank by text to initiate the transaction or service. For example, you could text BAL to receive a text with your account balance and XFER  to order a transfer between your different accounts.

Southside Bank Login

Southside Bank Login

Image via: Pixabay

New members to online banking at Southside Bank enroll by clicking on the “Enroll Now” menu on top of the bank’s bank’s website. The bank will issue users with a username and a temporary password. To log in to your online account for the first time, you need to go to the homepage of Southside Bank. Enter your username and password and click on login. It will prompt you to change your password your first time logging in. You can access your transaction summary in your online account.

In addition to viewing your account summary, the bank’s online banking service enables customers to do a number of things.. You can do both inter-account and external bank transfers using your Southside Bank online account. In addition. You can set and cancel recurring payments online.

Other services you can access through online banking include:

  • Reordering checks

  • Receiving statements and notices

  • Managing your money and assets

  • Mobile RDC enrollment

  • Mobile deposits

  • Enrolling in text banking

  • Requesting an address change

  • Locating branches and ATM

Southside Bank Mobile Apps

Southside Bank has IOS and Android mobile apps. You can use these apps to access your finances 24/7. You can download the Southside Bank mobile app in the Apple store or Google Play Store to activate mobile banking.

Some of the transactions you can access through the bank’s mobile app include:

  • Checking balances

  • Reviewing history

  • Utilizing the mobile bill payment service

  • Enabling fingerprint recognition

  • Transferring money between accounts

  • Completing mobile deposits

Conclusion

The Southside Bank has a long history of serving people in Texas. There are many banking services with generous interest rates that make the bank a wise choice for people looking for an interest-bearing checking account, money market account or individual retirement account.

The bank’s online banking and mobile banking services enable you to do most of the banking chores you would otherwise do at the bank’s branch or ATM. Southside’s online banking offers a wide variety of actions and services including viewing account summaries and histories, transferring money, ordering checks, mobile deposits, and setting alerts. You can find many Southside Bank ATMs all over Texas, but there are an additional 55,000 ATMs that are part of the Allpoint Network. Members will be able to bank with ease no matter where they are.

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National Bank of Arizona Login

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National Bank of Arizona Login

By Carla Stuart | Filed Under: Bank Info, Reviews

Long-time customers of the National Bank of Arizona say they most appreciate the bank’s small-town feeling. The bank has dozens of locations across the state and customer service phone lines manned by employees rather than recordings. One recent bank reviewer said they liked the bank because it was better to be greeted by a person than a robot.

national bank of arizona

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Over the years, the National Bank of Arizona has forged relationships in each of its Arizona communities and has established trust with its customers, even in times of national and local economic downturn or in times of banking services becoming more technology oriented.

​

With a history of local banking, first for businesses and then for the public, the National Bank of Arizona’s mission includes making online banking and mobile apps state-of-the-art without sacrificing the bank’s personal touch for the sake of convenience.

​

Recently, the National Bank of Arizona’s mobile app and website were updated with a sleeker look and a simpler interface, making it easier to navigate even for those customers who are not as comfortable using the new technology almost all banks have adopted.

​Contents

What Is the National Bank of Arizona?
What Is the National Bank of Arizona?
Is There Enough Diversity of Products to Meet My Needs?
Locations & Branches
How Do I Find My Local Branch?
Mobile Apps & Online Banking
How Do I Login to Online Banking?
How Do I Find Information on a Specific Product or Service?
What about Technology Features Like Mobile Deposit or Push-Button Transfers?
Conclusion

What Is the National Bank of Arizona?

national bank of arizona

Changing and growing to meet the needs of their customers while maintaining a small-town feel is nothing new for the National Bank of Arizona. Founded in Phoenix, Arizona in 1984, the bank started with the simple mission of building local relationships with small business owners.

​

Now, more than 30 years later, the bank still prides itself on providing local, full-service banking for both businesses and personal banking customers. It offers checking and savings accounts, credit cards, mortgage loans, personal loans, certificates of deposit, and online and mobile banking services. The goal is to be the only bank customers need—and it seems to be working.

Several customers reported originally opening their National Bank of Arizona account as a secondary account while keeping their primary checking or mortgage with a larger bank. Over the years, as these customers realized that this local state bank offered everything the bigger national ones did—and in some cases more, like reimbursed ATM fees or free safe deposit boxes—they have moved to National Bank of Arizona as their primary bank and moved the larger banks to the second position. Or, sometimes, customers just keep all of their banking with the Arizona bank having no need to look elsewhere.

What Is the National Bank of Arizona?

national bank of arizona

According to standard banking health ratings, the National Bank of Arizona gets an A rating. In fact, in some categories, it scores an A+.

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After the banking crisis of 2007, the Texas Ratio was developed by private bank analysts as a straightforward indicator of whether a bank was likely to fail. The ratio compares the value of risky loans to the total funds the bank has on hand to cover these loans. The National Bank of Arizona passes the Texas Ratio with an A+, according to RBC Capital Markets.

​

In looking at the National Bank of Arizona’s deposit growth, or the gains in the amount of money deposited with the bank over time, the bank gets a B rating. And, in the final indicator, capitalization, simply the bank’s assets minus liabilities, the National Bank of Arizona earns another A+ rating.

Is There Enough Diversity of Products to Meet My Needs?

credit cards inside the pocket

National Bank of Arizona offers five different checking account types ranging from the appropriately named, “Anytime Checking” with small opening deposits and minimum balances to “Premium Interest Checking” which offers interest on account balances as well as perks like safe deposit boxes and ATM fee rebates. Senior citizens and members of the Military qualify for discounted, robust checking account packages. All of the personal checking accounts include online checking and allow mobile check deposits.

​

National Bank of Arizona offers three different savings accounts types: regular, money market and certificates of deposit. The bank offers four types of credit cards, auto loans and personal loans as well as mortgages and home equity lines of credit.

Locations & Branches

national bank of arizona office

National Bank of Arizona is a division of Zions Bancorporation, a member of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) operating under multiple names. There are nearly 500 local branches of the Zions Bancorporation and not all of them are located in the Grand Canyon state. There are locations spread across the West including Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.

​

The National Bank of Arizona has branches evenly dispersed throughout the state. The cities of Phoenix and Tucson each have about five locations. The greater Phoenix area holds about ten additional locations. There are additional branches located in about ten smaller communities scattered throughout the state.

How Do I Find My Local Branch?

national bank of arizona branch locator

The easiest way to find the branch closest to you is to visit the bank’s website at https://www.nbarizona.com. From the home page, click on the Locations link at the top right side of the page. You may also find locations under the How Can We Help? section and use the Find a Branch feature to locate the branch nearest you and a map to the location.

Mobile Apps & Online Banking

national bank of arizona mobile app

Like larger bank chains, the National Bank of Arizona offers a full menu of always open banking options online and through its mobile app. For example, customers can log in any time of day or night to check the status of their accounts, make transfers, pay bills or look up information on old bank statements.

How Do I Login to Online Banking?

From the home page, the brown LOGIN button for online banking can be found to the right side of the top navigation bar. For easy access, it is available on the homepage and all other pages within the website.

national bank of arizona login screen

To find your online banking account, click on the tab that relates to your account with National Bank of Arizona. There are specific pages for checking, savings, credit card, and home mortgage accounts as well as business or corporate banking.

How Do I Find Information on a Specific Product or Service?

national bank of arizona home page

From the home page, choose first whether your interest is in personal or business banking. The tabs for this choice are found on the top left side of the page. If you are looking for personal banking services, click on your choice of options from BANK, BORROW, INVEST, and RESOURCES. For business inquiries, choose from BANK, BORROW, TREASURY, and RESOURCES. From each selection, you will find a drop-down menu which will offer links to the specific information you need about products and services

What about Technology Features Like Mobile Deposit or Push-Button Transfers?

mobile phone money banknotes us dollars

Beyond the ease of use and convenience of its website and mobile app, customers of the National Bank of Arizona also have access to the latest in banking technology. There are options for safely and quickly transferring money to friends and family, using smartphones to deposit checks directly into checking or savings accounts, automatic bill pay systems, and notifications and statements delivered through email—all with the highest levels of online banking security.

To get started, you can go to https://www.nbarizona.com to log in to your accounts or enroll in online account access. Or, you can apply for a home equity loan online at https://www.nbarizona.com/Personal-Credit.jsp. Or, if you are away from a screen and just prefer talking to a human, customer service representatives are available at 888.244.6622.

Conclusion

piggy bank with some coins around

If you live in Arizona, the National Bank of Arizona could be all you need for all of your personal finance needs. It is a full-service and high-tech banking business, but it also spends much of its creative energies in innovations that build the Arizona economy. The leaders of the National Bank of Arizona believe in investing in their local communities and building trust by using astute lending practices, encouraging employee volunteerism, and supporting Arizona’s causes and financial health.

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Along with a sense of community, the bank offers a full array of banking products positioned competitively with larger, chain banks. Certificates of deposit, credit cards and home equity loans get high ratings from bank review websites. This, coupled with the bank’s ability to keep up with the latest in financial institution technology such as online and mobile banking, makes it a powerful, yet intimate, institution.

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Information obtained from banking review sites does indicate some account holders are unhappy that all the bank’s checking accounts require a certain balance or monthly deposits to waive monthly fees. Although the fees are small, ranging from $5 to $20 for premier accounts, fees can be annoying and add up quickly before the customer becomes aware they’ve been imposed.

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The National Bank of Arizona takes pride in setting industry standards in the state. Their goal is to keep on the cutting edge of banking technology and products while keeping the trust of their customers who love the small town community feel of their local branch.

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Indigo Credit Card Review: for Those With Bad Credit

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Indigo Credit Card Review: for Those With Bad Credit

By Veronica Lopez | Filed Under: Credit Cards, Reviews

indigo credit card review marketing-online-social-media-online

Individuals who would like to have the financial flexibility of using a credit card for payments but have either a poor credit record or little or no credit history need a different set of card options for their unique situations.

These options may include unsecured cards with a standalone line of credit or a secured card with a deposit account requirement with a balance requirement equivalent to their credit line.

These cards can be a good fit for someone right out of college or trying to rebuild their credit. Maintaining a good credit history is also important to qualify for better rates on mortgages or personal loans, plus employers and landlords may request credit history as part of their job or rental application review.

Although the pricing on these accounts can be high because of the risks associated with the poor or lack of credit history, these cards offer customers who make timely payments and manage their accounts well, the chance to improve their credit scores and ultimately build a better credit record to qualify for a lower interest rate and lower fees with traditional credit cards in the future.

 In this Indigo credit card review, we look at the Indigo Platinum Mastercard unsecured product and compare it to three other cards offered to credit challenged applicants.

Quick Navigation

What Is the Indigo Platinum Mastercard Credit Card?
How It Compares
Indigo Platinum Mastercard Credit Card
First Premier Bank Mastercard Credit Card
Credit One Bank Credit Card
Total Visa Credit Card
Conclusion of the Indigo Credit Card Review

What Is the Indigo Platinum Mastercard Credit Card?

The Indigo Platinum Mastercard is an unsecured credit card product offered by Celtic Bank (founded in 2001) of Salt Lake City, Utah. The card is serviced by Genesis FS Card Services.

This is an unsecured credit card, meaning the issuing bank is establishing a standalone line of credit for the customer, with no associated deposit account or balance requirement to secure the line of credit and provide protection against loss for the issuing bank.

As a Mastercard affiliated product, the card enjoys widespread acceptance for purchase activity at over 33 million locations in 210 countries.

Indigo Credit Card Review

Our goal is to review the key attributes of the Indigo Platinum Mastercard, including key product functionality and benefits, pricing, including fees and interest rates, and then move on to a direct comparison of the Indigo card versus three competing cards with offers also positioned to this segment of the market.

This will help us to assess how it fares in terms of the best value for customers who need to establish or rebuild their credit history.

Product Specifications

No security deposit is required, as this is an unsecured card. The Indigo card typically offers a $300 credit limit, with no credit line increase program. Customers can manage their accounts online 24/7 through their mobile phone, desktop or tablet computers through www.myindigocard.com.

Online functionality includes the ability to view your statement, pay your bill, monitor account activity, view transactions and check your balance. Customers can also activate the new card online prior to first use. Paperless statements are also available.

Cash advances from the Indigo card credit line are available at many financial institutions. Once approved, the customer can call for a Personal Identification Number to withdraw funds from many ATMs.

As a Mastercard affiliated product, the Indigo card also offers several Mastercard Platinum card benefits, including Master Rental Insurance, Extended Warranty Coverage, Master Road Assist Service or Travel Assistance Services. A complete guide to these and other benefits is sent to all new clients after their new account has been set up.

Indigo also wants to serve as a credit resource for customers to encourage the responsible use of credit, and so has posted a Credit Terminology link on its website to help clients understand credit terms, such as Annual Percentage Yield, Bankruptcy, Credit Reporting, Debt to Income Ratio, Grace Period and others.

In addition, there is a Frequently Asked Questions list to help prospects understand how the card works.

Pricing 

The Indigo card carries an annual fee from between $0 and $99 depending on the applicant’s credit history. The Annual Percentage Yield is 23.9%. The card is traveler friendly with a low foreign transaction fee of 1%.

Indigo cautions that foreign purchases may be declined unless the customer notifies the bank before their planned travel activity. Customers can set up a travel alert by calling 1 866 946-9545

How It Compares

For this Indigo credit card review, we look at the specifics of the Indigo Platinum Mastercard against three competing card products, the First Premier Bank Mastercard Credit Card, Credit One Bank VISA credit card, and Total Visa Credit Card.

Indigo Platinum Mastercard Credit Card

Fees

Ease of Applying

Interest Rate and Penalties

Response Time

Customer Service
$$

Fees  ​

The annual fee ranges from $0 to $99 depending on the applicant’s credit score, but there is no additional program fee or monthly fee as charged by several competitors highlighted below in the Indigo credit card review.

 In addition, for travelers, the Indigo fee for foreign transactions is a reasonable 1%.

Ease of Applying    

Indigo offers a pre-qualification process on its website that will give a 60-second response on the likelihood of credit approval.

Applications may only be done online, not by phone. This pre-qualification is available for any applicant 18 or older (19 in Alabama) and who has not submitted a request in the past 60 days. 

This pre-qualification has no impact on the applicant’s credit report. Thereafter, the client will need to submit a full application.

Interest Rate and Penalties  

Although charging higher interest rates than their traditional card counterparts (around 23.9%), the Indigo card rates compared favorably with the competitors detailed below in the Indigo credit card review, and are not out of line for an unsecured card serving a clientele with low credit scores.

The late payment fee of up to $39 is on par with the other three competitor cards discussed below as part of this Indigo credit card review.

Response Time  

The pre-qualification process offers applicants the ability to get a quick assessment within minutes of their likelihood of being approved for the Indigo card. Thereafter, a full application must be submitted, and approved clients will receive their card within 14 business days.

Customer Service     

A majority of customer reviews on Wallet Hub gave low scores to customer service, from card receipt followup to other servicing issues. They viewed staff service levels as lacking. 

Pros

  • Unsecured card with no associated deposit account or balance required

  • Reasonable fees vis-à-vis the competitors discussed in this Indigo credit card review

  • Reporting of credit activity to all three credit bureaus

  • The pre-qualification request form to get a fast assessment of the likelihood of approval

  • Free online bill payments

  • 24/7 mobile account access

  • Choose own card design at no additional charge

Cons

  • No opportunity for credit line increases

  • Annual fee high in relation to low credit line amount

  • No balance transfers allowed

  • Most customer reviews complain of poor customer service levels

First Premier Bank Mastercard Credit Card

Ease of Applying

Interest Rate and Penalties

Response Time

Customer Service

The first competitor card we will look at in our Indigo credit card review is the First Premier Bank Mastercard offered by First Premier Bank of Sioux Falls, South Dakota. First Premier, established in 1929, is one of the top 20 Mastercard card issuers in the country.

Credit limits range from $300-$1,000, so higher limits are available than with the Indigo card. In addition to an annual fee of $75 the first year and a range of $45-$49 in subsequent years, there is a one-time program fee that ranges from $25 to $95, making the fees more costly than with the Indigo card.

Plus, there is a monthly fee after the first year that ranges from $6.25-$10.40 each month. On top of this, there is a $29 fee for an additional card.

Ease of Applying    

Prospects can apply for a First Premier Mastercard either online or by phone.

Interest Rate and Penalties  

The Annual Percentage Yield is 36%, making it much more expensive for customers than the Indigo card if they carry balances each month and pay interest on these balances.

Response Time  

First Premier says it gives a quick response in 60 seconds online. If not immediately approved, the applicant must wait 7-10 business days for the application to be processed and then will be notified by mail of the decision.

Customer Service     

First Premier offers a good range of customer service hours 7 days a week.

Pros

  • After 13 months, clients are eligible for a credit line increase review

  • Complimentary Mastercard ID theft resolution services

  • Card activity reported to all credit bureaus monthly

  • Online account access

  • Ability to enroll in email or text alerts regarding payment due date

  • Convenient application by phone and online

Cons

  • Onetime program fee besides the annual fee

  • It also requires a checking account to apply

  • There is a substantial fee of 25% of the increased credit limit amount if they grant an increase

Credit One Bank Credit Card

Ease of Applying

Interest Rate and Penalties

Response Time

Customer Service

The second competitor card we considered in the Indigo credit card review is Credit One Bank‘s credit card. The annual fee ranges from $0 to $75 the first year and $0-$99 in subsequent years.

Ease of Applying    

An applicant can apply online for a pre-qualification.

Interest Rate and Penalties  

Competitive Annual Percentage Yield ranging from 20.24% to 26.24%, plus late payment fee

Response Time  

Credit One provides for a pre-qualification up front, but then customers must complete the full application process if pre-qualified.

Customer Service     

Credit One offers a good range if customer service hours 7 days a week.

Pros

  • 1% cash back rewards on purchases

  • Annual reviews for credit line increases

  • Option to select your payment date

  • Free online access to your credit score via Experian

  • Zero fraud liability

  • Customizable account notifications

Cons

  • Multiple card designs available but a fee may apply

Total Visa Credit Card

Ease of Applying

Interest Rate and Penalties

Response Time

Customer Service

The third competitor card we looked at in the Indigo credit card review is the Total Visa card offered by the Bank of Missouri.

The fees add up here, as in addition to an annual fee of $75 the first year and $48 thereafter, there is an $89 onetime program fee, plus a monthly fee of $6.25 in year two and beyond.

Ease of Applying    

Fast response with the online application process

Interest Rate and Penalties  

Expensive with an Annual Percentage Rate of 34.99% plus late payment fee up to $39.

Response Time  

Average response time on completed applications

Customer Service     

Total Bank offers standard customer service support by telephone.

Pros

  • Reports to all three major bureaus

  • Fast response on applications

Cons

  • $89 program fee in addition to the annual fee

  • Monthly fee starting in year two

  • A Checking Account is required

Conclusion of the Indigo Credit Card Review

The Indigo card, though more expensive than its traditional unsecured counterparts, compares very favorably in terms of its pricing against each of the three competitor cards reviewed above. 

credit-card

Image via Flaticon

The Indigo Platinum Mastercard credit card serves a distinct need for prospective card customers who could not get a traditional credit card because of their poor or insufficient credit history.

The Annual Percentage Yield is lower, and the absence of any program fee or monthly fee helps set the Indigo card apart as more affordable for the individual who needs this type of card to re-establish or create a good credit record.

The application process is on par with the competition, and only some negative comments about customer service responsiveness created some poor feedback on the card management process.

For those individuals with less than perfect credit, the Indigo Platinum Mastercard is a reasonable choice, a means to an end, to improve one’s credit situation.

Although reviewers cited inadequate customer service support, we rate the card 2.5 stars as helping clients manage their credit record in a positive direction with relatively competitive associated fees and rates.

Featured Image via Pixabay

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10 Best Cash Back Credit Cards of 2019

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10 Best Cash Back Credit Cards of 2019

By Admin TGC | Filed Under: Credit Cards, Reviews

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Chase Freedom
Citi Double Cash Card
​Discover It Cash Back
Capital One Quicksilver Card
Blue Cash Preferred from American Express
Bank of America Cash Rewards ​Credit ​Card
U.S. Bank Cash Visa Signature Card
Alliant Cashback Visa Signature Credit Card

If you enjoy earning rewards for your everyday purchases, the cash back credit cards may be perfect for you. These cards are typically highly beneficial if you tend to pay your credit bill as soon as you receive the statement and don’t carry over a monthly balance. However, you may need a good to an excellent credit score in order to be approved by a lender.

When checking out cash back credit cards, the first thing to consider is your spending history. You’ll want to ensure the card is worth the rate, and if you carry a balance from month-to-month, you may wind up spending more in interest and fees than you earn back in rewards. It’s important to consider if the card will be worth the rewards in the long run.

The best cash back credit cards will put the most money in your wallet and come with the lowest fees. Check out the buyer’s guide below to find out exactly what else you should look for in a cash back card based on your needs and specific spending habits, then check out our list of the best 10 back cards you can sign up for today.

Buyer’s Guide

Premium Credit Card Swipe

​Cash back credit cards are great because you receive back a portion of what you spend, which is most often 1% cash back on your purchases. Unlike a travel card that racks up points or miles you can use on future travel, cash back cards put the money you spend back in your wallet.

Paying off your credit balance should be at the forefront of your mind when selecting the right card for you, so consider the rates you may need to pay in comparison to the rate of rewards you may earn back. If a card comes with other rewards or a percentage back for certain purchases, make sure those are things you normally spend money on to reap the full benefits.

Here are a few things to look for when selecting the best cash back credit cards for you:

​Earning Rates and Rewards

​Redeeming Rewards

​Interest Rate

​Annual Fees

Top 8 Best Cash Back Credit Cards

Debit Credit Card

Now that you know what to look for in a cask back reward card, let’s look at the best cash back credit cards currently available and ranking well.

Chase Freedom

Freedom Visa Credit Card

The Chase Freedom card is one of the most popular and highly esteemed cash back rewards cards. Ranked as the one of the best cash back credit cards time and again, the Chase Freedom card has no annual fee and a slew of some of the best rewards available today.

In terms of rewards, Chase starts out giving from the start. When you sign up, you can earn a $150 sign-up bonus, 5% cash back on purchases in various excellent categories, and 1% cash back on all other purchases.

These rotating categories do change every few months, but they often include purchases at gas stations, grocery stores, restaurants, or PayPal purchases. Each quarter, you sign up for the rewards you want to earn 5% back on. There is a cap though. You can only earn a percentage back on the first $1,500 you spend on purchases from the bonus category, meaning you can earn a max of $75 each quarter.

With no annual fee, you can earn a lot back from this card. In fact, if your max out the bonus categories each quarter, you could earn over $300 in a year. If you also have another Chase card, you can even transfer your cash back points to your other card or one of Chase’s hotel or airline partners for travel savings. And the best part is that the rewards never expire as long as your account stays active!

Citi Double Cash Card

Citi Double Cash Card

Citi offers one of the best cash back credit cards thanks to their ease of use. One of the simplest cards on the market today, the Citi Double Cash Card gives you a relatively high earning rate. With this card, you’ll earn 1% cash back on what you spend and another 1% back when you pay the minimum balance on your statement before the due date.

While carrying a balance over to the next month isn’t recommended with credit cards, it is nice that Citi still rewards their customers for paying on time. This may be an incentive that triggers those with trouble remembering to pay bills on time to do so.

This card also comes with no sign-up bonus and does have a 3% charge for foreign transactions you’ll need to consider. But with no annual fee and an uncapped 2% back on any purchase, you don’t have to skim through categories to find rewards or only receive back some of what you spend.

You will need to accumulate at least $25 in rewards before you can redeem your cash back, however, you can choose how you’d like to receive your payment. With Citi, you can receive your reward in the following ways:

  • ​Receive a check by mail

  • ​Earn statement credit

  • ​Select a gift card from certain merchants

  • ​Repurpose your credit to a linked Citi savings or checking account

​Discover It Cash Back

​Discover It Cash Back

Similar to the Chase Freedom card, Discover It offers 5% cash back on rotating categories and 1% back on all other purchases. However, where these cards differ is that instead of a $150 sign up bonus, Discover will match the cash back you earn during your first year, helping you earn double the amount and potentially earning double what you could with Chase’s sign up bonus if you can wait a year.

Some of the categories have previously included gas stations and restaurants, but in the fourth quarter of 2018, Discover It holders can earn rewards on their Amazon purchases. The rewards possibilities are endless with this card, and the huge sign-up bonus makes this card a leading option on the market.

One of the best cash back credit cards offer no annual fees or foreign transactions fees to worry about with this card, so you can use it anywhere around the world. And in the first 14 months of signing up, you can also receive a 0% introductory APR, with around 13-25% APR rates afterward depending on your credit score.

Capital One Quicksilver Card

Capital One Quicksilver Card

If you travel and shop outside the United States often, this card has no foreign transaction fees. You can earn a slightly higher reward rate, at 1.5%, and earn cash back on any purchase you make. This card is pretty simple, which makes it an easy option.

With Capital One, you don’t need to worry about bonus categories or spending limits. Your possibilities are endless. You can spend any amount, anywhere in the world, and still earn 1.5% cash back. Plus, Capital One offers flexibility in how you receive your payments, offering the choice between statement credit or a check delivered to you by mail. You can even choose when to receive your reward.

Blue Cash Preferred from American Express

Blue Cash Preferred from American Express

With the Blue Cash Preferred card from American Express, you can earn as much as $200 back when you spend up to $1,000 during the first three months. Afterward, you’ll receive 6% cash back on groceries (up to a $6,000 limit each year and 1% back after this limit), 3% back at gas stations, and 1% back on any other purchase. Plus, this card comes with some awesome bonus categories to help you earn more.

The earnings you receive can accumulate as rewards, which you can then redeem as statement credits after you have earned at least $25. The sign-up bonus does offset this annual fee, but only if you spend at least $1,000 soon after signing up.

However, if you often travel outside the United States or don’t use your credit card often, this may not be the card for you. Blue Cash comes with a $95 annual fee and charges nearly 3% on foreign transactions.

Bank of America Cash Rewards ​Credit ​Card

Bank of America Cash Rewards ​Credit ​Card

This card is a great option because it comes with no annual fees, 1% cash back on non-bonus purchases, 2% cash back on anything you spend at grocery stores and wholesale clubs, and 3% back on the first $2,500 you spend on groceries, wholesale clubs, or gas purchases for every quarter.

You can really earn a lot back with this card, which real users love. Even if you want to keep your spending down, you can earn enough with just gas purchases each month to make the rewards worth using this card.

Even better, your rewards come as statement credits directly to your account and you can receive a 10% customer bonus each time you redeem your reward in your checking or savings account at Bank of America.

U.S. Bank Cash Visa Signature Card

U.S. Bank Cash Visa Signature Card

New members can earn $150 when signing up for this card after you spend $500 on eligible purchases in the first 90 days of opening your account. This means if you’re planning on making a large purchase that already meets the requirements, you can seriously save.

With this card, you can earn 5% back on your first $2,000 spent (on select purchases) each quarter, select the categories you want to earn rewards from, earn 2% back on gas station and grocery purchases, and receive 1% back on all other purchases. There’s no limit to how much you can earn!

Plus, it comes with 0% APR for the first year (15-25% APR afterward) and no annual fees.

Alliant Cashback Visa Signature Credit Card

Alliant Cashback Visa Signature Credit Card

​​If you tend to spend a large amount on your credit card each year, this cash back card can help you earn a lot in return. Exclusively designed for people who spend over $50,000 each year on their credit card, the Alliant Cashback card offers 3% back in the first year and 2.5% back afterward. There are no limits to how much you can earn, and you can use the card in any country without added fees.

Even better, the annual fee is only $50 and is waived during your first year as a cardholder. What people really love about this card is that it works with Apple Pay, Google Pay, or Samsung Pay and you’re protected with a $0 fraud liability guarantee from Visa if something were to happen.

With rates as low as 11.74% APR and no annual fee for the first year, savings are endless with this card.

​How We Choose Our Ratings

gold mastercard

​We only create honest reviews, so we take the time to ensure our ratings are accurate and deserve to be on the best-of list. To help you find exactly what you’re looking for, we put together complete buyer’s guides that encompass everything you’d need to know before you buy. Then we scour the internet to find the best cash back credit cards on the market today, from the world’s leading banks.

All of the information we provide is available online, and our guides are created based on the information provided. But we research the fine details of each product, down to the rewards and fees, what real users think of using the card, and what the masses have to say in their reviews before we make a valid suggestion in the interest of helping you keep more money in your pocket.

 

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The 10 Best Investing Books to Help You Buy Low and Sell High 2020

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The 10 Best Investing Books to Help You Buy Low and Sell High

By Carla Stuart | Filed Under: Reviews

woman reading ebook

Image via Pexels

If you are looking to invest substantial capital in the stock market or enhance your present understanding of the market to optimize profitability, it would behoove you to peruse some of the best investing books. Fortunately, investment has been explored extensively in research institutions, universities, and private corporations. Some of the best minds in finance have postulated strong hypotheses regarding market behavior. If you want to learn about investment, a shortage of reading material will never be an issue.

Quick Navigation

Product FAQ
How We Reviewed
Overall Price Range
What We Reviewed
The Verdict

Product FAQ

1. What Are the Best Investing Books?

The best investing books are sufficiently myriad in terms of perspective to defy succinct categorization. However, the books on our list all offer the perspective of highly successful financial professionals with extensive Wall Street experience. Many go beyond economic theory and offer readers concrete strategies for maximizing the profitability of their investment portfolios.

2. Which Market Perspective Is Most Valuable?

Unfortunately, economics as a discipline cannot, or at least has yet to, crown one strategy or perspective the penultimate market vision, and many of the perspectives proffered in the books listed below contradict one another. Each has proven its value in one way or another. A dedicated investor is best equipped with a working knowledge of many perspectives on the market from which the investor can draw upon as needed.

3. What Do the Best Investing Books Teach Their Readers?

The lessons of the best investing books are two-fold but closely related. First, books on investing analyze the market’s behavior and introduce readers to various tools that assist the reader in making sense of the market’s behavior. Secondly, on a more practical level, investing books teach readers to craft their portfolios in a manner that will build long-term wealth.

4. How Should I Pick the Best Investing Book for Me?

The premise of each book listed below will be clear based on our descriptions below. Each of the best investing books aligns with a category of investor based on experience, working capital, and goals. Once you have a clear understanding of where you are financially and where you want to go, the book that best fits with your proclivities will become clear.

How We Reviewed

In order to create our list of the best investing books, we surveyed reviews by major periodicals that cover finance, research institutions, universities, and reviews written by readers. We then reviewed information from major retailers for relevant price points, availability, and additional insight regarding the popularity of each book within the purview of our review.

Guy reading red book

Image by StockSnap via Pixabay

Overall Price Range

You can expect to pay up to $30 for a book on investment. This would likely be the case if you choose to purchase the most up-to-date book or edition of a previously published work replete with an analysis of the most recent trends in the stock market. Some of the best investing books were published long ago and still contain valuable information and guidance. These books are often sold for less than $20.

What We Reviewed

  • The Intelligent Investor: The Definitive Book on Value Investing​
    		•
  • A Random Walk Down Wall Street: The Time-tested Strategy for Successful Investing
    		•
  • Irrational Exuberance: Revised and Expanded Third Edition
    		•
  • One Up On Wall Street: How To Use What You Already Know To Make Money In The Market
    		•
  • The Essays of Warren Buffett: Lessons for Corporate America
    		•
  • Unshakeable: Your Financial Freedom Playbook
    		•
  • A Man for All Markets: From Las Vegas to Wall Street, How I Beat the Dealer and the Market
    		•
  • Good Stocks Cheap: Value Investing with Confidence for a Lifetime of Stock Market Outperformance​
    		•
  • The Truth About Your Future: The Money Guide You Need Now, Later, and Much Later
    		•
  • Money Machine: The Surprisingly Simple Power of Value Investing
    		•

    The Intelligent Investor: The Definitive Book on Value Investing

    The Intelligent Investor

    Summary

    At this point in the history of financial analysis, The Intelligent Investor has achieved canonical status among the best investing books. In this work, Benjamin Graham describes the group approach to buying securities, a deviation from endorsements of the selective approach Graham espoused earlier in his career. The group approach posits investors are more likely to beat market averages by purchasing groups of securities that fundamental analyses indicate are undervalued while paying little attention to each company in particular. This approach later became known as value investing.

    ​

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    About the Author

    Benjamin Graham was a founding partner of the Newman-Graham Partnership, a successful Wall Street investment firm where Graham first employed his former student, Warren Buffett. Graham would go on to teach business and economics at Columbia University and UCLA.

    Formats Available

    The Intelligent Investor is available in hardcover, in paperback, on audio, and on Kindle.

    Publisher and Year Published

    The Intelligent Investor was first published by Harper & Sons in 1949.

    A Random Walk Down Wall Street: The Time-tested Strategy for Successful Investing

    A Random Walk down Wall Street

    Summary

    In A Random Walk Down Wall Street, Burton Malkiel insinuates investors cannot beat market averages, or at least that they cannot do so consistently. Malkiel is a propagator of the random walk hypothesis which is closely related to the efficient-market hypothesis. Both stipulate that the price of a security is based on all available information and that prices change only when new information is available; therefore, investors cannot beat market averages because they only receive new information when that information is already reflected in an asset’s price.

    ​

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    About the Author

    Burton Malkiel has served in numerous prestigious capacities including Director of the Vanguard group, chairman of the economics department at Princeton University, and Dean of the Yale School of Management.

    Formats Available

    A Random Walk Down Wall Street is available in paperback or hardcover.

    Publisher and Year Published

    A Random Walk Down Wall Street was originally published in 1973 by W. W. Norton & Company.

    Irrational Exuberance: Revised and Expanded Third Edition

    Irrational Exuberance

    Summary

    Named after Alan Greenspan’s famous quote warning of the potential of a financial meltdown, Irrational Exuberance is perhaps the most pessimistic of the best investing books we surveyed for this article. Robert Schiller used a psychologically informed view of behavioral economics to predict the Dot-com bubble that burst in the spring of 2000 and the housing bubble of 2007-2008 that wrought havoc on the American economy for years thereafter. Schiller’s peers have criticized his cynical view for a lack of specificity that seems to predict any crisis given a sufficiently lengthy time-frame.

    ​

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    About the Author

    Robert Schiller is a long-time professor and fellow at Yale University. He has also served a number of regulatory and research organizations in a wide variety of capacities in addition to founding his own investment firm: MacroMarkets, LLC.

    Formats Available

    The third edition of Irrational Exuberance is available in paperback, hardcover, and as an eTextbook.

    Publisher and Year Published

    Irrational Exuberance was first published by the Princeton University Press in March 2000.

    One Up on Wall Street: How to Use What You Already Know to Make Money in the Market

    One Up On Wall Street

    Summary

    Peter Lynch’s One Up On Wall Street is one of the best investing books for everyday investors looking to build wealth for retirement. Lynch explains how investors can incorporate information and experience from day-to-day life into a robust investment portfolio that pays off in the long-term. His approach includes analyzing widely available products and services to find companies with a tremendous upside. His work contains detailed instructions on how to build a diversified portfolio and manage that portfolio effectively.

    ​

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    About the Author

    Peter Lynch managed the Magellan Fund at Fidelity Investments between 1977 and 1990. During that time, assets in the fund increased from a valuation of $18 million to $14 billion.

    Formats Available

    One Up On Wall Street is available in paperback or on Kindle.

    Publisher and Year Published

    One Up On Wall Street was originally published by Simon & Schuster in 1989.

    The Essays of Warren Buffett: Lessons for Corporate America

    The Essays of Warren Buffett

    Summary

    The Essays of Warren Buffett are compromised of letters Buffett has written to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders regarding sound business practices and wise investing strategies. The collection has grown slightly in each edition but the core of the work remains the same: Buffett’s nuanced analysis of the market put in plain, easily digestible language. For readers interested in gleaning the insights of a financial legend through an informal lens, this is one of the best investing books on our list.

    ​

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    About the Author

    Warren Buffett is the chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, a world-renowned investor, and the third wealthiest person on the planet.

    Formats Available

    Buffet’s essays are available in paperback or on Kindle.

    Publisher and Year Published

    The Carolina Academic Press published the 4th edition of Buffett’s essays in 2015.

    Unshakeable: Your Financial Freedom Playbook

    Unshakeable Cover Page

    Summary

    Of the best investing books we reviewed for this article, Tony Robbin’s Unshakeable most closely resembles a battle plan. This book guides investors through the construction of an actionable plan for financial independence and exposes the most common pitfalls investors encounter by featuring the insight of experts on 401(k) accounts, Wall Street investment firms, and market volatility. If you feel overwhelmed by the extant information on investing and struggle to find a first step, this the best investing book for you.

    ​

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    About the Author

    Tony Robbins is a well-known author and life coach. He is less of a financial genius and more of compositional authority with access to the world’s foremost financial thinkers.

    Formats Available

    Unshakeable is available on Kindle, in print, and as an audiobook.

    Publisher and Year Published

    Simon & Schuster published Unshakeable in 2017.

    A Man for All Markets: From Las Vegas to Wall Street, How I Beat the Dealer and the Market

    A Man for All Markets Cover Page

    Summary

    Of all the best investing books we reviewed for this article, A Man for All Markets is certainly the most bizarre. The book’s author, Edward Thorp, used probability theory to overcome the house advantage in blackjack while working as a professor at MIT. He eventually turned his agile mathematical mind to Wall Street where he made a fortune in hedge funds and then, just for the sake of variety, he collaborated with Claude Shannon and managed to create the world’s first wearable computer.

    ​

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    About the Author

    Outside of his escapades on the strip in Las Vegas and on Wall Street, Edward Thorp has worked as a mathematics and finance professor at universities throughout the United States.

    Formats Available

    A Man for All Markets is available in print as either a paperback or a hardcover, as an audiobook and on Kindle.

    Publisher and Year Published

    A Man for All Markets was published by Random House in 2017.

    Good Stocks Cheap: Value Investing with Confidence for a Lifetime of Stock Market Outperformance

    Good Stocks Cheap

    Summary

    Similar to the work of Benjamin Graham, Good Stocks Cheap encourages investors to adopt the value investing mindset whereby an investor recognizes that while stock prices change constantly the actual value of an asset is relatively static. With this insight in mind, investors can use fundamental analysis to identify undervalued assets and beat market averages in the long-term. Good Stocks Cheap includes a bevy of practical information that Graham’s classic work lacks, making this one the best investing books for those are interested in value investing but lack experience with the market.

    ​

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    About the Author

    Kenneth Jeffery Marshall is a business and economics professor. He teaches at Stanford, the University of California’s Berkeley campus, and the Stockholm School of Economics.

    Formats Available

    Good Stocks Cheap is available in print, on Kindle, and as an audiobook.

    Publisher and Year Published

    Good Stocks Cheap was published by McGraw-Hill in 2017.

    The Truth About Your Future: The Money Guide You Need Now, Later, and Much Later

    The Truth About Your Future

    Summary

    The Truth About Your Future is either an unlikely Sci-Fi fantasy or the most prescient of the best investing books. Ric Edelman scrutinizes the impact science and technology will have on the world economy and he comes to some far-reaching conclusions. Edelman sees a world in which the economic landscape barely resembles the present market and he provides helpful, if at times far-flung, advice for shoring up your portfolio to contend with the rise of AI, the internet of things, and cyborgs.

    ​

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    About the Author

    Ric Edelman is an author, widely lauded financial advisor, and the founder of Edelman Financial Solutions.

    Formats Available

    The Truth About Your Future is available in print, on Kindle, and as an audiobook.

    Publisher and Year Published

    Simon & Schuster published The Truth About Your Future in 2017.

    Money Machine: The Surprisingly Simple Power of Value Investing

    Money Machine Cover Page

    Summary

    Money Machine is a great book for investors who have spent their lives and many of their dollars chasing payouts based on tips from friends, stories buried in the Wall Street Journal, or the ever-vulnerable hunch. Gary Smith advocates the value investing mentality that cautions investors against outsize expectations and demonstrates the durability of value that enables long-term profitability once the wary investor has identified a group of undervalued assets and given the market time to recognize the value that was there all along.

    ​

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    About the Author

    Gary Smith is an economics professor at Pomona College in California and the author of ten books on finance.

    Formats Available

    Money Machine is available in print, on Kindle, and as an audiobook.

    Publisher and Year Published

    Money Machine was published by AMACON in 2017.

    The Verdict

    If you are not entirely new to the world of investing, any of the classical titles at the top of our list would serve as excellent perspectives on the market broadly, especially if you chose two authors who would disagree on substantial economic issues like Graham and Malkiel. For those newer to investment it would be best to choose a book that provided a scaffolded guide to an investment theory, particularly value investing as its philosophical tenants lend themselves well to investing for personal financial security.

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    11 Best Airline Credit Card Brands of the Year

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    11 Best Airline Credit Card Brands of the Year

    By Carla Stuart | Filed Under: Credit Cards, Reviews

    Quick Navigation

    Product FAQ
    How We Reviewed
    Overall Price Range of Airline Credit Cards
    What We Reviewed
    Citi/AAdvantage Platinum World Elite Mastercard
    Delta SkyMiles Credit Card
    Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
    United Explorer Card
    Business Platinum Card from American Express
    Hilton Honors Aspire Card
    American Express Gold Card
    JetBlue Plus Card
    The Verdict

    As you search for the best airline credit card for you, it is essential to consider your priorities and how they fit in with the most common rewards programs offered by credit card companies.

    Individuals can find cards that reward them for using their particular card at gas stations, restaurants and grocery stores, while providing access to perks with airlines like free bags or preferred boarding.

    Businesses can secure sufficient flexibility to meet their employees’ travel needs by choosing one of the business cards we reviewed that provides customers with access to a network of airlines as opposed to just one.

    Product FAQ

    ​1. What Type of Rewards Can I Expect from the Best Airline Credit Card?

    ​2. What Does the Best Airline Credit Card Cost?

    ​3. How Do Business Cards Differ from Personal Cards?

    ​4. What Restrictions Come with the Best Airline Credit Card?

    How We Reviewed

    people in a meeting

    We reviewed several authoritative sources with extensive information on credit card rewards, terms and fees. We reviewed cards for businesses and individuals with an appreciation for the differing needs of individual customers and businesses that rely on travel to generate income.

    To determine the best airline credit card, we assessed each product on our list in regard to its features, benefits, drawbacks, the annual fee and more in order to provide you with a summary of the top 10 best airline credit cards out there.

    Overall Price Range of Airline Credit Cards

    Costs in annual fees can be as low as $75 annually and fees are frequently waived in your first year as a cardholder.

    The more expensive fees are generally associated with business cards. In this category, annual fees are typically around $300 with a maximum of $450.

    Interest rates on all the cards we reviewed fell between 17% and 28%.

    What We Reviewed

    • ​Citi/AAdvantage Platinum World Elite Mastercard

    • ​Delta SkyMiles Credit Card

    • ​Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

    • ​United Explorer Card

    • ​Business Platinum Card from American Express

    • ​Hilton Honors Aspire Card

    • ​American Express Gold Card

    • ​JetBlue Plus Card

    • ​Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business Card

    • ​Capital One Spark Miles for Business

    • ​Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Card

    Card

    Interest Rate

    ​Where to Signup

    best airline credit card

    Citi/AAdvantage Platinum World Elite Mastercard

    The interest rate for this card can be anywhere between 18% and 26%, depending on your credit rating. The annual fee is waived for the first year and then is $100 every year thereafter.
    ​Click to Sign Up

    best airline credit card

    Delta SkyMiles Credit Card

    Interest rates on SkyMiles cards range from 18% to 27%. Blue cardholders pay no annual fee, gold cardholders pay $95 annually after the first year and platinum cardholders pay $195 every year.
    ​Click to Sign Up

    best airline credit card

    Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

    The annual fee of $95 for this card is waived for first-year cardholders. The Sapphire card has a variable interest rate between 18% and 25%.
    ​Click to Sign Up

    best airline credit card

    United Explorer Card

    Like other the preceding cards, United waives the $95 fee for the first year and levies a 18%-25% interest rate.
    ​Click to Sign Up

    best airline credit card

    Business Platinum Card from American Express

    American Express charges $450 annually and comes with a 20.24% interest rate.
    ​Click to Sign Up

    best airline credit card

    Hilton Honors Aspire Card

    Hilton charges a $450 annual fee and interest rates range from 18% to 27%.
    ​Click to Sign Up

    best airline credit card

    American Express Gold Card

    American Express charges an annual fee of $250 for its Gold Card and charges 20.24% interest.
    ​Click to Sign Up

    best airline credit card

    JetBlue Plus Card

    JetBlue Plus cardholders pay $99 every year and may qualify for a 18%, 22% or 27% interest rate depending on their credit worthiness.
    ​Click to Sign Up

    best airline credit card

    Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business Card

    Southwest charges an annual fee of $99 and a variable interest rate between 18% and 25%.
    ​Click to Sign Up

    best airline credit card

    Capital One Spark Miles for Business

    Capital One waives the $95 annual fee for the first year and charges a variable interest rate around 19%.
    ​Click to Sign Up

    best airline credit card

    Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Card

    ​Alaska Airlines charges an annual fee of $75 and a variable interest rate between 17% and 25%.
    ​Click to Sign Up

    Citi/AAdvantage Platinum World Elite Mastercard

    Citi/AAdvantage Platinum World Elite Mastercard

    Features

    If you have the credit worthiness to qualify for a Citi/AAdvantage Platinum World Elite Mastercard, you can earn miles on American Airlines flights and certain approved purchases at restaurants and gas stations. After an initial sign-up bonus of up to 50,000 bonus miles, you can earn another 40,000 bonus miles if you spend $2,000 within the first three months and an additional 10,000 bonus miles if you spend $6,000 within the first year.

    After the first year, the miles incentives phase out, but you are still eligible for a $100 discount on American Airlines flights, along with free checked bags, priority boarding and discounted in-flight purchases after you spend a total of $20,000.

    Interest Rate/Annual Fee

    The interest rate for this card can be anywhere between 18% and 26%, depending on your credit rating. The annual fee is waived for the first year and then is $100 every year thereafter.

    PROS 

    • No foreign transaction fees

    • Awards miles for fuel purchases

    • Relatively low annual fee

     ​CONS

    • Not an option for customers with sub-par credit

    • Relatively high APR

    Where to Sign Up

    Delta SkyMiles Credit Card

    Delta SkyMiles Credit Card

    Features

    Delta offers three different iterations of its SkyMiles credit card for consumers with different levels of credit worthiness. If you qualify for the blue card, you can earn points whenever you purchase Delta flights, dine at a restaurant in the U.S. or make everyday purchases.

    Besides these benefits, gold and platinum cardholders also are eligible for priority boarding, free checked bags and bonus miles incentives at certain spending milestones.

    Interest Rate/Annual Fee

    Interest rates on SkyMiles cards range from 18% to 27%. Blue cardholders pay no annual fee, gold cardholders pay $95 annually after the first year and platinum cardholders pay $195 every year.

    PROS 

    • ​Incentives for everyday purchases

    • ​No cap on the miles you can earn

    • ​No foreign transaction fees

     ​CONS

    • ​Not an option for customers with sub-par credit

    Where to Sign Up

    Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

    Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

    Features

    The Chase Preferred Card sets itself apart from similar products because it is the best airline credit card for use with multiple airlines. Chase’s network of travel partners includes Air France, British Airways, JetBlue, Southwest and other airlines with flights to and from every major airport in the world.

    If you have a solid enough credit score to qualify for the Sapphire card, you can earn points and transfer their value to flights with any of Chase’s partners at a 1:1 rate.

    Chase Sapphire cardholders earn points on travel and dining at a generous rate and on other purchases at a less attractive rate. You can earn 50,000 points — worth about $600 — if you spend $4,000 on the card in your first three months.

    Aside from points-based incentives, cardholders have access to no-fee cancellation, interruption insurance and incentives on rental cars.

    Interest Rate/Annual Fee

    The annual fee of $95 for this card is waived for first-year cardholders. The Sapphire card has a variable interest rate between 18% and 25%.

    PROS 

    • ​Works with multiple airlines

    • ​Awards points on travel and dining

     ​CONS

    • ​Relatively high APR

    • ​Not available for consumers with sub-par credit

    Where to Sign Up

    United Explorer Card

    United Explorer Card

    Features

    If you are seeking rewards for loyalty spending with a specific airline, the United Explorer card is the best airline credit card option for you. Incentives on spending for United flights, dining and other purchases are in-line with what similar products offer cardholders. Like other airline cards, you will only qualify if you have excellent credit.

    The 40,000-mile sign-up bonus kicks in when you spend $2,000 in the first three months. Other benefits include spending rewards at hotels and restaurants, boarding privileges and TSA Pre-check credits.

    Interest Rate/Annual Fee

    Like other the preceding cards, United waives the $95 fee for the first year and levies a 18%-25% interest rate.

    PROS 

    • ​Rewards customer loyalty

    • ​Offers points on hotel purchases

     ​CONS

    • ​High APR

    • ​Requires excellent credit

    Where to Sign Up

    Business Platinum Card from American Express

    Business Platinum Card From American Express

    Features

    For business cards with an airline fee, the Business Platinum card from American Express is one of the best airline credit cards. Business owners with myriad expenses who need to reduce their flight costs would be wise to use the Business Platinum card because American Express rewards all sorts of spending with points towards flights. The card comes with perks that expedite airport logistics and facilitate mobile productivity for busy people.

    Interest Rate/Annual Fee

    American Express charges $450 annually and comes with a 20.24% interest rate.

    PROS 

    • ​Fixed interest rate

    • ​No foreign transaction fees

    • ​Large welcome offer

     ​CONS

    • ​High annual fee

    • ​Membership rewards points have an annual cap

    Where to Sign Up

    Hilton Honors Aspire Card

    Hilton Honors Aspire Card

    Features

    In addition to benefits common among similar products on spending, Honors Aspire cardholders receive rewards when they stay at any hotel owned and operated by Hilton. Concurrent rewards for travel and hotel purchases makes this a best airline credit card for frequent business travelers. The annual fee is fairly high but cardholders earn a free weekend night at a Hilton hotel and airline credit on any two-night stay thereafter.

    Interest Rate/Annual Fee

    Hilton charges a $450 annual fee and interest rates range from 18% to 27%.

    PROS 

    • ​Integrated flight and hotel benefits

    • ​Access to many airlines

     ​CONS

    • ​Variable interest rate

    • ​High annual fee

    Where to Sign Up

    American Express Gold Card

    American Express Gold Card

    Features

    Cardholders with an American Express Gold Card can earn points on purchases at restaurants, supermarkets and airlines on up to $25,000 in annual spending. The 25,000-point introductory bonus kicks in after cardholders have spent $2,000 in the first three months. This is the best airline credit card for consumers who prioritize flexible benefits, especially for rental cars and travel insurance.

    Interest Rate/Annual Fee

    American Express charges an annual fee of $250 for its Gold Card and charges 20.24% interest.

    PROS 

    • ​Awards points for buying groceries

    • ​Works with all airlines in American Express’ network

    • ​Fixed interest rate

     ​CONS

    • ​High annual fee

    Where to Sign Up

    JetBlue Plus Card

    JetBlue Plus Card

    Features

    Cardholders receive various levels of points for purchases of JetBlue flights, spending at restaurants and grocery stores, and smaller earnings on other purchases. When new cardholders spend $1,000 in their first three months, they receive a bonus of 40,000 points. Ancillary benefits include in-flight discounts, free checked bags and an annual 5,000-point renewal bonus.

    Interest Rate/Annual Fee

    JetBlue Plus cardholders pay $99 every year and may qualify for a 18%, 22% or 27% interest rate depending on their credit worthiness.

    PROS 

    • ​Annual renewal incentives

    • ​High-earning rewards

    • ​No foreign transaction fees

     ​CONS

    • ​Potentially high APR

    • ​No annual fee waivers

    Where to Sign Up

    Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business Card

    Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business Card

    Features

    Rewards earned from the Rapid Rewards Premier Business card are only available on purchases of flights with Southwest and spending at qualified hotels and car rental agencies. This model works best for businesses whose employees are traveling and staying in cities around the country regularly. If these are your most onerous business expenses, this is the best airline credit card to get. It has a healthy sign-up bonus and annual renewal incentives.

    Interest Rate/Annual Fee

    Southwest charges an annual fee of $99 and a variable interest rate between 18% and 25%.

    PROS 

    • ​Low annual fee for a business card

    • ​Large sign-up bonus

    • ​Offers annual bonus miles

     ​CONS

    • ​Variable interest rate

    • ​Limited rewards spending

    Where to Sign Up

    Capital One Spark Miles for Business

    Capital One Spark Miles for Business

    Features

    Capital One’s Spark Miles for Business card is the best airline credit card for businesses in the market for a flat-rate business card. The card works with any flight on any airline with basically no restrictions so flexibility is at a maximum.

    Cardholders earn an introductory bonus of 50,000 miles after spending $4,500 within the first three months. Additional benefits are limited. Cardholders earn points on flight purchases, but not on other spending.

    Interest Rate/Annual Fee

    Capital One waives the $95 annual fee for the first year and charges a variable interest rate around 19%.

    PROS 

    • ​No restrictions on flight dates

    • ​Works with any airline

    • ​Relatively low APR

     ​CONS

    • ​Variable interest rate

    • ​Benefits are limited

    Where to Sign Up

    Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Card

    Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Card

    Features

    The Alaska Airlines Visa Signature card offers limited rewards for spending and in-flight perks consistent with similar products. What sets this card apart from its competitors is the companion fare incentive. As an introductory bonus, cardholders can purchase one Alaska Airlines ticket and receive a second for just the cost of the taxes and fees. Cardholders receive this same companion offer every year they renew.

    Interest Rate/Annual Fee

    Alaska Airlines charges an annual fee of $75 and a variable interest rate between 17% and 25%.

    PROS 

    • ​Companion fare incentives

    • ​Low annual fee

     ​CONS

    • ​Limited rewards on spending

    • ​Variable APR

    Where to Sign Up

    The Verdict

    First and foremost, if you travel with one particular airline frequently, your best option is to get a card affiliated with that airline to secure cumulative rewards. The best options our review found for a situation like this were the United, Delta SkyMiles and JetBlue cards.

    For individuals without a preferred airline, the American Express Gold Card provides unrivaled access to rewards on flights with almost any airline.

    And, the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card offers a similar benefit to businesses, making it the best airline credit card for private entities.

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    About Us

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    About Us

    Thank you for visiting our website. If you are interested to know more about online banking, but don’t know where to start, you’ve come to the right place. We hope you’ll find the information we provide on the website useful. This page will give you more information about who we are and what we have to offer.

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    Our main focus is to provide you with informative and relevant content regarding online banking. No matter how unfamiliar you may be with the field, you can make an informed decision when choosing a bank. We attempt to maintain a high level of objectivity when writing our reviews, so you can be sure you are reading an honest opinion. To complement the online banking login section, we’ve also created numerous guides to make it easier for you to access the services provided by these banks, ranging from money transfer guides and useful bank info to credit card option reviews.

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