ABOC Credit Card – Union Strong and Platinum Rewards MasterCard Review

October 26, 2020RewardsIntro APR, No annual fee, Rewards, Sign-up offersLeonard Kreicas

Union Strong Credit Card

“For almost a century, the Bank has designed deposit and credit services exclusively for union workers in the automobile, building trades, clothing and textile, communications and graphic arts, hotel and restaurant, mechanics, public service and general service, steel and iron, transportation industries, and more.”

Now available to a wider audience Amalgamated Bank of Chicago (ABOC) credit card program offers competitive rates and benefits to people who would prefer not to deal with big banks. Its two similar credit cards differ in their non-introductory Annual Percentage Rates (APR) and introductory Balance Transfer (BT) terms.

ABOC Union Strong Credit Card

The Union Strong Mastercard® currently charges an APR of 9.25% after the introductory period ends. The APR may change depending on market conditions.

The Union Strong credit card also offers an 0% APR on balance transfers for first 18 billing cycles. Balance transfers don’t receive any reward points and a 3% fee is added upon transfer.

ABOC Platinum Rewards Card

aboc credit card platinum rewards

The Platinum Rewards credit card currently charges an APR of 12.90% to 22.90% depending on credit history. The APR also will fluctuate in step with on market conditions.

There is no special deal on balance transfers for new accounts.

Introductory Offers for ABOC Credit Cards

Get a generous sign-up bonus of $150 as a statement credit after opening a new account, but only when $1,200 is charged on the new card within 90 days of approval.

Pay no interest on purchases for the first 12 billing cycles. Monthly minimum payments are required to keep the account in good standing.

Comparing bonus 5x reward categories

ABOC, Chase Freedom Flex and Discover It® each offer 5x rewards for select categories on a rotating basis. From January 1 to March 31, 2021 eligible purchases for bonus points include:

ABOC Platinum Rewards Mastercard®

Groceries
Fitness clubs
Hospitals
Pharmacies

Discover It Cash Back

Groceries (includes Walmart grocery pickup & delivery)
Walgreens
CVS

Chase Freedom Flex

Wholesale Clubs (Mastercard not accepted for Costco in-store purchases)
Internet, cable and phone services
Select streaming services

Rewards and savings for ABOC credit cards

1% Cash Back on eligible purchases
No Annual Fee
Zero-interest for 25 days before payments are due for purchases paid in full after the promotional period.
Rewards include choice of statement credits, travel, gift cards, merchandise
Points never expire as long as card remains in good standing
No foreign transaction fees

Purchase and travel benefits include

No fee for additional cards for authorized users
Mastercard® zero liability on unauthorized transactions
Extended Warranty doubles your original warranty up to 1 additional year (conditions apply)
Price protection refunds the difference if you see an item advertised for less within 60 days of purchase.
Identity Theft Resolution Services provides one-on-one support in the event your identity is compromised.
MasterAssist^® provides pre-trip planning assistance, help with lost luggage and more.
Master RoadAssist^® Roadside Services provides help in the event your car breaks down while traveling in the U.S.
$1 Million Travel Accident Insurance.
Security chip offers enhanced protection when used at chip-enabled terminals.
Make mobile purchases with Android Pay^TM, Apple Pay^TM and Samsung Pay.

Pay down any high-interest credit card balances by making purchases on ABOC credit card during the 0% APR introductory purchase period.

Affinity CU Cash Rewards Credit Card

October 23, 2020Credit UnionRewards, Sign-up offersLeonard Kreicas

Affinity FCU Cash Rewards Credit Card

Get 5% cash back on Amazon and other bookstores with the Affinity FCU Cash Rewards Visa Signature credit card.

The bonus rewards are good up to $3,500 in purchases per month. After that card holders still get rewarded, but at the standard 1% rate. The 5% rewards still give shoppers up to $175 cash back per month while shopping on Amazon. That’s a generous $2,100 savings per year.

INTRODUCTORY BONUS

Get $200 cash back after charging $3,000 on your new card within the first 90 days of account opening. The bonus is in addition to the rewards you receive with the purchases. There may be a delay of up to sixty days before the bonus is posted to your account.

MORE REWARDS

In addition to the savings on Amazon, Affinity FCU Cash Rewards Visa Signature card holders get 2% cash rewards when they use the card at

Restaurants, which includes fast food and takeout items
Gas stations
Supermarkets (grocery stores) for most items except gift cards
Popular streaming services such Netflix and Spotify
Ride sharing services like Uber or Lyft

For all other credit card purchases cardholders are still entitled to receive 1% cash back rewards.

BENEFITS AND FEATURES

No annual fee
No foreign transaction fee
Automatic bill pay
Zero fraud liability
Free online banking
Complimentary annual account summary

Fees and rates are available as a disclosures pdf file.

VISA SIGNATURE BENEFITS

Free cell phone protection
Warranty Manager Service
Emergency Cash and Card Replacement
Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver
Travel and Emergency Assistance Services
Travel Accident Insurance
Lost Luggage Reimbursement
Hotel & Motel Burglary Reimbursement
Lost/Stolen Card Reporting
Cardholder Inquiry Service

Visa provides a more detailed explanation in Your Guide To Card Benefits.

MEMBERSHIP

Only members of the Affinity Federal Credit Union can apply for an Affinity FCU Cash Rewards Visa Signature Card. Just fulfilling ONE of the following criteria allows you to join:

You live, work, worship or go to school in select New Jersey or Connecticut communities
New Jersey – parts of Edison, Franklin Township (Somerset County), New Brunswick, North Brunswick, Piscataway
Connecticut – all of Norwalk, Darien, New Canaan, Weston, Westport, Wilton
You’re employed by (or affiliated with) one of our partner organizations.
Another member of your family or household is an existing Affinity member.
You make a $5 donation to support financial literacy and become a member of the New Jersey Coalition for Financial Education (NJCFE) or Connecticut Jump$tart.

Comerica Visa Cards

October 18, 2020Community BankIntro APR, No annual feeLeonard Kreicas

Comerica Offers 6 Types of Credit Cards

Whether you desire rewards, interest-free introductory offers, low APR rates, or building up a credit history Comerica has a credit card for you.

With the holiday season in full swing, shoppers can spread their payments into 2022 with no interest charges when signing up for a new Comerica Visa Platinum Card.

Or if you prefer to pay the card within 6 months at zero interest, the Comerica Visa Signature Card will return 1.5% of the purchase price as statement credit.

For the college students and those seeking to repair their credit, Comerica offers a Visa College Real Rewards Card and Visa Secured Credit Card.

Comerica Visa Platinum Card

0.00% APR for the first 20 billing cycles on purchases
0.00% APR for the first 20 billing cycles on balance transfers (fees apply)
13.49% to 22.49% APR
No annual fee
Skip the rewards and save on interest if carrying a balance

Comerica Visa Signature Real Rewards Card

Enjoy competitive rates, expanded purchasing power, the best rewards, exclusive Visa Signature privileges and elite card member services.

The Visa Signature card features unlimited 1.5% cash back on all net purchases, round-trip airfare beginning at 25,000 points, or brand-name merchandise and gift cards at the same industry-leading rebate value as cash rewards.

A premier rewards card with no annual fee
Unlimited 1% cash back
0.00% APR for the first 6 billing cycles on purchases.
0.00% APR for the first 6 billing cycles on balance transfers (fees apply)
Earn 2,500 first-use bonus points, which you can redeem for a $25 statement credit.
Redeem for travel on any airline without frequent flyer program restrictions
Exclusive Signature privileges
Purchase APR varies from 14.49% to 23.49%

Comerica Cash Rewards American Express Card

Renown American Express service and perks with generous rewards and no annual fee.

A rewards card with no annual fee
3% cash back (up $6,000 annually and 1% after that)
2% cash back on eligible supermarket purchases.
1% cash back on all other eligible items
Earn 2,500 first-use bonus points, which you can redeem for a $25 statement credit.
Purchase APR varies from 13.39% to 22.99%
Purchase tickets for popular events before general public
Zero fraud liability

Comerica Premier Rewards American Express Card

Enhanced American Express card with features and perks for the deserving customer.

4X points on restaurant purchases
3X points on airline purchases
2X points on gas station purchases
1X points on all other eligible items
Earn $100 value after a modest $1,000 spend within 3 months of opening account
Purchase APR varies from 14.49% to 22.99%
No foreign transaction fee
Global entry or TSA pre-Statement credit
Zero fraud liability
no annual fee in first year, $99 thereafter

Comerica College Rewards Visa Card

If you’re a college student with limited credit history, here’s a card that will help you take a giant step into responsible credit use.

The College Rewards Visa Card allows you to establish a solid credit history while earning valuable rewards.

No annual fee
Earn $25 bonus upon first use of the card
Credit card convenience
Attractive rates
Earn 1.5 points for every net purchase dollar
Select from a wide variety of reward options on travel, cash, gift certificates, merchandise or through our exclusive Choose Your Own Rewards program, you can redeem points for any card purchase
Purchase APR 14.49% to 23.49%
Applicant must be 18 years of age, have a U.S. address and Social Security number

Union Bank Platinum Visa Credit Card

October 16, 2020BankIntro APR, Low interest, Sign-up offers, Union BankLeonard Kreicas

Union Bank Platinum Vis Card

Pay no balance transfer fees for 60 days when opening a Union Bank Platinum Visa credit card. Plus pay no interest for 15 months on the amount transferred.

After the promotional period ends, if cardholders haven’t paid off the balance in full, they will be billed interest on remaining amounts at APRs anywhere from 8.49% to 19.99% depending on creditworthiness.

Generally carrying a credit card balance is a terrible long-term practice. However under some circumstances it makes sense, such snaring a great deal at half-price (50% off) and paying the purchase off over time. 50% – 8.49% saves the buyer 31.51% when spread over a year. Just be sure to pay off any balances as soon as possible.

BENEFITS AND FEATURES

Union Bank credit cards have a generous slate of features and benefits to make shopping easy and safe. One of them minimizes “buyer’s remorse.” Credit cards have a try before you buy feature built into the system. Other perks include:

Secure mobile access to account
Swipe smart for enhanced security
Custom account alerts for real-time monitoring
Zero fraud liability for unauthorized charges
Go green digital services so you never lose a bill or important documents
Monthly statements to keep track of expenses
Visa Concierge services such as dining reservations, gift arrangements, etc., although some fees may apply
Emergency card replacement available 24/7/365
Purchase security up to $500 for stolen or damaged items

UNION BANK CARDS WITH REWARDS

For those who expect credit cards to come with rewards, Union Bank has three varieties to suit your needs. The Bank Freely Rewards credit card works best with a flat rate for everyday bills such as utilities, clothes, food, entertainment. The Preferred Rewards credit card has bonus categories for dining, gas, and groceries. The Travel Rewards credit card program favors frequent travelers and people on the move.

UNION BANK BANK FREELY REWARDS

Union Bank Freely Rewards Visa creidt card

1.5% unlimited cash back rewards
$100 introductory rewards bonus after $1,000 in purchases within 3 months of opening
Introductory 0% APR financing on purchases and balance transfers for first 12 months
Regular APR of 13.99% to 23.99% once promotional period ends
3% Balance transfer fee

UNION BANK PREFERRED REWARDS VISA CREDIT CARD

10,000 introductory rewards bonus after $1,000 in purchases within 3 months of opening
5% Rewards on digital wallet purchases ($6,000 max) good for first year only
3% Rewards at restaurants ($6,000 max/year and 1% thereafter)
2% Rewards on gas and grocery ($6,000 max/year and 1% thereafter)
1% Rewards on all other eligible purchases
Introductory 0% APR financing on purchases and balance transfers for first 12 months
Regular APR of 13.99% to 23.99% once promotional period ends
3% Balance transfer fee

UNION BANK TRAVEL REWARDS VISA CREDIT CARD

20,000 Introductory rewards bonus after $1,500 in purchases within 3 months of opening
3% Rewards on travel ($6,000 max/year and 1% thereafter)
2% Rewards on restaurants ($6,000 max/year and 1% thereafter)
1% Rewards on all other eligible purchases
Introductory 0% APR financing on purchases and balance transfers for first 12 months
Regular APR of 13.99% to 23.99% once promotional period ends
3% Balance transfer fee
$0 Annual fee for first and $49/year after

ABOUT UNION BANK

While little known in the United States, Union Bank is the brand name for MUFG Bank which is the 5th largest bank by assets in the world by one account. As of 12/31/2019 Union Bank handles more financial assets than JP Morgan Chase, Citibank or Bank of America on a global level.

CREDIT CARDS

Choose the right credit card for you