This offer is no longer available on our site: U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card

Pros

• Solid rewards rates
• Strong sign-up bonus

Cons

• No rewards transfer partners

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U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card

U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card

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U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card: What you need to know

For people who want to earn rewards points on everyday spending categories, plus get a strong sign-up bonus, the U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card offers a lot of value.

High rewards rate on everyday spend categories

If you’re on the road a lot, love to cook and go out, or enjoy streaming shows and movies at home, the U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card may be a good fit. Plus, the points you earn with it never expire.

Here’s how the points break down.

• 5 points per $1 spent on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the Altitude Rewards Center
• 4 points per $1 on travel
• 4 points per $1 at gas and EV charging stations (first $1,000 each quarter)
• 2 points per $1 on grocery stores, grocery delivery, dining and streaming services
• 1 point per $1 on all other eligible purchases

A strong sign-up bonus

If you spend $2,000 on purchases in the first 120 days of account opening, the U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card offers a 50,000 point bonus. It’s valued at $500, and you can use the points for gift cards, cash back, travel and other merchandise.

No rewards transfer partners

Along with the theme of simplicity, the U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card doesn’t offer rewards transfer partners. All points must be spent within U.S. Bank’s system or redeemed for cash. That said, if you redeem for cash, then you can use the cash anywhere and however you’d like.

What else you should know

To round out the benefits package, the U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card also offers a few additional perks.

• Buy-now, pay-later option — You may be able to split up large qualifying purchases into predictable interest-free monthly payments with the U.S. Bank ExtendPay plan.
• Travel credits — Every four years, U.S. Bank offers up to $100 in statement credits to reimburse the application fee for TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry — which can come in handy if you travel a lot.
• No foreign transaction fees — If you plan to use this card traveling abroad, you won’t have to pay any extra fees on international purchases.
• Additional perks — Since this is a Visa Signature card, you’ll get travel protection, shopping and other perks that come with the Visa Signature program.

Understanding your points and redemption

Both an advantage and a disadvantage of this card is its simple point value and redemption options. All points are worth exactly 1 cent each, which means you never need to stress about getting the best bang for your buck. But you also can’t game the system to eke out any additional value either.

Whether that’s a good or a bad thing really depends on you and how much interest you have in optimizing the value of your credit card rewards. Many other premium travel credit cards offer rewards points with a wide range in values, depending on how you use them.

You can redeem the points you earn with the U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card for cash back, travel, merchandise and gift cards — and the points never expire. U.S. Bank also offers a unique point redemption option called the Real-Time Rewards program, which lets you use points to cover transactions immediately after purchase.

Who this card is good for

The U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card may be a good choice for occasional travelers who want a card with solid everyday rewards and low-effort redemption options. If you want to earn travel rewards points on everyday spend categories like gas, dining and groceries, this could be a great fit for you.

U.S. Bank’s rewards redemption options and consistent point value can also be a nice, low-fuss fit for people that don’t want to worry too much about how to maximize point values.

Not sure this is the card for you? Consider these alternatives.

If you’re looking to optimize travel rewards and are willing to shop around for a richer sign-up bonus, another premium travel card might be a better fit. Here are a few options to consider.

• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: People that want to maximize point values and are looking for a larger sign-up bonus might consider this card.
• Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: This card may be a good fit for occasional travelers who don’t want to worry about keeping track of spending categories.
• U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® Card: This card offers strong travel perks and rewards, but comes with a much higher annual fee.

What you need to know about the Prosper® Card

The Prosper® Card is a no-frills card is designed for people who want to build or rebuild their credit.

Who this card is good for

The Prosper® Card might work for people who have a solid plan to use the card to build credit, and to avoid interest charges by paying any balance on time and in full every month. You can apply for this card without affecting your credit scores, and qualifying doesn’t require any cash deposit like a secured card does.

Assuming your situation checks all those boxes, this card might be an especially good fit for if your credit might not be strong enough to qualify for other unsecured cards.

But, again, the APRs are high — so carrying a balance on this card will hurt. Even if your credit is rough, consider shopping around for other credit-building options.

Pros

• No security deposit
• Ability to work toward better terms
• Cash back rewards

Cons

• Possible low credit limit
• High annual fee
• High APR, as is typical for similar cards

What you need to know

If you’re working on building your credit history, the BrightWay credit card may help you get started.

While you won’t need to put down a security deposit, the card has a $65 annual fee. You might see a different annual fee offered on Credit Karma.

Ability to unlock better terms

The card offers a credit limit of up to $2,000. But among the BrightWay card’s drawbacks are the potential for a credit limit as low as $300 (you might see different terms on Credit Karma) and a high interest rate. But if you make six months of on-time payments, you may be eligible to qualify for a higher credit line and lower interest fees.

The BrightWay credit card offers 1% cash back on all purchases. While this is a nice-to-have perk for a beginner card or unsecured credit card, it’s not as high as the cash-back rate you can get with some other cards.

And remember, it’s not a good idea to spend just for the sake of earning rewards.

What else you need to know

If you’re thinking about getting the BrightWay card, here’s a few more things to consider.

• APR is on the high side — At 35.99% for purchases, balance transfers and cash advances, if you don’t pay your balance in full every month, you could end up racking up extra debt just from interest charges. You might see a different APR offered on Credit Karma.
• Watch out for fees — There’s a fee of up to $40 for any late payments. Setting up autopay can help you avoid this situation.
• Using the card abroad will cost you extra — A foreign transaction fee of 1% of transaction value  will be applied to all transactions made outside of the United States, so it’s not the best card to use internationally.

Who this card is good for

The BrightWay credit card could be an option for people looking to establish or rebuild their credit history. Or it may make a good first credit card.

Before you decide to apply for this card though, there are other credit-builder cards that may offer better long-term value.

Not sure this is the card for you? Consider these alternatives.

• Petal® 1 Visa® Credit Card: This card may be a good fit if you’re brand new to credit and are looking for a first credit card.
• Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card: If you can afford a security deposit, this card offers a low-cost way to build credit and earn rewards.
• OpenSky® Secured Credit Visa® Card: People with no credit history might want to consider this card since it doesn’t require a credit check to apply.

What you need to know about the BrightWay+ card

With no annual fee, the BrightWay+ could be a strong option for people who are building or rebuilding credit. And since it’s an unsecured credit card, you won’t have to put down a security deposit.

Only available by invite

But to get this credit card, you’ll have to be invited to apply — unless you already have the entry-level BrightWay card, in which case you might qualify for an upgrade to the BrightWay+ after six months of on-time payments.

Who the BrightWay+ card is good for

If you’re looking to build your credit with a simple cash back card, the BrightWay+ card could be a good fit — but that’s only if you’re invited to apply or if you already have the entry-level BrightWay card. If not, you’ll need to look elsewhere.

This offer is no longer available on our site: Allegiant World Mastercard®

Pros

• Buy one, get one companion fares
• Solid sign-up bonus
• Ability to earn points on all purchases

Cons

• Annual fee
• Points can only be used for travel
• Companion pass criteria could be difficult to meet
• Limited travel perks

Is the Allways Rewards Visa® Credit Card for you?

If you regularly book vacation packages with Allegiant Airlines, having this card may help you save some cash on your next vacation. The card has some ongoing value thanks to its rewards — but it does have a $59 annual fee.

If you never fly Allegiant Air, or if you only use the airline only occasionally, a more general-purpose travel or rewards credit card might be a better option.

Buy-one, get-one companion passes have tricky criteria

The Allegiant buy-one, get-one deal might be the card’s strongest feature if you’re an Allegiant loyalist. But to get these companion passes, you’ll have to buy more than just a plane ticket.

To qualify, you’ll have to purchase a full vacation package from Allegiant, which can get expensive. This includes a hotel stay with a four-night minimum, or a rental car reservation during your trip for at least seven days.

While you’ll get to take advantage of the buy-one, get-one plane ticket when booking a qualifying vacation package, keep in mind that Allegiant has limited destinations to choose from and they’re all based in the U.S.

Solid sign up bonus and ongoing rewards

The Allways Rewards Visa® Credit Card offers a 25,000-mile bonus after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 90 days after account opening. This is a value of $250, which may help offset the card’s annual fee or some of the cost of a big purchase.

Plus, you can earn points when you use the card. You’ll get …

• 3 points per $1 spent on all Allegiant purchases, including air travel, hotel stays and rental cars
• 2 points per $1 on qualifying dining expenses
• 1 point per $1 on all other purchases

Limited airline perks

With this card you’ll only get a few travel perks. There’s no free checked bags or access to lounges. Aside from a complimentary drink on board, the only other true perk is priority boarding.

But even though you’ll be able to board in advance, you won’t be guaranteed a specific seat. So if you want to reserve your seat of choice, you’ll have to pay a little extra.

What else you need to know about the Allways Rewards Visa® Credit Card

Here are a few more things to think about if you’re considering the Allways Rewards Visa® Credit Card.

• There are no foreign transaction fees, which helps a lot if you travel abroad.
• If you apply online, Allegiant offers an instant approval decision.

Understanding your points and redemption

Point redemption is fairly straightforward with this card’s program. Each point is worth 1 cent and points can be used to book airfare, hotels and car rentals on Allegiant.com. Plus, there are no blackout dates or other restrictions.

But if you’re looking to use points for anything but travel booked through Allegiant, you’ll be out of luck. You can’t trade them in for gift cards, merchandise or cash.

To compare this card’s point value to the value of other rewards programs, we recommend checking out Credit Karma’s point valuations.

Who this card is good for

This card is best for people who fly Allegiant regularly and book Allegiant travel packages. Occasional Allegiant fliers may get some benefit from the card, but likely not enough to make this card a strong enough option compared to other travel rewards card options.

What you need to know about the Upgrade Triple Cash Rewards Visa® card

The Upgrade Triple Cash Rewards Visa® isn’t a typical cash back card. Instead, card users will get a revolving credit line that works more like a personal loan. Once approved, you can use your line of credit to pay for purchases or have cash deposited into your bank account — and you’ll make predictable, set payments each month on your balance.

Who this card is good for

The Upgrade Triple Cash Rewards Visa® has a decent unlimited cash back rate. If you’re looking to make a big purchase in one of the cash back categories, you could get some cash back to offset some of your cost. But remember, you can’t get the benefit until you pay off your purchase.

If you don’t regularly spend in these categories or want a more standard cash back card, it might be better to look elsewhere or even consider a personal loan to cover a large purchase.

Pros

• High cash back rate on all purchases
• Sign-up bonus
• No annual fee

Cons

• No bonus category rewards rates
• Only basic redemption options

Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card: What you need to know

The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card is a straightforward cash back rewards card that offers a flat cash back rate on all purchases, plus a sign-up bonus and a $0 annual fee. This unique combination makes this card a great choice for people who want to streamline their wallet and have just one easy-to-use card.

No-hassle rewards at a high flat rate

The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card offers a 2% flat cash back rewards rate. Another small perk of this rewards rate: You’ll always earn your 2% cash back upfront, unlike the Citi Double Cash® Card, which offers 1% back at the time of purchase and another 1% when you pay it off. Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card simplifies that approach, ensuring you earn all of your rewards upfront.

Limited cash redemption options

You can redeem your cash rewards to cover recent purchases that you made on the card, or you can use your rewards to get gift cards in $25 increments. If you’re an existing Wells Fargo banking customer, you may also be able to redeem your points for a statement credit on a qualifying Wells Fargo credit card, checking account or mortgage account — or you can take out rewards as cash in $20 increments using your Wells Fargo debit card or ATM card.

Strong sign-up bonus

The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card offers $200 in cash rewards after new cardholders spend $500 on eligible purchases in the first 3 months after account opening. The bonus helps this card stand out.

No annual fee

The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card doesn’t charge cardholders an annual fee. That means you don’t need to worry about earning enough rewards on the card to recoup costs.

What else you need to know about the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

If you’re considering adding the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card to your wallet, here are a few more things to keep in mind.

• Cellphone protection worth up to $600 — If you use your card to pay your cellphone bill, you can get protection from damage and theft not covered by other insurance, after paying a $25 deductible.
• Intro APR offer — Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card offers 0% intro APR for the first 12 months from account opening on both purchases and balance transfers. Balance transfers must be requested within 120 days of account opening, and you’ll pay a balance transfer fee: 3% for 120 days from account opening, then up to 5% (minimum $5). After the intro periods end, the ongoing APR for both purchases and balance transfers is a variable 19.49%, 24.49%, 29.49%.

Who this card is good for

The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card may be a good fit for people who like a simple way to earn cash back on all purchases. If you’re someone who doesn’t want to think too much about which card to use for specific purchases in order to earn points, then this card might be something you want to consider.

Not sure this is the card for you? Consider these alternatives.

The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card is a great all-around card, but if you’re looking for something more specialized, here are some additional cards to consider.

• Chase Freedom Unlimited®: Good rewards rate on all purchases, plus some bonus categories.
• Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express: Excellent for families and anyone who likes to cook at home.
• Discover it® Cash Back: Get unlimited cash back on all purchases, with a high rate on rotating categories.

Bank of America’s credit card rewards program is straightforward and simple. It may work for loyal Bank of America customers who want to earn and redeem cash back or travel rewards without a lot of hassle.

• How to earn Bank of America credit card rewards points
• Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card: Best for people who want to choose their cash back categories
• Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card: Great for travel rewards on a budget
• Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card: Best for travelers who want to maximize rewards
• Join the Preferred Rewards program to earn more rewards
• How to redeem Bank of America® credit card rewards points

How to earn Bank of America credit card rewards points

Bank of America offers several credit cards that can earn you rewards. And if you’re looking for rewards bonuses and other extra perks, you can also join Bank of America’s Preferred Rewards program. All three tiers in the program — Gold, Platinum and Platinum Honors — come with extras. Here are some credit card options to consider, along with ways to maximize your rewards.

Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card: Best for people who want to choose their cash back categories

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Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card

Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card

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Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card offers 3% cash back on eligible purchases in a category of your choice, including gas and EV charging stations; online shopping, including cable, Internet, phone plans and streaming; dining, travel, drugstores, or home improvement and furnishings. You can use the mobile app or website to change your selection once every calendar month. To boost your earning potential, try to align your 3% category choice to your highest spending category every month.

Additionally, the card offers 2% cash back at eligible grocery stores and wholesale clubs, plus 1% cash back on all other purchases. The 3% and 2% cash back categories are capped at $2,500 in combined quarterly spending, after which you’ll earn the base 1% rewards rate for the rest of the quarter. The card has no annual fee — and your cash rewards never expire as long as your account remains open.

Thinking about getting this card? Learn more about the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card.

Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card: Great for travel rewards on a budget

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Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

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For travelers who want a no-nonsense travel card with a $0 annual fee, the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card can be a great fit. With a card that offers 1.5 points for every $1 spent — with no earning limits or points expiration (if account remains open) — it’s easy to track your points based on your spending.

Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card has a $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees, which can help budget travelers save on fees for purchases made abroad.

Bank of America currently offers a sign-up bonus of 25,000 bonus points (worth $250 when redeemed as a statement credit toward eligible travel or dining) after spending $1,000 on the card in the first 90 days.

If you’d like to read more, check out more information about the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card.

Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card: Best for travelers who want to maximize rewards

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Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card

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The Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card is a strong option for travelers who want a premier credit card without the fuss and complex point systems that some other top travel cards feature. This card offers two points per $1 on travel and dining spending and 1.5 points per $1 spent on everything else. There’s no limit to how much you can earn, and your points don’t expire as long as your account remains open.

The Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card has an annual fee of $95. But frequent fliers can offset the cost by taking advantage of the card’s annual $100 in airline incidental statement credits, which will be automatically applied against qualifying purchases such as seat upgrades, baggage fees, in-flight services and airline lounge fees. On top of that, every four years the card will cover up to $100 in airport security statement credits toward TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry application fees paid for with the card.

The Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card currently comes with a signup bonus of 60,000 points (worth $600 in rewards) after you make at least $4,000 in purchases during the first 90 days.

Still evaluating? Learn more about the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card.

Join the Preferred Rewards program to earn more rewards

If you want to boost your rewards-earning potential on eligible cards by up to 75%, it may be worth considering joining Bank of America’s Preferred Rewards program. But to do so you’ll have to first qualify by having an eligible Bank of America checking account and have a minimum of $20,000 combined in qualifying Bank of America deposit accounts and/or Merrill investment accounts.

Here’s how the requirements and bonus rewards break down for each tier.

• Gold: $20,000 minimum 3-month combined average daily balance — 25% bonus rewards
• Platinum: $50,000 minimum 3-month combined average daily balance — 50% bonus rewards
• Platinum Honors: $100,000 minimum 3-month combined average daily balance — 75% bonus rewards

Although you’ll need to initiate enrollment in the program on your own, once you’re in, your balances will be checked monthly to see if you qualify for a higher tier. And don’t worry: Even if your balances fall below the $20,000 minimum, you’ll still get to stay in the program for a year after you enroll.

How to redeem Bank of America credit card rewards points

Redeeming Bank of America credit cards rewards points is fairly straightforward. But beyond maximizing your rewards-earning potential with the Preferred Rewards program bonuses, there’s very little cardholders can do to boost their point redemptions.

While each of the three cards has some variation between their redemption options, the value of points is the same for each card — 1 cent per point.

1. Redeem your points for cash

The Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card and the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card (once your points balance is 2,500 or more) both let you redeem cash back as a statement credit against your balance on the card. You can also opt for a direct deposit into a Bank of America checking or savings account — or credits to eligible Merrill investment accounts.

2. Redeem your cash back rewards for an investment in education

If you’d instead prefer to invest the cash back that you earn in a 529 education savings account, both the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card and the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card allow you to do so. The Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card requires a $25 minimum redemption.

3. Redeem your travel rewards for statement credits

The Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card allows you to redeem your points against travel and dining purchases on your credit card statement once your points balance is 2,500 or more. To use this benefit, simply log into your account and navigate to your rewards page to find redemption options.

What’s next?

The rewards program for Bank of America credit cards may be a good option for Bank of America loyalists, especially those who qualify for the points-boosting Preferred Rewards program. It may also be a good fit for people looking for an uncomplicated approach to earning and redeeming points for cash back or travel.

For everyone else, there are other great rewards cards programs to look into.

If you want to lean into travel and dining points, Chase Ultimate Rewards® and the American Express Membership Rewards® programs both offer more variety in cards to choose from as well as redemption options. And if you’re looking for a better match in cash back bonus categories, you can shop for cash back rewards cards on Credit Karma.

What are the benefits of the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi?

The Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi stands out by offering high cash back rewards rates on gas, plus bonus cash back for restaurants and travel — all with a $0 annual fee. If you already have a Costco membership and want to maximize credit card rewards on gas, restaurants and travel, this card might be a good option for you. Plus, this credit card also doubles as your Costco membership card.

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Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi

Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi

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• 4% cash back on gas and EV charging purchases
• 3% cash back on travel and dining purchases
• Other travel perks, including no foreign transaction fees
• 2% cash back on Costco purchases
• 1% cash back everywhere else
• Redeem cash back rewards at Costco
• Purchase protection
• Are the benefits of the card worth it?

4% cash back on gas and EV charging purchases

What you’ll get: Cardholders earn 4% cash back in Costco Cash Rewards on eligible gas and electric vehicle charging purchases, including gas and EV charging at Costco, for the first $7,000 spent per year on gas. After you spend $7,000, the rewards rate drops to 1% for the rest of the year. But if you decide to fuel up at another superstore, a supermarket, convenience store or warehouse club, you’ll only earn 1% in rewards. The same is true for fuel purchases that aren’t gas for a car.

Purchases outside of bonus categories earn 1% cash back.

Our take: We list this card as one of the top options for gas reward cards as it has one of the highest cash back rates for gas purchases on the market, and it may be a great benefit to people who primarily fuel up their car at standard gas stations and Costco locations.

3% cash back on travel and dining purchases

What you’ll get: With this card, you’ll earn a strong 3% rewards rate for eligible travel and dining purchases. Eligible travel includes airfare, hotels, car rentals, travel agencies, cruise lines and Costco Travel.

Our take: Getting cash back bonus rewards for travel and dining purchases may be useful bonus rewards on top of the card’s 4% cash back gas rewards — especially if you’d already planned for travel or dining expenses.

Other travel perks, including no foreign transaction fees

What you’ll get: The Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi has no foreign transaction fees. It also offers the following traveler protections:

• Worldwide rental car insurance with coverage up to $50,000 for incidents meeting the coverage requirements. In the U.S. this coverage is secondary to your own insurance policy.
• Emergency roadside assistance and dispatch service for certain vehicles in the U.S., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. While this covers services such towing, flat tire changes, jump starts and fuel delivery, the cost of the service and dispatch will be billed to you at a prenegotiated rate.
• Travel and emergency assistance to help plan emergency travel arrangements, legal and medical referrals along with other travel issues
• Worldwide travel accident insurance with coverage up to $250,000. This travel insurance covers certain accidents that occur on eligible trips on “common carriers” like airlines, trains and ferries, but not taxis, car rentals or rideshare services.

Our take: While these perks aren’t rare, they might bring some peace of mind while traveling.

2% cash back on Costco purchases

What you get: The Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi offers 2% cash back for purchases made in Costco stores and at Costco.com.    

Our take: Since Costco only accepts Visa for in-person credit card purchases, using the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi instead of another Visa card may make sense for Costco shoppers that want to pay with a credit card and get cash back on Costco shopping purchases they were already planning to make.

1% cash back everywhere else

What you’ll get: For all purchases made outside of the bonus categories of gas, travel, restaurant and Costco purchases, the card offers 1% cash back.    

Our take: 1% back on everything else isn’t a huge percentage to get excited about, but it’s nice to know you’ll get something for every purchase.

Redeem cash back rewards at Costco

What you’ll get: Your rewards for the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi accrue from January through December, and once a year you’ll receive a certificate after the February billing cycle closes. You can redeem the rewards certificate in store for merchandise and/or cash (subject to certain restrictions), but it expires at the end of the calendar year. It’s worth noting that if you close your card or your Costco membership, you’ll lose all of your accrued cash back rewards.    

Our take: While it’s not the most flexible or frequent redemption option around, being able to convert your certificate directly to dollars can be a nice perk.

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Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi

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Purchase protection

What you get: The Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi offers some purchase protections. The purchase protection covers damage and theft of eligible purchases for 90 to 120 days after purchase, up to $1,000 per item, and up to $50,000 per year.

Our take: The purchase protection may come in handy if you break something you just bought recently or the item gets stolen.

Are the benefits of the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi worth it?

This is a great credit card for existing Costco members or people thinking about joining Costco. It offers cash back rewards on gas, travel and restaurant purchases. And since Visa is the only credit card accepted at Costco, if you’re planning on using a credit card for Costco purchases anyway, you can take advantage of the 2% cash back. But keep in mind that you can only redeem your points once a year, so you’ll have to be comfortable waiting to get your rewards.

Not sure if this is the card for you? Read more to find out.

While the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi offers strong rewards across gas, travel and dining, it’s not a perfect match for everyone, especially if you’re not a Costco member or have no interest in joining. But if you’re still considering, here’s some further reading.

• For another look, check out our full review of at the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi.
• Check out our round-up of the best gas credit cards to see what the best alternatives look like.
• Compare it against the best restaurant credit cards.

If you’ve recently applied for a mortgage and you’re now seeing “Factual Data” on your credit reports, your home loan application may be the reason.

Factual Data is a company that offers consumer credit and verification services to the mortgage lending industry. If you see Factual Data on your credit reports, it’s likely because the company performed a credit check on behalf of a mortgage lender.

• Why is Factual Data on my credit reports?
• Hard inquiries vs. soft inquiries
• Next steps: What to do if there’s an inquiry or account you don’t recognize on your credit reports

Why is Factual Data on my credit reports?

When you apply for a mortgage, a lender may check your credit to help decide if you’re a good candidate for the loan. When a lender checks your credit, otherwise known as a “credit pull,” it may trigger a hard credit inquiry. (More on that in a bit.) 

You probably already expect to see the credit pull from your mortgage lender. But you may also see “Factual Data” on your credit reports because Factual Data is a company that helps mortgage providers get credit information in the form of a “merged credit report.” 

A merged credit report is simply a report that pulls your credit information from multiple credit agencies into a single, easy-to-read report that your lender can review.  

Does Factual Data offer mortgages?

No. The company focuses on providing credit information for mortgage lenders and offers a variety of reporting services at different steps in the mortgage application process, such as prequalification soft inquiry reports, hard inquiry credit reports and debt monitoring.

Hard inquiries vs. soft inquiries

As we mentioned, Factual Data may appear on your credit reports because it’s associated with a mortgage credit inquiry (otherwise known as a “credit pull”). There are two types of credit inquiries, and the distinction between them is important.

Hard credit inquiries

A hard credit inquiry (or “hard pull”) generally occurs when a financial institution checks your credit when making a lending decision. These inquiries commonly take place when you apply for a mortgage and require your authorization.

If you suspect that Factual Data pulled your credit without your authorization, there are some steps you can take. It’s important for you to address any potential unauthorized credit activity immediately, especially if you’re concerned that you may be dealing with potential identity theft and/or fraud.

Soft credit inquiries

A soft credit inquiry (or “soft pull”) typically occurs when a person or company checks your credit as part of a background check. In the case of Factual Data, if you applied for prequalification with a mortgage lender, it was likely a soft inquiry.

Unlike hard inquiries, soft inquiries won’t affect your credit scores. And you may or may not see them show up on your credit reports, depending on the individual credit bureau doing the reporting.

To learn more, check out our article on hard and soft credit inquiries and how they affect your credit.

Next steps: What to do if there’s an inquiry or account you don’t recognize on your credit reports

Monitoring your credit is an important part of managing your personal finances. It’s always smart to double check credit inquiries on your credit reports.

In some cases, names that you don’t recognize, like Factual Credit, may appear on your credit reports because a bank or lender that you’re working with hired the company to perform the credit check on its behalf. So when you notice an inquiry from an unfamiliar company, do a little extra research before you dispute it as a credit report error.

Here’s an extra bit of good news: Credit Karma offers free tools and services to help you protect your credit.

• Free credit monitoring — This service can alert you to important changes on your credit reports. Along with checking your credit scores regularly, this feature can send you alerts so you can check any suspicious activity and report any instances of identity theft.
• Free identity monitoring — This service notifies you when Credit Karma learns there’s been a data breach involving another company in which your information may have been compromised. We’ll also give you tips on how to lock your credit with the three major consumer credit bureaus.

Afni Collections is a collections agency that works to help companies recoup old debt.

Big companies hire Afni Collections to help track down outstanding debt on their behalf. Afni’s clients tend to include large businesses such as telecommunications companies, satellite/cable companies, healthcare providers and insurance companies.

• Why is Afni Collections on my credit reports?
• How to remove Afni Collections from your credit reports
• What to do if there’s an account you don’t recognize on your credit reports 

Why is Afni Collections on my credit report?

If you’ve noticed Afni Collections on your credit report or if the company has started contacting you, it’s likely trying to recover debt on behalf of one of its clients.

Debt collection agencies like Afni can end up on your credit reports when your original creditor has sold your unpaid debt to them or when they’re collecting on behalf of their clients. If you’re looking for this on your credit reports, you’ll most likely see it listed as an account in collections.

You should always independently verify your debt when a debt collection agency contacts you. Get information about the debt in writing from the debt collector and make sure you know your rights under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.

Is Afni Collections a scam?

Afni Collections is a legitimate, long-standing company that helps large clients collect outstanding debt. If you think that the collection inquiry on your account is a mistake, you can contact Afni directly to file your complaints.

How to remove Afni Collections from your credit reports

If the debt Afni contacts you about is valid, Afni will notify the credit bureaus as you make payments. Once the account is paid off and closed, Afni will request that the credit agencies remove the account from your report altogether. But it’s worth noting that even if you pay off the debt, it may still appear on your credit report for up to seven years —under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, accounts in collection may remain on your credit report for up to seven years.

But if the debt isn’t legitimate, make sure to act quickly and reach out to the credit bureaus to dispute the debt.

The credit bureaus are required to investigate disputes and forward information about errors to the debt collector, which will have to notify all three of the major consumer credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion) about any information it determines is inaccurate.

What to do if there’s an account you don’t recognize on your credit reports

Having an account show up in collections on your credit reports can be alarming. It can take time for your credit to recover, but there are steps you can take to work on rebuilding your credit.

But if the account in collections is not valid, start with disputing the inaccuracy and then monitor your credit reports for any other inaccuracies — it’s possible that you’re facing a case of identity theft. You can access your credit reports from all three major consumer credit bureaus for free at annualcreditreport.com once a year, and possibly more under certain circumstances (such as if you believe you’ve been a victim of fraud).  

BBY/CBNA may appear on your credit reports if you’ve applied for one of Best Buy’s credit cards.

If you recently applied for a My Best Buy® Credit Card or a My Best Buy Visa® at Best Buy, there’s a good chance there’s a line on your credit reports referring to BBY/CBNA. Here’s what to know about why it’s on your credit reports and what to do if you’ve never applied for an account with Best Buy.

• What does BBY/CBNA stand for and why is it on my credit reports?
• What other retail credit cards are issued by CBNA?
• What to do if there’s an account you don’t recognize on your credit reports

What does BBY/CBNA stand for and why is it on my credit reports?

BBY/CBNA stands for Best Buy/Citibank North America. You may see BBY/CBNA on your credit reports as a hard inquiry if you’ve applied for one of Best Buy’s credit cards, or if someone added you as an authorized user on one of their Best Buy credit cards.

Citibank offers three Best Buy credit cards.

• My Best Buy® Credit Card
• My Best Buy® Visa® Platinum
• My Best Buy® Visa® Gold

If you’ve applied for one of these and authorized the bank to check your credit, you may see a hard credit inquiry on your credit reports. A hard credit inquiry can stay on your reports for up to two years, so it may be showing up even if you didn’t recently apply for the card.

Alternatively, if you tried to prequalify for a credit card from Best Buy, you might see a soft credit inquiry on your credit reports. A soft inquiry is only visible to you and doesn’t affect your credit scores.

How to remove a BBY/CBNA hard inquiry from my credit reports

If you applied for one of the three Best Buy credit cards, you probably won’t be able to remove the hard inquiry from your reports. It should fall off your reports after two years from the inquiry date.

But what happens if you spot BBY/CBNA on your credit reports and you didn’t authorize the credit pull? Dealing with an unauthorized hard inquiry on your credit can be stressful and scary.

There are steps you can take to help protect yourself and your credit if you find yourself in this situation. Consider these five tactics.

1. Get proof. Contact the company that pulled your credit and ask for proof that you authorized the inquiry.
2. Report the suspected fraud. Head to the Federal Trade Commission’s identitytheft.gov website to document and report the suspected ID theft. You may also want to consider filing a police report.
3. Freeze your credit. To prevent identity thieves from further abusing your personal financial information, you may want to freeze your credit. Contact each credit bureau separately. Keep in mind that you won’t be able to get approval for new financial products while the freeze is in place, and it can delay other situations that require a credit check, such as applying for jobs. And while this won’t retroactively protect your credit, it can help stop identity thieves from opening accounts in your name while the freeze is in effect.
4. Speaking of contacting the credit bureaus, you can request a free 90-day fraud alert from them.
5. Dispute the unauthorized inquiry with the credit bureaus. The credit bureaus are required to investigate and remove any information that turns out to be inaccurate.

Authorized users

You may also see BBY/CBNA on your credit reports if you’ve been added as an authorized user on any Best Buy credit cards.

As an authorized user, the account activity will likely be reflected in your credit reports as well. Getting added to an account as an authorized user is one way you can build credit (especially if the primary account holder has stellar credit). You’re allowed to make purchases up to the primary account holder’s credit limit, but you’re not officially responsible for repaying the debt.

The downside is that if the primary cardholder misses a payment or has a high utilization rate, there could actually be a negative impact on your credit.

If you were added incorrectly as an authorized user to someone else’s BBY/CBNA account, you should contact the credit card issuer and ask it to remove you from the account.

What other retail credit cards are issued by CBNA?

Citibank issues retail credit cards to about 83 million people. If you carry a retail card from one of the following brands, it’s likely issued by Citi, and you’ll probably have CBNA listed somewhere on your credit reports:

• Exxon Mobil
• L.L.Bean
• Shell
• The Home Depot

What to do if there’s an account you don’t recognize on your credit reports

It’s important to routinely check your credit reports to watch out for mistakes or even outright identity theft.

You’re entitled to a free copy of your credit reports from all three major consumer credit bureaus periodically through annualcreditreport.com. To monitor your credit more frequently, you can use the Credit Karma app to access your TransUnion and Equifax credit reports and VantageScore 3.0® credit scores for free.

Whether you decide to keep an eye on your credit with Credit Karma or use another service, consider adding credit monitoring to your financial routine. Credit monitoring can be a useful tool in helping you identify and take action on certain errors or suspected fraud you might spot on your credit reports.

When it comes to any suspicious activity, the sooner you take action, the more likely you are to minimize any lasting damage to your credit profile.