Credit card issuers send attractive offers to consumers with good credit. These offers are often accompanied by welcome bonuses, such as rewards points, cash back, and airline miles.
While these offers can be tempting, you should only consider a new card if it makes sense for your financial situation. Here are 6 perks to look for in credit card offers:
Pre-approved offers
Pre-approved offers are sent directly from credit card issuers to consumers through the mail, email or phone. They often come with a special sign-up bonus or low introductory interest rates. The offers may also include an invitation code that the consumer can use to apply online for a specific credit card. These cards can be a great way to boost your credit score, but they can also lead to too many cards in your wallet.
A pre-approval offer usually indicates that the lender has checked your credit and believes you meet certain criteria to qualify for a new credit card. You can still be declined, even if you are pre-approved.
Credit companies must verify you are a good fit for a card before extending an offer, so they will do a hard inquiry when you apply. These inquiries can affect your credit scores, so it’s best to only apply for cards you are serious about.
Cash back
Cash back credit cards reward you for your spending with a percentage of your purchases returned to you in the form of a cash deposit. You can then use these rewards to pay off your card balance, cover travel expenses or even invest in your future. Some cash back credit cards also come with complimentary benefits like insurance and purchase protection.
Some credit cards offer a flat rate of cash back on all eligible purchases, while others feature rotating categories with elevated rewards in specific spending areas like gas, dining and streaming services. This approach requires a high level of participation and regular attention to make the most of it.
Ultimately, the best cash back credit cards are those that match your most common spending patterns. Evaluate your spending habits to determine if a flat-rate card or a card with rotating categories will fit your needs better. Then, review the redemption options to see if a statement credit or actual cash deposits work for you.
Rewards
Credit card issuers often offer enticing rewards offers for new cards to attract consumers and increase their brand loyalty. These rewards can include cash back, travel miles and rewards points. When choosing a credit card, it is important to consider the benefits you want to earn and how much value they provide.
If you are a frequent traveler, a card that awards bonus miles may make more sense for you than a simple cash back card. Keep in mind that most card issuers limit how much you can spend in each bonus category to qualify for extra rewards. You should check your cardholder agreement for details.
Another benefit to consider is that many card issuers allow you to transfer your rewards from one card to another within their network. For example, American Express allows its cardholders to move Membership Rewards points between cards. Also, some card issuers allow you to donate your rewards points to charity.
Convenience
Credit card issuers are eager to help you spend more, as they stand to earn a lot in fees and interest when you do. They do this through convenience checks, which are blank checks that show up as a payment on your card statement. These checks can be used to buy goods and services or transfer balances. Some have special fees or a 0% APR for a period of time.
Convenience offers can be a great way to increase customer loyalty. They are also an effective way to promote a new product or service. For example, Chase recently offered a complimentary year of memberships to food delivery service DoorDash with the Sapphire Reserve card.
Most card issuers frown on merchants charging a surcharge for using a credit card, and they often require that these charges be clearly disclosed at the point of sale. However, there are some exceptions, and some states prohibit surcharging altogether. In addition, the card issuers typically require that any convenience fees are capped at 4% of the transaction.
