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We always make an effort to keep our Best Credit Card Offers page up to date with the best offers available on a wide range of rewards credit cards. Regular readers know that we only list the best publicly-available offers, even when that means not showing affiliate links.
Determining which offers “make the cut” for the Best Offers page is fairly straightforward: if we are aware of a card that is available nationwide which offers a bonus worth $100 or more, we’ll list it on the Best Offers page. In just a few cases, we’ll list a card even if it carries no welcome bonus because of strong ongoing return on spend or valuable perks.
We recently added a handful of cards to the database. These cards aren’t necessarily new cards, but they had previously been absent from our Best Offers page and we noticed that they were worthy of being added. While these smaller-issuer cards can’t compare with big welcome offers we have seen over the past couple of years from major issuers, they may be worthwhile for someone looking for a specific bonus structure, set of perks, or in search of a bonus after opening “all of the other cards”. Below I offer hot takes on each of these cards that we have newly-added to the Best Offers page.
Comenity Cash Back Card
| Card Offer and Details |
|---|
$100 Cash Back ⓘ Non-Affiliate $100 statement credit after $500 spend in first 90 daysNo Annual Fee Information about this card has been collected independently by Frequent Miler. The issuer did not provide the details, nor is it responsible for their accuracy. FM Mini Review: Possibly worthwhile for a low-spender looking for an easily-attainable welcome bonus. Earning rate: 1.5% everywhere Base: 1.5% Card Info: Mastercard issued by Comenity. This card imposes foreign transaction fees. |
This card is only interesting for those looking for a bonus that requires a very low spend threshold, but it could make sense for someone just starting out and who has low expenses. It may also make sense for those looking to play the American Airlines status game who need a Mastercard for SimplyMiles offers but are unable to get one of the better offerings on the market for some reason.
The Owners Card by M1 Finance
| Card Offer and Details |
|---|
No Welcome Bonus ⓘ Non-Affiliate $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $95 Note that the card is only currently available with an M1 Plus membership (membership is free the first year, then $125 per year). The credit card's $95 annual fee is waived with an M1 Plus membership. Note also that the fine print says that the bonus will be paid out within 120 days of the end of the intro offer period. This means the welcome offer could be paid out as late as July 29, 2022. Information about this card has been collected independently by Frequent Miler. The issuer did not provide the details, nor is it responsible for their accuracy. FM Mini Review: Might be appealing for cash back bonus hunters who can make use of the 5% and 10% bonus categories, but the $200 monthly limit on earned cash back rewards could be annoying to track. Earning rate: 2.5%, 5%, or 10% back at select retailers ✦ 1.5% everywhere else ✦ Note a monthly limit of $200 in earned rewards. Base: 1.5% Card Info: Visa Signature issued by M1. This card has no foreign currency conversion fees. Noteworthy perks: As much as 10% back in rewards at select retailers. Note that cash back rewards are limited to $200 back per calendar month. |
This card has a nice shiny landing page and at first glance the additional bonus categories look really intriguing. From 2.5% at Amazon to 10% back at a number of popular retailers, it momentarily looks like a great option, particularly if you already have an M1 Plus membership (since M1 Plus membership is currently required).
However, when you get to the part where cash back rewards are capped at $200 per calendar month, it starts to lose some luster. While that might be fine in an ordinary billing cycle, rewards could easily get tapped out by a large purchase — and then you’re earning nothing.
That said, if you spend hundreds per month at an included 5% or 10% back merchant (and not many thousands), the return could make this good enough to justify. The 5% earnings at major US airlines could be particularly appealing — again, keeping in mind the $200 monthly cap in cash back.
BECU Cash Back Visa
| Card Offer and Details |
|---|
$100 Cash Back ⓘ Non-Affiliate $100 statement credit after $2000 spend in first 3 monthsNo Annual Fee Information about this card has been collected independently by Frequent Miler. The issuer did not provide the details, nor is it responsible for their accuracy. FM Mini Review: This card offers a decent cash back bonus and nice ongoing perks for a card with no annual fee. While the 1.5% earnings rate is not special, the card may be appealing in situations where you anticipate price protection or travel protections being useful. Earning rate: 1.5% everywhere Base: 1.5% Card Info: Visa issued by BECU. This card has no foreign currency conversion fees. Noteworthy perks: Price protection (up to $500 per claim / $2500 per year) ✦ Lost and delayed baggage protection ✦ Trip cancellation / interruption protection |
Since the BECU Cash Back Visa is a credit union card, you will need to qualify for membership either based on geography or donation to a qualifying organization. Assuming you can get a membership, this Visa card offers a respectable welcome bonus for those who are primarily interested in cash back.
While the ongoing rewards aren’t appealing at just 1.5% cash back, the fact that this card still offers price protection might make it attractive to dedicated shoppers. The $500 maximum threshold per claim (up to $2500 in claims per year) is generous among cards that still offer price protection, but note that the 60-day window for finding a lower price is among the shorter terms for cards that offer this benefit.
Travel protections on this card don’t rival premium cards, but could be good for someone looking to avoid any annual fees while still having some basic baggage and trip cancellation protections.
FNBO Business and consumer 2% back cards
| Card Offer and Details |
|---|
$200 Cash Back ⓘ Non-Affiliate $200 in rewards (20K points) after $1K in purchases in first 3 billing cycles.No Annual Fee Information about this card has been collected independently by Frequent Miler. The issuer did not provide the details, nor is it responsible for their accuracy. FM Mini Review: Decent low-spend welcome bonus on a card that could be a keeper given uncapped 2% rewards on a business card. Annual big spend bonus sweetens the deal. Earning rate: 2% everywhere Base: 2% Card Info: Visa issued by FNBO. This card imposes foreign transaction fees. Big spend bonus: Earn 10,000 Bonus Points every Anniversary with $10,000 annual spend |
| Card Offer and Details |
|---|
Information about this card has been collected independently by Frequent Miler. The issuer did not provide the details, nor is it responsible for their accuracy. FM Mini Review: Decent welcome bonus for a 2% cash back card. Earning rate: 2% everywhere Base: 2% Card Info: Visa Signature issued by FNBO. This card imposes foreign transaction fees. |
Many 2% back cards do not offer any welcome bonus at all, but these FNBO cards each offer a nice $200 welcome bonus on low spend and ongoing uncapped 2% back rewards. That would make these a step ahead of most other 2% back cards for those primarily interested in cash back.
The business card could also be appealing for its annual $100 bonus on $10K spend. That makes the business card an effective 3% back card each year if you put exactly $10K in purchases on the card. With no annual fee, that’s excellent.
NBT Everyday + Rewards
| Card Offer and Details |
|---|
$150 Cash Back ⓘ Non-Affiliate $150 in rewards (15K points) after $1000 in purchases in first 120 daysNo Annual Fee Information about this card has been collected independently by Frequent Miler. The issuer did not provide the details, nor is it responsible for their accuracy. FM Mini Review: Decent welcome bonus for very low spenders and nice ongoing 4x (effectively 4%) back on dining with no annual fee, but note that rewards expire 5 years from the end of the quarter in which they are earned and there is a $25 mininum redemption threshold. Earning rate: 4x Dining, takeout, & delivery ✦ 2x grocery stores, grocery delivery, gas station, and streaming services ✦ 1x everywhere else Base: 1% Dine: 4% Gas: 2% Grocery: 2% Card Info: Visa Signature issued by NBT. This card imposes foreign transaction fees. |
I’m not positive that this card is available nationwide, but I found it while poking around on the website of a regional bank in my home state of New York. The card is issued by Elan Financial, so I assume a similar card and structure is likely offered at a number of other small local / regional banks and credit unions. If the structure appeals to you, it might be worth checking your local financial institutions for the same offer.
While US Bank also offers a card that provides 4% back on dining with no annual fee, this card might make sense for those looking for a different option for some reason. The welcome offer requires very little spend. Unfortunately, rewards earned on the card expire 5 years after the end of the quarter in which they are earned, which would be a major pain to track if you prefer to hold rewards as points forever. That said, since there doesn’t appear to be any outsized value options for rewards, it would probably make sense to redeem rewards for cash back / statement credits often enough not to need to worry about expiration — just take note of the $25 minimum redemption.
Bottom line
These cards are clearly niche options that aren’t going to replace major transferable currency cards on anyone’s wish list, but some readers are more interested in low spending requirements or cash back bonuses (particularly with international travel plans still up in the air for many). We frequently hear from readers who wonder what to do after they have opened “all of the cards”, but niche cards like these are good reminders that the finish line is always a bit farther away than it seems. With well over a hundred credit cards on our Best Offers page, there is almost always another opportunity waiting around the corner.
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With the articles recently regarding IHG I checked out the Premier offer on the best offers page. It says no annual fee the first year, but when you click through there actually is an $89 fee the first year. Not sure if a no AF offer is available anywhere but if not at least you guys might be able to post an affiliate link and make something off it.
Looking back I guess your link is an affiliate (which is great, happy to support the site), but still the info is incorrect because there is a fee first year