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Hyatt and Chase Launch The First Ever Hyatt Branded Card

Michal — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 13:00:41 +0000

The Hyatt Hotels Corporation and Chase Card Services just announced the launch of their new credit card. This new co-branded card is a Visa rewards card that offers special benefits to Hyatt guests. Apparently, Hyatt Hotels and Chase have been working on this deal for a year and even partnered with Hyatt guests who helped provide direct feedback and input throughout the process. This has helped the two companies develop a card that offers generous benefits and rewards while upholding the luxury experience that guest are familiar with.

Hyatt Visa Gold Passport® Card members will receive two nights at any Hyatt in the world after their first purchase. This is a one of a kind benefit, as with most cards in order to receive a hotel stay you have to redeem your points for stays and usually there are limitations and restrictions on the offer. The only limitation with the offer from Hyatt is that you have to redeem the reward within one year.

“The Hyatt Card and its rewarding benefits serve as a great addition to the world’s most generous welcome from Hyatt,” said John Wallis, global head of marketing and brand strategy, Hyatt Hotels Corporation. “To further Hyatt’s mission of providing authentic hospitality, we have made significant enhancements and adjustments to our Hyatt Gold Passport loyalty program over the past two years to make it best-in-class. The Hyatt Card is another logical step in deepening relationships with our guests and welcoming new travelers into the fold.”

“Our objective, when working with Hyatt on this card, was to create a product that resonated with the Hyatt guest and provided a differentiated offering that aligned with Hyatt’s brand”, said Val Greer, general manager, Chase Card Services. “Having the ability to simply and easily redeem rewards with no blackout dates or limits on available standard rooms, and no resort or internet fees, the card offers unparalleled opportunities to enjoy Hyatt properties worldwide.”

Card Features

Zero foreign transaction fees: Foreign transaction fees are waived when making international purchases with this card.
Hyatt stays earn more: 3 Hyatt Gold Passport points for every $1 spent at any Hyatt property, 1 point for every $1 spent on purchases elsewhere and there are no limits to the points you can earn.
Simple and easy redemptions: No blackout dates, no limit on available standard rooms and no resort fees.
Hyatt Gold Passport Platinum membership
Visa concierge service and acceptance at millions of merchants in more than 200 countries
Travel protection, including trip cancellation, lost luggage and trip delay.
Annual Fee of $75

ExxonMobil Cardholders Get The Chance To Dine Out

Michal — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 13:00:41 +0000

Gas rebate cards offer lots of great benefits for users when it comes to driving, but how about dining out? The ExxonMobil Citi card now has a special offer for both existing cardholders and new cardholders. Whether your a new card member or you have been a member for years, you just have to register for the promotion and then your ready to begin. If you like to dine out then this offer is for you. The promotion rewards members for doing something they already do – buying gasoline!

Beginning September 1, 2010, ExxonMobil cardholders have the opportunity to earn a $50 dining certificate from restaurant.com. All you have to do is purchase 100 gallons of gasoline within 90 days of registering for the promotion. If you complete the task you will be awarded a $50 dining certificate. The certificate can be redeemed online at restaurant.com and you can choose from 15,000 different dining locations nationwide.

If you are not an ExxonMobil cardholder you can still participate and even earn more. All you have to do is apply for the card and get approved before November 30, 2010. New cardholders get an extra bonus by being awarded a $100 dining certificate. You still have to purchase 100 gallons of gasoline within 90 days so the earlier you apply the better.

Promotion Highlights

Register your account (below) by 11/30/10.
Purchase 100 gallons of gas with your ExxonMobil Personal Card (or Speedpass™ linked to your card) within 90 days from the day you register.
Watch your mail – we’ll send you a gift card in 4-6 weeks with a printed “Certificate Code”.
Once it arrives, go to http://Dine.Restaurant.com and click on “Redeem Certificate”.
Enter the code printed on your gift card to credit your shopping cart.
Search to find great restaurants or browse participating online retailers.
Follow the easy instructions to print and redeem your Dining Certificate!

“This promotion is a great reminder for our cardholders that the ExxonMobil Personal Card is the smart way to pay for quality Exxon and Mobil branded gasoline,” said Ben Soraci, U.S. Retail Sales Director, Exxon Mobil Corporation. “It already offers a great everyday value, with pay-at-the-pump convenience at 10,000 Exxon and Mobil stations, $0 fraud liability, and online account management tools. And from September through November, cardholders will have the added incentive of a certificate that makes going out to dinner a little more affordable.”

Offer starts 9/1/10 and ends 11/30/10 (the “Offer Period”). Open to (a) ExxonMobil Personal Cardholders who opened an account prior to 9/1/10 (“Existing Cardholders”) and (b) new applicants who are approved for an ExxonMobil Personal Card account during the Offer Period (“New Cardholders”). Both Existing and New Cardholders must be legal residents of the 50 U.S. or DC, 18 or older. Void where prohibited. For Existing Cardholders, purchase requirement must be completed within 90 days of registration to be eligible. For New Cardholders, no purchase necessary for first certificate; purchase requirement for second certificate must be completed within 90 days of date of account approval. Limit 1 certificate per Existing Cardholder and per eligible account. Limit 2 certificates per New Cardholder and per eligible account. Qualifying cardholders will receive a certificate code that must be provided online to redeem certificate. There may be minimum spend requirements at participating restaurants and online merchant websites. Certificates and offer cannot be combined with any other certificates, coupons, or promotions. Valid for parties of 2 or more, and for dine-in, unless otherwise stated. Certificates cannot be used for taxes, tips, or prior balances. Only 1 certificate can be used per party, even if the party is seated at separate tables and/or receives more than one check. No cash back for remaining certificate balances upon redemption. Certificates have no cash value. Restaurant.com is solely responsible for fulfillment of certificates. Other material restrictions may apply. Offer subject to earlier termination at any time. See Terms and Conditions, which govern, at dining.exxonmobilcard.com. Offered by Citibank (South Dakota), N.A.

5 Unique Rewards for Amex Members

Michal — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 17:00:51 +0000

American Express was recently named the customer favorite out of all the credit card companies. This year a study was done by J.D. Power and Associates and Amex came out on top for the forth year in a row. One of the reasons they were voted the favorite was because of their rewards programs. Amex offers solid rewards programs and some unique experience for their customers. If you carry either the American Express (R) Preferred Rewards Gold Card or the Platinum Card(R) from American Express then your in for a treat because card members get the option to take advantage of some really unique rewards.

Tandem Skydiving
If your up for skydiving then your going to love this offer from American Express. If you are a card member and a member of the Membership Rewards program, you have the option to your points for a tandem skydiving experience. The reward is offered through the company Xperience Days and you need 15,000 points to take advantage of the offer. The offers is available with both the American Express (R) Preferred Rewards Gold Card and the Platinum Card(R) from American Express.
Broadway Tickets
If you want to experience any Broadway or Off-Broadway show in New York City, Boston, Philadelphia or Washington, D.C. then you just need to cash in 7,000 points. The offer is available by making arrangement through telecharge.com. Card members who card either the American Express (R) Preferred Rewards Gold Card or the Platinum Card(R) from American Express have the option to choose Broadway tickets as their reward.
Hot Air Balloon Ride
If your up for a hot air balloon ride you can do so for 16,000 points. The adventure is available through XperienceDays.com. You have to be a card member of either the American Express (R) Preferred Rewards Gold Card or the American Express (R) Preferred Rewards Gold Card. You also have to be enrolled in the Amex Membership Reward program in order to qualify.
Star on Broadway
American Express cardholders can choose to redeem their points to experience Broadway with their Membership Rewards points. It will cost you 90,000 points (per couple). This special Broadway outing also includes dinner and brunch. If you have the additional points, you could even add a limousine to travel in. Both the American Express (R) Preferred Rewards Gold Card and the Platinum Card(R) from American Express offer this reward as long as you are a member of the Membership Rewards program.
Virgin Atlantic Airways Miles Bonus
This offer is for a a limited time only and it is available to American Express cardholders who are part of the Membership Rewards program. With this reward you can transfer your rewards points to a Virgin Flying Club account with Virgin Atlantic Airways and receive a 15% bonus. The offers is valid for cardholders who use the American Express (R) Preferred Rewards Gold Card or the Platinum Card(R) from American Express and you must be enrolled in the Membership Rewards program.

Summary of the Cards

American Express(R) Gold Card

Earn 10,000 Membership Rewards(R) bonus points when you spend $500 in your first 3 months of Card membership – redeemable for select gift cards valued at $100!
The Membership Rewards program – Turn your everyday purchases into Membership Rewards points, and then redeem them for an amazing collection of travel, shopping, dining and entertainment rewards.
Gold Card Events – exclusive access to tickets for select concerts, shows, major sporting events, and more in cities nationwide.
Express Approval. Get a decision in 60 seconds.

Intro APR	Intro APR Period	Regular APR	Annual Fee	Balance Transfer	Credit Needed
N/A	N/A	N/A	$125 annual fee	No	Excellent

The Platinum Card(R) from American Express

Earn 25,000 Membership Rewards(R) bonus points when you spend $1,000 in your first 3 months of Card membership – redeemable for one domestic round-trip Coach-Class airline ticket!
Airport Club Access: Access airport lounges around the world, compliments of Airport Club Access Program.
24-Hour Concierge Service: From buying gifts to making reservations, the Platinum Card(R) Concierge is at your service so you can spend your energy doing what you want.
FINE HOTELS & RESORTS: Receive special amenities and comforts when staying at more than 600 boutique, resort and luxury hotels around the world.

Intro APR	Intro APR Period	Regular APR	Annual Fee	Balance Transfer	Credit Needed
N/A	N/A	N/A	$450 annual fee	No	Excellent

Amex Is The Favorite….Again!

Michal — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 13:00:10 +0000

According to a recent study, American Express, is the credit card company customers like the best. The study was conducted by J.D. Power and Associates and the result were released earlier this month. This is the fourth year the study has been in place and it measures the overall customer satisfaction with credit cards. This is done by focusing on six different credit card factors: interaction; credit card terms; billing and payment process; benefits and services; rewards; and problem resolution. The 2010 U.S. Credit Card Satisfaction Study is based on responses from more than 8,500 credit card customers. The study was fielded in May and June 2010.

American Express has taken the title for the fourth year in a row. Amex scored 769 out of 1000 points and performed well in all six areas of focus. Discover made it to the number two spot with 757 points with high performance in the interaction category. U.S. Bank ranked third with with 727 points. All the top ranking companies received high marks for offering above average rewards, excellent online and phone experiences, and the ability to solve customer problems quickly.

“American Express continues to do well within the context of the study partly because their customers have a greater awareness of the benefits, rewards and services that they get having an American Express card,” said Michael Beird, director of banking services at J.D. Power and Associates. Beird also noted that American Express does well when it comes to its communication to customers which has helped their success. They communicate through channels such as direct mail and television to keep their customer in the loop.

Since 2009 the over all customer satisfaction with their credit card company has increased by 9 points. In 2009 the overall credit card score was 705 and in 2010 the score has gone up to 714. The increase in overall satisfaction from 2009 is driven primarily by improvements in satisfaction with credit card terms and billing and payment process. This is good news for the credit card industry and shows improvement on their end. Mr. Beird stated this could be contributed to the changes that were required by the Credit Card Act.

The study also reveals customer loyalty may be on a decline. In the 2010 study the number of customers who say they will not switch primary cards over the next 12 months was at 22 percent, which is a decline from lasts years results of 25 percent and 30 percent in 2008. While customers perceive card issuers as “financially stable” and even “reliable,” they are apparently significantly less likely to view them as “customer driven.”

Make A Refferal and You Can Earn Unlmited Points

Michal — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 13:00:13 +0000

The American Express Premier Rewards Gold Card now has a new offer for card members and their friends and family. Simply refer a friend who gets an American Express Premier Rewards Gold card (details below), and Amex will reward you with Membership Rewards bonus points. The offer is good until September 30, 2010 so check out some of the highlights. All card holders are eligible and there is no limit to what you can earn.

5,000 Membership Rewards® bonus points for each approved referral
Refer 4 friends and they’re approved, you can get 20,000 bonus points
No Annual Fee for the first year
10,000 bonus points for themselves when they use the Card for the first time
3X points on airfare, 2X points on gas and groceries, and 1X points for everything else

The American Express Premier Rewards Gold Card now offering 5,000 Bonus Points for any referral from a card member. If you referral a friend or family member and they are approved you can earn 5,000 Bonus Points for each referral. The cool thing is that there is no limit on the amount of people you can refer. So if you make 4 referrals you will get 20,000 Bonus Points. Keep in mind you are only awarded points when the person you refer a person they have to be approved. The points are redeemable for various rewards, like gift cards valued up to $200 from select retail and dining partners.

After your referral gets approved they also get to enjoy some special benefits from American Express. Each referral will get their annual fee waived for the first year, after that the fee will be $175. The new card member will also get 10,000 Bonus Points for them self after their first purchase. In addition, they will also get the normal benefits the card offers such as, 3X points on airfare, 2X points on gas and groceries, and 1X points for everything else.

Again, there is no limit on how many people you can refer as well as no limit on the Bonus Points you can get. Order to be eligible you have to refer your friends and family September 30, 2010. All you have to do is Log In to your online account and from there you can follow the process they have set up.

The Credit Card Act and Students

Michal — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 17:00:56 +0000

Have you visited a college campus recently? If you have then there is one obvious thing missing – the credit card companies! Until just a year ago it was common practice for credit card companies to be posted on college campuses offering free food, tee shirts, and whatever else they could come up with to entice students to apply. These sights aren’t so common anymore now that students are being restricted when it comes to being issued and using a credit card. One facet of the Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act stops predatory lending practices and incorporates various provisions which protect students.

The New Rules
The act now prevents credit card companies from going after young adults as freely as they have in years before. If under the age of 25, credit card companies can no longer send in the mail pre-approval letters or free promotional gifts. To take it a step further, students under the age 21 have to either prove they have a sufficient income to manage a credit card or have a co-signer. Being a co-signer on a credit card for a young adult can be a risky move and one that should be considered only after knowing all the facts. Another option would be to be added onto a parents account as an authorized user.

The new regulations also forces universities to reveal their relationships with credit card companies to the Federal Reserve Board. This means that schools must be open about their marketing agreements with credit card companies, must share their business relationships and even report any payments made to the school by the credit card companies. In addition, the law encourages schools to provide debt management classes to students.

All these changes have been put in place to protect students and young adults. It is a result of all the massive amounts of debit young adults are accumulating because they are sucked into the buy now pay later scheme. The amount of people who have bad credit is outrageous and these regulations have been put in place to stop this from happening. Today having good credit is more important than ever, especially now that we are hearing more and more about potential employers using peoples credit reports to determine if they should be hired or not. One day students and young adults will hopefully appreciate these measure that have been taken to protect them and their credit.

Co-Signing – Is It A Good Idea?
Co-signing on anything, like a credit card, should not be taken lightly. Here’s why – it is reported that 1 out of every 4 people who co-sign a loan end up paying the balance. When you co-sign you are agreeing to take full responsibility of the account if the account holder does not follow through. In other words you are 100% liable for the account. Here are somethings to consider before co-signing:

If you co-sign and the borrower misses a payment, the lender can collect from you immediately.
You are being asked to guarantee someone else’s debt when you co-sign a loan.
If you co-sign be sure you can afford to pay the loan.
Your liability for the loan may keep you from getting other credit you may want.

New Rules For Credit Cards and Gift Cards

Michal — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 14:00:02 +0000

The Credit Card Act of 2009 implemented new rules for credit cards and gift cards were rolled out in stages starting last summer and now several provisions are set to be effective on August 22, 2010. The final round of rules will benefit both credit card users and gift card users. The new rules state that your credit card late fee can’t exceed your minimum payment. If you minimum payment is $15 then your late fee can at the most be $15. The new rules will also do away with “inactivity” fees and will require credit card companies that increase your interest rate to re-evaluate that increase six months later.

Changes To Gift Cards
The new gift cards provision known as H.R. 5502, states that gift cards can’t expire before five years. This means if you load money onto a gift card the expiration date has to at least be five years from when you purchased the card. The act also requires gift cards to be replace upon customer request by the card issuer. Card issuers also have to provide these new disclosures along with any gift card purchases so consumers know their rights. These new rules have been created for the sole purpose of protecting consumers.

Currently gift cards typically have an expiration date of one year. If the card is not used within a year of purchase then the card is not valid. Lawmakers think this is unfair which is why they have elected to extend the expiration date out to five years. The new laws also protect consumers against balance draining fees. No fee can be charged to the card unless the card hasn’t been used for one year and even then there can only be one charge a month.

If this act is accepted then some 100 million gift cards would have to be destroyed and reissued. That’s a lot of plastic! According to Representative Dan Maffei who sponsors this legislation, this many gift cards is “equivalent to eight football fields filled 12 feet deep with plastic card.” The president has signed the act and it is set to go into place August 22, 2010. To see the official summary of H.R. 5502 you can visit the Library of Congress. There are 4 versions of Bill Number H.R.5502 for the 111th Congress.

Smartphone Users Won’t Need To Carry Plastic Anymore

Michal — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 13:00:31 +0000

Most of us already have a hard time living without our cell phones and now its going to be even more difficult. The word on the street is that AT&T, Verizon, and TMobile have plans to team up to give the credit card companies some competition by allowing customers to use their smartphones as a form of payment instead of swiping a credit card. Smartphone users would be able to simply wave their phone in front of a wireless reader and their payment is complete. It sounds a little far out there, but apparently there has been talk in the works for several years.

According to sources cited by Bloomberg, these top wireless companies have plans to test this new service out in stores in Atlanta and in three other cities that have not been released yet. The details are a little fuzzy, but we know the technology will likely include a radio frequency identification tag that would somehow be embedded into the smartphone and linked to the users account. Smartphones can already do just about everything and soon they might even be able to pay for your groceries. This type of technology has been used in other countries like Japan, Turkey, and the U.K.

Bloomberg also reports that credit card companies like MasterCard and Visa have been investing in such mobile technology options for years now. They have launched similar systems that used the same RFID technology but it hasn’t quite caught on yet. It is reported that Visa has developed an iPhone App with DeviceFidelity which gives people the option to store payment information for multiple credit card accounts. Similiarly, MasterCard is still hyping up its PayPass service and has even developed a PayPass stickers that goes on the back of mobile phones. It will be interesting to see if the top wireless providers make this happen and further set smartphone users apart from the rest.

New Changes To The Starwood Amex Card

Michal — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 13:00:55 +0000

There are some small changes to the ever so popular Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card from American Express. The changes are not of huge value, but nevertheless it sure is being talked about. For those that don’t know, the Starwood Card is arguably the best travel rewards card on the market. Those that use this card really love it and those that don’t have it seem to want it. Here are some of the changes that will take place in October 2010.

No More 50% off Coupons: SPG will be eliminating the 50% off coupons that they currently offer.
Increased Annual Fee: Starting in October, when members renew their membership they will be agreeing to pay an annual fee of $65. Currently, the annual fee is $45 and is waived the first year.
5 Nights Towards Elite Status Annually: SPG and Amex will provide Cardmembers with five night credits each year. That means only 20 nights to achieve Gold status or 45 nights to reach Platinum status.
Complimentary Third Night: Cardmembers will also receive a complimentary third night when they use their card to purchase a two night minimum stay at participating Sheraton hotels and resorts worldwide. This offer is exclusive and only available to SPG Cardmembers.

The changes listed above are small to those that reap the benefits of this American Express card. These changes will most likely affect people who do not spend much on their card. For those that are big spenders, you are still coming out ahead. All changes take place in October for new customers and for card renewals. Below is a quick summary of the benefits the card offers.

Starwood Preferred Guest(R) Credit Card from American Express

Earn up to 25,000 Starpoints (R) – enough for up to 6 free nights at a category 1 or 2 hotel.
Use Starpoints(R) for free nights and upgrades at participating Starwood hotels and resorts in 95 countries including Sheraton, W Hotels, Westin and more with no blackout dates
No annual fee for the first year and $45 thereafter
Transfer Starpoints(R) – almost always on a 1:1 basis – to the frequent flyer programs of over 30 major airlines
Earn one Starpoint(R) for every dollar you spend and double Starpoints(R) at participating Starwood properties and retail partners
Express Approval. Get a decision in less than 60 seconds.
Smarter Travel Editor's Choice Award for Best Travel Awards Card for Domestic Use.

Intro APR	Intro APR Period	Regular APR	Annual Fee	Balance Transfer	Credit Needed
See Terms*	See Terms*	15.24% variable	See Terms*	Yes	Excellent

Debt Cards That Offer Rewards Programs

Michal — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 13:00:00 +0000

When it comes to earning rewards for purchases we typically think credit cards. You might be familiar with credit cards that offer cash back rewards, points rewards, and travel rewards, but now you can get rewards with your debit card. More and more banks are offering these rewards with their checking account debit cards. Whether you have an online bank account or a traditional bank account you could be earning some extra cash in your pocket for using your debit card.

Debt Cards that Offer Rewards

The PerkStreet FinancialSM Visa® Debit Card is for those that have a PerkStreet online checking account. When you use this debit card you receive 5% cash back on select purchases and a flat 2% cash back for everything else. This is the best offer out there when it comes to debt card rewards. The 5% cash back offer is valid regardless of your account balance and will include selected merchants and categories on a month-to-month basis. The 2% offer requires you to maintain a balance of at least $5,000 in your checking account.This is one of the only cash back debt card offers available today.

The Citibank® Banking Debit Card is a points rewards card that is available to those that have a Citibank® Checking Account. You earn points for purchases made when you use your Citibank debit card. You earn points each month based on your checking account package and the number of eligible products and services you have. With this card combine points by using your Citibank debit card and Citi credit with Citi® ThankYou® Rewards. When you shop at partcipating merchants you earn evern more points. You can cash your points in for things like: Books, Music, DVDsCash, Savings, Charities, Electronics, Computers & Office, Gift Cards, Travel and more.

The Chase Ultimate RewardsSM Debit Card you can earn 4 points for every $5 on purchases made without using your Personal Identification Number (PIN). You can also earn up to 10 bonus points for every $1 you spend shopping online at the Ultimate Rewards Mall and earn double points for every dollar you spend when you book flights or hotel accommodations online through the Ultimate Rewards Travel Tool. You can maximize your rewards by combining the points you earn with your debit card with those you earn with your Chase credit cards in the Ultimate Rewards program. You can redeem for a wide range of gift cards, cash back, merchandise, travel and more.

The PNC Bank Visa Check Card offers two ways to earn points. By doing the everyday banking you’re already doing and by earning bonus points for opening and using new accounts and services for the first time. When you use your card to purchase gas, groceries, and drugstore purchases you earn 2 points per every $1 spent and for all other purchases you earn 1 point per $1. You also get bonus points for things like direct deposit (3,000), opening a PNC Bank Check Card or Business Check Card (3,000), opening a PNC Visa Credit Card (3,000), Paperless Statements (1,000) and more. You can cash your points in for gift cards at popular restaurants and stores to cash, electronics and more.

The Charter One Everyday Points Debit Card allows users to earn Everyday Points for all of your debit and credit card purchases and you also get rewarded for normal banking activities. You can earn points for using your debit card, paying your bills online, and for maintaining your checking and/or savings account. You can also combine these points with the ones you earn through the Everyday Points credit card. You can earn up to twenty times more Everyday Points® from through their Merchant Network and you can edeem your points online and choose from products and services like: Gift Cards from Macy’s, 1-800 Flowers.com, and Hard Rock Café. Merchandise such as electronics, kitchen appliances, and sporting goods. Travel rewards such as domestic flight discounts or Marriott and Hyatt gift certificates.