MyCardBlog

Chase just sent me a mail regarding the new rewards program for Chase Freedom Card with Chase Exclusive. I’m sad to tell you that the rewards for this Chase Freedom Card is getting worse. BUT, Chase gives the new rewards program a better name-Chase Ultimate Rewards.

Previously, Chase exclusive (people who have a checking account at Chase) for Chase Freedom Card members can get 3% cashback from 6 different categories each month. Now, you can get 1 point for $1 spent plus 10% bonus points (minimum $10 to start getting bonus points). If you are a Chase exclusive member, you can get 10 bonus points for each transaction. If you are not a Chase exclusive member, sorry, all you can get is 1 point plus 10% bonus points.

Let’s do the math:

Previous Chase Freedom Card: $100 can give you $3 cashback which is equal to 300 points.

Current Chase Freedom Card: $100 can give you 100+10+100 (maximum, assume $10 each transaction)=210 points.

The 210 points are based on the assumption that you use 10 transactions with $10 each, and 210 points are the maximum bonus you can get.

More information about the new Ultimate Rewards program can be found at chase.com/tour.

Although credit card market is still not in a good shape, Chase seems to be the only one credit card issuer that keeps introducing more and more credit card products into the market. Other than the Chase Sapphire Card that I mentioned few months ago, Chase also brought the Chase Slate Credit Card. Unlike the Chase Sapphire Card, the Chase Slate Card does not provide any sign up bonus. One obvious benefit of this Chase Slate Card is the 0% Intro APR and $0 annual fee. All other credit card features are similar to Chase credit card products. It is said that this Chase Slate Card is introduced to replace the previous Chase Platinum Card.

There is one, however, new feature that Chase launched together with this Chase Slate Card-the Chase BluePrint. Chase BluePrint is a unique feature that unveiled by Chase recently to manage your finances on your terms. With Chase BluePrint, Chase credit cardholders are offered versatile flexibility and customization for their existing Chase credit card accounts. After enrollment in the BluePrint program, cardholders can select special financing terms for individual purchases.

There are 4 points listed by Chase about the Chase BluePrint:

Full Pay: With Full Pay, the Chase credit cardholder can choose one or more of 14 categories of purchases for which the credit card issuer will waive the interest on the interval between the date of purchase and the billing due date, even if you don’t pay it off at the end of the month. (Most credit cards have this feature.)

Split It: If the Chase credit cardholders want to put a larger purchase on his/her credit card, he can set up a payment schedule much like an installment loan, based either on how long he wishes to take to pay it off or how much he wishes to pay per month.

Finish It: Chase offers a unique way to cardholders to pay off the credit card balances. Cardholders and Chase can work out a plan to pay off the balance gradually.

Track It: This feature allow the cardholder to track expenditures and payments conveniently. (Not new to me.)

Only the Chase Sapphire Card, Chase Freedom Card, Chase Slate Card, Chase Ink Card and Chase Platinum Card have this feature.

More information about the new Chase Slate Card and Chase BluePrint program can be found at Chase.com.

Chase is the only bank that consistently offers $100 sign up bonus for its new customers all year round. Like I mentioned in other posts, you can always get a $100 chase coupon for opening a new checking account with direct deposit at USPS stores (moving kit). Today Izzi told me that, actually, we can get a $100 coupon online from Chase. This coupon is also offering debit card purchases as the requirement to get the $100 bonus.

Here is how to get a $100 Chase coupon:

• Go to https://coupon.chaseinformation.com/
• Enter your email address and click “GET YOUR COUPON”
• The coupon will be delivered to your email instantly

This offer expired on October 16, 2009.

How to get the $100 bonus?

1. Print out the coupon that we e-mail you.
2. Take it to a Chase branch near you.
3. Open your new Chase Checking^SM account and set up direct deposit or make five debit card purchases.

California residents can also get $100 bonus from WaMu through this link: http://reward.wamu.com/AspxFiles/D_Offer.aspx?Offer=3596790

For those who do not like Chase, Bank of America is also offering $100 bonus. Read more…

WaMu (currently Chase) is offering $100 sign up bonus for opening a new checking account and make necessary banking activities in selected states. The promotion page can be found at http://reward.wamu.com/AspxFiles/D_Offer.aspx?Offer=3596790. This is a great time for new customers currently are not banking with WaMu. The required banking activities are very simple: direct deposit or debit card transactions.

Here is how to get it:

• Open a new WaMu free checking account at above promotion page.
• Setup direct deposit to the new checking account or make 5 $10 debit card transactions.
• Wait for the $100 bonus deposited to your account.

Fine print:

Offer valid 9/8/09 – 10/16/09. To qualify for the reward, you must open a new checking account with a $100 minimum opening deposit of new money (money not currently held by this bank). Also, within 60 calendar days of account opening, you must initiate a monthly direct deposit which includes payroll, pension, Social Security or other government benefits or have at least five debit card purchases (using your PIN or signature) posted to your account. The reward will be deposited into your new account within 2 weeks after the initial direct deposit or the five debit card purchases have posted to your account. Limit one personal checking account-related reward/premium per customer, per calendar year. Offer not available on account conversions or in combination with any other offer. Reward is not considered part of the minimum opening balance. Account is subject to approval. Offer limited to one per household. Employees of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. and our affiliates are not eligible. Reward is considered interest and will be reported on IRS Form 1099-INT.

The promotion period is 09/08-10/16. And people in the following states are not eligible: NC, AR, CT, IL, DE, FL, IA, IN, LA, MD, MO, NE, NJ, NY, TX, PA, VA, WA, WI Read more…

I got an email from Chase titled “Get Free debit rewards with your Chase checking account”. Form this email, I can tell that simply enrolling your Chase debit card at Visa Extras (WaMu debit cards are also eligible) and you can  get 5,500 bonus points which can be redeemed as a $10 gift card. SO if you are free for about 5 min, you can enroll you debit card at Visa Extras and get an easy $10 gift card .

The link to enroll your Chase Visa Debit Card is here. (You must have to enroll before September 30, 2009 by above link to get 5,500 bonus points.) That link will bring you to visaextras.com to get enrolled. Once you finish the enrollment process, all you have to do is wait until the bonus points appear in your account. You might be also interested in using your debit card to get more points (which I do not suggest—simply because your need 5,500 points for a $10 gift card at visaextras compared to 6,000 points for $50 gift card at Citi thankyou network.).You need to know what kinds of “qualifying purchases” are eligible to earn points.

• Purchases for which you are required to sign
• Internet purchases (except for gambling)
• Phone or mail order purchases
• Bill payments
• Contactless blink_® purchases (purchases made by holding your card or other device up to a secure reader instead of swiping your card)
• Small dollar purchases for which you are not required to sign, made with your enrolled debit card, unless any of such purchases are authorized with a Personal Identification Number (”PIN”) or are non-qualifying purchases.

To earn points, if prompted for “Debit or Credit,” always select “Credit” and sign for the purchase.
Your $10 gift card will be awarded by posting 5,500 bonus rewards points to your Chase Extras account following the expiration of this promotion.

Recently, there is essentially no news for credit card sing-up bonus. Most credit card issuers retract their offers and it is very rare to see huge sign-up bonus. Remember that it is not uncommon to get $250 bonus for getting a new credit card two years ago. Right now, Chase is offering $250 bonus gift cards for applying and getting approved for the new Chase Sapphire Preferred Card.

The link to this promotion can be found at the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card website: http://www.chasesapphire.com/chase-sapphire-preferred/. This is a new credit card that Chase launched very recently. Here is another similar credit card named Chase Sapphire Card which only offer $100 bonus.

The rule for this promotion:

25,000 points after first purchase

You will receive 25,000 bonus points with this bonus offer, which can be redeemed for a round trip ticket on most major airlines up to a $312.50 value. Ticket value exceeding $312.50 can be charged to your new card. A service fee of up to $20 per ticket may be charged for the use of our toll-free number to book or change airline itineraries. Redemptions made online do not have a service fee. Cardmember is responsible for any airline or government-imposed fees. You will qualify for and receive your bonus after your first purchase/first use of the card. First purchase/first use includes purchases, balance transfers, or any checks that are used to access your account, and excludes cash advances. After qualifying, please allow 6 to 8 weeks for bonus points to post to your account. This one-time bonus offer is valid only for first-time cardmembers with new accounts. Existing cardmembers/accounts are not eligible for this bonus offer.

Rewards program of this card:

You will earn 1 point for each $1 of net purchases. You will earn an additional 1 point for each $1 of eligible airfare net purchases made online through the program booking tool. As a one-time bonus Annually, once you exceed $50,000 in net purchases you will receive 10,000 bonus points.

And you can get up to 10 bonus points when you shop the Ultimate Rewards Mall.

There is not pre-set spending limit of this card. The first year annual fee is waived after that there is a $95 annual fee.

You can also switch to the Chase Sapphire Card from other Chase Credit Cards (not partner cards, call1-800-493-3319). But upgrade accounts are not eligible for 25,000 bonus points after first purchase offer.

What you get after first purchase is 25,000 bonus points which can be redeemed for a $250 gift card.

There is not good news in the credit card market in the past one month. It seems that all credit card issuers have terminated their promotions under current economic situation. You will see more credit card promotions in the near future as the situation gets better now. I mentioned in my previous posts that Chase Sony Card always runs 1 promotion each year. And now it comes! You have a great chance to earn 5,000 bonus points for using your Chase Sony Card in July and August. Since the new PlayStation Card is a sister card of the Sony Card, the PlayStation Card members can also earn the 5,000 points.

Here is the details about this promotion:

1. Go to www.sony.com/sonycard/summer2009 or www.sony.com/playstationcard/summer2009.

2. After log in with your Chase Card, you will need a coupon code to enroll your card. The code is: SCSummer09 (PSSummer09 for PlayStation Card).

3. Use your card for everyday purchases from July 1, 2009 through August 31, 2009. You need to spend over 1.5K to get 5,000 bonus points.

Following is the message after I  enroll my Sony Card:

You’re now enrolled in the Sony Card Summer Bonus Points Offer.

Remember, you need to spend $1,500 or more on your Sony Card between July 1, 2009 and August 31, 2009 to receive your 5,000 bonus points.

Thanks for participating and being a loyal Sony Card member!

The email indicates  that only the people who receive the invitation email are eligible for the promotion but I personally think everyone is eligible since the link and code are universal. And Sony always runs similar promotions which are open to everyone.

Good LUCK and enjoy the summer!

Priority Club and EverBank is running a promotion from which you can get up to 10,000 bonus points for opening bank account at EverBank. The reason for mention this promotion here is I have other recommendations on how to quickly accumulate Priority Club points.

The promotion for earning bonus priority points is listed on EverBank’s website. EverBank has 4 stars on BankRate’s Safe & Sound ratings system. It is also FDIC insured. Following is how to get the bonus points:

Yield Pledge Money Market Account
Get 5,000 points, a 3-month Bonus Rate, and a high yield all year long.
Plus:
● Free Online Banking
● No maintenance fee on balances above $1,500

FreeNet Checking Account
Get 2,500 points, a 3-month Bonus Rate, and a high yield all year long.
Plus:
● Free Online Banking
● Free check writing
● ATM reimbursement up to $6 per month

Yield Pledge Certificate of Deposit
Get 2,500 points, a choice of terms, and a high yield at opening and rollover.
Plus:
● Convenient maturity reminders
● Automated rollovers

There is no limit on how many accounts you can have at EverBank. You can open all 3 accounts together and get the full 10,000 points!

Priority Club also works with Chase to issue Priority Club Rewards Visa Signature Card. This credit card both have personal and business version. Each credit card is offering 30,000 bonus points! If you spend more than 15,000 annually, you can get 10,000 more bonus points! The card design looks really cool to me.

Priority points can be used to redeem free hotel stays, car rentals, airline tickets etc. If you are interested in priority Club, you can apply for a membership for free.