Fees

There is no annual fee for this card and the APR can be as low as 11.99%.

Benefits

Cardholders of the U.S. Bank College Visa Card receive free online account access with the online bill pay option. You will also receive U.S. Bank Zero Liability protection and access to the U.S. Bank College Shopping Mall. This online portal provides special savings to cardmembers with hundreds of merchants available with Visa Partner Advantage.

Some of the discounts available for March include:

Requirements

Besides being a student, you will need to have an income. However, you will not need a cosigner for this credit card.

Conclusion

The U.S. Bank College Visa Card is for students who are just starting out in the credit world and want to start building their credit. The best features of this card are that there is no annual fee and access to the U.S. Bank College Shopping Mall, where you’ll be able to find a large variety of discounts and deals to choose from when shopping for nearly anything.

Fees

There is no annual fee for this card and an introductory APR of 0% on balance transfers and purchases for 6 months. After that, the APR is as low as 11.99%.

Benefits of the U.S. Bank Visa Platinum Credit Card

Benefits include the ability to pay bills online, free online account access to work between accounts such as a checking or savings account, auto rental insurance, U.S. Bank Zero Liability and Fraud Protection. One of the points mentioned by U.S. Bank for this card is that it works well for those that “need a flexible credit limit and carry higher balances when necessary.

There are also optional benefits available if you choose to add them to the card, which include Payment Protection and Overdraft Protection if you have a U.S. Bank Checking Account.

Conclusion of the Investigation

You will need to have good to excellent credit to qualify for the U.S. Bank Visa Platinum, since the “flexible credit limit” will depend a great deal on your credit worthiness. Thus, you would probably qualify for the flexible credit limit with any credit card.

The benefits that are provided or included with card ownership are standard benefits that are usually available with all credit cards, plus there is no reward program. If you are looking for a 0% card with no annual fee, you may want to check out this card, otherwise even the U.S. Bank FlexPerks cards offer rewards programs for cash back and travel miles.

Fees

There is no annual fee for this card and an introductory APR of 0% on balance transfers for the first 6 billing cycles. The balance transfers need to be made within 30 days of the application. The APR on purchases is as low as 13.99%.

Select Rewards Program

New cardholders earn a bonus of 5,000 points after the first $250 is spent with the card (which is enough for a $50 Amazon gift card and a number of other rewards). Otherwise, there is no limit to the amount of points that you can earn a one point for every $2 that is spent.

Redeeming Select Rewards Points

Cardholders can redeem their points for gift cards with a number of retailers including the following:

• Amazon.com^®
• Best Buy^®
• Borders^® and Waldenbooks^®
• Charity Choice
• Gap
• The Home Depot^®
• Land’s End^®
• L.L. Bean
• Macy’s
• Office Depot^®
• Pottery Barn^®
• Saks Fifth Avenue
• Sears
• Starbucks Coffee
• and more

Or, if you choose you can redeem the points for Air Travel Awards, Hotel and Car Rental Rewards, Merchandise Rewards such as Apple and Oakley and statement credits to your account.

Conclusion of the Investigation

The U.S. Bank FlexPerks Select Rewards Visa is a great card for those who are looking for a no annual fee card with a 0% introductory APR to transfer balances. You also have a number of options for redeeming rewards, but earning at 1 point for each $2 spent is certainly not the quickest way to earn rewards points. Here is the comparison of the three U.S. Bank FlexPerks cards from U.S. Bank:

Here are the reviews for the U.S. Bank FlexPerks Cash Rewards Visa Card and the U.S. Bank FlexPerks Travel Rewards Visa. As you can see, the Select Rewards Visa is better than the Travel Rewards card because their is no introductory APR offer and the Travel Card has an annual fee of $49, but the Cash Rewards card earns 1 point for each $1 spent instead of $2. If you’re looking for a U.S. Bank Rewards card, you’ll need to weigh your options and choose depending on what you will use the card for. If you travel frequently, then the Travel Rewards card may actually suit you the best.

Fees

There is no annual fee for this credit card and the APR can be as low as 13.99%. There is also no introductory APR that is currently being offered.

Bed Bath & Beyond Rewards

Cardholders earn 5 reward points for each $1 spent at Bed Bath & Beyond, buybuy BABY®, Christmas Tree Shops®, Harmon® and Harmon® Face Values®, and 1 reward point for each dollar spent on all other purchases. Every 1,000 points automatically earns a $10 reward card from Bed Bath & Beyond.

New Cardholder Bonuses

New cardholders earn a $10 reward card for Bed Bath & Beyond with the first purchase, which is equal to 1,000 bonus reward points. You will also receive a coupon for $25 off a purchase of $100 or more that is delivered with your new MasterCard.

Other Benefits of the Bed Bath & Beyond MasterCard

Benefits that are included with the MasterCard are the following:

• Zero Liability
• MasterCard Global Service^TM
• MasterAssist® Travel Assistance Services
• Travel Accident Insurance
• Extended Warranty Insurance
• Purchase Assurance

Conclusion of the Investigation

The Bed Bath & Beyond MasterCard is a card that will benefit frequent shoppers of Bed Bath & Beyond, buybuy BABY®, Christmas Tree Shops®, Harmon® and Harmon® Face Values. Reward cards that are earned can be used at these stores as well. The card is one of the more basic credit cards available, but includes the option of being able to earn reward points on purchases not made in the stores as well, unlike general store cards. Also note that the rewards cards are cards to be used at these stores, so if you are not a huge fan of Bed Bath & Beyond or there isn’t one in your area, this is probably not the card for you. There are more generalized credit card rewards programs available that allow you to earn cash back and rewards that you may find more suitable.

Fees

The Fifth Third Platinum MasterCard has no annual fee and an introductory APR of 0% on purchases for the first 12 billing cycles. After that, the APR may be as low as 10.99%. There are transaction fees of $5 or 4% (whichever is greater) for balance transfers and cash advances and 3% for international transactions.

Other Benefits

Although many of the other benefits appear standard to most credit cards, such as MasterCard Zero Liability for protection against unauthorized or fraudulent purchases and MasterRental Insurance for added protection on rental cars, there are other benefits to carrying the Fifth Third Platinum MasterCard.

You will also receive Master RoadAssist and Purchase Assurance as well as access to the SmartSavings website which offers cardholders discounts of 15% or more while shopping with thousands of retailers.

Conclusion of the Investigation

Although seemingly a basic credit card, the Fifth Third Platinum MasterCard does have its benefits. Anyone shopping for a card with an intro APR of 0% may want to give this card a try, as it offers the introductory rate for 12 billing cycles. Additionally, if you use your card for shopping and purchasing with the SmartSavings website, you can save quite a bit of money on the exclusive discounts.

Fees

There is no annual fee for the Pink Ribbon Visa. New cardholders receive an introductory APR on purchase of 0% for the first 12 billing cycles and then the APR may be as low as 12.99%.

WorldPoints Rewards and Support for The Cure

Cardholders earn 1 point for each dollar spent with the Pink Ribbon Visa Signature. Additionally, for each new credit card account that is opened and activated, Susan G. Komen for the Cure receives a minimum of $3 and 0.20% of all net retail purchases. This would mean that approximately for every $100 in purchases made with the card, Komen receives 20 cents. $1 is also donated for each annual renewal of the card as well.

Support through Other Bank of America Services

As mentioned, Bank of America also supports Susan G. Komen for the Cure through other banking services such as debit cards and checking accounts.

For each new checking account and/or debit card opened, Komen receives $2 and an additional $1 on each annual anniversary of the for each new checking account and debit card and 10 cents for every $100 that is spent on purchases with the Susan G. Komen for the Cure® debit card.

Conclusion of the Investigation

The Pink Ribbon Visa Signature credit card is helpful in contributing and donating to Susan G. Komen for the Cure just by making your purchases with the card as well as a way to show your support for breast cancer awareness and finding a cure. No annual fee for the card and an introductory APR of 0% on purchases for an entire year also make it a great card to carry even if you hadn’t thought of supporting the cause.  Not to mention that you are also included in the WorldPoints Rewards program and will earn rewards points for the purchases that you make with the credit card as well.

The Basics

U.S. Bank FlexPerks Cash Rewards Visa has an introductory APR of 0% on balance transfers for the first 6 months. The APR for purchases can range from 13.99% to 23.99%. There is no annual fee for this credit card.

FlexPerks Cash Rewards

Cardholders earn 3% cash back on all gas purchases for the first 90 days and 1% cash back on all other purchases. There is no limit on the amount of rewards that can be earned and they don’t ever expire.

Earn Points With U.S. Bank Shopping Mall

Cardholders of the U.S. Bank FlexPerks Cash Rewards Visa also earn points by shopping with their card at the U.S. Bank Shopping Mall which includes additional savings and discounts from hundreds of merchants.

How to Redeem FlexPerks Cash Rewards

Cash back from purchases can be redeemed in $5 increments with a minimum redemption of $20. Rewards can be redeemed once you have reached $20, either deposited directly to your U.S. Bank checking, savings or money market account, or to a U.S. Bank Rewards Card or statement credit.

Conclusion of the Investigation

The 3% gas cash back reward is only available for the first three billing cycles of card ownership and then most all of your purchases receive a 1% cash back reward. If you are really interested in earning cash back through purchases with a credit card, there are better cash rewards cards. You are able to take advantage of a number of deals and discounts shopping with the U.S. Bank Shopping Mall and since there is no annual fee for the U.S. bank FlexPerks Cash Rewards Visa as well as a 0% introductory APR on balances transfers, you can save quite a bit of money.

Fees

There is no annual fee for the Hooters MasterCard and the APR is based upon the individual’s credit and can be as low as 16.45%.currently 21.45%.

Rewards Program

The Hooters MasterCard also has a rewards program which is usually not offered with credit cards that are available to post bankruptcy filers. With the rewards program, you earn 5 points for each dollar spent on Hooters purchases and one point on all other purchase. Points are unlimited and never expire. You can redeem the points for gift cards, merchandise or cash back that is posted to your account.

If you like gift cards, you have the option of joining the Hooters Card Gift Card Program and automatically receive a $50 gift card every time you reach 5,000 points.

Conclusion of the Investigation

The Hooters MasterCard is not the greatest card available in terms of benefits, but if you are working on repairing your credit or have filed bankruptcy, it is one of the best unsecured credit cards available. Considering that there is no annual fee and includes a rewards program that offers cash back as well as merchandise, this could be a great card for your situation.

The Basics

There is an introductory APR on balance transfers of 5.99% for the first 9 billing cycles. Then, the APR is based upon credit worthiness and can range from 13.99%-23.99%. There is no annual fee for the Fred Meyer Rewards MasterCard.

Fred Meyer Rewards Program

Cardholders earn double rewards points on each dollar spent at Fred Meyer stores as well as 1 point for each dollar spent on purchases everywhere else. Additionally, cardholders receive a 5¢ per gallon discount at Fred Meyer Fuel Centers when using the Fred Meyer Rewards MasterCard.

The table below gives you an example of what can be earned in a typical 13 week Rewards cycle:

Conclusion of the Investigation

The Fred Meyer Rewards MasterCard is of course a great card for fans and shoppers of Fred Meyer Stores or Fred Meyer Fuel Centers. You will still earn rewards points from other purchases, but the rewards are redeemed in the form of a rebate that can only be used at Fred Meyer Stores or Fuel Centers. If you don’t live near these stores, you will not find much use for the rebates and rewards.

If you are a frequent shopper at Fred Meyer Stores though, you are able to earn a considerable amount of rewards points as well as a savings of 5 cents per gallon on fuel at Fred Meyer Fuel Centers, which can end up saving quite a bit of money.

Fees

There is no annual fee for the Ralphs card. There is an introductory rate available on balance transfers of 5.99% on the first 9 billing cycles. The APR is as low as 13.99%.

Ralphs Rewards Program

Cardholders of the Ralphs Rewards Plus MasterCard earn 2 points per dollar spent at Ralphs stores, 3 points per $1 spent on Ralphs store brand products and 1 point per $2 spent on other purchases, everywhere that MasterCard is accepted.

In comparison, the regular Ralphs Rewards card earns1 point for each dollar spent on “nearly” everything at Ralphs.  You earn a $5 certificate for the first 500 points and then another $1 for each additional 100 points.

Here is an example of the amount of rewards you could possibly earn with the two cards:

With the general Ralphs Rewards card you do earn bonus rewards points for things like pharmacy purchases and going green and using your own shopping bags, as well as access to exclusive deals and coupons (which are also available with the MasterCard).

Introductory Bonus

New cardholders receive a bonus of 2000 points when the Ralphs Rewards Plus MasterCard is activated. This is equal to $20 in rewards certificates, as $5 is earned for every 500 points.

Conclusion of the Investigation

If you are a frequent shopper of Ralphs, you definitely want one of the rewards cards. The MasterCard though earns more rewards points and otherwise has the same benefits of the regular rewards card. The biggest difference is that it’s a MasterCard and can be used globally, while the rewards card can only be used to earn rewards in the store and is not a credit card.

If you do not shop at Ralphs or there isn’t one in your area, it probably doesn’t make much sense to have this card though. There are better credit cards with rewards programs for everyday purchases, while this one only earns 1 point for every $2. Further, the certificates you earn would not be useful unless you can shop at Ralphs to redeem them.