The Business Platinum Card(R) from American Express Review

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Updated with improved welcome offer, new perks, and increased annual fee. card_name is the ultra-premium AmEx business card with a very long list of perks and statement credits. You also get a broad airline lounge access program and an improved welcome offer. I’ve tried to keep it brief, but there is a lot to cover:

  • Elevated Welcome Offer: Earn 200,000 Membership Rewards(R) points after you spend $20,000 in eligible purchases on the Business Platinum Card(R) within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
  • Unlock over $3,500 in business and travel value annually after meeting qualifying spend thresholds on the Business Platinum Card. Terms apply.
  • NEW: Up to $600 Hotel Credit. Get up to $300 in statement credits semi-annually for up to a total of $600 in statement credits per calendar year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts(R) or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel using the Business Platinum Card(R). The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
  • Up to $200 Hilton Statement Credit. Hilton For Business members get up to $200 back per calendar year when you make an eligible purchase at Hilton properties across the globe. Benefit enrollment required.
  • $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees, such as checked bags and in-flight refreshments, are charged by the airline to your Business Platinum Card® Account. Enrollment required.
  • NEW: Up to $150 Dell credit. Enroll and get up to $150 in statement credits on U.S purchases directly with Dell Technologies on the Business Platinum Card and an additional $1,000 statement credit after you spend $5,000 or more on that same Card per calendar year.
  • NEW: Up to $250 Adobe credit. Enroll and get a $250 statement credit after you spend $600 or more on U.S. purchases directly with Adobe per calendar year on the Business Platinum Card.
  • Up to $360 Indeed credit ($90 per quarter). Get up to $90 in statement credits quarterly for purchases with Indeed on the Business Platinum Card. That’s up to $360 back per year. Enrollment required.
  • Up to $120 Wireless telephone credit ($10 per month). Get up to $10 in statement credits per month for wireless telephone service purchases made directly with a wireless provider in the U.S. on the Business Platinum Card. That’s up to $120 back per year. Enrollment required.
  • 5X Membership Rewards(R) points on flights and prepaid hotels booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • 2X Membership Rewards(R) points on purchases at U.S. construction material & hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on each eligible purchase of $5,000 or more, up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year. Purchases eligible for multiple additional point bonuses will only receive the highest eligible bonus.
  • 1X points on other eligible purchases.
  • 35% Airline Bonus. You can receive 35% Membership Rewards® points back after you use the Pay With Points feature for all or part of a flight booked with American Express Travel if the flight is either First or Business class or on your selected qualifying airline, up to 1,000,000 bonus points back per calendar year.
  • Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®. Receive either a statement credit every 4 years after you apply for Global Entry ($120) or a statement credit every 4.5 years after you apply for a five-year membership for TSA PreCheck® (up to $85 through a TSA PreCheck official enrollment provider) and pay the application fee with your Business Platinum Card®. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
  • CLEAR(R) Plus Credit: Use the Business Platinum Card and get up to $209 back per calendar year on your CLEAR(R) Plus Membership (subject to auto-renewal).
  • $895 annual fee.
  • See Rates and Fees

Note the following language: “Welcome bonus offer not available to applicants who have or have had this product.” You can only get the welcome offer on the Platinum Business AmEx once time per lifetime, so it is best to apply during an improved offer (and also the time when perks have been added but before the annual fee increase).

American Express Global Lounge Collection. The American Express Global Lounge Collection(R) can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,550 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card company on the market as of 07/2025.

  • The Centurion® Lounges
  • Delta Sky Club(R) Access when flying an eligible Delta flight
  • Escape Lounges
  • Priority Pass(TM) Select Lounges. Enrollment required.
  • Lufthansa Lounges, when flying Lufthansa Group
  • Plaza Premium Lounges

35% Airline Bonus details. Let’s say your selected airline is Delta, and you want to buy a couple economy Delta tickets for $1,000 using their Pay with Points features. This means that $1,000 ticket booked through AmEx Travel will only cost you 65,000 Membership Rewards points net (100,000 points and then 35,000 point rebated back). This improves the 1 cent per point value to 1.54 cents per point value. This means that 120,000 Membership Rewards points can be worth $1,848 in airfare on your selected airline.

Transfer partners. You can transfer Membership Rewards points to 16 airline and 3 hotel partners including Delta, British Airways, Hawaiian, JetBlue, Air Canada, Hilton, Starwood Preferred Guest, and Choice Hotels. If you’re good at snagging award tickets, you can get even better value this way.

Bottom line. card_name is the ultra-premium AmEx business card that includes a HUGE list of perks. Add them up for your own situation and see how it compares with the annual fee. Keep in mind that the annual fee can also count as a business expense.

The net first-year value of this card is easily over $1,000, as it is definitely one of the Top 10 Best Business Card Offers.

(See Rates and Fees)

Amazon Music Unlimited: Free 3 or 4-Month Trial (Free Audible Audiobook Each Month)

As part of the run-up to Amazon “Prime Big Deal Days”, you can get a free 3-month or 4-month trial of Amazon Music Unlimited (standard is only 1-month). Beyond the usual ad-free and on-demand music, Amazon Music Unlimited now also includes 1 free Audible audiobook every month. There are some excellent finance books available; I’m currently listening to Bill Gates’ memoir Source Code. This promo is usually targeted but seems widely available to both new and past customers including those who’ve done free trials in the past (like me).

As usual, it is set to auto-renew at the end of the trial at $11.99/month ($10.99/month for Prime customers) if you don’t cancel. As usual, you can also cancel right away and still be able to use the service until the trial ends.

(Reminder that I’m not allowed to use Amazon affiliate links in e-mails, so you may have to view this post online to see the link.)

This offer of a monthly Amazon Music Unlimited Individual Plan is a limited time offer, available only to new subscribers to Amazon Music Unlimited. After the promotional trial, your subscription will automatically continue at $11.99/month ($10.99/month for Prime customers) plus applicable tax until you cancel. This offer cannot be combined with any other offer. Digital content and services may only be available to customers located in the U.S. and are subject to the terms and conditions of Amazon.com Services LLC. Offer limited to one per customer and account. Amazon reserves the right to modify or cancel the offer at any time. Offer is non-transferable and may not be resold. If you violate any of these terms, the offer will be invalid.

Connexus Credit Union: Rewards Checking $300 Bonus + 5% APY

Connexus Credit Union has a $300 bonus for their Xtraordinary Checking Account, which is a “Rewards” checking account that requires a number of debit card transactions and other activities to earn a special rate (currently 5% APY). Anyone can join this credit union via partner organization Connexus Association for a one-time $5 fee. Here are the promo highlights:

  • Must open a new Xtraordinary Checking Account between 9/08/2025 and 11/09/2025 with promo code XTRABONUS. Individuals who previously had a Connexus Checking Account are eligible, so long as the account closure occurred before 7/01/2025.
  • Meet the following account requirements for two month-end periods within 120 days of account opening:
    • Make 15 debit card purchases or accumulate $500 in debit card spending.
    • Be subscribed to eStatements.
    • Make one monthly deposit of at least $500 from either a direct deposit or an ACH deposit.
  • Bonus will be based on your average daily balance during the two qualifying months:
    • $0 bonus: $999.99 or less
    • $100 bonus: $1,000.00 – $4,999.99
    • $200 bonus: $5,000.00 – $9,999.99
    • $300 bonus: $10,000.00 or more

Notably, the “monthly deposit” does not have to be a Direct Deposit of payroll. ACH transfers count. From their fine print:

What qualifies as a monthly direct deposit or an ACH deposit (from a non-Connexus account) into my Xtraordinary Checking Account?
Some example deposits for this account requirement include direct deposit from payroll, retirement benefits, or government benefits.

Additionally, you can use Connexus Digital Banking to link to an external account at a different financial institution and transfer funds into your Xtraordinary Checking Account each month to meet the ACH deposit requirement.

I currently have my direct deposit going to another institution. Can I set up a monthly $500 ACH transfer from my other financial institution to meet this account requirement?
Yes, this would meet the monthly direct deposit account requirement. Please contact us to ensure you have the correct information to set up your ACH transfer.

Besides the bonus, these same monthly requirements will also qualify you for the top 5.00% APY rate on balances up to $25,000. This means you can get both. The checking account has no monthly fees and no minimum balance requirement. They offer a handy tool to make sure you are qualifying.

Technically, you can earn the $300 bonus with a $10,000 balance held for only 2 months (say 60 days) or even less if you finish the qualifying activities within a partial month (like the rest of September and then October). $300 on $10,000 held for 60 days is 18% APY annualized. You’d also be getting the 5% APY rate as well with qualifying activities.

Connexus CU has historically offered some competitive CD rates in the past. Readers at DoC report that they are tight on identity verification and thus may ask for a utility bill, Social Security card, etc. I like that you don’t have to switch over your direct deposit for this bonus, although you do have to make a bunch of debit card purchases. Amazon $1 purchases and Self-checkout are your friend!

Kraken Brokerage: 2% ACAT Transfer Bonus on Stocks & ETFs

Kraken is best known as a crypto exchange, but as of early 2025 they now offer US stock trading under Kraken Securities through a partnership with Alpaca (press release). They’ve got that VC money and an IPO coming up, so you know that means a high cash burn rate to show high growth! I already saw that with their $75 new crypto account bonus and 30 days of free money spins, where I earned almost $20 in random crypto like DOGE and PEPE:

Until 9/30, Kraken is also offering a 2% ACAT transfer bonus, paid in USDG stablecoin with no cap and 1-year minimum hold period. That’s a pretty solid bonus, with the main concerns being that Kraken is a crypto-first company and there may be some headaches even with SIPC insurance and all that. I’m thinking of moving my US Bank SGOV assets over since they nuked my Smartly 4% card, but I’m a little wary of this brand new brokerage that seems to have been put together by duct tape. In any case, here are the promo highlights.

  • 2% bonus on ACAT transfers of stocks/ETFs. No cap. Offer expires 9/30/25. 1-year minimum hold period after 10/1/25.
  • The terms indicate you must be Kraken+ subscriber (costs $5 a month or $50 a year) when the bonus is calculated after 1 year, but I’m not sure if they will want you to be a subscriber for the entire year hold period. The language states “Kraken+ subscribers are eligible for a 2% bonus.”, so to be safe I’d probably keep it the entire time.
  • Bonus is paid in USDG in , which is Kraken’s dollar stablecoin. If you don’t want to be paid in crypto, it looks like you can sell it to trade, but you can’t withdraw it from the platform until the year is done. I’m not sure how this works in terms of 1099s at the end of the year.
  • Kraken Securities will reimburse you for any outbound ACAT fees from your originating broker.

Here’s how I would approach this bonus:

  • If I didn’t have a Kraken crypto account yet, I’d open one first and grab this $75 referral bonus.
  • For the next 30 days, I’d set a reminder and make sure I open my app and do my daily spin for all 30 days and see if I get a luck $1,000 payout, but probably closer to $15-$30 total.
  • In the meantime, I’d sign-up for the 30-day free trial of Kraken+ to sell whatever crypto I didn’t want to keep with much lower transaction fees as a Kraken+ subscriber. This would also prep me for this ACAT bonus.
  • I would then quickly transfer whatever I wanted for the this bonus by 9/30. Even if it was just safe SGOV or other T-Bill ETFs, I’d still be getting 2% on top. If I moved $50,000, 2% would be $1,000. Kraken would get nice shiny numbers for their IPO decks. I’d hold for 1 year, making sure I still had Kraken+ on 10/1/26 and then move it to the next bonus.
  • Most importantly, I would avoid speculating money on crypto. 2% is a solid guaranteed bonus on top of existing buy and hold assets, but you can easily lose 2% on crypto in a single day and then some!

Here are important excerpts from the fine print:

What is this promotion?
A limited-time incentive offering for eligible U.S. users, providing up to a 2% bonus for qualified transfers of stocks/ETFs into Kraken Securities via ACATS. Kraken+ subscribers are eligible for a 2% bonus. Non Kraken+ users will receive a 1% bonus.

Who is eligible?
U.S. residents only, excluding New York and Maine. Users must be fully verified and approved to trade equities. Users must have opened and been approved for a Kraken Securities account.

What do I receive if my ACAT qualifies?
You receive up to a 2% bonus (2% for Kraken+ users, 1% for non-Kraken+ users) in USDG based on the value of stocks and ETFs you transfer into Kraken Securities via ACATS during the promo window. The value of the transferred assets is determined at the time the qualified ACAT transfer is successfully completed. The bonus is credited after the promotion period ends and placed on hold for one year (usable for trading but not withdrawable until the hold is lifted).

When does the hold period end and how is the hold lifted?
At the end of the one year holding period, which starts on October 1st 2025, the bonus will become eligible for withdrawal provided that the client’s total net transfers into eligible equities remain equal to or greater than the initial value upon which the bonus was calculated.

Is there a maximum reward amount I can receive?
No.

In what currency will the bonus be paid?
Global Dollar (USDG)

Does Kraken reimburse the sender ACATS fees?
Yes. Kraken Securities will reimburse you for any outbound ACAT fees your sending broker may charge you. This reimbursement is not dependent on this promotion and does not have a minimum value requirement to be eligible for reimbursement.

Best Interest Rates Survey: Bank Accounts, Treasury Bills, Money Markets, ETFs – September 2025

Here’s my monthly survey of the best interest rates on cash as of September 2025, roughly sorted from shortest to longest maturities. Banks and brokerages love taking advantage of our idle cash, and you can often earning more money while keeping the same level of safety by moving to another FDIC-insured bank or NCUA-insured credit union. Check out my Ultimate Rate-Chaser Calculator to see how much extra interest you could earn from switching. Rates listed are available to everyone nationwide. Rates checked as of 9/9/2025.

TL;DR: Savings account interest rates are mostly stable (maybe a tiny bit lower on average) with one at 4.8% APY but most struggling to stay above 4.00% APY. Short-term T-Bill rates have fallen slightly, now ~4.2%. Top 5-year CD rates are ~4.25% APY, while 5-year Treasury rate is ~3.6%.

High-yield savings accounts*
Since the huge megabanks still pay essentially no interest, everyone should at least have a separate, no-fee online savings account to piggy-back onto your existing checking account. The interest rates on savings accounts can drop at any time, so I list the top rates as well as competitive rates from banks with a history of competitive rates and solid user experience. Some banks will bait you with a temporary top rate and then lower the rates in the hopes that you are too lazy to leave.

  • The top saving rate at the moment: HUSTL Financial at 4.80% APY (no min), a division of Vantage West Credit Union, member NCUA (and thus not a fintech). No direct experience with this one; was recently lowered from 5%. The “good/excellent” savings rate zone appears to be roughly 4% and above. CIT Platinum Savings is now at 4.00% APY with $5,000+ balance. There are many banks in between.
  • SoFi Bank is at 3.80% APY + up to 4.50% APY for 6 months + $325 new account bonus with qualifying direct deposit. You must maintain a direct deposit of any amount (even $1) each month for the higher APY. SoFi has historically competitive rates and full banking features.
  • Here is a limited survey of high-yield savings accounts. They aren’t the top rates, but a group that have historically kept it relatively competitive such that I like to track their history. I call this the “okay/good” zone of 3.50%+.

Short-term guaranteed rates (1 year and under)
A common question is what to do with a big pile of cash that you’re waiting to deploy shortly (plan to buy a house soon, just sold your house, just sold your business, legal settlement, inheritance). My usual advice is to keep things simple and take your time. If not a savings account, then put it in a flexible short-term CD under the FDIC limits until you have a plan.

  • No Penalty CDs offer a fixed interest rate that can never go down, but you can still take out your money (once) without any fees if you want to use it elsewhere. Marcus has a 13-month No Penalty CD at 4.15% APY ($500 minimum deposit). Farmer’s Insurance FCU has a 9-month No Penalty CD at 4.25% APY ($1,000 minimum deposit). USA USALLIANCE Financial CU has a 11-month No Penalty CD at 4.20% APY ($500 minimum deposit).
  • Eagle Bank has a 12-month certificate at 4.40% APY ($1,000 min). Early withdrawal penalty is 90 days of interest.

Money market mutual funds
Many brokerage firms that pay out very little interest on their default cash sweep funds (and keep the difference for themselves). Note: Money market mutual funds are highly-regulated, but ultimately not FDIC-insured, so I would still stick with highly reputable firms.

  • Vanguard Federal Money Market Fund (VMFXX) is the default sweep option for Vanguard brokerage accounts, which has an SEC yield of 4.20% (changes daily, but also works out to a compound yield of 4.28%, which is better for comparing against APY). Odds are this is much higher than your own broker’s default cash sweep interest rate.
  • Vanguard Treasury Money Market Fund (VUSXX) is an alternative money market fund which you must manually purchase, but the interest will be mostly (100% for 2024 tax year) exempt from state and local income taxes because it comes from qualifying US government obligations. Current SEC yield of 4.20% (compound yield of 4.28%).

Treasury Bills and Ultra-short Treasury ETFs
Another option is to buy individual Treasury bills which come in a variety of maturities from 4-weeks to 52-weeks and are fully backed by the US government. You can also invest in ETFs that hold a rotating basket of short-term Treasury Bills for you, while charging a small management fee for doing so. T-bill interest is exempt from state and local income taxes, which can make a significant difference in your effective yield.

  • You can build your own T-Bill ladder at TreasuryDirect.gov or via a brokerage account with a bond desk like Vanguard and Fidelity. Here are the current Treasury Bill rates. As of 9/9/25, a new 4-week T-Bill had the equivalent of 4.16% annualized interest and a 52-week T-Bill had the equivalent of 3.68% annualized interest.
  • The iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF (SGOV) has a 4.21% SEC yield (0.09% expense ratio) and effective duration of 0.10 years. SPDR Bloomberg Barclays 1-3 Month T-Bill ETF (BIL) has a 4.14% SEC yield (0.136% expense ratio) and effective duration of 0.15 years. The new Vanguard 0-3 Month Treasury Bill ETF (VBIL) has a 4.21% SEC yield (0.07% expense ratio) and effective duration of 0.10 years.

US Savings Bonds
Series I Savings Bonds offer rates that are linked to inflation and backed by the US government. You must hold them for at least a year. If you redeem them within 5 years there is a penalty of the last 3 months of interest. The annual purchase limit for electronic I bonds is $10,000 per Social Security Number, available online at TreasuryDirect.gov.

  • “I Bonds” bought between May 2025 and October 2025 will earn a 3.98% rate for the first six months. The rate of the subsequent 6-month period will be based on inflation again. More on Savings Bonds here.
  • In mid-October 2025, the CPI will be announced and you will have a short period where you will have a very close estimate of the rate for the next 12 months. I will post another update at that time.

Rewards checking accounts
These unique checking accounts pay above-average interest rates, but with unique risks. You have to jump through certain hoops which usually involve 10+ debit card purchases each cycle, a certain number of ACH/direct deposits, and/or a certain number of logins per month. If you make a mistake (or they judge that you did) you risk earning zero interest for that month. Some folks don’t mind the extra work and attention required, while others would rather not bother. Rates can also drop suddenly, leaving a “bait-and-switch” feeling.

  • OnPath Federal Credit Union (my review) pays 7.00% APY on up to $10,000 if you make 15 debit card purchases, opt into online statements, and login to online or mobile banking once per statement cycle. Anyone can join this credit union via $5 membership fee to join partner organization. You can also get a $150 Visa Reward card when you open a new account and make qualifying transactions.
  • Genisys Credit Union pays 6.75% APY on up to $7,500 if you make 10 debit card purchases of $5+ each per statement cycle, and opt into online statements. Anyone can join this credit union via $5 membership fee to join partner organization.
  • NEW: Oklahoma Central Credit Union pays 6.00% APY on up to $10,000 if you make 15 debit card purchases (non-ATM) per statement cycle. Anyone can join this credit union if they are “affiliated with another credit union”.
  • La Capitol Federal Credit Union pays 5.75% APY on up to $10,000 if you make 15 debit card purchases of at least $5 each per statement cycle. Anyone can join this credit union via partner organization, Louisiana Association for Personal Financial Achievement ($20).
  • First Southern Bank pays 5.50% APY on up to $25,000 if you make at least 15 debit card purchases, 1 ACH credit or payment transaction, and enroll in online statements.
  • Credit Union of New Jersey pays 6.00% APY on up to $25,000 if you make 12 debit card purchases, opt into online statements, and make at least 1 direct deposit, online bill payment, or automatic payment (ACH) per statement cycle. Anyone can join this credit union via $5 membership fee to join partner organization.
  • Andrews Federal Credit Union pays 5.50% APY (down from 6%) on up to $25,000 if you make 15 debit card purchases, opt into online statements, and make at least 1 direct deposit or ACH transaction per statement cycle. Anyone can join this credit union via partner organization.
  • Find a locally-restricted rewards checking account at DepositAccounts.

Certificates of deposit (greater than 1 year)
CDs offer higher rates, but come with an early withdrawal penalty. By finding a bank CD with a reasonable early withdrawal penalty, you can enjoy higher rates but maintain access in a true emergency. Alternatively, consider building a CD ladder of different maturity lengths (ex. 1/2/3/4/5-years) such that you have access to part of the ladder each year, but your blended interest rate is higher than a savings account. When one CD matures, use that money to buy another 5-year CD to keep the ladder going. Some CDs also offer “add-ons” where you can deposit more funds if rates drop.

  • Mountain America Credit Union (MACU) has a 5-year certificate at 4.25% APY ($500 minimum), 4-year at 4.20% APY, 3-year at 4.15% APY, 2-year at 4.00% APY, and 1-year at 4.15% APY. Early withdrawal penalty for the 4-year and 5-year is 365 days of interest. Anyone can join this credit union via partner organization American Consumer Council for a one-time $5 fee (or try promo code “consumer”).
  • Lafayette Federal Credit Union (LFCU) has a 5/4/3/2/1-year certificates at 4.28% APY ($500 min). Slightly higher rates with jumbo $100,000+ balances. Note that the early withdrawal penalty for the 5-year is a relatively large 600 days of interest. Anyone nationwide can join LFCU by joining the Home Ownership Financial Literacy Council (HOFLC) for a one-time $10 fee.
  • You can buy certificates of deposit via the bond desks of Vanguard and Fidelity. You may need an account to see the rates. These “brokered CDs” offer FDIC insurance and easy laddering, but they don’t come with predictable early withdrawal penalties. Right now, I see a 5-year non-callable brokered CD at 3.70% APY (callable: no, call protection: yes). Be warned that both Vanguard and Fidelity will list higher rates from callable CDs, which importantly means they can (and will!) call back your CD if rates drop significantly later.

Longer-term Instruments
I’d use these with caution due to increased interest rate risk (tbh, I don’t use them at all), but I still track them to see the rest of the current yield curve.

  • Willing to lock up your money for 10 years? You can buy long-term certificates of deposit via the bond desks of Vanguard and Fidelity. These “brokered CDs” offer FDIC insurance, but they don’t come with predictable early withdrawal penalties. You might find something that pays more than your other brokerage cash and Treasury options. Right now, I see a 10-year CDs at [n/a] (non-callable) vs. 4.08% for a 10-year Treasury. Watch out for higher rates from callable CDs where they can call your CD back if interest rates drop.

All rates were checked as of 9/9/25.

* I no longer recommend fintech companies due to the possibility of significant loss due to poor recordkeeping and the lack of government protection in such scenarios. (Ex. Evergreen Wealth at 5% APY is a fintech.)

Photo by insung yoon on Unsplash

Perplexity Pro AI: Free 1-Year Trial Subscription with PayPal ($200 Value)

PayPal is offering customers a free 1-year trial subscription to Perpexity Pro (press release), which is a premium AI service that usually costs $20/month or $200/year and includes access to the most recent versions of ChatGPT/Claude as well as their new Comet AI browser. So it can save you money on a separate premium ChatGPT subscription as well.

I asked Perplexity to summarize the Pro features, and here’s what it said (this list is the only part of this post written by AI):

  • Access to advanced AI models including GPT-4o, Claude family, Gemini, Sonar, and more for enhanced reasoning and creativity.
  • Unlimited Pro Searches and up to 50 Labs queries per month with deeper search and multi-step reasoning capabilities.
  • File upload and analysis features allowing document-based research and summarization.
  • Real-time web search with citation-rich answers and the ability to generate images directly in chat.
  • Faster, prioritized response times and ad-free experiences for higher productivity.
  • Exclusive support channels and perks, including deals and discounts from partner brands.

To activate, you must open your PayPal smartphone app and find the offer in the subscriptions hub area. Paypal wants to be the middleman in our new subscription-based lifestyles. I don’t find them to be necessary at all, but I’ll take the free trial.

Noe that after the 12-month trial ends, the subscription will automatically renew on a paid basis unless you cancel. You must manage the subscription at the Perplexity site, but you can manually cancel it immediately after activation (if you don’t want to set a reminder) and you can keep using it until it automatically stops at the end of the trial. Here’s my screenshot proof:

Just as with the internet, I expect that with AI there will be both new opportunities and collateral damage. I’m very behind in learning to use AI as a tool, and hope to use this subscription to better understand it.

Delta SkyMiles® American Express Cards – New Limited-Time Offers (80k-125k Miles)

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New limited-time offers. Delta Airlines American Express cards offer various special perks like free checked bags, priority boarding, and the ability to earn Delta SkyMiles with card purchases. As you can only get the welcome offers once on each of these cards per person per lifetime (each card is considered different), I recommend waiting until a limited-time offer to maximize your benefit. I personally think the Gold card versions are the sweet spot for many casual travelers. Here are the current offers:

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  • Limited-time offer: 80,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer Ends 10/29/2025.
  • $200 Delta flight credit. Get a $200 credit to use toward future Delta travel after $10,000 in purchases on your card within a calendar year.
  • $100 Delta Stays Credit. Get up to $100 back annually as a statement credit after using your Delta SkyMiles(R) Gold American Express Card to book prepaid hotels or vacation rentals through Delta Stays on delta.com.
  • First checked bag free (worth $70 roundtrip, per person) on Delta flights. This perk is worth up to $280 per round trip for a family of four ($35 each way, per person).
  • 15% off discount on Award Travel booked through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Applies to Delta flights only, not applicable to partner-operated flights or taxes and fees.
  • Zone 5 Priority Boarding.
  • 2X miles at Delta purchases, at U.S. Supermarkets and at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S. Earn 1 miles per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • Simplified Pay with Miles option. Take up to $50 off the cost of your flight for every 5,000 miles you redeem with Pay with Miles when you book on delta.com.
  • 20% back on eligible Delta in-flight purchases with this card in the form of a statement credit .
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • $0 introductory Annual Fee for the first year, then $150.
  • See Rates and Fees

80,000 Skymiles is worth at least $800 in Delta airfare. Delta offers a minimum value out of your Skymiles via the “Pay with Miles” option. For example, that means 50,000 Skymiles can reduce the price of your Delta ticket(s) by $500 at the very least. (5,000 mile = $50 minimum redemption.) You can still book the traditional award tickets and possibly get better value.

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  • Limited-time offer: 90,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $4,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer Ends 10/29/2025.
  • $2,500 Medallion(R) Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $20 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles(R) Platinum American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
  • $150 Delta Stays Credit. Get up to $150 back annually on eligible prepaid hotels or vacation rentals through Delta Stays on delta.com.
  • $120 Resy Credit. Get up to $10 in statement credits each month after you pay with your enrolled Delta SkyMiles(R) Platinum American Express Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Rideshare Credit. Up to $10 back in statement credits each month on U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers using your Delta SkyMiles(R) Platinum American Express Card. Enrollment is required.
  • 15% off discount on Award Travel booked through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Applies to Delta flights only, not applicable to partner-operated flights or taxes and fees.
  • Up to $120 Global Entry Fee Credit. You can get either a $120 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck(R) (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Delta SkyMiles(R) Platinum American Express Card. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
  • Companion Certificate benefit. Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta Main round-trip flight within the U.S. and to Mexico, the Caribbean, or Central America each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
  • First checked bag free (worth $70 roundtrip, per person) on Delta flights. This perk is worth up to $280 per round trip for a family of four ($35 each way, per person).
  • Receive Zone 5 Priority Boarding on Delta flights; board early, stow your carry-on bag and settle in sooner.
  • 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
  • 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets.
  • 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • $350 annual fee. (See Rates and Fees)
  • Terms Apply.

The Platinum version can be a worthy upgrade from the Gold version if you can take advantage of the annual Companion Certificate (i.e. book two tickets together on Delta at least once a year). I’ve used it several times in the past and it is easy to use while booking tickets online at Delta.com. My savings from using the Companion Certificate for Delta Main has exceeded $500.

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  • Limited-time offer: 125,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer Ends 10/29/2025.
  • $2,500 Medallion(R) Qualification Dollars (new) with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles(R) Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
  • Delta Sky Club® access details. Delta SkyMiles(R) Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion(R) Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
  • Get four Delta Sky Club® One-Time Guest Passes each year when you fly together on Delta. After that, you may bring up to two guests at a per-visit rate of $50 per person, per location.
  • Centurion Lounge access. Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion(R) Lounge when you book a Delta flight with your Reserve Card.
  • $200 Delta Stays Credit. Get up to $200 back annually on eligible prepaid hotels or vacation rentals through Delta Stays on delta.com.
  • $240 Resy Credit. When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Rideshare Credit. Up to $10 back in statement credits each month on U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers using your Delta SkyMiles(R) Platinum American Express Card. Enrollment is required.
  • 15% off discount on Award Travel booked through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Applies to Delta flights only, not applicable to partner-operated flights or taxes and fees.
  • Up to $120 Global Entry Fee Credit. You can get either a $120 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck(R) (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Delta SkyMiles(R) Platinum American Express Card. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
  • Companion Certificate benefit (valid on Delta First). Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight within the U.S. and to Mexico, the Caribbean, or Central America each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
  • First checked bag free on Delta flights. This perk is worth up to $280 per round trip for a family of four ($35 each way, per person).
  • With your Delta SkyMiles(R) Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over other Medallion Members within the same Medallion tier and fare class grouping when you fly with Delta.
  • 3X Miles on Delta purchases.
  • 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
  • $650 annual fee. (See Rates and Fees)
  • Terms Apply.

The Reserve version can be a worthy upgrade for frequent Delta fliers. Enjoy Delta Sky Club and/or Centurion Lounge access on your Delta flights, that Companion Certificate that works on Delta First can be worth thousands, etc.

BUSINESS Card Versions

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  • Limited-time offer: 90,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer Ends 10/29/2025.
  • $200 Delta flight credit. Get a $200 credit to use toward future Delta travel after $10,000 in purchases within a calendar year.
  • $150 Delta Stays Credit. Get up to $150 back annually on eligible prepaid hotels or vacation rentals through Delta Stays on delta.com.
  • 15% off discount on Award Travel booked through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Applies to Delta flights only, not applicable to partner-operated flights or taxes and fees.
  • First checked bag free on Delta flights. This perk is worth up to $280 per round trip for a family of four ($35 each way, per person).
  • Zone 5 Priority Boarding.
  • 2X miles per dollar spent on purchases at U.S. Shipping providers and at U.S. providers for Advertising in select media on up to $50,000 of eligible purchases per category, per year. 2X miles on every dollar spent on eligible purchases made directly with Delta and on every eligible dollar spent at restaurants worldwide. 1 mile on every eligible dollar spent on other purchases.
  • $0 annual fee for the first year, then $150. (See Rates and Fees)
  • Terms Apply.

card_name

  • Limited-time offer: 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer Ends 10/29/2025.
  • $2,500 Medallion(R) Qualification Dollars (new) each Medallion Qualification Year. Also earn $1 Medallion(R) Qualification Dollar for each $20 of purchases in a calendar year.
  • $200 Delta Stays Credit (new). Get up to $200 back annually on eligible prepaid hotels or vacation rentals through Delta Stays on delta.com.
  • $120 Resy Credit (new). Up to $10 per month in statement credits on eligible Resy purchases using your enrolled Card. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Rideshare Credit (new). Up to $10 back in statement credits each month on U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
  • 15% off discount on Award Travel booked through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Applies to Delta flights only, not applicable to partner-operated flights or taxes and fees.
  • Up to $120 Global Entry Fee Credit. You can get either a $120 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck(R) (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Delta SkyMiles(R) Platinum American Express Card. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
  • Companion Certificate benefit. Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta Main round-trip flight within the U.S. and to Mexico, the Caribbean, or Central America each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
  • First checked bag free on Delta flights. This perk is worth up to $280 per round trip for a family of four ($35 each way, per person).
  • Zone 5 Priority Boarding.
  • Not a Medallion Member? Cardmembers with an eligible ticket will be added to the Complimentary Upgrade list, after Delta SkyMiles Medallion Members and Reserve Card Members.
  • $350 annual fee (increased). (See Rates and Fees)
  • Terms and limitations apply.

card_name

  • Limited-time offer: 125,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $15,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer Ends 10/29/2025.
  • $2,500 Medallion(R) Qualification Dollars (new) each Medallion Qualification Year. Also earn $1 Medallion(R) Qualification Dollar for each $10 of purchases in a calendar year.
  • Delta Sky Club(R) access. Delta SkyMiles(R) Reserve Members receive 15 Visits each Medallion(R) Year to the Delta Sky Club(R) and can unlock Unlimited Delta Sky Club Access after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year.
  • Centurion Lounge or Escape Lounge access. When you purchase a Delta flight with your Delta SkyMiles(R) Reserve Business Card, you will receive complimentary access to The Centurion(R) Lounge or Escape Lounge.
  • $250 Delta Stays Credit (new). Get up to $250 back annually on eligible prepaid hotels or vacation rentals through Delta Stays on delta.com.
  • $240 Resy Credit (new). Up to $20 per month in statement credits on eligible Resy dining purchases using your enrolled Card. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Rideshare Credit (new). Up to $10 back in statement credits each month on U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
  • 15% off discount on Award Travel on Delta flights booked through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
  • Up to $120 Global Entry Fee Credit. You can get either a $120 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck(R) (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Delta SkyMiles(R) Platinum American Express Card. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
  • Companion Certificate benefit (valid on Delta First). Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight within the U.S. and to Mexico, the Caribbean, or Central America each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
  • First checked bag free on Delta flights. This perk is worth up to $280 per round trip for a family of four ($35 each way, per person).
  • Enjoy 3X miles per dollar on eligible Delta purchases.
  • Zone 5 Priority Boarding.
  • Not a Medallion Member? Card Members with an eligible ticket will be added to the Complimentary Upgrade list, after Delta SkyMiles Medallion Members.
  • $650 annual fee (increased). (See Rates and Fees)
  • Terms and limitations apply.

Again, Delta offers a minimum value out of your Skymiles via the “Pay with Miles” option. That means 100,000 Skymiles can reduce the price of your Delta ticket by $1,000 at the very least. (5,000 mile = $50 minimum redemption.) You can still book the traditional award tickets and possibly get better value.

In my opinion, the Delta Gold is still the best for most casual Delta customers because of the high potential upfront value in the first year (bonus miles + $200 flight credit). Even after the first year, the $100 increase in flight credit ($100 to $200) more than offsets the $51 increase in annual fee ($99 to $150) as long as you spend $10,000 in purchases during the year. That’s on top of the other perks like free checked bags.

During a limited-time offer, I will add these to my list of the Top 10 Best Credit Card Bonus Offers.

Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card: See Rates and Fees

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card: See Rates and Fees

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card: See Rates and Fees

Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card: See Rates and Fees

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card: See Rates and Fees

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card: See Rates and Fees

Moomoo Investing App Promo: $1,000 of NVDA w/ $50,000 New Deposit Bonus, Existing Customer Transfer Bonus

New offers September 2025. Brokerage app Moomoo is offering a couple of new promotions, one for new customers (or existing customers that haven’t ever funded their accounts), and another one for existing customers.

New customers can get $1,000 of NVDA stock + 8.1% APY for 3 months via my referral link if they make a net deposit of $50,000+ by 9/25/25. The minimum hold period is only 60 days. The extra 4% APY is only valid for 3 months on the first $20,000 of cash sweep deposits. Full terms here.

Complete a net deposit of $50,000 during the Promotion Period, and you will receive $1,000 in NVDA stock in total³, as fractional shares of NVDA³. After receiving your free stocks, you need to maintain average assets of $50,000 or more for 60 days to unlock these stocks.

To be clear, this is for cash deposits, not ACAT transfers But earning $1000 on $50,000 held for 60 days works out to 12% annualized, plus you can earn the 8.1% APY on up to $20,000 in cash deposits for 90 days.

Existing customers are being offered an ACAT transfer bonus of up to $4,000 in “cash rewards”. Full terms here. Here are the tiers:

$200 on $10,000 is a 2% bonus, which is very good for a 90 day minimum hold. $300 on $25,000 is 1.2%, still good. $600 on $100,000 is 0.6%, which is where I become less interested.

What Moomoo calls a “Cash Reward” is not a direct cash credit to your account; it works like a coupon that rebates a future stock trade. You may have to activate it and then make a trade to claim it. In the past, I have chosen to just buy (and then sell) enough SGOV (a conservative T-Bill ETF) to trigger it in a simple manner if you don’t have other stock trades you plan to make. For example, you might need to buy a single $101 share of SGOV to trigger a $100 cash reward into your account. It was a bit of a hassle, but still worth it when the reward was big enough.

Robinhood HOOD Month 2025 Promos: 2% Taxable, 1% Margin, 2% IRA Transfer/401k Rollover Bonuses

Robinhood is running “HOOD Month” from 8/19-9/15/25, and included are some competitive account transfer bonuses. Noteworthy are the 3% total match if you have $100,000 in margin (which you can “create” beforehand) and the 2% match that includes 401k rollovers. However, note that they have very long minimum holding periods where you are stuck at Robinhood (and can’t pursue other opportunities) or they will clawback the bonus.

  • 2% bonus on ACATS transfers to your Robinhood joint or individual investing account from an external brokerage. 5-year minimum hold period + Robinhood Gold ($5/mo or $50/year) membership for a year required.
  • Additional 1% bonus on ACATS transfers with a margin balance of $100,000 or more to your Robinhood joint or individual investing account from an external brokerage.
  • 2% bonus on ACATS transfers to your Robinhood IRA, including 401k rollovers. 5-year minimum hold period + Robinhood Gold ($5/mo or $50/year) membership for a year required.
  • 2% bonus on Crypto deposits. 1-year minimum hold period. Must be Robinhood Gold subscriber. Ex. Deposit $500 worth of ETH and get $10 in cash.

Full terms here.

The 2% bonus on taxable account transfers requires a subscription with Robinhood Gold ($5/mo or $50/year) and customers must stay subscribed to Gold for 1 year after receiving each Gold match to keep the full Gold match. A 1% match is available to non-Gold customers, no subscription required. The funds that earned the match be kept in the account for at least 5 years to avoid a potential chargeback of the bonus. Transfer must be initiated by September 15, 2025 to qualify. Offer only applies to self-directed individual or joint taxable accounts.

The 1% margin bonus is available to all customers who are approved for a margin account and transfer a margin balance of at least $100,000 using ACATS.?

The 2% matching on retirement account transfers requires a subscription with Robinhood Gold ($5/mo or $50/year) and customers must stay subscribed to Gold for 1 year after receiving the first retirement Gold match to keep the full Gold match. The funds that earned the match must be kept in the account for at least 5 years to avoid a potential Early IRA Match Removal Fee. Transfer or rollover must be initiated by September 15, 2025 to qualify. Match rate subject to change. Self-directed retirement customers receive a 1% match year-round, with or without a Gold subscription. Offer only applies to self-directed IRAs.

Full Crypto terms here.

Excludes all deposits of USDC. Boost is paid in cash into your individual brokerage account and is based on the value of the crypto deposits at the time it settles. To keep the reward, you must maintain the value of your transferred assets on Robinhood for 1 year. Boost deductions will be pulled from your individual brokerage account. Only crypto deposits $1 or greater between September 2, 2025 and September 15, 2025 quality. Crypto transfers are not available in New York. Crypto deposit bonus offered by Robinhood Crypto, LLC. Other terms apply.

Top 10 Best Credit Card Bonus Offers – September 2025 (Updated)

Updated September 2025. That space in your wallet or purse is valuable, and you should be the one to get that value. By being smart and picky, you can find offers worth $500+ for a single card, all to encourage you to apply and try it out. This adds up to thousands of dollars in extra income (over $5,000 in 2023). These are the top 10 credit card offers that I would personally apply for right now (or have already). Notable recent changes:

  • Added Delta 80k, CSR 125k, Atmos 85k, Hawaiian 80k, BarcAA noAF, JetBlue 80k, Aeroplan 85k, Amex Gold 100k.
  • Removed Bonvoy 185k, Hilton 100k+$100, IHG 5FreeNights, Marriott 5FreeNightsk.

This is a companion post to my Top 10 Best Business Card Offers. Small business bonuses are on average even higher than those on consumer cards.

Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card

  • 125,000 Ultimate Rewards points after $6,000 in purchases in the first 3 months. See link for details.
  • $300 Annual Travel Credit, plus a long list of other credits – They advertise “Over $2,700 in annual value”, which I dunno, but it does include Apple TV+, Apple Music, Lyft, DoorDash, StubHub, Peloton.
  • Up to $120 Global Entry or $85 TSA PreCheck fee credit.
  • $795 annual fee.

Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card

  • Limited-time offer: 80,000 Bonus Miles after $3,000 in eligible purchases in first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer Ends 10/29/2025. See link for details.
  • 80,000 Skymiles are worth at least $800 in Delta airfare with “Pay with Miles” option.
  • $200 Delta flight credit after $10,000 in purchases on your card in a calendar year.
  • First checked bag free on Delta flights ($70 value per roundtrip, per person).
  • $0 annual fee for the first year, then $150.
  • See Rates and Fees

American Express Platinum Card®

  • As High As 175,000 points. Find Out Your Offer. You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards(R) Points after $8,000 in eligible purchases in your first 6 months. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.
  • Up to $600 Hotel Credits, up to $300 Digital Entertainment Credits, $200 Airline Fee Credits, up to $300 Lululemon credits, up to $400 Resy credits, up to $200 in Uber Cash via $15 monthly credits plus a bonus $20 in December, $209 CLEAR(R) Plus credit, $300 Equinox credit, up to $155 Walmart+ credit and more annually! Enrollment is required.
  • Up to $120 Global Entry or $85 TSA PreCheck fee credit.
  • Premium airport lounge access through the American Express Global Lounge Collection®. Enrollment may be required.
  • $895 annual fee.
  • See Rates and Fees

American Express® Gold Card

  • As High As 100,000 points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted. See link for details.
  • $84 Dunkin’ Credit. Up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express(R) Gold Card at US Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment is required.
  • $100 Resy Credit. Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express(R) Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. Broken down into up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment is required.
  • Up to $120 in Uber Cash annually, via $10 monthly credits (good towards Uber Eats or Uber rides in the US).
  • Up to $120 in annual dining credit at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment is required.
  • 4X points at restaurants worldwide on up to $50,000 per calendar year.
  • 4X points at US supermarkets on up to $25,000 per calendar year.
  • $325 annual fee.
  • See Rates and Fees

Aeroplan® Credit Card

  • 85,000 bonus points after $4,000 on purchases in first 3 months. See link for details.
  • Free first checked bags on Air Canada flights: one free checked bag for the primary cardmember and up to eight other travelers on the same itinerary.
  • Aeroplan 25K Elite Status benefits for the remainder of the first calendar year, plus the following calendar year.
  • Up to $120 Global Entry, TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS fee credit.
  • $95 annual fee.
  • Subject to 5/24 rule.

IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card

  • 140,000 IHG Points after $4,000 in purchases in the first 3 months. See link for details.
  • Free Night after each account anniversary year (valued up to 40,000 IHG points).
  • $99 annual fee.
  • Subject to 5/24 rule.
  • Don’t like annual fees? The no-annual fee Traveler version also has a competitive offer with no annual fee.

Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select Card

  • 80,000 American Airlines miles after $3,500 in purchases in first 4 months. See link for details.
  • First checked bag free on domestic AA flights ($80 value per roundtrip, per person).
  • $0 annual fee for the first year, then $99.

Barclays AAdvantage Aviator Red Mastercard

  • 50,000 American Airlines miles after any single purchase in the first 90 days. See link for details.
  • First checked bag free on domestic AA flights ($80 value per roundtrip, per person).
  • $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $99.

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

  • 75,000 Miles (worth $750 in travel) after $4,000 in purchases within 3 months. See link for details.
  • 2 Miles per dollar on all purchases.
  • Up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck(R).
  • $95 annual fee.

British Airways Visa Signature® Card

  • 75,000 Avios after $5,000 in purchases within first 3 months. See link for details and redemption tips.
  • 10% off British Airways flights starting in the US when you book through the website provided in your welcome materials.
  • Free Travel Together companion ticket when you spend $30,000 in a calendar year.
  • $95 annual fee.

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

  • 75,000 Ultimate Rewards points after $5,000 in purchases within the first 3 months. See link for details.
  • $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit, 5x on travel purchased through Chase TravelSM, 3x on dining and 2x on all other travel purchases.
  • $95 annual fee.
  • Subject to 5/24 rule.*

Capital One Venture X Rewards Card

  • 75,000 miles (worth $750 to offset travel purchases, or transferrable to miles) after $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months. See link for details.
  • $300 annual travel credit. Get up to $300 in statement credits when booking through Capital One Travel.
  • Additional 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary.
  • Priority Pass + Capital One airport lounge access.
  • Up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck(R).
  • $395 annual fee.

Citi Strata Premier Card

  • 60,000 points (worth $600 in gift cards, or transferrable to miles/points) after $4,000 in purchases in the first 3 months. See link for details.
  • 3X points for every $1 spent on Hotel purchases, Air Travel, Restaurants, Supermarkets, Gas Stations, EV Charging.
  • Must not have gotten bonus from or closed a Citi Premier or Strata Premier card in the past 48 months.
  • $95 annual fee.

Bank of America Premium Rewards Card

  • 60,000 points (worth $600) after $4,000 in purchases within the first 90 days. See link for details.
  • $100 annual Airline Incidental Statement Credit.
  • Up to $100 credit towards TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fee.
  • $95 annual fee.

Wells Fargo Autograph Journey Card

  • 60,000 points (worth $600 towards travel) after $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months. See link for details.
  • $50 annual statement credit with $50 minimum airline purchase.
  • $95 annual fee.

Atmos™ Rewards Ascent Visa Card (Bank of America)

  • 85,000 Atmos points + $99 Companion Fare (must pay taxes & fees from $23) after $4,000 in purchases within the first 120 days of opening your account. See link for details.
  • First checked bag free on Alaska & Hawaiian (primary + up to 6 guests on same reservation). Must purchase flight directly using card. Worth up to $70 roundtrip per person.
  • $95 annual fee.

Hawaiian Airlines MasterCard

  • 80,000 Hawaiian miles after $2,500 in purchases within the first 90 days. See link for details.
  • Two free checked bags for primary cardmember on Hawaiian Airlines or Alaska Airlines flights booked directly with this card. Now includes sports equipment.
  • One-time 50%-off companion discount for roundtrip coach travel between Hawaii and North America on Hawaiian Airlines.
  • $99 annual fee.

JetBlue Plus Card

  • Up to 80,000 bonus TrueBlue points. 60,000 bonus points after $1,000 on purchases within the first 90 days and 20,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 within the first year. See link for details.
  • First checked bag free for the primary cardmember and up to 3 companions when tickets are purchased with your JetBlue Plus Card.
  • $99 annual fee, waived the first year.

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card

  • 3 Free Nights (worth up to 50k points each) after $3,000 in purchases in the first 3 months. See link for details.
  • Free Night after each account anniversary year (valued up to 35,000 Bonvoy points).
  • $95 annual fee.
  • Subject to 5/24 rule.

Hilton Honors American Express Card

  • 100,000 Hilton Honors™ Bonus Points after $2,000 in purchases within your first 6 months. See link for details. Limited-time offer ends 1/14/2026.
  • No annual fee.
  • See Rates and Fees

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card

  • 100,000 Marriott Bonvoy(R) bonus points after $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership. See link for details.
  • Up to $300 in Annual Dining Credits, valid at restaurants worldwide. Enrollment required.
  • Priority Pass™ Select airport lounge membership. Enrollment required.
  • Automatic Marriott Bonvoy(R) Platinum Elite status.
  • Free Night Award upon card anniversary (worth up to 85,000 Bonvoy points).
  • $650 annual fee.
  • See Rates and Fees

If you pay off your balances every month, then you can join me and many others in funding a huge chunk of your annual travel budget with cash credits, points, and miles. I mostly use my rewards points on family trips – domestic economy flights, mid-range hotels, and cheap car rentals. If you have credit card debt, you should focus on paying that off first as the interest charges could offset most of the perks.

* 5/24 Rule? Certain Chase cards have a “5/24 rule” which is an unofficial rule that they will automatically deny approval on new credit cards if you have 5 or more new credit cards from any issuer on your credit report within the past 24 months (2 years). This rule applies on a per-person basis, so if you are new, you might want to start with those Chase cards.

Delta SkyMiles(R) Gold American Express Card: See Rates and Fees

American Express(R) Gold Card: See Rates and Fees

The Platinum Card(R) from American Express: See Rates and Fees

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant(R) American Express(R) Card: See Rates and Fees

Hilton Honors Card from American Express: See Rates and Fees

Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card: 125,000 Points Offer, $300 Annual Travel Credit, Tons of New Credits, Airport Lounge Access

Updated, also new 125k offer. The revamped Chase Sapphire Reserve® is now offering an opening incentive of 125,000 Ultimate Rewards points along with an even bigger annual fee and many new perks. Highlights:

  • 125,000 Ultimate Rewards points after $6,000 in purchases in the first 3 months.
  • $300 Annual Travel Credit . Every year, the card will automatically rebate you back up to $300 in travel purchases such as airfare and hotel nights charged on your card.
  • $300 StubHub credit. Get up to $150 in statement credits from January through June and again from July through December for a maximum of $300 annually for StubHub and viagogo purchases through 12/31/27. Activation required.
  • Free Apple TV+ and Apple Music subscriptions through 6/22/27 — a value of $250 annually, as Apple TV+ runs $12.99/month and Apple Music is $10.99/month normally.
  • $10 Lyft credit monthly, worth up to $120 annually, to use on rides through 9/30/27.
  • $10 per month back on eligible Peloton memberships in statement credits through 12/31/27, for a maximum of $120 annually. Activation required.
  • $500 in annual credits for prepaid bookings at The Edit hotels. This is a specific list of hotels. Broken down into $250 from January to June and $250 from July to December. Two-night minimum required. You also get extra perks like $100 property credit, free breakfast for two, and room upgrades (if available).
  • $300 in annual dining credits at Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables. This is a specific list of restaurants. Broken down into $150 from January through June and $150 from July through December for a maximum of $300 annually for dining at restaurants that are part of Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables with reservations through OpenTable.
  • 8X points on all purchases through Chase Travel, including The Edit hotels.
  • 4X points on flights and hotels booked direct.
  • 3X points on dining worldwide at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services.
  • 1X points on all other purchases. (1 point per $1 spent.)
  • Up to $120 statement credit towards Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck® every four years.
  • Airport lounge access via Priority Pass Select membership. Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select. Plus, get access to select Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounges and Air Canada Cafés in the U.S., Canada and Europe with an eligible boarding pass.
  • New: Access to Chase Sapphire Lounges, which are new airport lounges starting at New York’s LaGuardia Airport (LGA), Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), and Hong Kong International Airport (HKG).
  • 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs.
  • Annual fee is $795; $195 for each additional authorized user.

Note the following offer language:

This credit card is unavailable to you if you currently have one open. The new cardmember bonus may not be available to you if you currently have any other personal Sapphire cards open, previously held this card or received a new cardmember bonus for this card. We may also consider the number of cards you have opened and closed, as well as other factors in determining your bonus eligibility.

Ultimate Rewards points. This card also allows you to transfer Ultimate Rewards points into hotel and/or airline miles. Transfer to United Airlines, British Airways, Air Canada, Singapore Airlines, Korean Air, Southwest, Hyatt Hotels, IHG Hotels, and Marriott Hotels at a ratio of 1 Ultimate Rewards point = 1 mile/hotel point. Miles redemption continue to offer great value for savvy travelers, especially for last-minute travel and business class seats.

Personally, my preferred redemption method is Hyatt points, where I can consistently get over 2 cents per points of value for my hotel bookings. Recently, I have also been using my Ultimate Rewards points on the new Air Canada option.

Cash redemptions are a simple and easy option, but the conversion is a straight 100 points = $1.

Sharing points. Ultimate Rewards points are instantly transferable to other accounts like family members, as long as they have their own Chase card with Ultimate Rewards as an authorized user (free with Chase Freedom). This way, you can pool points together for transfers and redemptions if you like.

Additional card benefits:

  • Dedicated customer service line with a live person that answers the phone 24/7. No waiting or complicated phone trees.
  • No foreign transaction fees.
  • Auto Rental Coverage. Decline the rental company’s collision insurance and charge the entire rental cost to your card. Coverage is primary and provides reimbursement up to $75,000 for theft and collision damage for most rental cars in the U.S. and abroad. Most other cards only offer secondary coverage that kicks in only after the deductible of your individual insurance policy is used. (Specific limitations apply to New York residents: Auto Rental Coverage – inside the United States coverage is secondary to your personal automobile insurance.)
  • Trip Cancellation/Trip Interruption Insurance. If your trip is canceled or cut short by sickness, severe weather and other covered situations, you can be reimbursed up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip for your pre-paid, non-refundable travel expenses, including passenger fares, tours, and hotels.
  • Trip Delay Reimbursement. If your common carrier travel is delayed more than 6 hours or requires an overnight stay, you and your family are covered for unreimbursed expenses, such as meals and lodging, up to $500 per ticket
  • Lost Luggage Reimbursement. – Up to $2,000 per bag and $10,000 for all covered travelers per trip.
  • Enjoy special car rental privileges from National Car Rental, Avis, and Silvercar when you book with your card.

Bottom line. The Chase Sapphire Reserve® has a huge sign-up bonus, huge annual fee, and huge list of perks. It’s not for everyone, but there is definitely a lot of value for those that can take advantage of its annual credits.

The information for the Chase Sapphire Reserve® has been collected independently by My Money Blog. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Easy, Free Delta SkyMiles for Washington State Residents

seahawksBack again for new NFL season; Everyone must re-enroll. If you are a resident of Washington state and age 18+ (as indicated by your Skymiles account), you can register at www.12status.com and receive the following perks from Delta Airlines:

  • One mile for every yard the Seahawks throw on the field at regular and post season home and away games during the 2025-2026 NFL Season will be awarded in your Delta SkyMiles® account.
  • Priority boarding: 12Status Members will have the ability to board their departure flights at SeaTac during Group 5 from September 8, 2025 until the end of the Seahawks 2025-26 Season.
  • 12Status Members will receive an exclusive 12% discount at Seahawks Pro Shop retail stores on the 12th of each Seahawks in-season month.

There is nothing else you need to do to be eligible. This usually adds up to about 3,000 to 4,000 free Delta miles every year, so worth a quick reminder for WA residents. If you signed up for this last year, you still need to re-register again for this year.