The 2% cashback Charles Schwab Invest First Visa Card has been around for awhile. It’s getting pretty popular, and they have been taking down the old links. Make sure to apply for it before it’s too late. The 2% cash back card is good on all purchases. Get this while it’s available, and there is no annual fee at all. No limit on the cash back you earn. However, you must open a Charles Schwab brokerage account to get unlimited 2% cash back. The cash back will automatically deposited into your Schwab One account.

Good Info from Fatwallet:

Members have reported receiving the credit card one week after getting approval.

Opening an account: 1 pull for each of the following: credit card, brokerage account (“Schwab One Account”) and checking account (3 total pulls if you apply for all 3)

Brokerage account (“One” account) $1000 minimum waived if you have the credit card. Checking account also waives this $1000 minimum.

If you did not get instant approval, call them after a day or two. If you call during the business hours they’ll let you talk to credit analyst and get decision right away. This is a good option, since if the analyst is not sure you have a chance to convince him/her to approve your account (by moving CL, or just by saying that you have enough assets to pay off all balances on your credit report)

To Check Application Status:
LINK

Already a Schwab Bank WorldPoints Cardholder?

I have an existing Schwab Bank Visa credit card with WorldPoints rewards. What’s the difference between this card and the new Schwab Bank Invest First card?
The Schwab Bank WorldPoints card is no longer available to new accounts. With your existing WorldPoints card, you earn one Point for every $1 on net retail purchases and can choose from a variety of WorldPoints rewards including travel, merchandise/gift cards, equity trades, and even 1% Cash Back. The new Schwab Bank Invest First card offers unlimited 2% Cash Back on purchases, automatically deposited into your Schwab One account.

Both cards have no annual fee. However, the variable Annual Percentage Rates (APRs) and benefits are different for each card. For more information about rates, fees, other costs, and benefits associated with the new Schwab Bank Invest First card, please refer to the disclosures accompanying the online credit card application.

Can I switch my WorldPoints card to the new Schwab Bank Invest First card?
No. The new Schwab Bank Invest First card is a separate card with new account terms, so you would need to apply for the new card.

Can I roll over Points from my WorldPoints card to the new Schwab Bank Invest First card?
No. The cards offer different rewards programs, so you can’t roll over Points from your existing WorldPoints card to the new Schwab Bank Invest First card.

Do I have to close my WorldPoints card if I open a new Schwab Bank Invest First card?
No. You may choose to keep both credit cards open if you like.

You can log in to your Schwab CC acct here LINK

About the Schwab Bank High Yield Investor Checking%u2122 account:

* Earn 1.00% variable APY%u2014 that%u2019s 2 times the national average.1
* No ATM fees. We reimburse any ATM fee you are charged%u2014 worldwide.2
* Enjoy free standard checks, free online bill pay and a Visa® Platinum Check Card.
* Get full-featured FDIC-insured checking for up to $250,000.3

Do I need to do anything before I travel internationally?
It%u2019s always a good idea to contact us if you intend to use your Visa Check Card in another country or will be out of town for an extended period of time. To protect against fraud, transactions in certain countries may result in your Visa Check Card being inactivated.

If you intend to travel, please call and let us know which country you will be in and how best to reach you while you are away. For instance, if you will be checking your email regularly, you can request an email to inform you of any unusual check card activity. If your card is blocked and you have questions, call the number on the back of your card.

It comes with a Schwab One® brokerage account that lets you:

* Invest in mutual funds, single portfolio solutions, stocks, bonds, CDs, options, exchange-traded funds and more.
* Manage both your Schwab Bank checking account and your brokerage account on Schwab.com with a single login.
* Easily transfer funds online between your accounts for free.

How to waive the $1,000 account minimum for the Schwab One brokerage account:
* Automatic $100 monthly deposit into your brokerage account. Once you open an account, arrange to deposit $100 or more per month. Just visit the Transfers and Payments tab after logging in or call 866-232-9890 to set up this automatic transfer.
* Open a Schwab Bank Investor Checking account linked to your brokerage account Learn More.
* Open a Schwab Bank Invest FirstTM Visa Signature® Credit Card

Q: How do I get my cash rewards?
A: Your points will be automatically redeemed at the close of each month and your cash rewards will be deposited into your Schwab One account that is linked to your Schwab Bank Invest First card 5-10 business days after the close of each month. If you provided your Schwab One account number when you applied for your card, we will link that brokerage account to your credit card. If you applied for a Schwab One brokerage account at the same time you applied for the Schwab Bank Invest First card online or by phone, these accounts will be linked. If you opened a Schwab One account separately from your credit card, you will need to link the two accounts. To add, change, or confirm your linked Schwab One account, please log in to schwab.com/creditcard and access your Schwab Bank Invest First account.

You can pay your card in full each month. To do so, call the number on the back of your card and ask them to mail you the auto-pay form. The paper form, unlike the online options, gives you the choice of paying your balance in full.

How to link your account(s) for the Cash.back:
Enroll your account and Log into the Schwab management site, go to the management section for the Schwab card, and then select the “Rewards” tab in that section. There, click on the link “Enroll or verify your Schwab One to receive cash rewards” and link your account from there.

This card has some additional benefits that have some real value. (And others that don’t
Surprisingly there seems to be no discussion of the other benefits of this card

Schwab Bank Invest First Visa Credit Card

- Purchase Replacement for damaged lost or stolen items within 90 days
- Price Protection coverage 60 days
- Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver 15 days US, 31 days international
- Warranty Manager Doubles the warranty up to 1 year
- Lost luggage reimbursement $3000 per trip maximum
- Common Traveler Accident Insurance $1M (accidental loss of life/limb)
- Concierge Services Locate tickets, flowers, etc
- Identity Theft Protection Contacts the credit bureaus for you
- Travel and Emergency Assistance Assistance reboooking flights, getting meds, etc
- Roadside Dispatch Calls tow truck, lock smith, etc
- Visa Signature Dining Zagat ratings access, access to special Fine Wine and Food events

The first four seem to be the really valuable ones

“Opt out” of “direct marketing” and “information sharing” – it takes less than 3 minutes. Directions:
(1) Call 1-866-325-8310
(2) Listen for the opt-out option – press #1
(3) They give you more information then ask you whether you want to opt-out again, again, press #1.
(4) Press #0 to be connected with customer service rep who can remove you from direct marketing sharing, tell him/her: “I was directed here when asking to opt out of information and direct marketing, please help me opt out of those.”

$100 Starwood Bonus

Starwood Preferred Guest® Credit Card from American Express gives you 10000 bonus Starpoints after first purchase. This can be converted to $100 gift card.

• Earn up to 25,000 Starpoints® — enough for up to 6 free nights at a category 1 or 2 hotel.
• Use Starpoints® for free nights and upgrades at over 860 participating Starwood hotels and resorts in 95 countries including Sheraton, W Hotels, Westin and more with no blackout dates
• No annual fee for the first year and $45 thereafter
• Transfer Starpoints® — almost always on a 1:1 basis — to the frequent flyer programs of over 30 major airlines
• Earn one Starpoint® for every dollar you spend and double Starpoints® at participating Starwood properties and retail partners
• Express Approval. Get a decision in less than 60 econds. Apply Now!

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These cards are extremely hard to find because they don’t offer 0% APR Balance Transfer cards anymore. Not only the great 12 months 0% APR, but they all have a cap or no balance transfer fee. Very rare to find, but here is the exclusive list:

1. 12 months 0% APR $0 BT fee US Bank TheLinuxFund.org
2. 12 months 0% APR $0 BT fee US Bank Baylor Alumni card
3. 12 months 0% APR $0 BT fee US Bank Prof. Bullrider’s Assoc.
4. 12 months 0% APR $0 BT fee US Bank American Humane
5. 12 months 0% APR $0 BT fee US Bank Sons OF Norway
6. 6 months 0% APR $0 BT fee Barclays Harvard World MasterCard (Alumni). 5000 bonus points first use.
7. 8 months 0% APR $60 Max BT fee RBS People’s United Bank card
8. 12 months 0% APR $75 Max BT fee Barclays Coast to Coast Visa
9. 12 months 0% APR $75 Max BT fee Chase Disney Rewards
10. 12 months 0% APR $75 Max BT fee Chase OptionsXpress Platinum Visa

American Express Premier Gold $150 Bonus

The American Express(R) Premier Rewards Gold Card is currently offering 15000 bonus points = $150 gift cards after $1000 in spending in your first 3 months. You can order coins to fulfill this promotion to do this quickly. This offer is a quick easy way to make $150 bonus. There is no fees for first year, so I would cancel the card before the anniversary if you don’t find it useful.

Offer Details:

1. Earn 15,000 Membership Rewards bonus points when you spend $1,000 in your first 3 months of Card membership. MR points are very versatile, and can be converted to 15,000 frequent flier miles in a number of programs (or 10 Southwest credits), or you can simply get $150 in gift cards at several stores like Home Depot, Crate & Barrel, or Macy’s. I think you can also get cash equivalents at a reduced ratio.
2. Offers 3X points on airfare, 2X points on gas and groceries, and 1X points on everything else.
3. Earn 15,000 Membership Rewards bonus points when you spend $30,000 per calendar year.
4. No annual fee for your first year. After that it is $175.

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Those with a Visa Signature card from the list below, you can get a free $5 in movie tickets for every $20 purchased at Fandango. Before they have the buy one get one free, but the promo is over.

414716 – Bank of America (US) – Alaska Airlines Signature Visa Credit Card
426690 – Chase Disney Visa Rewards
414720 – Chase freedom
424615 – Chase freedom alternate code
426684 – Chase freedom Cash Rewards
426681 – Chase Rewards
441712 – Chase Buy.com
441597 – Chase rewards
435787 – Chase Sapphire

412800 – Citi Dividend
412800 – Citi Forward
412800 – Citi MTVu

441712 – SW visa

431307 – Fidelity Investments

431307 – Schwab Invest First

438857 – United Mileage Plus

414778 – USBank FlexPerks

Hustler’s Saving Money Tip of the Day:

One of the things I learn with car insurance is that you can always cancel your policy at any time. There is no early termination fee and you get your money back pro-rated if you pay it full in advance. Since rates are always changing, you can be sure to find a lower price from all the competitors.

It took me less than 5 minutes to find a lower rate by going through online with Netquote. After filling out online, the offers begin to pour in from at least 10 insurance companies. The major companies include Farmers, Allstate, Progressive, Nationwide, and many more. I put in the year and model of my car, along with the type of coverage I would like, and they will email you the best rates. I didn’t put my real phone number because I didn’t want to be bothered with them calling.

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The Chase Sapphire is getting great reviews from many blogs and online mags. The $100 bonus is not the only icing on the cake. Here’s a quick sample of their no hold time for customer services.

When a Sapphire cardholder calls Chase, “a specially trained advisor picks up the phone – with no need to navigate a voice-response system.” These specially trained advisors have the goal of resolving the customer’s need on the first call. (Chase didn’t say anything about the empowerment to do so, but perhaps that’s a picayune quibble). No phone tree has to be worth at least a ten point reduction in blood pressure. Can one really put a price on health? Perhaps not, but Sapphire seems to have given it an annual fee…

Chase Sapphire $100 Bonus

Currently, Chase Sapphire(SM) Card is giving away 10,000 Bonus Points after first purchase. The 10,000 bonus points can be cashed in for a $100 check. There is no annual fee with the Chase Sapphire Card. I personally have this card and got a $100 Check.

With the Chase Sapphire Card, you get 2X on all airfare booked through Ultimate Rewards. There is no earning caps, point expiration, or blackout dates. Also, earn 10x for every dollar when shopping at select merchant through Ultimate Rewards Mall and 1 point for every dollar on all other purchases. Chase gives you 24/7 Dedicated service advisor (No voice recording) with premier travel protection benefits.

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Increase credit limit is a good thing and should always be done to the maximum. The higher the credit limit, the better your credit score will be. This is a known fact. Hence, take advantage of this as much as possible. Usually, every 3 months or 6 months, depending on the credit card issuer, you need to give them a call or log-in your account. Simply tell them you want to increase your credit limit without a hard pull. That’s extremely important since a hard pull will lower your credit score.

Expect a Hard:

1. Barclay’s Business (i.e. Bank Atlantic) – per call on, but soft when done to new account.
2. Chase – always a hard pull
3. Citi – hard pull is definite if they ask for income verification.
4. Discover – hard pull at or beyond 15k
5. FNBO – Always hard through form.

No Hard Pull:

1. Juniper / Barclay’s – call the CSR on the back of your card and ask for an increase.
2. Discover (personal) – credit limit increase $2K every six months by calling 1-800-DISCOVER. It’s a soft pull.
3. US Bank (personal) – increase credit limit by 20% every 3 months with usage .
4. Wells Fargo – Call CSR and ask for increase without hard pull. They might say “we have to hard pull” then just talk to another CSR later.
5. USAA – Choose soft pull for additional review.
6. Citi – You can do this within your online account. CLI is instant unless ask for income verification.
7. AMEX – Use online form for no-hard CLI. If your credit limit is more than $25K, don’t bother asking. Otherwise they might reduce your credit limit.
8. Bank of America – Use online form for no-hard CLI.
9. WalMart – Use online form for no-hard CLI. Every 6 months usually.
10. Principal – No credit check for pre-approved limit increase.

Chase Sapphire $100 Bonus

Currently, Chase Sapphire(SM) Card is giving away 10,000 Bonus Points after first purchase. The 10,000 bonus points can be cashed in for a $100 check. There is no annual fee with the Chase Sapphire Card. I personally have this card and got a $100 Check.

With the Chase Sapphire Card, you get 2X on all airfare booked through Ultimate Rewards. There is no earning caps, point expiration, or blackout dates. Also, earn 10x for every dollar when shopping at select merchant through Ultimate Rewards Mall and 1 point for every dollar on all other purchases. Chase gives you 24/7 Dedicated service advisor (No voice recording) with premier travel protection benefits.

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American Express and Costco is giving away $25 bonus after first purchase for the TrueEarnings Card. The TrueEarnings Card from Costco and American Express offers 3% on gasoline and restaurants, 2% for travel, and 1% everywhere else. Their is no cap on the cash back because it’s unlimited. This is a must have card for those shopping at Costco.

There is no annual fee for those with a Costco membership. There are many benefits to shop at Costco:

1. All year round low prices on most items and no need to wait for special sales like supermarkets.
2. Bulk packages of name brands which offer cheaper prices.
3. Great quality with photo printouts with cheap passport photo development.
4. Excellent Customer service with the best return policy.

If you do go and sign up for a Costco membership, then go through this special link for:

1. FREE rotisserie chicken
2. FREE photo processing
3. FREE Kirkland Signature™
4. 2 lb. bag of coffee and more!!!

True Earnings® Card from Costco and American Express

• Earn cash back on gas and a $25 statement credit with your first purchase made with the Card!
• Earn cash back virtually everywhere you go – 3% for gasoline, 3% for restaurants, 2% for travel, 1% everywhere else, including Costco
• No Annual Fee with your paid Costco Membership
• The TrueEarnings Card serves as both your American Express Credit Card and your Costco Membership Card
• No Limit on the Cash Back earned Apply Now!

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Those with a  TD Bank Visa Debit Card, you can now register and use your super card for the supermarket to get 10% cash back. Just use your TD Bank Visa Debit Card and get $10 back for every $100 spent on groceries – up to $50.
On top of the 10% bonus, you get to play the Daily Debit Dash for a chance to win $500.

Sign Up Link TD Bank Debit Bonus

Sign for grocery purchases from Jan 17 – Mar 6, 2010 with your TD Bank Visa Debit Card,
and you’ll get a $10 TD Bank Visa Gift Card in the mail for every $100 spent on groceries
– up to $50. See Super Card Terms for details.

CC Dude’s Saving Money Tip of the Day:

One of the things I learn with car insurance is that you can always cancel your policy at any time. There is no early termination fee and you get your money back pro-rated if you pay it full in advance. Since rates are always changing, you can be sure to find a lower price from all the competitors.

It took me less than 5 minutes to find a lower rate by going through online with Netquote. After filling out online, the offers begin to pour in from at least 10 insurance companies. The major companies include Farmers, Allstate, Progressive, Nationwide, and many more. I put in the year and model of my car, along with the type of coverage I would like, and they will email you the best rates. I didn’t put my real phone number because I didn’t want to be bothered with them calling.

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Good news for those with the Discover Card 0% Balance Transfer for life; you no longer required to make 2 minimum purchases to get the 0% APR.

Here’s a recent email:

Thank you for your recent inquiry regarding the extension of the balance transfer rate on your Discover Card account.

Great News! You no longer have to make transactions in order to extend your balance transfer rate on your transferred balance per the terms of the original offer.

Please keep in mind that if you pay late, the promotional Annual Percentage Rate (APR) will end, and we may increase all of your APR’s to a variable Default Rate of up to 29.99%. This change does not affect any other Balance Transfers or other promotional rates and terms that you may have on your account.

Remember, Discover Card rewards you with CashBack Bonus for the things you buy. We did not advertise this as we encourage you to continue using your account for your purchases to increase your CashBack Bonus balance.

We appreciate your business and hope you enjoy the many benefits of being a Discover Cardmember.

They didn’t do this out of their good heart, but  they are in preparation for the new Credit Card Act. Also, it has been confirmed that they have increase the 2% minimum payment up to 4%. People have been told that all existing balance transfers will be subject to a 2% minimum, or 2% plus $40 if balance is greater than $40.  Check with your credit statements to be absolutely sure. Also, call Discover CSR to check on their new policy of no purchases requirement.

ShareBuilder $50 Bonus

If you never open a Sharebuilder account, then these bonuses are pretty easy. There is no hard pull on your credit report. Normally, you would need to make a trade, but it seems like there is no need to make one trade on this bonus offer.

Here’s the newest code I just found: 50WCFA

Follow these steps:

1. Sign up to your ShareBuilder account.
2. Click on the “Get Started” tab.
3. Select account type Individual Account and then click “I’m responding to a Promotion”.
4. Fill out the rest of the form. Click “Next” to fill out second form. Under Promotion Code, enter promo code E.G.: 50WCFA
5. Select “No I don’t have an account” and fill out the owner information and username/password information. Click “Next”.
6. Select “Sharebuilder Basic Account” (Don’t select Standard or Advantage as those programs have monthly fees).
7. Deposit $50 from your checking account, Fund your account with an Electronic funds deposit from savings or checking account .
8. It seems like you don’t even need to make a trade to get the bonus.
9. Receive email that you got the promotion.
10. Wait 4-6 weeks to get your bonus.

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I’ve reading on a few articles the Credit Card Act goes into effect on Feb. 22, and it seems like Credit Card companies will take a closer look at your household income on your applications.

From the article:

“We’re headed down the road where if you can’t verify your income, you can’t get a credit card,” says John Ulzheimer, president of consumer education for Credit.com, a card-comparison Web site

CC companies are doing everything in their power to cut your credit limit. On one hand, I don’t think people who is not credit “worthiness” should get credit. This prevents people from buying things they cannot afford. On the other hand, this is how CC companies make money by people borrowing money and paying interest each month.

Another good thread to read on ” Database of YOUR Salary Information, Article in the AJC About Equifax”

ARE YOU ON FILE?
• To find out if The Work Number’s database includes information about your employment history and to review that information, call The Work Number’s customer service department at 1-800-367-2884. The Work Number also takes consumer complaints at this number.
• To find out more about The Work Number, go to www.theworknumber.com.
• To file an official complaint about any consumer reporting agency or data broker, contact the Federal Trade Commission at www.ftc.gov or 1-877-FTC-HELP (877-382-4357).

Personally, I can think of a few ways to evaluating one credit “worthiness”: Proof of income, assets, credit history, and records of debt repayment. Approving or denying an CC application shouldn’t be based on income alone.

PerkStreet Bank $50 Bonus

I just found out a $50 bonus to PerkStreet Financial™ offers a brand new online checking account designed to reward those who spend responsibly.

Each PerkStreet online checking account comes with a PerkStreet Financial Visa® Debit Card that offers 1% cash back, free music or coffee and you get a $50 bonus for opening an account.

Hate doing direct deposit to get a bonus? Then check out PerkStreet Financial $50 bonus for opening a checking account with a $25 minimum deposit. You must keep it open for 3 months but there is no direct deposit requirement. There is a $4.50 fee if there is no activity. Make sure to keep the account active once a month by depositing or withdrawing a small amount.

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If you have insurance on your cell phone, you might consider getting a PenFed Visa Platinum Card. The card gives you free cell phone protection and reimburse you up to $250 minus $50 deductible twice a year. Another top perk is the 5% unlimited cash back for gas at the pump. In order to qualify, you must pay your cell phone bill with the credit card.

Here’s a quick description:

Pay your cell phone bill with your PenFed Visa card and you’ll get more than the convenience of not worrying about writing a check and finding a stamp. If your cell phone breaks, you’re covered. Cell Phone Protection reimburses you for damage to or theft of your eligible cell phones, Smartphones or personal digital assistants (PDAs).
Best of all, Cell Phone Protection is free!
If your cell phone is damaged or stolen, a $50 deductible per claim makes you eligible for reimbursement up to $250 per claim.

It’s free AND easy.
Log onto PenFed Online and look for the cell phone icon on the main menu of your accounts. Then charge your monthly cell phone bill to your PenFed Visa credit card. Coverage begins the first day of the calendar month following your first payment of your wireless cell phone carrier bill using your covered PenFed Visa card.

Guide to Phone Insurance Benefits.

Other benefits with this card include:

• Earn 2% cash back on supermarket purchases*
• Earn 5.00% cash back from gas purchases paid at the pump*
• Earn 1.25% cash back from all purchases** you make with the card during each billing cycle
• Up to $50,000 limit
• No Annual Fee
• Cash Rewards credited each month
• No special restrictions to earn your cash rewards
• Limited Time- Balance Transfer of 4.99% APR for 24 months †

The last hurdle is joining PenFed in order to apply for this credit card. You can join PenFed via:

1. SAME – Free for high school or college students.
2. Complete list – member of military, family member, etc.
3. NMFA – one time $20 membership

Quick Free FICO Score and Report

MyFico is giving your credit Score Watch and report Free Trial for thirty days. They will remind you when your free trial is up. The best part is they are making the cancellation extremely easy. Simply visit this MyFico cancellation page so you won’t ever have to pay anything! Once you login, the cancellation is quick with an easy cancellation button. No need to call customer services or dealing with them selling other financial products.

Checking your credit score and report are vital to your financial health. Visit MyFico today to get your free credit score and report.

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