Credit Card Applications
It’s plenty cold these days, but fortunately, none of that is coming from credit card issuers. My wife and I have had a successful, if not super-busy, last few months of credit card applications. Slow and steady has won the race this time. Here are the cards and offers we applied for, plus the all-important outcomes.
Marriott Bonvoy Bevy Amex
First off, I applied for this new Marriott card from Amex soon after it was launched. Many justifiably have no interest in this card, but I saw an easy win. The offer of 125k Bonvoy points for $4k spend caught my eye, and the free night certificates sealed the deal. I’m currently able to earn at bonus levels while picking up two certs on one admittedly-hefty $250 annual fee. But the referral bonus for my wife lessened the blow a bit.
Outcome:Â Immediately Approved
Bread Cashback Amex
I’ve touted the greatness of the Bread Amex for a good while, and we finally got around to applying for it. Procrastinating worked out great for us this time. My wife was first targeted via snail mail for the Bread Amex without a welcome offer. Eventually, Comenity targeted her again, this time with a $100 welcome offer for $1k spend. Meeting it was simple via Serve online loads. Not huge, but we’ll take it!
Outcome:Â Immediately Approved
Amex Business Platinum
Sometimes, no news is good news. That definitely applies to the Amex Business Platinum and no lifetime language welcome offers. I picked up two more 160k Membership Rewards welcome offers for spending $15k. Plus, I’m loving all the benefits that come with the card.
Outcome:Â Immediately Approved x2
Target Mastercard
I’ve long been interested in the Target Mastercard. Like the Target Redcard, both debit and credit versions, the Mastercard enables 5% off at Target. The Mastercard exclusively earns 2% on gas and dining purchases and 1% everywhere else, too. Similar to other Redcard offers, approval for the Mastercard would come with a $40 off $40 Target coupon.
Historically, approval for the Mastercard is far from assured. Indeed, individuals must apply via a general credit card application. This has most always led to an approval for the Redcard credit card limited to Target purchases. Cardholders have been randomly targeted for subsequent product changes to the Mastercard. Others have missed out on that completely.
But multiple hobbyists recently shared that they were immediately approved for the Mastercard version. They’re data points were very current at the time, and I decided applying merely days after they did was worth the risk. It worked out great for me, then my wife the next day.
Outcome:Â Immediately Approved x2
What’s Next?
My wife and I have a bit of breathing room on the Amex credit card side. I have four cards, while she has three. My wife’s no lifetime language Delta Amex Gold offer via snail mail is probably a no-brainer application. We’re also each in the market for a couple more Bank of America cards. I want to dive more into Comenity options soon, not necessarily another Bread Cashback Amex, though. And I want to get back into the PNC game, also.
Conclusion
We weren’t as active as usual during this past application cycle, but I’m happy with our application success. We’ll push harder in this next iteration, and doing so may lead to a lower batting average. But that’s fine with us. Again, you can’t win if you don’t play. What credit card applications have been worth your effort recently?
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I just finished my Ink spending. I’m 4/24, so I want to take a break and sign P2 up for the next card.
“Similar to other Redcard offers, approval for the Mastercard would come with a $40 off $40 Target coupon.”
By chance did you see if the $40 off $40 Target coupon would work BOTH in-store AND on-line. Other data points indicated that those $40 coupons are double-dippable (is that a word!) and work in-store, and then again on-line for a total of $80!
We received the cards and are happy with the results. 🙂
ah, thanks for that non-answer…I think?? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
I’m confident you understand my answer.
1X 90K Ink Unlimited
1X 90K Ink Cash for P2
Once we wrap up the spend on those we’ll probably consider IHG 175K personal and an Ink Unlimited for P2
Nice, Nathan!
Is there a referral offer option for the IHG?
I referred P2 for the Bevy with the elevated 30k MR referral offer that AMEX offered later on in the year – more than pd for the AF! Good analysis on the FNCs btw on the Bevy.
Am curious your interest in the Target credit card since same 5x as the debit Red Card?
Pam,
Awesome how that timing worked out! I preferred the Target Mastercard version for the spend capability beyond Target.