A Mixed Bag – Our Recent Credit Card Application Results

Recent Credit Card Application Results

I can’t win if I don’t play.  I periodically repeat this to myself, especially when things don’t go as I had hoped or planned.  That sums up our recent credit card application results.  Certain application efforts inevitably turn out better than others.  But the wife and I are continuing to show up, trying our best to efficiently pick up more rewards, with or without new card welcome offers.  Here’s how the latest round went, in no particular order.

Our Latest Credit Card Application Results

Amex Gold

First off, I start with a card we cannot get enough of – the Amex Gold.  I can understand why some yawn at this one, but we get plenty of value out of the benefits and earning.  My wife picked up one without a signup bonus last time, so this was my turn.  She picked up a solid referral bonus along the way.  The simplicity worked out well.

Application Outcome:  Immediately Approved

Hilton Honors Amex

Hilton loyalists were treated to the best versions of elevated welcome offers earlier this year, the ones which include an additional free night certificate.  I and many others consider Hiltons certs the most outstanding ones, good at all but a handful of their properties.  My wife and I definitely wanted to partake, and no-lifetime-language offers (these are the current ones) can help.  The cert plus 70k point bonus only requires $2k spend over six months.  We’re taking our time to meet this, since we have plenty of Hilton certs right now.  This will give us even more time to use the newer ones.

Application Outcomes:  Approved via Reconsideration, Wife Immediately Approved

Hilton Honors Amex Surpass

But we weren’t done with Hilton.  Within the same timeframe, we each applied for the Surpass’s elevated 130k points plus one cert offer.  This bonus requires $3k spend over six months, which we’re again taking our time on achieving.  Triggering the quarterly $50 Hilton credits has been a minor victory for us, since doing so seems to get trickier by the day (in some respects).  Regardless, we didn’t highly factor card benefits into our decision to apply, anyway.

Application Outcomes:  Approved via Reconsideration, Wife Immediately Approved

Bread AAA Travel Advantage Visa Signature

I had thought my relationship with Bread/Comenity was over, but then I received some junk mail.  Bread targeted me for the AAA cards, including the Travel Advantage and the Daily Advantage.  I described these options about two years ago, and they remain largely unchanged.  I applied for the Travel Advantage version, given its uncapped categories I deemed more attractive.  The signup bonus was very minor, around $100 as I recall, but that’s not what this one was about for me.  At any rate, it didn’t matter.

Application Outcome:  Immediately Denied

Wells Fargo Autograph

I’ve been denied for the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey multiple times.  An easier card to overlook has been the “normal” Autograph; I had hoped an approval here would be simpler.  This no-fee card offers surprisingly strong bonus categories: 3x on dining, gas stations, transit, streaming, phone plans, and travel.  Pairing those with the excellent 1:2 transfer ratio to Choice Privileges is right up my alley.  The 20k signup bonus requires $1k spend.  But the goodness ends there.

Application Outcome:  Immediately Denied

Rakuten Amex

I picked up the Rakuten Amex from Imprint in the last round of applications and have been intrigued. I’ve enjoyed tinkering with Rakuten earning, but also the broad 2x categories.  (We’re both sticking with Amex Membership Rewards as our preferred method of Rakuten earning.)  I decided to refer my wife to the card, which provides a 5k point/$50 referral bonus for each approved application.  Unfortunately, our timing wasn’t the best.  Only the $100 welcome offer on $1k spend was available when she applied; the $200 version with the same spend requirement appeared days later.  Oh, well.

Application Outcome:  Immediately Approved

Drury Rewards Visa

I have a thing for wacky hotel cards, and I appreciate Drury Hotels.  This chain offers a relatively democratized experience, pulling it off quite smoothly, in my experience.  Hotel guests receive a full hot breakfast and 5:30 kickback refreshments (bordering on dinner) included in their room rate.  Drury’s loyalty program does not offer elite status.

The cobranded Visa card issued by Commerce Bank offers a 25k bonus points after spending $500.  This no-fee card earns an additional 5x points at Drury Hotels and 2x at gas stations, restaurants, and on utilities.  Points aren’t particularly valuable for those keeping cents-per-point score (I don’t) – a bit under a penny each, in my experience.

Application Outcome:  Immediately Approved

Discover it Cash Back

Mark sold me.  My Discover it Miles card’s first year had just ended, meaning the uncapped 3% cashback (incorporating the year one match) was over.  I was eligible to apply for another card, and it had been quite some time since I held the Discover it Cash Back card with its 5% quarterly categories.  Mark’s article gave me the nudge I needed to apply.  The daydreaming was fun while it briefly lasted.

Application Outcome:  Immediately Denied

Conclusion

Despite three denials, my wife and I were productive enough with our card applications over the last few months.  The mid-tier banks really didn’t come through for me this time.  We have solid plans for more applications in the near future, and I’ll definitely keep everyone up to speed on those.  Long story short, it’s probably time to get even weirder.  Stay tuned!

What credit cards have you recently picked up and why?