Truist Delta Debit Cards – Worth The Effort Or Stay Away?

Truist Delta Debit Cards

Points and travel hobbyists naturally focus much of their time on credit cards, as those provide the most lucrative rewards return on spending.  Indeed, card welcome offers keep reaching higher, while bonus categories have gone to levels I never considered possible.  Not surprisingly, we don’t focus on banks’ debit card offerings much.  Today, I’m finally getting around to writing about the Truist Delta Debit Cards, brought over from SunTrust.  Are these cards worth your time, effort, and spending?  Let’s see!

Truist Delta Debit Cards – Two Choices

Truist offers two flavors of Delta debit cards – the personal version, creatively named the Delta SkyMiles Debit Card, and the Delta SkyMiles Business Debit Card.  I’ll cover each individually.

Delta SkyMiles Debit Card

Cardholders earn 5k bonus miles after their first purchase with this card.  Individuals obtain 1 mile per $2 spent, but there are earning limits.  Cardholders with Truist One, existing Truist Dimension, existing Signature Advantage, Truist Wealth, and Truist Asset Management Account checking accounts earn a maximum of 4k miles per card, per 30 day period.

But how about if one is more creative?  Unfortunately, Delta SkyMiles Debit Cards issued on any other consumer checking account earn a maximum of 2k miles per card, per 30 day period.

And if those aren’t enough attached strings, the card comes with a $95 annual fee.  Cardholders can reduce this fee, but only by locking up significant amounts for an extended period.  Individuals with an average three month account balance of at least $25k are entitled to a $75 annual fee, and those putting in at least $100k for the same period receive a $25 annual fee.

Finally, for Truist Wealth, Truist Asset Management Account and existing Signature Advantage Clients, the Delta SkyMiles Debit Card earns 1 additional mile per $1 for Delta purchases (1.5x total).  These accounts involve other requirements, though, including holding higher Truist balances; head over to Truist for more info.  Regardless, most individuals can probably do better putting Delta spend on other cards.

Delta SkyMiles Business Debit Card

Business cardholders earn the same 5k bonus miles after first purchase and 0.5 miles per dollar spent.  Oddly, the earning cap is lower on the business card.  Cardholders earn a maximum of 2k miles for each 30 day period.  Delta purchases are similarly subpar, earning 1 additional mile per $2 spent (1x total).

And I’ll pile on even more bad news.  The card annual fee of $120 is substantially higher than the personal version.  Cardholders with a minimum of $25k average three month account balance receive a $90 annual fee, while $50k in that timeframe unlocks a $60 annual fee.

My Take

The vast majority of us can do better earning debit card rewards with other products.  The below products from bigger banks, and other niche ones, provide similar or better debit card rewards.

For instance, Discover has historically offered their aptly-named Cashback Debit card, which earns 1% cash back on all purchases.  While not currently available, it’s just a matter of time before it returns.  But the American Express business checking account and its Membership Rewards-earning debit card are available now.  Individuals can currently earn a 30k bonus in addition to 0.5x earning everywhere.  And in the past, a huge 60k offer has been available, and even more when combining with a Business Platinum card application.  Hopefully, some version of those offers returns soon.

So who are these cards for, anyway?  Delta enthusiasts who highly value those redemptions may want to consider either card.  Individuals with high spend requirements limited to debit transactions may also find value with these cards.  Existing Truist customers who have reasons to hold high sums there may want to take a Delta debit card for a spin, too.  If you’re in two or more of these groups, it’s probably an easy decision.

But for everyone else, it’s hard to squint and make the case for holding either Delta debit card.  Most of us shouldn’t park money with Truist – returns are superior elsewhere.  At best, that would allow someone to earn an annual max of 48k miles on $96k spend for a $95 annual fee.  Instead, easily earn more than that with one Delta SkyMiles Amex credit card welcome offer requiring a few thousand dollars of spend.

Conclusion

Most individuals should stay away from the Truist Delta debit cards.  While these cards aren’t worth our time, they’re obviously worth the bank’s effort.  Truist is probably raking in significant annual fees from a considerable segment of less detail-oriented account holders.  Don’t fall for it.

Do you have a Truist Delta Debit Card?  What makes the card a worthy one for you?

Disclosure: Miles to Memories has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Miles to Memories and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers.

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