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Citi Bank Dividend vs. AMEX Blue Cash vs. Chase Freedom

G

Glavinsolo

Platinum Member
Citi Bank Dividend
  • Pros:
  • 2% always on grocery, gas, utilities, drug store, convenience
  • 1% on everything else
  • Rebate mailed to you
  • Cons:
  • $300 earning limit per year
AMEX Blue Cash
  • Pros:
  • First $6,500 @ 1% after that 5% for grocery, gas, drug store, convenience
  • First $6,500 @ .5% after that 1.5% for everything else
  • The first $6,500 can be a mix of the two
  • No cash earnings cap
  • Purchase Protection Plan protects eligible purchases against accidental damage or theft for up to 90 days from the date of purchase. Coverage is limited to up to $1,000 per Occurrence, up to $50,000 per Card account per policy year, and is in EXCESS of other sources of indemnity.

    The Buyer's Assurance Plan will extend the terms of the original U.S. manufacturer's warranty for up to one additional year on eligible purchases with warranties of 5 years or less. Coverage is available for eligible items for up to $10,000 (not to exceed $50,000 per Card account per policy year).
  • Cons:
  • If you don't spend more than $6,500 a year you are best to go with Citi
  • It's an AMEX card, some places don't take it
  • Not 100% sure but I don't think you can pay utilities and get the bonus cash back like Citi
  • Rebate applied to account not mailed to you

Chase Freedom
  • Pros:
  • 3% cash back on gas, groceries, fast food type places including coffee, sandwiches for the first $600 you spend in this category per billing cycle
  • 1% cash back on everything else
  • No cap
  • You don't need to choose cash you can choose special goods they have at the time
  • No cap on how much you can earn
  • If you hit the $200 mark in the cash back category you get $250 back from them
  • Cons:
  • $600 limit per billing cycle on the 3% bonus, if you charge more than that the AMEX will be a better choice
  • You have to hit $50 in rebates before you can cash out
 
I have both and you summarize the pro/cons very well except for one:
why is having to deal with a check a pro? having it automatically applied against my balance requires no work from me and I get the $$ either way... right?

 
I don't even buy $6,500 in the 5% catagory for amex. I use the following combo:

Chase Rewards Plus: 5% gas, grocery, drug stores, 1% everything else (max rewards I think is $600/yr)
Amex True Rewards Costco: 3% eating out, 2% travel, 1% everything else (reward in form of a yearly Costco coupon, redeemable for cash)
Discover Card: Sometimes they have some great 5% promotional catagories (hardware/home improvement, gas, eating out). Right now 5% travel stuff like airlines, trains, rental cars, hotels, up to $1k.
 
Has Chase stopped letting people apply for their 5% gas cash-back card? I can't find it anywhere anymore (for friends - I already have one).

Also, I probably won't discover that Chase has stopped their 5% gas/grocery cash-back for a while after they do, so does anyone know if they plan on cutting that like Citi just did?

And, not to thread-jack, but is there a difference between "Chase Rewards Plus" and "Chase Rewards" - I'm not sure which one I have.


And, to comply with the OP's request, I use the Chase Rewards (Plus? I don't know) Card - for now: 5% cashback on gas, groceries, and some other stuff; 1% back on everything else.
 
Apply for both at the same time and they'll never know about each other. Which one to use is going to depend on how much you spend on the card each year.
 
The Amex Blue has two more pros:

- Purchase Protection Plan protects eligible purchases against accidental damage or theft for up to 90 days from the date of purchase. Coverage is limited to up to $1,000 per Occurrence, up to $50,000 per Card account per policy year, and is in EXCESS of other sources of indemnity.

- The Buyer's Assurance Plan will extend the terms of the original U.S. manufacturer's warranty for up to one additional year on eligible purchases with warranties of 5 years or less. Coverage is available for eligible items for up to $10,000 (not to exceed $50,000 per Card account per policy year).
 
Yeah, I am doing the math right now with my 2006 EoY statements. I'm looking at my spending habits and trying to figure out which card to get. I finally got time to look into doing this and the Chase card you guys listed seems like a great card but I'm not seeing 5% on the web.
 
I am very happy with thankyou points or american membership reward.

diamond preferred still have 5% on gas, grocery, and drug store purchases.
 
Amex Starwood and Chase Cash Plus Rewards are all you need.


Plus, I heard rumblings that Citi Dividend is bringing back the old 5% because of everyone no longer using the card 😀
 
Platinum Business Premium Cash Rebate Card.

$1-$20k = 0.5%
$20k-120k = 2.5%
$120k+ = 0.5%

Merchants in OPEN Savings program: 2x above percentages.

No annual fee
0% introductory annual percentage rate on purchases for the first six months of Cardmembership(3)
Available credit line of up to $100,000
Purchase Protection Plan(4), which protects eligible purchases against accidental damage or theft for up to 90 days from date of purchase
Buyer's Assurance Plan(5), which matches the original manufacturer's guarantee up to one additional year
Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance Plan(6), which covers excess damage or theft expenses not covered by a Cardmember's other insurance plans
Expense Management Reports, for customizable online reports that help customers track business spending on their Card
 
Originally posted by: Mermaidman
Originally posted by: brtspears2
I don't even buy $6,500 in the 5% catagory for amex. . .
Click to expand...
As the OP mentioned, the $6500 threshold does not depend on the type of purchase.
Click to expand...

In that case, I read wrong. So in my case, I usually charge on $900 on my credit cards in expenses a month, with about 1/3rd in the 5% tier.

So 900x12 = $8100/yr.

First $6,500: (according to my charges)
$2,167 @ 1% = $21.67
$4,333 @ 0.5% = $21.67

Remaining $1,600
$533 @ 5% = $26.65
$1067 @ 1.5% = $16.01

Total rewards over $8,100 = $86, or roughly 1.06%. In my case, this Amex Blue cash is not much better than a 1% Discover card. But if you are a huge spender in the 5% category, it might be for you.
 
Originally posted by: SoulAssassin
Chase Freedom card (chasefreedomnow.com) is 3% on grocery, gas, etc and 1% on everything else with no cap.
Click to expand...

This one actually fits my spending more than any other one
 
I guess they have stopped taking applications over the phone for the Chase Cash Plus card. Apparently if you have a local Chase Bank near you, you can apply there.

I waited too long for the Chase Card and I need to find a replacement for my Citi Dividend Card.

Right now, it looks like the Chase Freedom is the way to go.
 
Originally posted by: enis083
Is that $6500 per year for the AMEX card?
Click to expand...

you have to spend at least $6500 a year before the 5% kicks in with AMEX Blue Cash....so if that is the case, and you don't spend way above that amount, then probably your best bet at this time is Chase Freedom Card with the 3% deal....
 
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