Is there a credit card company that's somewhat...good?

[desura]

I think you need to clarify what the fuck are you talking about. I'm starting to think this is a retard/troll thread.

how old were you during the financial crisis? Did you follow it at all?

 

[halik]

Looks like the best option. Close to where I live too. and PNC was largely...clean...in the financial crisis, right?

http://www.structuredfinancelitigat...c-to-settle-repurchase-claims-for-89-million/

Here's a reality check for you - ALL banks originated and sold mortgages to fannie/freddie/structure vehicles. That's what banks do; they have limited capital and wide local/retail reach for origination.


My whole point is the premise of this thread is asinine. Banks exist to make money.

 

[adairusmc]

I use a USAA card for most everything.

Same. USAA > *

 

[ponyo]

American Express is great overseas. It isn't accepted as much in the US, but when I've traveled outside, it was amazing.

I sure hope they were amazing considering you paid them 3% for the privilege to use the card outside the US. 😀. Sucker!

 

[halik]

how old were you during the financial crisis? Did you follow it at all?

I suspect you were around 20, junior in college and have but superficial occupy-esque grasp of what happened.

I was getting a masters in finance in 07-08, worked for a $60B institutional fund thereafter, primarily on MBS/ABS/RMBS/CLO valuation.

 

[jaedaliu]

I sure hope they were amazing considering you paid them 3% for the privilege to use the card outside the US. 😀. Sucker!

Platinum and above has no international transaction fee.

I don't have a platinum AMEX. I use my capital one and discover abroad. That way I can also avoid the annual fee and international transaction fees.

 

[dr150]

My default card is the Starwood AMEX. It is incredibly generous if you know how to take maximum advantage of it (like staying 5 nights, getting one night free). I also default to the CapitolOne for overseas spending (no foreign fees).

But every year, there are a select list of great promotions on other credit cards that are worth signing up for.

Currently, I'm exclusively using the AA Mastercard to reach the spend threshold for the 50k promo.

...Next will be the Southwest Air promo.

You can find all these promos on Slickdeals, Flyertalk, and Fatwallet forums.

 

[ponyo]

Platinum and above has no international transaction fee.

I don't have a platinum AMEX. I use my capital one and discover abroad. That way I can also avoid the annual fee and international transaction fees.

I know about platinum AMEX. $450 annual fee can be worth it depending on your usage and travel pattern. But Capital One is free so there's no reason to pay.

 

[BurnItDwn]

As others have said Credit Union is likely going to be the least unethical.
Otherwise, I'd maybe go with a Canadian bank, only because Canadian banking regulations require banks to be more honest in Canada. However, I do not believe that they are truly uncorrupted...

 

[monkeydelmagico]

Looks like the best option. Close to where I live too. and PNC was largely...clean...in the financial crisis, right?

They got mad bailout moneys.....but have supposedly paid it back. If your looking for ethical banking practices I would say PNC is dubious at best. Local credit unions tend to have far fewer shady practices that get media atention.

 

[halik]

I know about platinum AMEX. $450 annual fee can be worth it depending on your usage and travel pattern. But Capital One is free so there's no reason to pay.

I've had amex platinum for several years, the annual fee is worth it on the theft/loss and return protection alone. Last year I bought an iphone off ebay and it came in busted and the seller refused a refund, so i just used the insurance to get the ~$400 back.

 

[desura]

http://www.structuredfinancelitigat...c-to-settle-repurchase-claims-for-89-million/

Here's a reality check for you - ALL banks originated and sold mortgages to fannie/freddie/structure vehicles. That's what banks do; they have limited capital and wide local/retail reach for origination.


My whole point is the premise of this thread is asinine. Banks exist to make money.

no shit, but some banks were much much worse than others. PNC was saintly compared to Kerry Killinger's WAMU.

 

[halik]

no shit, but some banks were much much worse than others. PNC was saintly compared to Kerry Killinger's WAMU.

The only difference between the two was capitalization and that WAMU actually kept some of the loans they made on their balance sheet. More generally, banks that sold off the mortgages they originated (subprime or otherwise) fared better than banks that kept them.

 

[ponyo]

I've had amex platinum for several years, the annual fee is worth it on the theft/loss and return protection alone. Last year I bought an iphone off ebay and it came in busted and the seller refused a refund, so i just used the insurance to get the ~$400 back.

I get the same protection for free from my Costco Amex with no annual fee. :awe: I didn't say Amex Platinum is not worth it for frequent travelers. Free airport lounges, free companion airfare, and automatic hotel room upgrade can definitely pay for itself.

 

[halik]

I get the same protection for free from my Costco Amex with no annual fee. :awe: I didn't say Amex Platinum is not worth it for frequent travelers. Free airport lounges, free companion airfare, and automatic hotel room upgrade can definitely pay for itself.

Really? Both the lost/stolen and return protection?

The $200 airline credit is sweet too, i usually use it for flying spirit (since they charge for everything, but are about 50 bucks cheaper than the next flight).

 

[Drako]

I use a USAA card for most everything.

This, and Navy Federal.

 

[ponyo]

Really? Both the lost/stolen and return protection?

The $200 airline credit is sweet too, i usually use it for flying spirit (since they charge for everything, but are about 50 bucks cheaper than the next flight).

After looking it up, it looks like the Costco Amex doesn't have the return protection. But the return protection is limited to $300 per item and max $1k a year so it's fairly limited. Your iPhone situation was covered under the purchase protection which is universal Amex coverage applied to all their cards.

 

[bignateyk]

I've never had a problem with Chase or Amex...

I have:

Amex Lowes Small Business (5% off lowes, 2 pts at lowes, 3 points are restaurants, 2 points for utilities)

Amex Blue Cash (6pts groceries, 3pts gas)

Chase United (for everything else to get flyer miles)

 

[halik]

After looking it up, it looks like the Costco Amex doesn't have the return protection. But the return protection is limited to $300 per item and max $1k a year so it's fairly limited. Your iPhone situation was covered under the purchase protection which is universal Amex coverage applied to all their cards.

Im pretty sure i claimed it with the return; I've claimed couple things and they've yet to ask me for the stuff back (which i think they're supposed to?)

I haven't actually broken or lost anything yet.

edit: jk, just checked it was purchase protection.

 

[ponyo]

Im pretty sure i claimed it with the return; I've claimed couple things and they've yet to ask me for the stuff back (which i think they're supposed to?)

I haven't actually broken or lost anything yet.

edit: jk, just checked it was purchase protection.

Yeah it had to be purchase protection because return protection only covers up to $300 per item and cellphones are not covered.

Platinum has higher level purchase protection. $10k item limit vs $1k for their basic cards. I didn't know this, and that's huge plus in Platinum favor.

 

[Merad]

Credit unions are almost always a solid choice. I have one of those as well as a Discover that I use for almost all of my purchases because of their cashback rewards. I would never, ever, carry a balance with them because of the ludicrous interest (19 or 20%, I don't remember). Other than the interest rate I have no complaints.

 

[skimple]

Another vote for Amex.

Yes, they are a large corporate conglomerate. But their customer service has always been top notch, and they have bailed me out in emergency situations overseas.

 

[Ken g6]

The problem with a credit union is they almost never do their own credit cards. They offer credit cards through a bank, such as Elan Financial Services, which is owned by US Bank.