Capital One has extended the Hertz President's Circle status beyond 12/31/2024 on the Venture X. I stated incorrectly in the video that it would be removed! Thanks to those who have corrected me.
and i was thinking that none of the almost 1200 viewers at this moment had told you that the Hertz President's Circle was made permanent. but duh.. of course im late!
Just added the new Capital One Savor to complete the Duo and super happy to have it based on how well the Venture X & Savor complement each other! The Citi Custom Cash will probably remain a staple in my Two Player Setup due to how powerful it can be as a Dedicated Card for one specific category. Will have to add the Strata Premier soon for higher upside though! Great list Stan!
Awesome Matt! It's very cool to hear that you're getting some first hand experience with the C1 duo! Yeah, if you don't have the Strata Premier yet, it's definitely going to be a card to get real soon to get access to Citi's transfer partners! Hopefully you can get one with an elevated welcome offer!
@@TheCreditFrog me, I would prefer the OG citi prestige card to reopen its applications to new customers or at least make it an option to product change towards. What's overlooked the most is: 5X points on all dining purchases without a limit, easily gives the amex gold a run for its money
My wife applied for the Venture X yesterday and got approved for $30K. The amazing part is that only 5 months ago we got the regular Venture for the 75K + $250 SUB. And now getting the VX. Most likely will downgrade the Venture to a Savor and now we have the duo!
I max out my US Bank Cash+ categories every quarter. $400 back in my pocket every year from that alone. Throw in USBAR and some Kroger brand cards and I swear, US Bank is such a sleeper, cash-back generating machine.
That's a great system you got there! Yeah, US Bank has some crazy good cards, and if you're into cash back, you can get a lot of value from their ecosystem. I wish their Altitude series could transfer between each other. Sleeper for sure!
@@TheCreditFrog Wow that’s good to know I just assumed it did. Now I’ll just look at their cash back cards as cash back cards. It’s a same that they can’t transfer between altitude card
I think that the WF cards are very good also. People don't like their transfer partners but the advantage of having 4-5X back instead of the normal 3x back on other cards can somewhat negate having a dedicated hotel card, to keep things simple.
Wells Fargo definitely has a great range of cards with good multipliers! If you can use the transfer partners, even better! Hopefully, they'll add more in the future.
Very much agree with the rankings & your thought process towards getting there! It's also interesting to see that you don't have most of these cards because other cards suit your specific needs while these cards are more "general" top 5.
Thanks Monty! Yeah, a little different video and more standard video than my usual. It's always nice to take a step back and to see what types of cards I'd recommend to someone not in our position!
Both excellent cards! Depends on what you're looking for. I think the decision comes down to transfer partners and whether you want to pay an annual fee or not. The Strata Premier is more comprehensive IMO since it cover categories on air travel and hotels.
My current Setup: 1. Mechanics Bank Card (First ever card, only keeping it because of Credit History) 2. Chase Freedom Flex, Freedom Unlimited, and Sapphire Preferred (Trio for Hotels) 3. Apple Card (Anything apple related or a quick Apple Pay option) 4. Capital One Savor 5. AMEX Gold Card (Will replace with Venture X in the future) 6. Amazon Visa Card (Anything Amazon related)
The US bank altitude connect should've been on here, since there was a brief window in 2024 in which it had a $600 sign on bonus, plus its usual 4 lounge passes, 4% travel/gas (when redeemed to USB checking), while having $0af for new sign-ons
Why is bilt rewards not in this ranking? My main categories are Rent and dining out so it sounds like a perfect card along with its transfer partners. was there any major nerf or something which i am not aware of?
Like I said in the video, there were several nerfs this year, the biggest one being the cap on rent day spend which was an amazing benefit. It certainly does depend on what you’re looking for though!
@@TheCreditFrogyeah I just got it because I’m essentially getting free points regardless for paying rent. Like 2800 points per months haha. If I used it for 1-2 years I would have like 60-70k points I could’ve transferred by now. $0 Annual Fee and I don’t have to think about it
I cannot get capital one savor rewards card but I can get the savor one for good credit. Any suggestions on how to get the the capital one savor rewards card
I remember with Spencer Johnson, you mentioned that Citi Strata Premier made no sense since Autograph was with no fee. I assume you changed your mind about that take? As Autograph didn’t make top 5 but is also a great card as well
I think what swayed my opinion was transfer partners and the ability to build out a setup with a 5X option. While you can make a good setup with WF, the transfer partners aren't quite there yet. The $95 AF option makes it more worth it for that reason. I agree, Autograph is a great card as well, but just didn't make my top 5 this year!
1:40 Just so you know the USBAR has been discontinued since 11 NOV 2024. Source: Doctor of Credit / USBAR application page is removed from US Bank website.
Why is custom cash #3 and Cash+ #5? Cash+ has TWO 5% categories, a 2% category, higher spend limit per quarter, and a SUB that’s easier to achieve ($1000 vs $1500)
Haha, I've heard it was not the sturdiest card, but it's got some great categories, and that's what counts! I know what you mean though. I want shiny metal!!
@@TheCreditFrog The Citi Premier looked more premium and was still plastic haha. I have mine as a keepsake since I PC’d to Strata Premier but later PC’d to the Custom Cash!
I also think the BILT card shouldn't be top 5, but not for the reasons you mentioned. It still is amazing long term for 1x rent, but every year we draw closer to 2029 is a year closer to its inevitable end. So forgoing a $200+ bonus for the BILT for long term gains is looking less and less appealing as its timer is counting down. And 2029 is just the absolute boundary for the card, I think its pretty likely we'll see much worse nerfs within 2 years
That's a great assessment of the situation. The card tries to reinvent itself, but the perks were so good in the beginning that every little addition they make isn't nearly as good as the last. At least Alaska and Hyatt are still transfer partners. Definitely hard to justify this card since it has no bonus for sure. Still think it's worth it for renters if not churning!
The key to getting the BILT card is utilizing the 5X on everything for 5 days up to 50K points, followed by the 5X on gas/groceries/dining for 30 days up to 10K points. Then wait another 3 months or so, and magically "lose" the card. WF will issue you a new card that appears like a new account. And voila, another 5X on everything for 5 days up to 50K points, followed by the 5X on gas/groceries/dining for 30 days up to 10K points. I racked up about 30K points in less than a month, and just saving it for Hyatt. Obviously this doesn't beat a true SUB, but for people gardening like me who can't get new cards anymore, it's a nice way to get elevated points quicker.
I just don't see how you guys can even put the citi custom cash and those other cards in the same argument, all those cards are useful as a 1 card setup, the custom cash isn't, it's completely useless, a 2% card beats it every day, its only good for 1 category, and thats backing up other cards
100%. I dont get the CC love. $667 a month is too limiting and it requires Citi Strata for full functionality which has 3x on gas and every CC fan boi claims its their gas card. Gimme an uncapped 4x Smartly and keep it simple.
It depends on what scale you're using. The Citi Custom Cash is a terrible card on it's own, but when combined with another setup, it's a great flexible option and continues to be so. Don't hate on the bridesmaid card!
@@TheCreditFrog I knew you’d get the joke. Can’t wait until 2025. Chase Emerald, Citi Premium travel card, new Capital One cards, going to be crazy. I bet we see something from one of the big banks around Christmas/New Years
Just wondering, I'm more of a cash back guy but what's with all the Travel Credit Card TH-camrs and American Airlines? Like, what's so special about American Airlines that gets all the hype? 🤔
AA likely is the worse of legacy carriers or even big 5. But in pts game they’re over hyped/valued because they’re walled off. And they do have both a lot planes and routes.
Hey Stan! I can see why you put Citi and C1 in the list (innovation and market pressure), which only benefits us! Imo, they fall short in the luxury travel space, where I still think Amex is king and Chase Prince😄 Truth is, all points systems are not created equal. One could argue that C1 and Citi are targeting a different demo than Amex & Chase. Having had the VX and Savor for about 6 mths now, I can say their points system lacks flexibility & dynamism and serve best as a backup system for MR & UR points. Thanks Man👍🏾
Absolutely! The momentum is with Citi and Capital One right now, if they can keep it up! Amex and Chase are undoubtedly the top dogs still, but I really think they should innovate to keep up with the others. I say this, but in the meantime, they are making a lot of money, so like you said, they know their audience well! Interesting that you feel that C1 is a complement or backup to MR and UR... I always thought of it that way, but nice to hear it from someone who has experience with it. Thanks for the support as always Nkosi!
Capital One has extended the Hertz President's Circle status beyond 12/31/2024 on the Venture X. I stated incorrectly in the video that it would be removed! Thanks to those who have corrected me.
and i was thinking that none of the almost 1200 viewers at this moment had told you that the Hertz President's Circle was made permanent. but duh.. of course im late!
😊😅😮😢🎉😂❤ 0:48
Just added the new Capital One Savor to complete the Duo and super happy to have it based on how well the Venture X & Savor complement each other! The Citi Custom Cash will probably remain a staple in my Two Player Setup due to how powerful it can be as a Dedicated Card for one specific category. Will have to add the Strata Premier soon for higher upside though! Great list Stan!
Awesome Matt! It's very cool to hear that you're getting some first hand experience with the C1 duo! Yeah, if you don't have the Strata Premier yet, it's definitely going to be a card to get real soon to get access to Citi's transfer partners! Hopefully you can get one with an elevated welcome offer!
@@TheCreditFrog me, I would prefer the OG citi prestige card to reopen its applications to new customers or at least make it an option to product change towards. What's overlooked the most is: 5X points on all dining purchases without a limit, easily gives the amex gold a run for its money
Always love your takes Stan. You usually step outside the norm of Amex worship and chase trifecta and I appreciate it.
Of course!
My wife applied for the Venture X yesterday and got approved for $30K. The amazing part is that only 5 months ago we got the regular Venture for the 75K + $250 SUB. And now getting the VX. Most likely will downgrade the Venture to a Savor and now we have the duo!
Amazing! Congrats on the new C1VX! And that is a very solid credit limit! If you downgrade the Venture to the Savor One, then that would be awesome!
@@TheCreditFrogis you download the Venture to a Savor, are you still eligible for the Savor Sign Up Bonus?
@ I don’t think so
@@LinusLogic Probably not, but doing the downgrade avoids using a 5/24 slot for her.
Downgrade to QS
I max out my US Bank Cash+ categories every quarter. $400 back in my pocket every year from that alone. Throw in USBAR and some Kroger brand cards and I swear, US Bank is such a sleeper, cash-back generating machine.
That's a great system you got there! Yeah, US Bank has some crazy good cards, and if you're into cash back, you can get a lot of value from their ecosystem. I wish their Altitude series could transfer between each other. Sleeper for sure!
@@TheCreditFrog
Wow that’s good to know I just assumed it did. Now I’ll just look at their cash back cards as cash back cards. It’s a same that they can’t transfer between altitude card
Savor works for me! Thanks for the info + video!
You’re welcome Jimmy James!
All I want for Christmas is a IHG 165k point elevated offer lol. Hope you had a great Thanksgiving!
Such a great offer! Thanks! And I hope you did as well!
I think that the WF cards are very good also. People don't like their transfer partners but the advantage of having 4-5X back instead of the normal 3x back on other cards can somewhat negate having a dedicated hotel card, to keep things simple.
Wells Fargo definitely has a great range of cards with good multipliers! If you can use the transfer partners, even better! Hopefully, they'll add more in the future.
Very much agree with the rankings & your thought process towards getting there! It's also interesting to see that you don't have most of these cards because other cards suit your specific needs while these cards are more "general" top 5.
Thanks Monty! Yeah, a little different video and more standard video than my usual. It's always nice to take a step back and to see what types of cards I'd recommend to someone not in our position!
How would you compare the Citi Strata Premier vs Capital One Savor? Aren't they pretty similar? Happy Holidays! 😊
Both excellent cards! Depends on what you're looking for. I think the decision comes down to transfer partners and whether you want to pay an annual fee or not. The Strata Premier is more comprehensive IMO since it cover categories on air travel and hotels.
I am loving my new US Bank smartly 4% back credit card.
Awesome!!
Citi just added (or re-added?) purchase protections on the Custom Cash and Double Cash.
I think that they put back 24-month extended warranty back on recently which is definitely a step in the right direction!
@@TheCreditFrog Not 24 months, but double up to a year.
FYI pretty sure the cap1 presidential circle status got extended.
It did. Luke’s points and miles just brought this up in his latest video about the VX
Thanks for the tip! Sorry I got that wrong.
My current Setup:
1. Mechanics Bank Card (First ever card, only keeping it because of Credit History)
2. Chase Freedom Flex, Freedom Unlimited, and Sapphire Preferred (Trio for Hotels)
3. Apple Card (Anything apple related or a quick Apple Pay option)
4. Capital One Savor
5. AMEX Gold Card (Will replace with Venture X in the future)
6. Amazon Visa Card (Anything Amazon related)
Awesome! Great setup, and some nice cards coming on the horizon for you!
The US bank altitude connect should've been on here, since there was a brief window in 2024 in which it had a $600 sign on bonus, plus its usual 4 lounge passes, 4% travel/gas (when redeemed to USB checking), while having $0af for new sign-ons
It would have been if it hadn't been nerfed, but sadly it was so the Cash+ took its potential spot in the top 5
$600? When? Highest offer was $500
It was great seeing you at Ontario!
Hey Jaden! Yes, it was great to meet you as well!!
Why is bilt rewards not in this ranking? My main categories are Rent and dining out so it sounds like a perfect card along with its transfer partners. was there any major nerf or something which i am not aware of?
Like I said in the video, there were several nerfs this year, the biggest one being the cap on rent day spend which was an amazing benefit. It certainly does depend on what you’re looking for though!
@@TheCreditFrogyeah I just got it because I’m essentially getting free points regardless for paying rent. Like 2800 points per months haha. If I used it for 1-2 years I would have like 60-70k points I could’ve transferred by now. $0 Annual Fee and I don’t have to think about it
Also Hyatt is included in BILT as well!! Perfect with my Chase setup!
Great job on TH-cam ♥️
Thank you!
1:16 1:16 1:16 @@TheCreditFrog
I cannot get capital one savor rewards card but I can get the savor one for good credit. Any suggestions on how to get the the capital one savor rewards card
Sorry, your guess is as good as mine! C1 is known for not having straightforward approvals!
I have 2 Cash+ cards, I rarely use them. My categories are set to Department stores and Electronics stores.
Cool that you have 2!
I remember with Spencer Johnson, you mentioned that Citi Strata Premier made no sense since Autograph was with no fee. I assume you changed your mind about that take? As Autograph didn’t make top 5 but is also a great card as well
I think what swayed my opinion was transfer partners and the ability to build out a setup with a 5X option. While you can make a good setup with WF, the transfer partners aren't quite there yet. The $95 AF option makes it more worth it for that reason. I agree, Autograph is a great card as well, but just didn't make my top 5 this year!
Tbf most cards are to get simply for the subs. Don’t overthink it.
Welcome back Stan. Seems like you’ve been gone for awhile!
Thanks Andrew! I just came back from my honeymoon! Hope to make a video on that big redemption soon.
@@TheCreditFrog congrats Stan
Us bank cash plus card sounds good
Sure does!
1:40 Just so you know the USBAR has been discontinued since 11 NOV 2024.
Source: Doctor of Credit / USBAR application page is removed from US Bank website.
😂😂😂 What?! I had no idea!
Doctor of credit actually called out Stan in being early on stating the possibility of USBAR being discontinued. He’s the credit card Nostradamus.
This is a wild comment considering Stan was one of the people who broke the news originally
@ Stan. I thank Capital One restored the Hertz benefit
Thanks for the tip! I added a pinned comment.
Why is custom cash #3 and Cash+ #5? Cash+ has TWO 5% categories, a 2% category, higher spend limit per quarter, and a SUB that’s easier to achieve ($1000 vs $1500)
The Custom Cash has 5% categories that are common. The US Bank 5% categories are more niche.
Cap1 just opened a new lounge in DCA. National Landing restaurant partnership with Jose Andres
Very nice!! 👨🍳
I hope Citi redesigns the Strata Premier card I can’t bear to carry this cheap flimsy looking card no matter how decent the rewards are ha!
Haha, I've heard it was not the sturdiest card, but it's got some great categories, and that's what counts! I know what you mean though. I want shiny metal!!
@@TheCreditFrog The Citi Premier looked more premium and was still plastic haha. I have mine as a keepsake since I PC’d to Strata Premier but later PC’d to the Custom Cash!
I also think the BILT card shouldn't be top 5, but not for the reasons you mentioned. It still is amazing long term for 1x rent, but every year we draw closer to 2029 is a year closer to its inevitable end. So forgoing a $200+ bonus for the BILT for long term gains is looking less and less appealing as its timer is counting down. And 2029 is just the absolute boundary for the card, I think its pretty likely we'll see much worse nerfs within 2 years
That's a great assessment of the situation. The card tries to reinvent itself, but the perks were so good in the beginning that every little addition they make isn't nearly as good as the last. At least Alaska and Hyatt are still transfer partners. Definitely hard to justify this card since it has no bonus for sure. Still think it's worth it for renters if not churning!
The key to getting the BILT card is utilizing the 5X on everything for 5 days up to 50K points, followed by the 5X on gas/groceries/dining for 30 days up to 10K points.
Then wait another 3 months or so, and magically "lose" the card. WF will issue you a new card that appears like a new account. And voila, another 5X on everything for 5 days up to 50K points, followed by the 5X on gas/groceries/dining for 30 days up to 10K points.
I racked up about 30K points in less than a month, and just saving it for Hyatt.
Obviously this doesn't beat a true SUB, but for people gardening like me who can't get new cards anymore, it's a nice way to get elevated points quicker.
I think bill will find a deal with another bank. One trying to become a player. But expect some nerfs
I just don't see how you guys can even put the citi custom cash and those other cards in the same argument, all those cards are useful as a 1 card setup, the custom cash isn't, it's completely useless, a 2% card beats it every day, its only good for 1 category, and thats backing up other cards
lol unless you get 5 of them 🤣 might need a label maker though or that could get confusing.
When I use it exclusively, I get around 2.3-2.7% on regular spend.
100%. I dont get the CC love. $667 a month is too limiting and it requires Citi Strata for full functionality which has 3x on gas and every CC fan boi claims its their gas card. Gimme an uncapped 4x Smartly and keep it simple.
@chadpennycuff they keep promoting it,and to be honest, its a 6th man card,1 category at a time, lol,its just not on the level of multi category cards
It depends on what scale you're using. The Citi Custom Cash is a terrible card on it's own, but when combined with another setup, it's a great flexible option and continues to be so. Don't hate on the bridesmaid card!
No American Express Gold card? What the hell Stan, I trusted you!
Hah! I know how you feel about Amex! Capital One is still giving Amex a run for its money!
The American Express gold card is overrated
@@ow5966 L-Man was definitely being sarcastic haha
@@TheCreditFrog I knew you’d get the joke. Can’t wait until 2025. Chase Emerald, Citi Premium travel card, new Capital One cards, going to be crazy.
I bet we see something from one of the big banks around Christmas/New Years
Gold takes a huge spend to even break even and most don't do it. SAVOR is better for the average person with its zero AF
Just wondering, I'm more of a cash back guy but what's with all the Travel Credit Card TH-camrs and American Airlines? Like, what's so special about American Airlines that gets all the hype? 🤔
AA likely is the worse of legacy carriers or even big 5. But in pts game they’re over hyped/valued because they’re walled off. And they do have both a lot planes and routes.
Their points are hard to get, and there's a lot of great alliance partners in OneWorld that can be booked as a codeshare flight with AA.
Hey Stan! I can see why you put Citi and C1 in the list (innovation and market pressure), which only benefits us! Imo, they fall short in the luxury travel space, where I still think Amex is king and Chase Prince😄 Truth is, all points systems are not created equal. One could argue that C1 and Citi are targeting a different demo than Amex & Chase. Having had the VX and Savor for about 6 mths now, I can say their points system lacks flexibility & dynamism and serve best as a backup system for MR & UR points. Thanks Man👍🏾
Absolutely! The momentum is with Citi and Capital One right now, if they can keep it up! Amex and Chase are undoubtedly the top dogs still, but I really think they should innovate to keep up with the others. I say this, but in the meantime, they are making a lot of money, so like you said, they know their audience well! Interesting that you feel that C1 is a complement or backup to MR and UR... I always thought of it that way, but nice to hear it from someone who has experience with it. Thanks for the support as always Nkosi!
@@TheCreditFrog "great minds thin..."😄
? You do know crypto card is 8% cash back on ALL SHOPPING it destroys every single card you showed.
I would not recommend a crypto card.