I love credit cards so much!

[elgerber]

Few things to report.

The bonuses for DH and my Memory Bank accounts just posted! That was a pretty easy $200. I just pushed $200 from our Chase checking to each Memory Bank account, once per day for 3 days in a row. For those interested in trying out bank bonuses, this is a great one to start with since it has no fees and you can fund $500 with a credit card. Find info here: https://www.doctorofcredit.com/memorybank-100-signup-bonus-earnmore-1-6-apy-checking/

Could I open one account for each me and dh and fund both with my AMEX?
And would funds from Cap One work for deposits?

 

[Jen and Ashwin]

Could I open one account for each me and dh and fund both with my AMEX?
And would funds from Cap One work for deposits?

The credit card name has to match the bank account name when funding, so if you have a AU card or an employee card for your DH, then you could use the same card. I would not put DH as an AU on the card just for $500 in bank funding though.

Any ACH transactions should count so pushing money from your Cap One checking to the Memory Bank account should work. You need 3 transactions of $200 or more.

 

[elgerber]

The credit card name has to match the bank account name when funding, so if you have a AU card or an employee card for your DH, then you could use the same card. I would not put DH as an AU on the card just for $500 in bank funding though.

Any ACH transactions should count so pushing money from your Cap One checking to the Memory Bank account should work. You need 3 transactions of $200 or more.

Ok thanks! It's a BIZ card, do employee cards count against you like an AU would?

 

[speedyfishy]

Amex Delta offers expire today. I just realized I’m below 2/90 now so I went for the Delta Platnium Biz. No idea what to do with MQMs, but they sound cool so why not. I’m not taking the CIC rejection well. I used a DISCHURNERS link because I don’t want to be shunned. lol

 

[Jen and Ashwin]

Ok thanks! It's a BIZ card, do employee cards count against you like an AU would?

No, an employee card won't show up on personal credit and won't count towards 5/24.

 

[wendow]

Ugh, fried graduation brain. Paid my June mortgage using my CIP rather than spg biz That was supposed to finish off the spg biz. Already processed so now I’ve got to do something different but not sure what yet!!

 

[wendow]

Amex Delta offers expire today. I just realized I’m below 2/90 now so I went for the Delta Platnium Biz. No idea what to do with MQMs, but they sound cool so why not. I’m not taking the CIC rejection well. I used a DISCHURNERS link because I don’t want to be shunned. lol

I missed that you got rejected for the CIC too. I’m sorry. I know the sadness

 

[thevalley]

Needs some advice: last year about this time I got the CSR and then a month later got the CSP before chase changed there requirements. So, now I will have both AF dues very soon and not sure what to do? Thanks

 

[speedyfishy]

I missed that you got rejected for the CIC too. I’m sorry. I know the sadness

Thank you! Amex is picking up the pieces to my broken heart. I haven’t just been rejected... I have called recon three times and I’m still getting rejected.

 

[Albort]

We are looking into other banks for our checking, but so far haven't found any. We are looking for something to still give us that 3% without the $10 minimum spend. Anyone have any ideas?

are u willing to place ur money in multiple accounts? there are a few 5% accounts that hold only 5k with no debit transactions. u just need to ach $1 or any amount to keep the account active. i would get those first.

i have a 3% at consumer credit union. it’s up to 10k. 12 debit transaction, i do $.50 reloads on amazon.

i know there’s another 3% up to 15k with 15 transactions. i forgot what bank though.

 

[speedyfishy]

Needs some advice: last year about this time I got the CSR and then a month later got the CSP before chase changed there requirements. So, now I will have both AF dues very soon and not sure what to do? Thanks

Definitely downgrade one to a CF or CFU. Do you use the $300 travel credit? If you do it’s a difference of $55. Is the increase benefits of the CSR worth an extra $55 a year to you? You have the increase in redemption value on the portal, better earning on travel and restaurants and you get lounge benefits and global entry with the CSR. Would you use that? or do you have another card that provides it?

 

[Lain]

Amex Delta offers expire today. I just realized I’m below 2/90 now so I went for the Delta Platnium Biz. No idea what to do with MQMs, but they sound cool so why not. I’m not taking the CIC rejection well. I used a DISCHURNERS link because I don’t want to be shunned. lol

 

[Lain]

Ugh, fried graduation brain. Paid my June mortgage using my CIP rather than spg biz That was supposed to finish off the spg biz. Already processed so now I’ve got to do something different but not sure what yet!!

At least you'll get a big chuck of URs out of it?

 

[Jen and Ashwin]

Amex Delta offers expire today. I just realized I’m below 2/90 now so I went for the Delta Platnium Biz. No idea what to do with MQMs, but they sound cool so why not. I’m not taking the CIC rejection well. I used a DISCHURNERS link because I don’t want to be shunned. lol

MQMs won't do you much good without a bunch more, since they only count towards rewards status. You just want the plain old miles to redeem for flights.

 

[LynnTH]

Usually I get an email right away. But, I have also added an offer after doing the transaction and have gotten the credit.

Have you checked to make certain you have the correct email on your Amex account?

Yeah. I have 2 email addresses and check them many times a day. They were listed correctly on AMEX site.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

I’m trying to figure out what is the next card I should get. I’m 5/24 w chase. I have csr both southwest personals and the southwest biz and the ink preferred. I have the spg personal and biz. I have the Amex delta gold (its super old but maintaining my longevity for reporting purposes). I need to venture into new territory. I was thinking another business Amex but not sure. No immediate travel plans. I’m hoarding points on southwest and UR. I have a companion pass but also have a toddler so I’d like her a little older before we leave her behind and the same to bring her along.

Are you right on 5/24 and do you know when your next "5/24 slot" opens up?

 

[Jen and Ashwin]

Yeah. I have 2 email addresses and check them many times a day. They were listed correctly on AMEX site.

I have had an offer fail to credit before. I just open a chat window and they have always credited me. It happened recently when I bought Mother's Day flowers for my mom on 1800flowers, but I accidentally checked out with Paypal using my Amex. I told them the transaction date and they confirmed that I had made the purchase. I got the $15 credit the next day, no issues.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

You two are way more organized than I am. I must say there is a sense of freedom with knowing you can't go after any Chase cards when you already have 10 of them and will always be /24. Although I will admit that staying perpetually under 5/24 is really impressive.

Like @Lain I balance bonus spend and MSR. I look at where we are going next for the bigger trips, not the long weekend or spur of the moment shiny new idea stuff, just the big ones. Then decide what will be the best plan to make it happen, plus a plan B. From there, I look at current point balances and see what needs to be beefed up if recently depleted a point currency and go from there. Of course when SPG/Marriott does something like destroy the future of my most valuable and favorite non category spending card it's like

View attachment 322907

So then I gotta revamp all of my plans.

I definitely enjoyed the freedom of being >5/24 - it's where I was back in 2016 and I ended up getting 22 cards (just me) in that year hahaha! Up to this point my primary strategy was get my wife < 5/24. And we achieved that by focusing on me and on a lot of AMEX biz cards.

I think my concept of having a very defined strategy is stemming from the shutdown reports which continue to grow. I know the likelihood is small that it would happen to us (and it seems having a mortgage makes you a little safer) but some of the people shutdown are only opening 5 or 6 cards in a year...

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

Are you trying to get back under 5/24?

Have you thought about venturing into Amex Membership Rewards points? As we've discussed on here, MR is a flexible points program similar to UR that allows for point transfers to airline and hotel partners, redemptions through their travel portal, redemptions for gift cards and cash, statement credit and at online retailers like Amazon. However, MR can be more difficult to figure out how to use than UR, and has a wider range of value depending on the redemption. MR offers the best value when transferring directly to airline partners, paying with points for travel with a Business Platinum rebate, or just cashing out to Schwab with a Schwab Platinum. I've usually done points transfers to airlines we tend to fly when Amex runs a transfer bonus. We also have a toddler, so right now I'm in stockpiling mode with my MR and plan to do an airline transfer at some point when DD is older.

If you're trying to get back under 5/24 (which might be why you're considering a business Amex), you'll be looking at the Amex Blue Business Plus (BBP), Business Green Rewards (Green Biz), Business Gold Rewards (BGR), and the Business Platinum (Biz Plat). @SouthFayetteFan also has a guide on DISchurners to Amex business cards.

We talked about the BBP recently:






And I believe @speedyfishy was looking at the Green Biz recently:

Business Green Rewards (Biz Green)

• TYPE: Charge Card
• STANDARD BONUS = 5,000 MRs: Earn 5,000 Membership Rewards® points after your first purchase on the Card within the first year of Card Membership
• REFERRALS: N̶o̶ Yes, 5,000 MRs for the referrer
• HIGHER OFFERS: No
• ANNUAL FEE: $95 WAIVED YEAR 1
• COMMENTS: This is a great card to "keep your MRs active". You would ideally get it if you had large annual fees posting soon (maybe on a BGR, PLAT or PRG) and didn't want to lose your MRs. You literally can put $1 on this card and earn the 5,000 MRs. Of course it too has an annual fee so it only buys you a year then.

Neither the BBP or Green Biz will get you the kind of big bonus that'll take you across the ocean for free, but they're solid low cost cards if you want to start building up your MR wallet. The BBP in particular is a no-fee card that your can park your MR points in whenever you get around to churning through the rest of the MR-earning cards. As business cards, they won't affect your 5/24 count.

Great comment my friend! Also - I updated that biz green on my guide to biz cards (regarding the referral). Thanks for the catch there

 

[speedyfishy]

MQMs won't do you much good without a bunch more, since they only count towards rewards status. You just want the plain old miles to redeem for flights.

Yeah just looked 25k for Silver. Do you know if I got Silver how likely id be to get a first class upgrade. It says,

• Complimentary first-class upgrades from most discounted fares starting 24 hours before departure.

I’m assuming 24 hours before departure first class seats won’t be available.

Also , do you know what this means

• Unlimited complimentary first-class upgrades at booking from full fare economy tickets