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Hilton Honors American Express Card Review

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The Hilton Honors American Express Card is designed to benefit those who enjoy staying at Hilton Hotels. The card offers a rewards program that allows you to earn points on all purchases and extra points for Hilton purchases. In this review, we’ll look at the rewards program, including the value of Hilton Honors points and what hotels accept them. We’ll also cover the fees and rates, and compare this card to other Hilton credit cards.

Hilton Honors American Express Card

Hilton Honors American Express Card
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  • Welcome Offer: Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening..
  • Earn 7X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for every dollar of eligible purchases charged directly with a hotel or resort within the Hilton Honors portfolio of brands.
  • Earn 5X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for every dollar of eligible purchases at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. gas stations.
  • Earn 3X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for all other eligible purchases on your card.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Enjoy complimentary Hilton Honors Silver status with your Card.
  • No Annual Fee.
  • Terms Apply.

Rewards Program

The rewards program with this card combines bonus Hilton Honors points with points earned on purchases with the card. It also provides a quicker way to achieve VIP status. Let’s look at each.

Signup Bonus Points

With the Hilton Honors American Express Card, you can earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Of course, this raises the important question–What is the value of a Hilton Honors point?

There’s no easy answer. It depends on how you use the points, and their value can vary significantly. Making matters worse, Hilton no longer offers a rewards chart. It does, however, offer a Points Explorer tool.

Keep in mind that free rooms begin at 5,000 points for a Category 1 hotel. They go up to 70,000 to 95,000 points for one night at a Category 10 property.  In my experience, you’ll pay 20,000 points or more for a free night stay. While you can get a free stay for as few as 5,000 points, these are hard to find.

All of that said, a Hilton Honors point is generally worth one-half of a penny.

Purchase Rewards

You also earn Hilton Honors points for using the Hilton Honors American Express Card. The amount of points depends on the purchase:

  • Get 7X Hilton Honors points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged on your card directly with a participating hotel or resort within the Hilton Portfolio.
  • Get 5X Hilton Honors points for each dollar of eligible purchases on your card at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. supermarkets, and at U.S. gas stations.
  • Earn 3X Hilton Honors points for all other eligible purchases on your card.

At first glance this point structure looks phenomenal. Not so fast. The travel hackers among us value a Hilton Honors point at about 0.5 cents each, as noted above. I wouldn’t read too much into this valuation. Remember that the number of points needed for a stay depends on the hotel. But it’s a good rule of thumb.

Hilton Honors VIP Status

The Hilton Honors Silver VIP status is yours, complimentary, for the life of your travel rewards card. You can receive 20% bonus points on all Hilton Honors Base points earned, as well as other benefits, when you stay at Hilton Family hotels. You will enjoy an automatic upgrade to Hilton Honors Gold VIP status when your total eligible spend reaches $20,000 in the calendar year. With Gold VIP status you get :

  • A 80% bonus on base points earned on every stay
  • Free continental breakfast
  • Milestone bonuses–Earn 10,000 bonus points every 10 nights
  • Upgraded accommodations when available

Additional Hilton Honors American Express Card Benefits

  • American Express Online Travel: Find competitive, low prices on air, hotel, and car rental reservations, vacation packages, cruises, and last-minute deals, too.
  • Emergency Check-In: Check into a hotel and charge your stay with the Card, even if your Card has been lost or stolen.
  • Assured Reservations: Guarantee your hotel reservations with your card and your room will be waiting for you even if you arrive late, or the hotel will provide you with a comparable room nearby, along with transportation to your new location.
  • Emergency Card Replacement: Receive a new Card if yours has been lost or stolen in as little as 24 hours.
  • Global Assist® Hotline: Whenever you travel more than 100 miles from home, Amex provides you with emergency assistance 24/7, including medical and legal referrals, visa/passport help, cash access, lost luggage and more.
  • Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance: You are covered when you rent a car with your card, subject to rules and exceptions of course.
  • ShopRunner: Get free 2-day shipping on eligible items.
  • Entertainment Access: From vacation packages to nights out on the town, explore exclusive offers that can help you save while earning bonus miles. Offers are updated frequently.

What we like

Clearly the best feature are the Hilton Honors points. My wife and I travel enough that the card generates several free stays each year. And that’s more than enough to justify this no annual fee card. It’s also nice to get the boost to Silver status.

What could be better

The interest rates and lack of an introductory rate are a “negative.” That being said, we pay the card off in full each month, so the interest rate is irrelevant. And if we were looking for a 0% balance transfer or 0% on purchases, we’d look to a different card anyway.

Compare

There are several Hilton credit cards available. Here is a quick comparison of the Hilton credit cards:

Hilton Honors American Express Card
Hilton Honors American Express Card
Signup Bonus
75,000 points
Annual Fee: $0
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card
Signup Bonus
125,000 points
Annual Fee: $95
Chase Sapphire Reserve Card
Chase Sapphire Reserve Card
Signup Bonus
50,000 points
Annual Fee: $550
Is the Hilton Honors American Express Card a good card?

It is a good credit card for those who frequently stay at Hilton Honors hotels and do not wish to pay an annual fee.

What credit score do you need to get approved for the Hilton Honors American Express Card?

American Express doesn’t disclose the minimum credit score needed for approval. The card, however, is considered what that requires good to excellent credit. Therefore, it’s safe to assume a credit score of 700+ would generally be required. Keep in mind, however, that credit card issuers consider a number of factors during the underwriting process.

What is the best Hilton Honors credit card?

The best card depends on how often you say at Hilton Honors brand hotels and resorts. For most Hilton fans, I think the best option is the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card. It does come with an annual fee, but the rewards more than make up for it.

Which hotels are part of Hilton Honors?

Hilton brands include Waldorf Astoria, LXR, Conrad, Canopy by Hilton, Signia by Hilton, Hilton, Curio Collection by Hilton, DoubleTree, Tapestry Collection, Embassy Suites, Tempo, Motto, Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton, tru, Homewood Suites, Home2 and Hilton Grand Vacations.

Hilton Honors American Express Card

Rob Berger

Signup Bonus
Ongoing Rewards
Fees
Interest Rates

Summary

An excellent option for those who frequent Hilton brand hotels and are looking for a no-fee credit card to earn status and Hilton Honors points.

4

Simple CD Interest Calculator

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This simple CD interest rate calculator will estimate the amount of interest you’ll earn on a CD. It covers CD terms ranging from 3 months to five years.

How to Use the CD Calculator

To calculate how much interest you’ll earn over the term of a CD, just enter the following information:

Initial Deposit: The amount you plan to invest in the certificate of deposit.

CD Term: The length of the CD, ranging from 3 months to five years.

APY: The Annual Percentage Yield. Note that this is different than the interest rate. The APY takes into account the compounding of interest. Banks disclose the APY so it should be easy to determine.

CD Rates

Rates on certificates of deposits can change daily. We maintain a list of the best CD rates, which we update monthly. In addition, you can see additional rates here (updated daily):

The FDIC publishes weekly data on deposit account rates, including certificates of deposit. According to recent data, the national average yield on a 1-year CD stood at a paltry 0.28%. The rates we track are substantially higher than this, largely because we focus on online banks.

How are CD rates calculated?

Banks determine the yield they will pay on a CD based, in part, on the term of the CD. Generally, CDs with longer terms pay higher interest rates than CDs with shorter terms. There are, however, exceptions to this rule from time to time.

What CD term should I chose?

The best CD term will depend in part on your saving goal. Keep in mind that most CDs charge a penalty if you take the money out before the end of the term. It’s therefore important to consider when you’ll need to use the money before locking it into a long-term CD.

How often does interest compound on a CD?

The compounding rate can vary from bank to bank and from one CD term to another. In our calculator, we compound interest annually. We chose annual compounding because we found that to be a common approach among many banks for CD products. Daily or monthly compounding would increase the interest you earn over the term of the CD.

Ally Bank Review

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Ally Bank, formerly GMAC Bank, is an FDIC-insured online financial institution. It offers a wide array of deposit accounts, home and auto loans, and investing services. In this Ally Bank Review, we’ll evaluate each banking service.

About Ally Bank

Ally Bank

Ally Bank dates back to 1919 when it opened its doors as GMAC, a division of General Motors. Its purpose then was to help dealers finance their inventory. Beginning in the 1920s GMAC began helping consumers finance their automobile purchases.

Fast forward to 2000, and GMAC Bank was established. In 2009, it changed its name to Ally Bank and became the online bank as we know it today. It’s headquartered in Sandy, UT.

Ally is an online-only bank. It has no branches. As of December 31, 2019, it had approximately $167 billion in assets, with total deposits of nearly $123 billion.

Pros & Cons

Here’s what we like about Ally Bank, and what could be better.

What we like

  • Wide range of deposit accounts and lending options
  • Website very user-friendly
  • Savings Buckets help you save for specific goals
  • 24/7 Customer support via phone, chat or email

What could be better

  • While interest rates are competitive, they are not always the best

Bank Accounts

Savings & Money Market Accounts

Ally offers a traditional savings account as well as a money market account. There are two key differences between these accounts.

First, the savings account pays a higher yield (see below). Second, the money market account offers an ATM card with free, unlimited withdrawals from any Allpoint ATM in the U.S.

Ally Savings Account

  • APY: 1.25%
  • Minimum Deposit: $0
  • Compounded: Daily
  • Monthly Fee: $0
  • Website: https://www.ally.com/bank/online-savings-account/

Ally Money Market Account

  • APY: 0.50%
  • Minimum Deposit: $0
  • Compounded: Daily
  • Monthly Fee: $0
  • Website: https://www.ally.com/bank/money-market-account/

Tip

Check out our list of the best online savings accounts.

Ally Checking Account

Unlike some online banks, Ally offers a checking account that pays interest. Combined with no minimum deposit or monthly fee, it enables Ally to serve as your full service bank.

  • APY: 0.10% (less than $15,000 minimum daily balance) or 0.50% ($15,000 minimum daily balance)
  • Minimum Deposit: $0
  • Compounded: Daily
  • Monthly Fee: $0
  • Billpay: Set up one-time or recurring bill payments for free.
  • Remote Check Deposit: Yes. Deposit checks remotely with Ally eCheck Deposit, or transfer money from an account you have at another bank.
  • Zelle: Yes
  • ATM Access: Use any Allpoint ATM in the U.S. for free. Ally also reimburses up to $10 per statement cycle for frees charged at other ATMs nationwide.

CDs

Ally Bank offers three types of certificates of deposit:

  1. High-Yield CDs
  2. Raise Your Rate CDs
  3. No Penalty CD

Except for the No-Penalty CD, all CDs have an early withdrawal penalty. Here are the penalties on early withdrawal for all CDs purchased or renewed after 12/7/2013:

CD TermEarly Withdrawal Penalty
24 month or less60 days of interest
25 month – 36 month90 days of interest
37 month – 48 month120 days of interest
49 month or longer150 days of interest

High-Yield CD Rates

Ally’s High-Yield CDs offer the highest yields available among all of Ally’s certificates of deposit.

Account NameAPYMINMAX
3-month CD0.50%$0–
6-month CD0.75%$0–
9-month CD1.00%$0–
12-month CD1.35%$0–
18-month CD1.40%$0–
3-year CD1.45%$0–
5-year CD1.50%$0–

Raise Your Rate CD Rates

Ally’s Raise Your Rate CDs protect you from rising rates during the term of the CD. If rates go up, you can elect to up the rate of your 2-year CD once during the term, and twice on the 4-year CD. Keep in mind, however, that you pay for this option in a slightly lower starting yield as compared to its high-yield CDs.

Account NameAPYMINMAX
2-year Raise Your Rate CD1.35%$0–
4-year Raise Your Rate CD1.35%$0–

No-Penalty CD Rate

As the name suggests, this CD doesn’t charge a penalty for early withdrawal. Keep in mind, however, that it’s not like a savings account. If you decide to take the money out early, you must take all of it and the account is closed.

Account NameAPYMINMAX
11-month No-Penalty CD1.30%$0–

IRAs

Similar to the above accounts, Ally offers several deposit accounts to be held in your IRA:

  • IRA High Yield CD
  • IRA Raise Your Rate CD
  • IRA Online Savings

The rates are similar to the rates above for comparable products. In addition, you can open a Roth IRA, Traditional IRA or a SEP IRA.

Account Features

Savings Buckets

Ally makes it easy to save for specific goals, such as emergencies or a vacation. You can select up to 10 Savings Buckets, and then allocation your savings to each.

Ally Savings Buckets

Savings Boosters

Ally offers three ways to move money between Savings Buckets. First, you can simply transfer money from your Core Savings to one of more buckets. Second, you can set up recurring transfers from a linked checking account. You determine the frequency of the transfers, the amount, and the one or more Savings Buckets to receive the money.

The third and final way to fund Savings Buckets is quite innovative. It’s called Surprise Savings. Ally analyzes checking accounts you link to Ally, and transfers money from those accounts to savings when it determines your money could work harder for you in savings.

Personally, I’m not comfortable turning over control of my money to an algorithm. That said, Ally does have controls in place to prevent things like an overdraft. And you can edit it any time you want.

Zelle

You can transfer money to and from your Ally bank accounts with Zelle.

My Experience with Ally Bank

I opened my first account at Ally on December 25, 2012. Why I opened it on Christmas I have no idea. I’ve held accounts and a number of online banks over the years. In my experience, here’s how Ally stacks up:

  • Its website is excellent. It’s extremely easy to use.
  • Its customer service is friendly and helpful.
  • Its interest rates a good, but never the best among online banks.

One stand-out feature is its interest-bearing checking account. It doesn’t charge a monthly fee and had no minimum balance requirement. While I’ve never used the checking account, it would allow you to use Ally as a full-service bank.

Ally Bank Review

Rob Berger

Interest Rates
Customer Service
Website Usability
Account Types
Account Features

Summary

I’ve banked at Ally for years and have always had a positive experience. Customer support is excellent and the website is very easy to use.

4.8

Ally Bank Savings Calculator

A Simple Yet Powerful Savings Calculator

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This savings calculator can help you calculate the interest you’ll earn on a savings account. You can include both an initial deposit and monthly contributions. Indicate how long you’ll make the contributions and your APY, and the savings account calculator returns your total savings.

How to Use the Savings Calculator

The savings calculator requires just four numbers:

Initial Deposit: The amount of money you plan to deposit when you open the account. If the account is already open, the initial deposit should be your current balance.

Monthly Contribution: The amount of money, if any, you plan to save each month.

Number of Years: The length of time, in years, you plan to save.

Annual Percentage Yield: The APY is the interest rate you’ll earn on the savings account. APY accounts for the effects of compounding and is available from your bank.

While the average interest rate is 0.07%, according to the FDIC, you can do much better with an online bank.

3 Ways a Saving Calculator Can Help You Plan

Savings on a High-Yield Savings Account

The savings calculator can help you determine how much money you’ll have after a set number of years contributing to a high-yield savings account.

Emergency Fund Savings

Building an emergency fund is an important step toward financial freedom. One rule of thumb is that you should save three to six months of expenses. You can use the savings calculator to estimate how long it will take you to reach this goal.

Savings in a CD

With a certificate of deposit, you make an initial deposit but no monthly contributions. This calculator can handle it. Simply enter the initial deposit and leave the monthly contribution field blank. Add in the term of the CD in years and the APY.

Best American Express Credit Cards of May 2020

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I’ve carried American Express credit cards for years. It started with the iconic Green American Express many years ago. Since then I’ve carried the Gold card, Platinum Card, TrueEarnings CostCo card (no longer available), and the Blue Cash Preferred card. Yes, I’m an Amex fan.

Today Amex offers a wide variety of cards with excellent rewards. It offers top notch travel rewards, cash back, and even 0% introductory rate offers on balance transfers and purchases. The list below starts with consumer cards, followed by Amex business credit cards.

Amex May 2020 Update

With the COVID-19 affecting just about every way of life, American Express has made some temporary changes to help its cardmembers. The enhanced benefits fall into three categories. (Note that the below reward enhancements are in addition to rewards already offered on Amex credit cards.)

Streaming and Wireless

  • Platinum Consumer Card Members will receive up to $320 in statement credits when they use their Platinum Card on select streaming and wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers (up to $20 per month on each, from May through December 2020).
  • Business Platinum Card Members will receive up to $320 in statement credits on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers and U.S. purchases for shipping (up to $20 per month on each, from May through December 2020).
  • Green Consumer Card Members will receive up to $80 in statement credits when they use their Green Card to pay for wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers (up to $10 per month, from May through December 2020).

Stay-at-Home Dining and Essentials

  • Delta SkyMiles Reserve, Platinum, Gold and Blue Consumer Card Members will now earn 4X miles at U.S. supermarkets (May through July 2020).
  • Marriott Bonvoy and Brilliant Consumer Card Members will now earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy points at U.S. supermarkets on up to $7,500 in eligible purchases (May through July 2020).
  • Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Consumer Card Members’ eligible purchasesatU.S. restaurants, including takeout and delivery, will now qualify toward the $300 Marriott Bonvoy Statement Credit benefit (June through August 2020).
  • Hilton Surpass and Aspire Consumer Card Members will now earn 12X Hilton Honors Bonus Points at U.S. supermarkets (May through July 2020). Bonus Points earned through eligible purchases on all Hilton American Express Cards, that post to the Card Member’s Hilton Honors account between May 1 through December 31, 2020 will be considered Base Points and will count towards Elite tier qualification and Lifetime Diamond Status.
  • Hilton Aspire Consumer Card Members’ eligible purchases at U.S. restaurants, including takeout and delivery, will now qualify toward the $250 Hilton resort credit benefit (June through August 2020).

Remote Work Essentials for Small Businesses

  • Business Platinum Card Members will receive up to $200 in additional statement credits for U.S. purchases with Dell Technologies, for a total of up to $400 in statement credits in 2020 when added to the existing Shop Dell with Business Platinum benefit ($100 in additional statement credits from May 1 through June 30, 2020 and up to $100 in additional statement credits between July 1 and December 31, 2020).
    • In addition, they will receive up to $320 in statement credits on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers and U.S. purchases for shipping (up to $20 per month on each, from May through December 2020).
  • New, free Shop Small® templates and resources at ShopSmall.com, as well as benefits, offerings and expertise from more than 40 leading companies as part of the recently launched ‘Stand for Small’ coalition.
  • Resy, a subsidiary of American Express, is waiving all fees for new and existing ResyOS customers through December 2020.

[Source]

Note that these additional limited-time benefits are NOT reflected in the card details below.

American Express Personal Credit Cards

Editor’s Pick: My favorite consumer Amex card is the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express. With cash back of up to 6%, the $95 annual fee is well worth the cost. The $250 statement credit after you spend $[add_comma num=”signup_bonus_spend” post_id=”34857″] in purchases on your new card in your first 3 months helps, too.

Not sure if you qualify for a credit card? With just your name, address, email, and last 4 digits of your social security number, you can see if you qualify for some of the top credit cards available today. And best of all, it won’t affect your credit score.

Get Started Now

Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
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  • Welcome Offer: Earn $300 statement credit after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening..
  • Earn Cash Back: 6% U.S. supermarkets up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%), 3% U.S. gas stations, and 1% other purchases. Terms and limitations apply.
  • Earn 6% Cash Back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions including  Spotify, Netflix, Hulu, HBO, ShowTime, Pandora, Apple Music, Amazon Music or Video (Does not include Prime membership).
  • Earn 3% Cash Back on transit including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more.
  • With the Blue Cash Preferred® Card, you can start earning cashback. No rotating reward categories. No enrollment required.
  • Cashback is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit. Cashback is earned only on eligible purchases.
  • 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months, then a variable rate based on your creditworthiness and other factors.
  • Annual Fee: $95
  • Terms Apply

American Express Gold Card

American Express Gold Card
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  • Welcome Offer: Earn 50,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening..
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards points at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per year in purchases, then 1X).
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.
  • 1X points on other purchases.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees, making this an excellent card for international travel.
  • $100 airline fee credit and up to $100 per calendar year for baggage fees and more at one qualifying airline.
  • Annual Fee $250.
  • Terms Apply.

Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card

Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card
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  • Welcome Offer: Earn 125,000 Hilton Honors bonus points after you spend $2,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening..
  • 12X Bonus: Earn 12X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged on your card directly with a participating hotel or resort within the Hilton Portfolio.
  • 6X Bonus: Earn 6X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases on your card at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. gas stations.
  • 3X Bonus: Earn 3X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for all other eligible purchases on your card.
  • Spend $40,000 on eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year and you can earn Hilton Honors Diamond status through the end of the next calendar year.
  • Earn a Weekend Night Reward from Hilton Honors after you spend $15,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year.
  • Terms Apply

The Platinum Card® from American Express

The Platinum Card® from American Express
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  • Welcome Offer: Earn 75,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening..
  • Uber Bonus: Up to $200 for Uber rides annually.
  • 5X Membership Rewards points on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel.
  • 5X Membership Rewards points on eligible hotels booked on amextravel.com.
  • Receive complimentary benefits with an average total value of $550 with Fine Hotels & Resorts. Learn More.
  • $200 Airline Fee Credit, up to $200 per calendar year in baggage fees and more at one qualifying airline.
  • $550 annual fee.
  • Terms Apply

Gold Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express

Gold Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express
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  • Welcome Bonus #1: Earn [add_comma num=”signup_bonus” post_id=”34969″] Bonus Miles after you make $[add_comma num=”signup_bonus_spend” post_id=”34969″] in purchases on your new card within your first 3 months.
  • Welcome Bonus #2: Earn another 10,000 bonus miles after your first year of card membership. Offer Expires 4/1/2020.
  • Earn a $100 Delta Flight Credit after you spend $10,000 in purchases on the card in a calendar year.
  • Earn 2 miles for every dollar spent on eligible purchases made directly with Delta.
  • Earn 1 mile for every eligible dollar spent on purchases.
  • Check your first bag free on Delta flights
  • Priority Boarding.
  • $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $99.
  • Terms Apply

Blue Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express

Blue Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express
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  • Welcome Offer: Earn [add_comma num=”signup_bonus” post_id=”34966″] bonus miles after spending $[add_comma num=”signup_bonus_spend” post_id=”34966″] in purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months. Offer expires 4/1/2020.
  • 2 Miles Rewards: Earn 2 miles per dollar at restaurants worldwide and on purchases made directly with Delta.
  • 1 Mile Rewards: Earn 1 mile on every eligible dollar spent on purchases.
  • Receive a 20% In-Flight Savings in the form of a statement credit after you use your Card on eligible Delta in-flight purchases of food, beverages, and audio headsets.
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • No Annual Fee.
  • Terms Apply

Hilton Honors American Express Card

Hilton Honors American Express Card
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  • Welcome Offer: Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening..
  • Earn 7X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for every dollar of eligible purchases charged directly with a hotel or resort within the Hilton Honors portfolio of brands.
  • Earn 5X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for every dollar of eligible purchases at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. gas stations.
  • Earn 3X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for all other eligible purchases on your card.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Enjoy complimentary Hilton Honors Silver status with your Card.
  • No Annual Fee.
  • Terms Apply.

American Express Business Credit Cards

Editor’s Pick:For Amex business cards, I give the top pick to the SimplyCash® Business Card from American Express. As a small business owner, I know the value of 5% cash back on office supplies and wireless. Add to that 3% cash back on a category of your choice and no annual fee, and this card is a clear winner.

Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card

Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card
Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card
  • Limited Time Offer: Earn [add_comma num=”signup_bonus” post_id=”35148″] bonus Marriott Bonvoy points after spending $[add_comma num=”signup_bonus_spend” post_id=”35148″] within the first 3 months
  • Earn 6x points at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels
  • Earn 4x points at U.S. restaurants, U.S. gas stations, U.S. purchases on shipping, and wireless telephone services purchased from U.S. service providers
  • Earn 2x points on all other eligible purchases
  • Receive 1 Free Night Award each year after your Card account anniversary you can use at a participating hotel.
  • Enjoy complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status.
  • Earn Gold Elite status after spending $35,000 on eligible purchases on your card in a calendar year.
  • Annual fee is $125

Hilton Honors American Express Business Credit Card

Hilton Honors American Express Business Credit Card
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  • Welcome Offer: Earn 125,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases in the first 3 months of Card Membership.
  • Earn 12X at hotels and resorts in the Hilton portfolio
  • Earn 6X on Select Business & Travel Purchases
  • Earn 3X Everywhere Else. Terms & Limitations Apply.
  • Enjoy complimentary Gold status with your Hilton Honors Business Card.
  • Earn a Weekend Night Reward from Hilton Honors after you spend $15,000 in purchases on your card in a calendar year.
  • Earn another Weekend Night Reward from Hilton Honors after you spend an additional $45,000 in purchases on your card in the same calendar year.
  • Enjoy 10 free airport lounge visits each year once enrolled in complimentary Priority Pass(TM) Select membership, which offers access to over 1,000 lounges in over 120 countries.
  • Terms apply.

The Plum Card® from American Express

The Plum Card® from American Express
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  • Early Payoff Discount: Get a 1.5% discount when you pay early, with no cap on what you can earn back.
  • Take up to 60 days to pay with no interest, if you pay your minimum due.
  • Additional Employee Cards at no annual fee – and an early pay discount on employee spending.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Introductory annual fee of $0 for the first year, then $250
  • Terms & Restrictions Apply.

Platinum Delta SkyMiles Credit Card

Platinum Delta SkyMiles Credit Card
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  • Limited Time Offer: Earn [add_comma num=”signup_bonus” post_id=”35039″] bonus miles after spending $[add_comma num=”signup_bonus_spend” post_id=”35039″] within your first 3 months. Offer expires 4/1/2020.
  • Earn another 20,000 bonus miles after your first year of card membership. Offer expires 4/1/2020.
  • Earn 10,000 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, up to two times per year. NOTE: MQMs are used to determine Medallion Status and are different than miles you earn toward flights.
  • Earn 3 miles per dollar on purchases made directly with Delta and purchases made directly with hotels.
  • Earn 2 miles at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets.
  • Earn 1 mile for every eligible dollar.
  • Board early with Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding on Delta flights.
  • Check your first bag free on Delta flights.
  • Fee Credit for Global entry or TSA Precheck.
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • $250 Annual Fee.
  • Terms apply.

The Best Grocery Credit Cards of May 2020 | Up to 6% Rewards

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Some credit cards pay enhanced rewards on purchases at supermarkets. These cards can pay up to 6% cash back at the grocery store, although some also cap the amount that earns this increased reward. Here are all the details in our list of the best credit cards for groceries.

best credit cards for groceries

May 2020 Update: The big news in credit cards is that Chase has increased the reward rate on many of its cards for grocery purchases. As travel and eating out have all but gone away during the Covid-19 crisis, grocery story purchases have skyrocketed. In response, Chase has increased the reward rate on many of its credit cards on purchases at supermarkets.

One of my favorite cards, the Chase Sapphire Reserve, is offering 5x on up to $1,500 per month in groceries for May and June 2020 (more details below).

Chase Sapphire Reserve

The Chase Sapphire Reserve Card offers 5x Chase Ultimate Rewards points on up to $1,500 per month in grocery purchases through June 20, 2020. If used for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 5x points are worth 7.5% with the 50% bonus.

When it comes to saving money at the grocery store your first thought is probably a coupon. While coupons are a great way to cut your grocery bill, you can also save by using a cashback credit card. Cashback cards give you a percentage back on what you spend, thus saving you money.

Chase Limited Time Bonus on Groceries

Chase has just announced increased credit card rewards for purchases at grocery stores. The bonuses range from 3x to 5x rewards. The enhanced rewards run from May 1 to June 30, 2020. Here are the cards affected:

CardAccelerator
Chase Sapphire Reserve5X points
United Club5X miles
United Club Infinite5X miles
United Presidential Plus5X miles
Chase Sapphire Preferred3X points
Aer Lingus Visa Signature3X Avios
British Airways Visa Signature3X Avios
Disney Premier Visa3% Disney Rewards Dollars
Hyatt3X Bonus Points
World of Hyatt3X Bonus Points
Iberia Visa Signature3X Avios
IHG Rewards Club Premier3X points
IHG Rewards Club Select3X points
Southwest Rapid Rewards 3X points
Southwest Rapid Rewards Employee3X points
Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus3X points
Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier3X points
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority3X points
United Explorer3X miles
United MileagePlus3X miles
United MileagePlus Awards3X miles
United MileagePlus Select3X miles

Here are the details from Chase:

“From May 1st through June 30th, 2020, Chase Sapphire Preferred and Reserve and most Chase co-branded cardmembers will either earn 5X or 3X total points or miles per $1 spent on grocery purchases – up to $1,500 per month. They’ll get the extra points or miles even when they order online for pickup or delivery from eligible grocery stores and grocery delivery services. There is no activation required. They’ll earn automatically.”

Marriott Cards Supermarket Bonus

In addition, Chase is working with Marriott to provide all Marriott cardmembers 6x total points per $1 spent on grocery purchases, up to $5,000. This offer is automatic and is valid from May 1 to July 31, 2020.

Here are the Marriott cards included in this 6x limited time bonus:

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card
  • Bonus Offer: Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening..
  • Earn a free night award (worth up to 35,000 points) every year after your account anniversary
  • Earn 6X points at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels
  • Earn 2X Bonvoy points on all other purchasers
  • Earn Silver Elite Status each account anniversary, path to Gold Status after users spend $35,000 each year
  • Receive 15 Elite Night Credits granted each calendar year.
  • Unlimited Marriott Bonvoy Points
  • $95 Annual Fee

Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card

Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card
Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card
  • Welcome Bonus: You’ll get [add_comma num=”signup_bonus” post_id=”35341″] bonus points if you spend $[add_comma post_id=”35341″ num=”signup_bonus_spend”] on purchases with the card in the first 3 months.
  • 3x Rewards: Earn 3x Bonvoy points on every $1 you spend at Marriott Bonvoy hotels
  • 2x Rewards: Earn 2x Bonvoy points on every $1 you spend on travel purchases
  • 1x Rewards: Earn 1x Bonvoy points on all other purchases
  • You also get 15 Elite Night Credits every calendar year
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • No annual fee

Best Credit Cards for Groceries

The best credit cards for grocery shopping pay at least 3% in rewards. The above Chase cards meet that standard, although for a limited time. Here are our top supermarket cards from all issuers.

Chase Sapphire Reserve Card

Chase Sapphire Reserve Card
Chase Sapphire Reserve Card
  • Welcome Offer: Earn 50,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $750 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
  • $300 Annual Travel Credit
  • 3X points on travel immediately after earning your $300 travel credit.
  • 3X points on dining at restaurants & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
  • $0 foreign transaction fees.
  • Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards.
  • 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
  • Access to 1,000+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™
  • Select Up to $100 application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA Pre?®

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
  • Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. These points are worth $750 in travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards.
  • 2X points on travel and dining at restaurants
  • 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases
  • $0 foreign transaction fees
  • 1:1 point transfer to leading frequent travel programs at full value
  • $ Annual Fee

Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
Learn More
  • Welcome Offer: Earn $300 statement credit after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening..
  • Earn Cash Back: 6% U.S. supermarkets up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%), 3% U.S. gas stations, and 1% other purchases. Terms and limitations apply.
  • Earn 6% Cash Back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions including  Spotify, Netflix, Hulu, HBO, ShowTime, Pandora, Apple Music, Amazon Music or Video (Does not include Prime membership).
  • Earn 3% Cash Back on transit including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more.
  • With the Blue Cash Preferred® Card, you can start earning cashback. No rotating reward categories. No enrollment required.
  • Cashback is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit. Cashback is earned only on eligible purchases.
  • 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months, then a variable rate based on your creditworthiness and other factors.
  • Annual Fee: $95
  • Terms Apply

Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card

Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card
Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card
  • 5% cash back at Amazon.com and Whole Foods Market
  • 2% cash back at restaurants, gas stations and drugstores
  • 1% cash back on all other purchases
  • $70 Amazon gift card upon approval
  • No annual fee
  • No foreign transaction fees

Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express

Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express
Learn More
  • Welcome Offer: $150 statement credit after you spend $1,000 in purchases within the first 3 months.
  • Cash Back Rewards–
    • 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%);
    • 2% cash back at U.S. gas stations and at select U.S. department stores; and
    • 1% back on other purchases.
  • Note: Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be easily redeemed for statement credits, gift cards, and merchandise.
  • Intro APR: 0% for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers.
  • No annual fee.
  • Terms Apply

Capital One® Savor® Cash Rewards Credit Card

Capital One® Savor® Cash Rewards Credit Card
Learn More
  • Early Spend Bonus: Earn $300 cash bonus after you spend $3,000 on purchases within the first 3 months
  • 4% Cash Back: Earn 4% cash back on dining and entertainment
  • 2% Cash Back: Earn 2% on groceries
  • 1% Cash Back: Earn 1% on all other purchases
  • Intro APR: 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 9 months
  • $0 intro annual fee for the first year, $95 after that
  • No foreign transaction fees

Chase Freedom

Chase Freedom
Chase Freedom
  • Signup Bonus: Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening
  • 5% Cash Back: Earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter
  • 1% Cash Back: Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases
  • Intro APR: 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers
  • Free credit score, updated weekly with Credit Journey
  • No annual fee

Note that the Chase Freedom pays 5% on grocery purchases (excluding Walmart and Target) on up to $1,500 in purchases from now until June 30, 2020.

Store Brand Credit Cards

If you shop for groceries at specific stores, the store-branded credit cards often offer excellent rewards. I already mentioned the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature above. It earns 5% cash back on purchases at Whole Foods.

Here are some other store-specific cards to consider.

Target RedCard: The Target RedCard pays 5% cashback on Target purchases in the store and online. The 5% even applies to purchases at Starbucks in Target stores. The card comes as either a credit card or a debit card. The debit card version made our list of the best prepaid cards.

Walmart Credit Card: Issued by Capital One, the Walmart card pays 5% cashback at online Walmart purchases, including grocery pickup and delivery. It pays 2% cashback on purchases at Walmart stores.

Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi: the Costco Card pays 2% cash back on all purchases at Costco and Costco Online. Frankly, as a grocery store credit card, it’s mediocre. The problem is that many of the other cards listed above don’t pay the enhanced rewards on groceries purchased at Costco or other wholesale clubs. As such, it can be your best bet on Costco. On the brighter side, it pays 4% cash back on gas and 3% back on restaurants and eligible travel purchases.