Abby Hayes

Credit Cards with FREE Credit Scores [and Monitoring]

April 18, 2020 by Abby Hayes Leave a Comment

Many credit cards today offer free access to your credit score. They also monitor your credit reports for free, sending you alerts when they detect changes to your credit file. Here’s a comprehensive list of the credit cards with free credit scores and monitoring.

credit cards with free fico score and monitoring

Monitoring your credit report is one of the best ways to catch identity thieves in their tracks. And staying on top of your actual score helps you be prepared to apply for loans and credit cards as you need them.

Keeping track of your credit can get expensive, though. Sure, plenty of websites and identity theft protection companies offer monthly monitoring. But these services can cost upwards of $20 a month, and those costs add up.

But now consumers have more access than ever to free credit score information. Websites like Credit Karma and Credit Sesame offer free (and fairly accurate!) credit monitoring for consumers. But if you want to see the actual credit score potential lenders see, you may want to check your credit card statement.

More and more credit card issuers are helping consumers stay on top of their credit by offering free credit monitoring. With many of these issuers, you just log into your online credit card account to check your updated credit score for that month. Here are credit cards that are currently providing this service

Credit Cards with Free Credit Score Access

Summary

Credit Card Issuer	Credit Score Formula	Credit Report Used	Who Has Access
American Express	VantageScore 3.0	TransUnion	Anyone
Bank of America	FICO	TransUnion	Cardholders
BarclayCard	FICO	TransUnion	Cardholders
Capital One	VantageScore 3.0	TransUnion	Anyone
Chase	VantageScore 3.0	TransUnion	Anyone
Citibank	FICO Bankcard Score 8	Equifax	Some cardholders
Commerce Bank	FICO Bankcard Score 9		Cardhlders
Credit One Bank	ScoreX	Experian	Cardholders
Discover	FICO 8	Experian	Anyone
FNBO	FICO Bankcard Score 9		Customers
U.S. Bank		TransUnion	Online banking customers
Wells Fargo	FICO	Experian	Some cardholders

Credit Cards with Free FICO Score

Not all credit scores you get from credit card issuers are FICO scores. Some offer scores based on other credit formulas. Here are those cards currently offering free access to your official FIOC score.

BarclayCard

BarclayCard offers basic FICO scores to its customers, as well as a month-by-month tracker that shows you how your credit score is rising or falling. Right now, the service is only available if you log in online, but the company may provide credit score information on paper statements in the future.

Discover

Discover offers free access to your FICO credit score. You don’t need to be a Discover cardmember. Free access is available to everyone. The free scores can be accessed online or on paper statements, and they’re based on a customer’s latest TransUnion score.

Wells Fargo

Eligible customers of Wells Fargo get free access to their FICO score. The score is based on credit data pulled from Experian.

Credit Cards with Free VantageScore 3.0

Some credit cards give you free access to your credit score using the VantageScore3.0 model. Developed by the three credit bureaus in 2006, it uses the same scoring range used by most versions of the FICO score–300 to 850.

American Express

American Express offers free access to your VantageScore 3.0 through what it calls MyCredit Guide. You do not have to have a credit card with Amex to get access to your score. MyCredit shows you the factors affecting your score and a simulator to see how different financial decisions might change your score.

Bank of America

Bank of America offers its customers free access to their FICO scores. The scores are calculated using data from TransUnion.

Capital One

Capital One offers a great Credit Tracker program, which shows not only your current credit score but also information on how you can bring it up. It could be a helpful program if you’re trying to build your credit score – or rebound from some credit dings – especially.

Capital One also offers a credit simulator. This tool gives you an estimate of how different credit-related activities, such as paying your debts on time, opening a new account, or buying a home, will affect your credit score. In my case, allowing an account to become delinquent for 30 days drops my score from 822 to 763. Yikes!

Chase

Chase offers free access to credit scores through its program called Credit Journey. It provides consumers access to their VantageScore 3.0 based on data from TransUnion. There’s no longer a need to be a Chase customer or cardmember to gain access.

U.S. Bank

U.S. Bank offers free access to credit scores to its online banking customers. The score is based on data from TransUnion.

Target recently started offering credit score monitoring to its credit card users, mostly as a response to the well-published security breach a few months ago.

Credit Cards Offering Other Credit Scoring Models

Citibank

Citibank offers free access to some customers. Although the score provided is based on a FICO formula, I’ve categorized it here because it doesn’t use the standard FICO formula. Instead, it’s based on the FICO^® Bankcard Score 8, which has a scoring range of 250 to 900.

Commerce Bank

Commerce Bank offers free access to a customer’s FICO Bankcard Score 9. Scores are available only to banking customers.

Credit One Bank

Credit One Bank issues credit cards aimed at those with limited or poor credit. Cardmembers get free access to their credit score using the Experian ScoreX Credit Score.

FNBO

FNBO offers its customers access to their FICO Bankcard Score 9 credit score.

Don’t Get Too Comfortable

All these free credit monitoring services are great, especially if you’re working to improve your credit score. But beware of using only these free credit monitoring services.

For the most part, free credit monitoring services like these only track your credit file with one of the three main credit bureaus. Discover and Capital One, for instance, use just your TransUnion file. And Target only uses Experian.

In reality, your credit file and resulting credit score from each agency can be very different. So you’ll still want to track the other agencies a few times a year, just to be on the safe side. But, still, if you want a monthly credit score tracking service, the offers from these credit cards could be worth checking out.

Chase Ink Business Credit Card Review

October 27, 2018 by Abby Hayes Leave a Comment

Chase is currently offering some great sign-up bonuses and ongoing rewards on its Ink line of business credit cards. These cards can be a good option for small business owners anyway, but these deals are making it even better.

Chase Ink cards come in three flavors. Two of them pay rewards in cash, one in points. Two have no annual fee, one does. As with anything, you get what you pay for. The Chase Ink with an annual fee offers the highest sign-up bonus and phenomenal ongoing rewards.

Here’s are the details:

Chase Ink Business Preferred Credit Card

First up is the Chase Ink Business Preferred Credit Card, which offers the highest signup bonus of the three Chase business credit cards. You can earn [add_comma num=”signup_bonus” post_id=”34924″] bonus points, which is worth $1,250 in travel rewards when redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards.

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Chase Ink Business Cash Credit Card

The Chase Ink Business Cash Credit Card combines a generous signup bonus with up to 5% cash back.

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Chase Ink Business Unlimited

The third option is ideal for those looking for a solid card with simple rewards. The Chase Ink Business Unlimited offers a $500 bonus, 1.5% cash back, and a 0% APR introductory rate.

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So which of these offers is best for you? That depends on what you need.

If you’ll spend $5,000 within three months, the Ink Business card will give you a better deal with the 80,000 bonus points. Use the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal to book travel with those points, and you’ll essentially break even on almost 8 more years of annual fees.

If you’re not sure how often you’ll use the card, or don’t plan to spend that much off the bat, the Ink Cash is probably your better option. You’ll still earn the same cash back, but you won’t have to worry about that $95 fee from year 2 onward.

Either way, if you’re in the market for a business credit card right now, both of these Chase offers are worth checking out.

5 Things to Know About Temporary Credit Card Numbers

February 17, 2016 by Abby Hayes Leave a Comment

The more you hear about fraud and identity theft from online purchases, the more nerve-wracking online shopping can be. Luckily, credit card companies are stepping up their game when it comes to online security. Besides fraud protection guarantees that protect you after the fact, more companies are implementing measures that make it even more difficult to steal your credit card number. One such option is a temporary, or virtual, credit card number.

These randomly-generated numbers are assigned by your credit card company. You can typically get the number through your credit card company’s website. The virtual number will look different from the one on your physical credit card, but it’s still linked to the same account.

You can use the temporary number for online shopping, and it’ll expire after a set amount of time. So even if hackers swipe this temporary credit card number while you shop online, it will likely expire before they can use it.

Credit Cards with Virtual Numbers

While not all credit card companies are currently offering virtual credit card numbers for all their credit card types, some do. Right now, Citibank and Bank of America both offer this service to certain cardholders. I carry the Citi® Double Cash Card, and it offers virtual account numbers:

Other card issuers offer virtual credit cards as well, including American Express and Capital One.

How to Get a Temporary Credit Card Number

The process for generating a virtual number is simple:

Sign on to the credit card company’s website and navigate to their virtual number feature (see links to some card issuers above);
Enter your spending limit for the virtual number;
If the feature is available, enter date when the number should expire; and
The card issuer generates a virtual number and security code that you can use to shop online.

5 Things to Know About Virtual Credit Cards

While these cards can make online shopping safer, be sure you understand all their ins and outs before using them. Here’s what you need to know:

1. You may have to apply for a new number each time you shop. Different virtual credit card systems have different rules. Some expire in a very short amount of time, such as 24 hours. But they can last for up to a year. If your credit card issuer uses shorter-lasting numbers, you’ll need to apply for a new temporary number each time you shop. It’s typically a simple process, though. You’ll just have to remember to do it each time you want to shop online with a temporary credit card number.

2. They aren’t 100% fraud-proof. While virtual credit cards can protect you from some types of fraud, they’re not completely bulletproof. If a hacker uses your credit card number within the time frame that it’s still active, you’ll still have to dispute the fraudulent charges as you normally would. Luckily, the same fraud protection rules that apply for your regular credit card number also apply to your virtual number.

3. They aren’t great for booking hotels or rental cars. In any situation where you need to use your credit card online for a booking, and then present that card when you actually check in, a virtual credit card number will be a headache. Most of the time, hotels and car rental agencies expect to verify the same card in person that you used to pay online. If you use a virtual number that doesn’t match the one on your physical credit card, you might be out of luck.

4. Returns can be a pain. Most of the time when you buy online and then make a return, you’ll get money directly back to your debit account or credit card. When you use a virtual number, this can be a problem. If your temporary credit card number has expired before you make the return, you may have to accept a gift card or check instead. This can be frustrating, depending on the merchant and the reason for return.

5. There are other options available. Even though not all credit card companies offer virtual credit card numbers yet, there are other apps and tools available to do something similar. For instance, a product called MaskMe created disposable email addresses that can confuse spammers. Evolving services like Apply Pay also allow you to make payments without giving a merchant your actual credit card.

While virtual, or temporary, credit card numbers have their drawbacks, they can certainly serve a purpose. It’s important to think about your fraud risk, you potential for returns, and other possible issues with an online transaction. Then, you can best decide whether or not to create a virtual credit card number for your online purchase.

A Review of the U.S. Bank Cash+ Credit Card

June 23, 2014 by Abby Hayes Leave a Comment

The U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa Signature card could be an excellent option if you’re looking for an everyday use cash back card. It’s especially great if your spending doesn’t necessarily fit the traditional cash back categories. With this card, you can actually set your own bonus categories every quarter! Here’s what you need to know:

Earn 5% cash back on your first $2,000 of purchases in a quarter in two categories of your choice
Earn 2% cash back on one everyday spending category of your choice
Earn 1% cash back on everything else
Get a $25 Cash+ Bonus when you redeem $100 or more in a single redemption, up to once per year
No limit on total cash back earned
No minimum redemption for cash back
Zero fraud liability for unauthorized purchases
Automatic bill pay that lets you earn rewards faster
Travel accident insurance of at least $1,000,000 when you purchase tickets with your U.S. Bank Cash+ Card
Free Experian credit score for online banking customers
No annual fee
0% APR for 6 months on balance transfers

Choosing Your Bonus Categories

The main pull of the U.S. Bank Cash+ card is that you get to choose your bonus categories – within certain limits. Other cash back cards tend to rotate their cash back categories based on seasonal norms. So, for instance, you might get a bonus in the spring at hardware and home decoration stores. But you don’t get to choose those categories.

With the Cash+, though, U.S. Bank gives you several categories to choose from each quarter, and you can choose two of them. You have to sign up for the card to get the full list of categories, but they include options like department stores, home improvement stores, hotels, airlines, charitable contributions, bill payments, restaurants, movie theaters, and more.

The Cash+ makes it easy for you to tailor your card’s best cash back bonuses to categories where you’re really going to spend that quarter. Of course, there are still limits, based on what each quarters possibilities are. But this is a good card to go with if other cash back cards’ rotating categories just don’t do it for you.

The Cons

Perhaps the biggest con with this card is that it requires excellent credit to get. It’s not the best cash back card to apply for if you don’t have a really great score. According to Credit Karma, only 18% of cardholders had a credit score of 651-700 when they applied. And a full 37% had a score of over 750 when they applied.

Also, keep in mind that the 5% cash back category is limited to $2,000 of spending on both your categories combined within that quarter. So if you choose home improvement stores and gas stations, for instance, and spend $1,500 at the first and $500 on the second in two months, you don’t get any more 5% bonuses that quarter – even if you keep swiping that card for gas and home improvement store purchases.

The Bottom Line

If you’re not a huge spender or the categories for other rotating-category cash back cards don’t fit you, the Cash+ is a great card to consider. An alternative to check out, though, would be the Chase Freedom^®, which has an account opening bonus and a better 0% introductory APR offer.

Choosing YOUR Best Travel Rewards Credit Card

June 20, 2014 by Abby Hayes Leave a Comment

If your goal for your credit card rewards is to earn free travel, you may be wondering where to start. With so many excellent-looking travel rewards credit cards out there, which one is best?

Some cards definitely are better than others. They may offer more bonus rewards, or make it easy for you to cash in your rewards for airline tickets. But which card is best for you depends on factors like current sign-up bonuses, your spending patterns, and if you prefer a certain airline.

So when it comes to choosing a credit card for earning airline miles, do your research. Take a look at the top-rated airline miles credit cards out there, and then decide which card will work best for you. The internet is chock full of tools that can help you make this decision.

Online Calculators Make it Easy

The key to successful credit card use is to not rack up huge balances in order to get rewards. This will just land you with excessive interest charges, which will far outweigh any rewards you’ll gain. So instead of overspending to earn extra rewards, start with a credit card that suits your current spending patterns.

For instance, if you spend next to nothing on office supplies, don’t choose a credit card with major bonuses in that category. If you spend an arm and a leg every month to feed your family of five, choose a card with great grocery rewards.

Luckily, credit card companies make it easy to find out exactly what spending habits they reward most. The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, for instance, offers 2 points per $1 spent on travel-related purchases.

But you don’t need to go research every single travel rewards credit card to choose one that will work for you. Instead, use an online calculator to help you decide. Calculators like Credit Card Tune-Up stay up-to-date on the latest credit card rewards offerings. You just put in your typical monthly spending in various categories, and the calculator will tell you which credit cards fit your lifestyle.

Bonuses Aren’t the End-All, Be-All

When you’re choosing the best mileage credit card for your needs, the everyday, long-term rewards you’ll get from a card should usually outweigh the up-front bonus. Some of those 40,000 mile bonuses are really tempting! And they’re great – if they’re for a credit card that will work well for you on a daily basis.

Some Cards to Check Out

Now that you know how to choose a good airline rewards credit card, here are a few options you might consider:

Chase Sapphire Preferred: This popular credit card offers up to [add_comma post_id=”34945″ num=”signup_bonus”] bonus points (which can be redeemed for air travel). The card offers 2 points per $1 spent on travel and restaurant dining, and 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases, making it a flexible way to earn everyday rewards.

Barclaycard Arrival Plus™ World Elite MasterCard®: If you have excellent credit and you’re looking for great overall rewards, this card is a good option. It offers 2 points per $1 spent on all purchases. It also offers a unique 5% miles back when you redeem your miles for travel, which makes each mile redeemed more valuable. (This offer is now EXPIRED)

Priceline Rewards Visa: If you already travel a lot and use Priceline, this is a good travel card to have. It gives you 5 points per $1 spent on all Priceline purchases. It also offers 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.

Earn 3,000 Bonus Points with Rocketmiles

June 16, 2014 by Abby Hayes Leave a Comment

Rocketmiles is a hotel booking service you can use to rack up airline miles. It’s been around for a while, and it’s now starting to offer some great bonus promotions through various affiliate partners.

We recently found a link for up to 3,000 bonus miles through MaltaPoints on BoardingArea.com. To take advantage of the points, you’ll need to book through the affiliate link before July 4th. The page also includes an indefinitely valid affiliate link for 1,000 bonus points.

So what is Rocketmiles, and is it worth your time?

Rocketmiles is basically a hotel booking service. It doesn’t give you deep hotel discounts, but it does let you earn miles when you book a room in top-quality hotels. Those miles can then be transferred on a 1-to-1 basis to popular airline rewards programs, like these:

As we noted earlier, Rocketmiles isn’t a hotel discount site like Hotwire or Orbitz. The lowest you can set your per-night price on their advanced search is $100. You can get some refundable hotel deals there, but it’s going to give you mostly access to very high-end (read: expensive) hotels. And according to some internet sources, sometimes Rocketmiles charges a bit more in daily rates than you’d get from the hotel itself.

Still, though, if you already plan to book a high-end hotel, it may be worth paying a small premium for the up to 5,000 miles per night that you’ll earn through Rocketmiles. Plus, you could double dip on your rewards if you book a hotel using a credit card that offers rewards for any hotel booking – or for any purchases at all.

The best part of Rocketmiles may be that its miles are transferrable to so many programs. So if you’re planning a swanky vacation, booking a good hotel room for a business trip, or paying for someone else’s hotel stay (for a wedding or graduation gift this summer), Rocketmiles could make it more worth your while.