Unfortunately this is yet another limited time offer, but I was having withdrawal symptoms after not getting any new cards for a couple months and saw some articles on 60K Citi ThankYou Prestige cards that are available only in a Citi branch. The problem is, Citi closed all their San Antonio (maybe all of Texas?) branches a couple of months ago and most of them were converted to a bank I’d never heard of, BB&T. Browsing around their site, I found a really interesting offer for a cashback card with this earning structure:
- 3% cashback on all purchases for the first 90 days.
- 1% cashback on all purchases after 90 days.
- 5% bonus cashback on cash earned annually.
- 30% more bonus cashback on cash earned annually if you spend more than $50K on the card during the year.
What it really needs is a $300 or so signup bonus to sweeten this deal. But this card has no annual fee and no interest for 12 months (which shouldn’t matter). It just might be worth a look if you live in their service area of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia or D.C. That is, if you’re looking for a solid cashback card to hammer for a few months without hitting up the same familiar banks. Due to the bonus earning structure, it would pay the first 3% right away and the remaining 1.05% after the first card member anniversary. There is also a chance that they could pay the 30% only on the first 1% but I can’t find anything in the terms and conditions that would indicate that. The card page and application link are here.
Points can also be redeemed for travel, but there is no indication of any additional value to do so, and there appear to be booking fees. You could also get gift cards, but I’m not sure why.
Some banks with limited service areas allow customers outside of their area to open accounts. I’m not sure if that’s the case with BB&T.
I am short on time to make the most of a card like this right now, so I don’t think I’ll do anything with this offer until early next year if at all. I don’t know anything about BB&T, their customer service or their willingness to allow large-scale MS and cycling your credit. But it definitely gives an interesting additional choice for some good earning over 3 months. If you don’t play the MS or gift card games but have some large expenses coming up, this could also be a great choice. What do you think? Is 3 months of unlimited 3% with another 1.05% to follow worth an application?
I happen to like maps. This one from Free Map Tools has nothing to do with anything, but it includes most of BB&T’s service area.
Disclosure: 8.15% is more than 4.05%. So is 19.15%. It would be extremely stupid to open this card, do a boatload of MS, lose track of it, and wind up carrying a balance that you pay interest on. So please don’t.
– Kenny
I unwillingly became a BB&T business customer many years ago when they bought my local bank. I found them a bit fee-crazy and dropped them pretty quickly.
However, I recently opened a personal account with them (for MS purposes, not relating to the credit card you mentioned). You will note that BB&T’s geographical range overlaps with Suntrust, so many of your readers will be happy to know you can use a debit card to open a BB&T account (up to $1,500) . This is an online option account opening option – I do not know if it is available in branch. (Their website says credit or debit but when you get to the funding page only debit shows up). Don’t open and close – they will ding you if you close the account within 90 days (online it says 60 days, customer rep on the phone said 90). Avoiding the $12 monthly fee isn’t that hard.
Thanks for this article. 3%+ on everything sounds tempting. I will look into it when I finish my current gig.
I just stumbled onto the offer and don’t have any experience with BB&T. Thanks for weighing in and for the additional info!
My BB&T checking account was rapidly closed as I was trying to depost $ coins a few years back (mint deal). From that experience, I expect it’ll be difficult to abuse this offer.
Thanks ABC. You may well be right, but often bank accounts and card accounts are treated very differently.
There are still Citi branches in north Texas. I opened a BB&T checking account online for the bonus a few months ago. Even though it said debit on the funding page, I put in my chase freedom # for $1500. It funded and posted as a purchase on my card. I use the acct to deposit a few MOs & do bill pay every month, no problems so far. I keep the required minimum balance to avoid fees.
Nice, thanks. Maybe I should find a reason to come up to Dallas so I can apply for a Prestige card!
Guys, any data points on this? I’ve yet to hear anybody actually getting and MSing on this card. Very interested if someone is hammering on this. Feel free to send me a private message on the forum at bradfol8