Our Chase credit cards review covers top Chase cards including Sapphire, Freedom and Slate.
For years, my business and personal accounts were with Washington Mutual. Now that Chase has been my bank for a few months, I decided to shop around and see what they have to offer. I’ve noted that cards that have rewards programs such as Chase and Discover credit cards can offer you quite a bit more than just convenience and a regular monthly bill.
Chase Sapphire Credit Card
Chase Sapphire has no annual fee and gives you one point for every $1 spent on the credit card wherever you go. You can shop online for additional points at more than 300 merchants and earn extra points per $1 when you shop online at the Ultimate Rewards Mall through Chase.
Your points are also worth more when you use your card to book flights through the Chase Online Travel Booking Tool (via the Ultimate Rewards site). Airfare booked through this tool earns you points on a 2:1 basis. There are no limits on the points you can earn and the points never expire. Rewards points can be transferred at full value to top frequent flyer and hotel programs you might already belong to so you can use them to offset the cost of your next vacation or business trip. There are no blackout dates or travel restrictions when you redeem your rewards.
When you sign up for Chase Sapphire, you get 10,000 bonus points as a new card member, which is the equivalent of $100 in rewards or cash. Points can be redeemed for merchandise, travel, gift cards and cash back.
Gift cards for leading retailers such as Macy’s and Home Depot are available, and you can also get access to airlines, hotels, cruises, car rental certificates and merchandise such as music downloads and HDTVs. You’ll also receive unique travel opportunities and access to events such as VIP passes to fashion week and American Idol.
The card also offers unmatched service: an advisor is available and on call any time you need to contact someone regarding your account. There’s also a lot of insurance built into the card, such as purchase protection, extended warranty and zero liability coverage.
Chase Freedom Credit Card
The Chase Freedom card is the cash back rewards card offering from Chase. It has no annual fee and at the most basic level, you’ll get 1% cash back on all your purchases, everywhere and every time you use it. But even better, you’ll receive 5% cash back for spending in popular categories such as groceries, airlines, gas, home improvement and more. There are no limits nor expiration dates to the cash back you earn through this card. You’ll also earn up to 20% Bonus Cash Back when you shop at certain online merchants through Chase’s Ultimate Rewards Mall.
As mentioned, you can earn 5% cash back on rotating categories. For example, between October and December you can earn 5% cash back for shopping at discount stores, bookstores and computer/electronics stores. The following months after, you can get a 5% bonus cash back on groceries, gas and fast food. Another great benefit is that you’ll earn 0% intro APR for purchases for the first 6 months of carrying the card (based on your credit rating). It’s also a 0% balance transfer credit card where you get 0% intro APR for 12 months for balance transfers, again based on how good your credit rating is.
On top of this, the card allows you the flexibility of managing your credit card account via Chase Blueprint. This is a free set of features that Chase offers its customers to help them manage their own finances on their terms.
Chase Slate Credit Card
Chase Slate is a streamlined, simple credit card with no annual fee and no rewards program. Much like with the Chase Freedom credit card, you’ll also get access to Chase Blueprint, which is a unique financial program that allows you to pay your bill your way. Here are some ways you can manage your credit card account with the help of Chase Blueprint:
- The Full Pay option lets you avoid paying interest on everyday items purchased on your card by allowing you to pay your expenses in full every month. These things are separated on your monthly bill.
- The Split option lets you pay off larger balances on your own terms by separating them from other purchases and setting up a target date or a schedule for monthly payments.
- Finish It allows you to pay down your balance faster. You select a monthly amount or target date and Chase does the work of setting up the plan for you.
- Track It gives you the chance to review your spending trends and track your progress against your financial goals.
Thanks for the review, it’s been pretty helpful.