American credit card users are incredibly lucky. Not only do we enjoy an extremely competitive marketplace, but we have even come to expect that banks will offer us rewards simply for trying their products. This August, the sign up bonuses being offered to new credit card applicants are definitely worth a close look, as changing credit cards can put an easy $100 or more in your pocket and, in some cases, provide the opportunity to save much more via long lasting 0% interest promotions that apply to balance transfers and new purchases.
Easy to Obtain $100 Cash Back Credit Card Bonuses – And 0% Rates
Consumers looking to snag an easy $100 bonus, earn cash back on purchases and do this on a card with a 0% interest rate that applies to purchases and balance transfers have two strong options. Citi’s Dividend Platinum Select Visa card offers $100 in cash back after a mere $500 in purchases is made. This card also offers a 0% APR lasting 12 months that applies to both purchases and balance transfers, a feature that can save many consumers with high interest credit card debt much more than the sign up bonus.
The Chase Freedom Visa features essentially the terms, though it does offer a longer, 15 month 0% introductory period. This feature makes it a stronger option for consumers who want more time to payoff outstanding high interest cards.
You can learn more about these offers below.
A Few More Easy to Obtain Bonuses
Apart from the offers listed above, two other cards offer up easy $100+ signup bonuses, though they lack 0% rates. First, the Chase Sapphire card offers 10,000 points to new applicants who spend $500 within three months of opening an account. These points can be worth $100 in gift cards or statement credits.
Even better, the Citi ThankYou Preferred card offers 15,000 bonus points that are worth $150 in gift cards. However, this offer requires $1,000 of spending in three months, a requirement any consumer who might find his or her self making purchases to meet the higher spending threshold should consider a deal breaker.
Is $100-$150 Enough to Make Applying for a New Card Worthwhile?
Ultimately, while snagging an easy $100 or even $150 is a good enough reason for many to switch credit cards, it is important to choose a card that best fits your credit card needs.
If you have no debt and always pay your cards in full monthly, then any of the cards listed here can be a good deal. However, if you have credit card debt at an interest rate in the teens and think you’ll need more than a few months to repay your debt, then the wise move may be to avoid flashy sign up bonuses and seek out a card that allows you to transfer balances at a 0% rate.
Transferring a balance of just $1,500 from a card with a 15% interest rate to a 0% APR card can save a consumer nearly $200 over just 12 months. That far exceeds most sign up bonuses and has the added benefit of expediting the process of getting out of debt.
For more information on cards to use for 0% balance transfers, see our list of the top 10 offers of 2012 here.
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About the author
Jeffrey Weber has been following and blogging about the credit card industry since 2004. He has also written for Forbes and been cited in a wide range of major media outlets including USA Today, Time, MSN Money, The Christian Science Monitor, The Detroit Free Press and numerous other prestigious online and print publications.
Jeffrey resides in Easton, Connecticut and enjoys spending his free time chasing after his two year old son, watching films with his wife and occasionally taking a holiday to go snorkeling.
Jeffrey Weber – has written 65 posts.
