Best Current Credit Cards

Since this is obviously an important topic, I’ll try to keep an updated version of this posted every month. Here’s what I think your current best bets are:

Chase Cards

• Ink Bold – 50,000 points. Spend $10,000 in first 3 months.
• Sapphire – 40,000 points. Spend $3,000 in first 3 months.

(Ink & Sapphire points are GREAT. Transfer to United, British Air, Southwest, Hyatt, Marriott, & more)

• Hyatt – 2 free nights at any Hyatt in the world after first dollar spent.
• United Airlines Explorer Card – Instead of clicking this link, log into your account at United.com. If you have any miles there, you should get an offer for 50,000 miles after spending $1,000 in 3 months.

Bank of America (and Bank of Hawaii)

• Bank of America Hawaiian Airlines Card – 35,000 miles. $1,000 spend in first 4 months.
• Bank of Hawaii Hawaiian Airlines Card – 35,000 miles. $2,000 spend in first 4 months.

(I would transfer the Hawaiian miles to Hilton points at a 2 to 1 ratio)

Citibank
American Airlines Amex and Visa– 50,000 miles. Spend $3,000 in first 4 months.
(Get both by applying at the same time using 2 different browsers like Google Chrome and Internet Explorer)

Barclays
US Airways – 40,000 miles after first use.
(This & the Hawaiian Airlines cards are very “churnable” – earn bonuses multiple times)

American Express
Starwood Preferred Guest – 25,000 points. Spend $5,000 in first 6 months.
(My favorite card, especially if you need more hotel points. Their cash + points options are great)
**Please email me if you plan to apply for this card so I can send you a referral link**

My usual methods for credit card applications still apply:

• I typically apply for multiple cards on the same day, once every 3 months.
• I apply at the same time using different browsers, which can sometimes save me credit inquiry “hits.”
• I don’t apply for more than 1 card from each bank on that day (1 from Chase, 1 from Citibank, 1 from Barclays, etc)
• If I’ve recently gotten a bonus, I sometimes apply for the Business version of the same card. No, I don’t have a business. I just use my social security number, make up a business name, and apply.

If you’ve gotten all the best offers, there are always other decent options, such as: