This slide deck examines new product releases from 11 credit card carriers in the Credit Card Monitor coverage group over the course of 2018. We highlight basic fee information, rewards criteria and specific standout features unique to each card product offering.
4. Background
▪ This slide deck examines new product
releases from 11 credit card carriers in
the Credit Card Monitor coverage group
over the course of 2018
▪ We highlight basic fee information,
rewards criteria and specific standout
features unique to each card product
offering
5. Firms Covered
▪ American Express
▪ Bank of America
▪ Barclays
▪ Capital One
▪ Chase
▪ Citicards
▪ Discover
▪ PNC
▪ U.S. Bank
▪ USAA
▪ Wells Fargo
7. Credit Card Product Releases
▪ Firms within the coverage group launched a total of 24 new cards
in 2018 that are currently promoted online
-Most cards in this slide deck have a focus on rewards, with each credit
card product released this year providing users the ability to earn points,
miles or cash back
-Two cards instead have a primary low-APR appeal
-Seven more new cards were released in 2018 than in 2017
-Three firms—Discover, PNC Bank and USAA—did not introduce or remove
any cards in 2018
-Many new cards actually appear as replacement cards with existing
cobrand partners
8. American Express
▪ 14 points per $1 on Hilton purchases
▪ 7 points per $1 on flights, car rentals and at restaurants
▪ 3 points per $1 on all other purchases
▪ 17.99% to 26.99% purchase and balance transfer APR
▪ $450 annual fee
▪ 150,000 bonus points after card holders spend $4,000 in first three months
▪ Automatic Hilton Honors reward program Diamond status
▪ One free weekend night after spending $60,000 annually
▪ $250 in statement credits toward Hilton Resorts annually
▪ Standout feature: automatic Hilton reward program status and $250 statement credit
▪ Introduced: January 2018; rates and fees as of January 2019
Hilton Honors Aspire
9. American Express
▪ 12 points per $1 on Hilton purchases
▪ 6 points per $1 on flights, car rentals and at restaurants
▪ 3 points per $1 on all other purchases
▪ 17.99% to 26.99% purchase and balance transfer APR
▪ $95 annual fee
▪ 150,000 bonus points after card holders spend $3,000 in first three months
▪ Automatic Hilton Honors reward program Gold status
▪ One free weekend night after spending $15,000 annually
▪ Standout feature: automatic Hilton reward program status
▪ Introduced: January 2018; rates and fees as of January 2019
Hilton Honors Ascend
10. American Express
▪ 1.5% cash back on all purchases
▪ 0% introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months
▪ 15.24% to 26.24% purchase and balance transfer APR thereafter
▪ No annual fee
▪ $200 cash back after card holders spend $1,000 in three months
▪ Standout feature: 1.5% cash back on all purchases with no annual fee
▪ Introduced: July 2018; rates and fees as of January 2019
Cash Magnet
11. American Express
▪ 6 points per $1 at SPG and Marriott Rewards hotels
▪ 3 points per $1 at restaurants and on flights booked directly with airlines
▪ 2 points per $1 on all other purchases
▪ 17.99% to 26.99% purchase and balance transfer APR
▪ $450 annual fee
▪ 75,000 bonus points after card holders spend $3,000 in first three months
▪ Automatic Marriott Rewards program Gold Elite status
▪ $300 statement credit toward SPG and Marriott Rewards hotel purchases and free
night award annually
▪ Standout feature: automatic reward program status and $300 statement credit
▪ Introduced: September 2018; rates and fees as of January 2019
Starwood Preferred Guest Luxury
12. American Express
▪ 4 points per $1 at restaurants and on up to $25,000 at supermarkets
▪ 3 points per $1 on flights booked directly with airlines and on amextravel.com
▪ 20.49% APR for Pay over Time eligible purchases
▪ $250 annual fee
▪ 50,000 bonus points after card holders spend $2,000 in first three months
▪ No foreign transaction fees
▪ Available in Rose Gold for a limited time
▪ $120 statement credit toward participating dining partner purchases and $100 statement
credit toward participating airline purchases annually
▪ Standout feature: available in rose gold and statement credits for dining and airline
purchases
▪ Reintroduced: October 2018; rates and fees as of January 2019
Gold
13. Bank of America
▪ 3 miles per $1 on Air France, KLM Royal Dutch and SkyTeam airlines
▪ 1.5 miles per $1 on all other purchases
▪ 17.24% to 25.24% purchase and balance transfer APR
▪ $89 annual fee
▪ 25,000 bonus miles after card holders spend $1,000 in first 90 days
▪ 5,000 bonus miles after card holders spend $50 annually
▪ No foreign transaction fees
▪ 20 XP toward miles program status annually, plus 40 XP after card holders spend
$15,000 annually
▪ Standout feature: accelerated earnings with SkyTeam airlines
▪ Introduced: November 2018; rates and fees as of January 2019
Air France KLM
14. Barclaycard US
▪ 0% introductory APR on balance transfers for 15 months
▪ 14.24% purchase, balance transfer and cash advance APR thereafter
▪ No annual fee
▪ No foreign transaction fees
▪ Standout feature: relatively low APR
▪ Reintroduced: February 2018; rates and fees as of January 2019
Ring Mastercard
15. Barclaycard US Rebrands as Barclays
▪ In an email to clients in April 2018,
the firm announced it is changing
its name from Barclaycard to
Barclays
▪ To reflect the brand consolidation,
the public site employs the updated
nomenclature and logo, though
complete rebranding occurred
gradually on the private site and
mobile app
Barclays Name Change Email
16. Barclays
▪ 2 miles per $1 on all purchases
▪ 0% introductory APR on balance transfers for 12 months
▪ 18.24%, 22.24% or 25.24% purchase and balance transfer APR thereafter
▪ $89 annual fee (waived for first year)
▪ 70,000 bonus miles after card holders spend $5,000 in first 90 days
▪ No foreign transaction fees
▪ 5% miles back on redemptions
▪ Standout feature: 2 miles per $1 on all purchases
▪ Reintroduced: July 2018; rates and fees as of January 2019
Arrival Plus World Elite Mastercard
17. Capital One
▪ 4% cash back on dining and entertainment purchases
▪ 2% cash back on grocery purchases
▪ 1% cash back on all other purchases
▪ 18.24% to 25.74% purchase and balance transfer APR
▪ $95 annual fee (waived for first year)
▪ $500 cash back after card holders spend $3,000 in first three months
▪ No foreign transaction fees
▪ Monthly statement credit for unlimited monthly membership to Postmates food
delivery
▪ Standout feature: food delivery membership statement credit
▪ Introduced: August 2018; rates and fees as of January 2019
Savor Rewards
18. Capital One
▪ 3% cash back on dining and entertainment purchases
▪ 2% cash back on grocery purchases
▪ 1% cash back on all other purchases
▪ 0% introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months
▪ 17.24% to 25.24% purchase and balance transfer APR thereafter
▪ No annual fee
▪ $150 cash back after card holders spend $500 in first three months
▪ Standout feature: accelerated earnings on dining and entertainment
▪ Introduced: August 2018; rates and fees as of January 2019
SavorOne Rewards
19. Chase
▪ 1 star per $1 loaded onto a registered Starbucks card, which earns 2 stars per $1 at
Starbucks
▪ 1 star per $4 on all other purchases
▪ 17.99% to 24.99% purchase and balance transfer APR
▪ $49 annual fee
▪ 4,500 bonus stars after card holders spend $500 in first three months, plus 250
bonus stars after their first purchase
▪ Automatic Starbucks Rewards program Gold status, which affords card holders one
free food or drink after every 125 stars
▪ Eight free food or drink items, selected by Barista Picks, annually
▪ Standout feature: accelerated earnings on Starbucks purchases and free items
▪ Introduced: February 2018; rates and fees as of January 2019
Starbucks
20. Chase
▪ 6 points per $1 at Marriott Rewards hotels
▪ 2 points per $1 on all other purchases
▪ 17.99% to 24.99% purchase and balance transfer APR
▪ $95 annual fee
▪ 75,000 bonus points after card holders spend $3,000 in first three months
▪ Free night stay at eligible hotel annually
▪ No foreign transaction fees
▪ Standout feature: annual free night stay
▪ Introduced: May 2018; rates and fees as of January 2019
Marriott Rewards Premier Plus
21. Chase
▪ 2 miles per $1 on restaurant, hotel and United purchases
▪ 1 mile per $1 on all other purchases
▪ 17.99% to 24.99% purchase and balance transfer APR
▪ $95 annual fee (waived for first year)
▪ 40,000 bonus miles after card holders spend $2,000 in first three months
▪ 25,000 bonus miles after card holders spend $10,000 in first six months
▪ $100 in statement credits toward TSA Precheck or Global Entry application fees
every four years
▪ Free first checked bag
▪ Standout feature: accelerated earnings with United and other travel
▪ Introduced: June 2018; rates and fees as of January 2019
United Explorer
22. Chase
▪ 4 points per $1 at Hyatt Hotels
▪ 2 points per $1 at restaurants, on tickets purchased directly from airlines, on local transit and
commuting costs and on select fitness clubs and gym memberships
▪ 1 point per $1 on all other purchases
▪ 17.99% to 24.99% purchase and balance transfer APR
▪ $95 annual fee
▪ 40,000 bonus points after card holders spend $3,000 in first three months, plus 20,000 bonus
points after card holders spend $6,000 in six months
▪ One free night stay annually
▪ No foreign transaction fees
▪ Standout feature: free night stay each year and unique accelerated earnings categories
▪ Introduced: July 2018; rates and fees as of January 2019
World of Hyatt
23. Chase
▪ 2 points per $1 on Southwest Airlines purchases
▪ 1 point per $1 on all other purchases
▪ 17.99% to 24.99% purchase and balance transfer APR
▪ $149 annual fee
▪ 40,000 bonus points after card holders spend $1,000 in first three months
▪ 7,500 bonus points, $75 statement credit toward Southwest Airline purchases, upgraded
boarding status up to four times and 20,000 bonus points after card holders spend $12,000
annually
▪ 20% back as a statement credit on all in-flight purchases
▪ No foreign transaction fees
▪ Standout feature: abundance of annual reward earning opportunities
▪ Introduced: August 2018; rates and fees as of January 2019
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority
24. Chase
▪ 3 Avios per $1 on Iberia, British Airways and Aer Lingus purchases
▪ 1 Avios per $1 on all other purchases
▪ 17.99% to 24.99% purchase and balance transfer APR
▪ $95 annual fee
▪ 50,000 bonus Avios after card holders spend $3,000 in first three months
▪ 25,000 bonus Avios after card holders spend $10,000 annually, plus 25,000 Avios after card
holders spend an additional $20,000 in the same time frame
▪ Travel companion ticket award after card holders spend $30,000 annually
▪ Priority boarding
▪ No foreign transaction fees
▪ Standout feature: accelerated earnings with all Avios-participating airlines
▪ Introduced: November 2018; rates and fees as of January 2019
Aer Lingus
25. Chase
▪ 3 Avios per $1 on Iberia, British Airways and Aer Lingus purchases
▪ 1 Avios per $1 on all other purchases
▪ 17.99% to 24.99% purchase and balance transfer APR
▪ $95 annual fee
▪ 50,000 bonus Avios after card holders spend $3,000 in first three months
▪ 25,000 bonus Avios after card holders spend $10,000 annually, plus 25,000 Avios after card
holders spend an additional $20,000 in the same time frame
▪ $1,000 voucher for two tickets after card holders spend $30,000 annually
▪ 10% discount on bookings made directly on Iberia.com
▪ No foreign transaction fees
▪ Standout feature: accelerated earnings with all Avios-participating airlines
▪ Introduced: November 2018; rates and fees as of January 2019
Iberia
26. Citicards
▪ 2 miles per $1 on American Airlines and grocery store purchases
▪ 1 mile per $1 on all other purchases
▪ 18.24% to 26.24% purchase and balance transfer APR
▪ No annual fee
▪ 10,000 bonus miles and a $50 statement credit after card holders spend $500
in first three months
▪ 25% savings on in-flight food and beverage purchases
▪ Standout feature: accelerate airlines and grocery store purchases
▪ Introduced: July 2018; rates and fees as of January 2019
American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp
27. Citicards
▪ 0% introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers for 18 months
▪ 15.24% to 25.24% purchase and balance transfer APR
▪ No annual fee
▪ Standout feature: relatively low APR
▪ Reintroduced: December 2018; rates and fees as of January 2019
Diamond Preferred
28. Citicards
▪ 3 Expedia Rewards points per $1 on eligible Expedia purchases
▪ 1 Expedia Rewards point per $1 on all other purchases
▪ 17.24% to 25.24% purchase and balance transfer APR
▪ No annual fee
▪ 10,000 Expedia Rewards points after card holders spend $1,000 and a $50
statement credit after card holders make a $50 Expedia purchase in first
three months
▪ Automatic Expedia Rewards program Silver status
▪ Standout feature: automatic Expedia reward program status
▪ Introduced: December 2018; rates and fees as of January 2019
Expedia Rewards
29. U.S. Bank
▪ 2 miles per $1 on Korean Air ticket, other airline, car rental and hotel purchases
▪ 1 mile per $1 on all other purchases
▪ 15.24% to 22.24% purchase and balance transfer APR
▪ $450 annual fee
▪ 15,000 bonus miles after card holders spend $1,500 in first three months
▪ $200 statement credit toward travel purchases, $100 coupon toward Korean Air purchases, 2
KAL Lounge coupons, 2 Korean Air In-Flight Duty Free $25 coupons and 10,000 bonus miles
after card holders spend $35,000 annually
▪ Statement credit toward TSA Precheck or Global Entry application fees
▪ No foreign transaction fees
▪ Standout feature: abundance of Korean Air benefits
▪ Introduced: July 2018; rates and fees as of January 2019
SKYPASS Select
30. U.S. Bank
▪ 3 points per $1 on Harris Teeter family of brands purchases
▪ 2 points per $1 at Harris Teeter stores
▪ 1 point per $1 on all other purchases
▪ 14.24% to 26.24% purchase and balance transfer APR
▪ No annual fee
▪ $30 statement credit after card holders make their first purchase
▪ Rewards are automatically converted each quarter in 1,000 point ($10) intervals
▪ Standout feature: automatic statement credit reward redemption
▪ Introduced: August 2018; rates and fees as of January 2019
Harris Teeter Rewards
31. U.S. Bank
▪ 2 points per $1 on recurring bills, grocery store, restaurant and bar purchases
▪ 1 point per $1 on all other purchases
▪ 16.24% to 25.24% purchase and balance transfer APR
▪ No annual fee
▪ Option to connect to the Quicken mobile app
▪ Standout feature: accelerated earnings in unique categories such as
recurring bills
▪ Introduced: December 2018; rates and fees as of January 2019
Quicken
32. Wells Fargo
▪ 3 points per $1 on restaurants, travel and streaming service purchases
▪ 1 point per $1 on all other purchases
▪ 0% introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers for12 months
▪ 14.74% to 27.74% purchase and balance transfer APR thereafter
▪ No annual fee
▪ 30,000 bonus points after card holders spend $3,000 in first three months
▪ No foreign transaction fees
▪ Standout feature: accelerated earnings in unique categories such as streaming
services
▪ Introduced: July 2018; rates and fees as of January 2019
Propel
34. Removed Cards Summary
Firm Cards
American Express
Blue Cash
Blue Sky
Mercedes-Benz
Premier Rewards Gold
Barclays
Arrival Premier
Bluegreen Rewards
Capital One Savor
Chase
IHG Club Select
Marriott Rewards Premier
United MileagePlus Explorer
Hyatt
Firm Cards
Citicards
Citi/AAdvantage Gold
Prestige
ThankYou Preferred
ThankYou Preferred for College Students
Expedia+
Expedia+ Voyager
U.S. Bank Harley-Davidson
Wells Fargo
Propel
Propel 365
36. Credit Card Monitor
▪ Credit Card Monitor (CCM) was launched in 2001 and focuses on
the online user experience that leading credit card issuers provide
card holders and prospects
▪ Using actual accounts, CCM gives a firsthand look at current online
capabilities including client account information, transaction
resources, interactive tools, customer service and account
documents
▪ CCM follows the card products and services offered by competitors
across the credit card industry, providing an up-close view of what
other firms are doing to attract new clients