2021 Review: PenFed Platinum Rewards Visa Signature Card – Best for Gas?
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PenFed Platinum Rewards Visa Signature® Card
Our Rating: 4 Out of 5 Stars
We give the PenFed Platinum Rewards Visa Signature® Card 4 out of 5 Stars, because while its rewards program allows you to earn quickly in its spending categories, your redemption options are limited. The fact that you have to be a PenFed member to get the card is a bit of a detriment too, but it’s only a minor hurdle.
Why We Like It
- 5X points on gas and 3X points on groceries, with no limit on rewards, is a very competitive offer for a card with no annual fee
- Reward points can be redeemed for travel, merchandise, charitable donations, or gift cards
- No blackout dates for travel redemptions
- No foreign transaction fees
- 0% APR on balance transfers for 12 months (then 11.74% to 17.99% Variable)
Why It Could Be Better
- Points are often worth less than 1 cent each
- No statement credit redemption option
- Must redeem your rewards points through PenFed Credit Union
- Travel bookings cost $15 (online) or $25 (by phone)
- Points expire after five years
- Signup bonus offers a relatively low return on spend
- Requires PenFed Credit Union membership (but all you have to do is open a checking or savings account with a $5 deposit)
PenFed Platinum Rewards Visa Signature® Card
Details
securely on the issuer's website
- $100 statement credit after spending $1,500 in purchase transactions within the first 90 days of account opening.
- Earn 5 points on gas purchases at the pump.
- Fuel purchases for airplanes and boats and made via inside store attendant receive 1 point per dollar spent.
- Earn 3 points on supermarket purchases (3 points/dollar spent)
- Earn 1 point on all other purchases (1 point/dollar spent)
- No annual fee
- No foreign transaction fees
- No cash advance fee
- Chip and Contactless ‘Tap to Pay’ enabled for added security, ease and convenience at the point of sale
- Click and Pay eligible, via Secure Remote Commerce, so you can enjoy easy and secure online buying checkout
- Digital wallet capable
- Purchase variable rate as low as 13.49% APR
- 0% promotional rate for 12 months on balance transfers made between now and September 30, 2021. After that, the APR for the unpaid balance and any new balance transfers will be a non-variable rate of 17.99%. 3% balance transfer fee per transaction. Subject to credit approval. If you take advantage of this balance transfer, you will immediately be charged interest on all purchases made with your credit card unless you pay the entire account balance, including balance transfers, in full each month by the payment due date.
- Cash Advance APR 17.99%
- Rate and offers current as of May 1, 2021 and subject to change.
The PenFed Platinum card has yet to achieve the fame of big-name favorites like the Chase Freedom Flex℠ (Review) and the Citi® Double Cash Card – 18 month BT offer (Review), but it’s nevertheless an interesting pick for a rewards card with no annual fee.
Take a look at its rewards program, and you’ll likely be shocked at the rates it delivers. You get 5X points per dollar at the gas pump, 3X points per dollar on groceries, and 1X point per dollar everywhere else.
The icing on the cake? It provides a decent balance transfer APR offer for a touch of extra functionality.
But as is the case with all good things, there are drawbacks, and they do dig into the value of this card offer as a whole.
Find more information about the Penfed Platinum Rewards card’s ups, downs, and everything in between below.
Insider Advice: Getting the Most Out of Your Card
- Buy groceries and gas: Use this card at gas stations and grocery stores to build your point balance quickly.
- Use the intro bonus: $100 statement credit after spending $1,500 in the first 90 days
- Redeem points for gift cards or merchandise: As tempting as travel redemptions might seem, this card’s low point value and booking fees mean you might be better off using a dedicated travel card.
- Transfer a balance, if you have to: If you’re planning on applying for this card, consider paying off another debt that’s accumulating interest by taking advantage of this card’s introductory balance transfer APR offer.
The Rewards
The PenFed Platinum Rewards card’s reward rates are quite high, which does a good job of making up for each point’s relatively unexceptional cash value. You can earn up to 5X points per dollar on everyday purchases, and if you value each point at 0.85 cent, that’s still a 4.25% cash back equivalent.
Earning
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The value of each point you earn with this card tends to be pretty low, usually around 0.85 cents, give or take.
Fortunately, when you consider the high reward rates you’re getting, the relatively low value of PenFed points becomes less of a problem. You should be able to build your point balance fairly quickly, especially considering how both gas and groceries tend to be everyday necessities.
This card probably isn’t for you if neither gas nor groceries demand a considerable portion of your income.
Another perk is that the Platinum Rewards card features no spending limit on its 5X and 3X categories. Some of its competitors, such as the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express, restrict how much you can earn at certain rates.
The PenFed Platinum Rewards offers a small signup bonus for spending a certain amount after account opening, and its return on spend isn’t particularly noteworthy. But it’s a nice touch if you can get it without any unnecessary spending.
Redeeming
Point redemption is where this card falls a bit short of its competitors.
Any points you earn will expire in five years, so that’s a limitation you’ll want to keep in mind if you prefer to amass heaps of points over a long period of time.
Whereas nearly all of the best rewards cards let you redeem for statement credits in addition to a host of other redemption options, the Platinum Rewards card doesn’t offer statement credit redemptions at all. You can only redeem for travel, gift cards, charitable donations, and merchandise.
And you’re not likely to get an exceptional value, no matter how you redeem. Nor can you transfer your points to another loyalty program. You’re also unable to transfer points between PenFed cards.
You can’t view PenFed’s specific redemption options and booking portal unless you have a PenFed credit card, but PenFed says that each point is worth 0.85 cents when redeemed for gift cards and merchandise.
Travel redemptions may offer a higher rate, with hotel and car rental redemptions generally providing the best return on spend.
You may also be able to get a better redemption rate if you can take advantage of one of PenFed’s monthly promotions, which it regularly offers on merchandise, gift cards, and travel.
So you might want to search elsewhere if you’re after a credit card that offers either cash back or a valuable travel redemption rate.
The Benefits
Cards with no annual fee rarely provide a king’s ransom in benefits, but you could do worse than the PenFed Platinum Rewards. Virtually all of the card’s benefits are coordinated by the network (Visa, in this case), but they’re still pretty valuable.
- Visa Signature Luxury Hotel Collection: Enjoy a variety of perks, like automatic room upgrades, complimentary in-room WiFi, and more, at more than 900 hotels around the world.
- 24/7 concierge service: Included by default with many Visa Signature cards, this perk provides round-the-clock assistance with non-emergency tasks, from restaurant reservations to vacation planning and beyond.
- Shopping benefits: Get discounts from select retailers both online and in store, plus enjoy purchase protection and extended warranty protection whenever you shop with the card.
- Travel benefits: Roadside assistance, travel and emergency assistance, travel accident insurance, and a car rental collision damage waiver offer valuable coverage when you’re on the go.
- Entertainment benefits: Access exclusive travel packages, ticket presales, event tickets, and more.
- Security benefits: Including zero fraud liability, emergency card replacement, emergency cash disbursement, and lost/stolen card reporting.
The Terms & Fees
| Purchase APR | Balance Transfer APR | Cash Advance APR |
|---|---|---|
| 11.74% to 17.99% Variable | 0% for 12 months (then 11.74% to 17.99% Variable) | 11.74% to 17.99% Variable |
| Annual Fee | Foreign Transaction Fee | Balance Transfer Fee | Cash Advance Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0 | None | 3% per transaction | None |
| Penalty APR | Late Fee | Returned Payment Fee |
|---|---|---|
| 17.99% | Up to $28 | Up to $25 |
The Platinum Rewards card features no foreign transaction fees, which, coupled with its chip-and-PIN functionality, makes it a decent card to bring with you if you’re headed overseas.
There’s an introductory APR offer for balance transfers, too. There are several longer-lasting balance transfer offers on the market, but it’s a helpful touch if you think the card complements your spending and are looking to transfer a balance anyway.
Like other PenFed credit cards, the Platinum Rewards provides low interest rates in accordance with credit union regulations. And while we always recommend you pay off your statement balance by its due date to avoid interest charges altogether, this can prove helpful if you might have to carry a balance and don’t have a 0% purchase APR offer.
The Bottom Line
The PenFed Platinum Rewards Visa Signature® Card is a good rewards credit card that’s kept from excellence by a few manageable flaws.
You’ll get the most value from this card if you use it for gas and grocery purchases. That means you’ll probably want to use another rewards credit card for purchases outside of those categories.
Statement credit redemptions aren’t available, and the point value tends to stay on the low side, which you’ll likely want to keep in mind if you prefer to use the most valuable credit card possible.
But for a relatively basic card with no annual fee, the Platinum Rewards is a competitive pick for gas and groceries, especially when you consider additional features like its lack of foreign transaction fees and introductory balance transfer offer.
You just might have more valuable options; check out some of them below.
How Do I Apply for the PenFed Platinum Rewards Visa Signature Card?
Eager to add the PenFed Platinum Rewards Visa Signature Card to your wallet? Unlike most big-league credit card issuers, you have to be a member of PenFed in order to get it, so you’ll probably want to start there. Anyone can become a member by opening a checking or savings account with a deposit of at least $5.
But you can apply now for the card before becoming a member, and then complete the membership process afterward. Click the “How to Apply” button below to learn more.
You’ll have to fill out an application and provide the usual identifying information, of course.
What Credit Scores Do I Need for the PenFed Platinum Card?
The PenFed Platinum card is designed for fair credit.
If you’re within 580–669 for FICO and 601–660 for VantageScore, you’re considered to have fair credit.
With that being said, approval is determined by more than just credit scores. Even if you have lower scores, you might still be approved. Or, even if you have high credit scores, you may not be accepted.
Qualifications and Requirements
- Must be 18 to apply
- Must be a PenFed credit union member
- Personal information: Name, date of birth, Social Security number, U.S. citizenship status
- Address and contact information: Home address and how long you’ve lived there, phone number, email address
- Financial information: Total annual income, monthly mortgage or rent payment
PenFed Platinum Rewards Visa Signature® Card
Details
securely on the issuer's website
- $100 statement credit after spending $1,500 in purchase transactions within the first 90 days of account opening.
- Earn 5 points on gas purchases at the pump.
- Fuel purchases for airplanes and boats and made via inside store attendant receive 1 point per dollar spent.
- Earn 3 points on supermarket purchases (3 points/dollar spent)
- Earn 1 point on all other purchases (1 point/dollar spent)
- No annual fee
- No foreign transaction fees
- No cash advance fee
- Chip and Contactless ‘Tap to Pay’ enabled for added security, ease and convenience at the point of sale
- Click and Pay eligible, via Secure Remote Commerce, so you can enjoy easy and secure online buying checkout
- Digital wallet capable
- Purchase variable rate as low as 13.49% APR
- 0% promotional rate for 12 months on balance transfers made between now and September 30, 2021. After that, the APR for the unpaid balance and any new balance transfers will be a non-variable rate of 17.99%. 3% balance transfer fee per transaction. Subject to credit approval. If you take advantage of this balance transfer, you will immediately be charged interest on all purchases made with your credit card unless you pay the entire account balance, including balance transfers, in full each month by the payment due date.
- Cash Advance APR 17.99%
- Rate and offers current as of May 1, 2021 and subject to change.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to pay off balance transfers at no interest?
You’ll get 0% APR for 12 months to pay off balance transfers, then your rate will be 11.74% to 17.99% Variable.
Not long enough? You can see our favorite balance transfer cards with 0% APR offers right here!
What are PenFed points worth?
The value of each point you earn with this card tends to be pretty low — PenFed states that points are worth 0.85 cents for gift card and merchandise redemptions, and potentially more for travel redemptions.
Looking for higher rewards and better redemption options? Check out the best rewards cards here.
When will my PenFed points expire?
Your PenFed points will expire in five years.
How do I redeem my PenFed points?
You can only redeem for travel, gift cards, charitable donations, and merchandise, not via statement credits.
Alternatives to the PenFed Platinum Rewards Visa Signature Card
Because of its redemption restrictions, the PenFed Platinum Rewards card isn’t for everyone. However, there are plenty of cards that don’t feature these restrictions that can still help you rack up rewards on key expenses, like gas and groceries. We’ve compiled a few of the best choices below.
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Card
Details
securely on the issuer's website
The Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Card (Review) gives you the freedom of choice. You pick your 3% cash back category from a list of six options, most of which cover common purchases for a lot of people. Then, you get 2% back at both grocery stores and wholesale clubs.
The main catch? You only earn at the 3% and 2% reward rates until you’ve reached $2,500 in combined spending per quarter. But $10,000 a year isn’t all that restrictive for a card with great reward categories and no annual fee.
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- Free FICO credit score: Check your FICO Score 8 for free, based on your TransUnion credit report.
- Shopping and travel protections: Extended warranty protection, auto rental collision damage waiver, and potentially more, depending on your card’s network tier
- Purchase and Balance Transfer APR: 0% for 15 billing cycles, then 13.99%–23.99% Variable APR
- Annual fee: $0
- No annual fee
- $200 cash rewards bonus for spending $1,000 in the first 90 days
- NEW OFFER: Maximize your cash back in the category of your choice: gas, online shopping, dining, travel, drug stores, or home improvement /furnishings
- Now earn 3% cash back in your choice category and 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs (up to $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club quarterly purchases), and unlimited 1% on all other purchases
- You can update your choice category for future purchases once each calendar month using the Mobile Banking app or Online Banking, or do nothing and it stays the same
- No expiration on rewards
- 0% Introductory APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the intro APR offer ends, 13.99%–23.99% Variable APR will apply. A 3% fee (min $10) applies to balance transfers
- If you’re a Preferred Rewards member, you can earn 25% – 75% more cash back on every purchase
Wells Fargo Propel American Express® card
Details
securely on the issuer's website
Yet another selection with no annual fee, the Wells Fargo Propel American Express® card (Review) provides 3X points per dollar spent on dining, gas, and travel — three of the most sought-after bonus categories — as well as select eligible streaming services, which is fairly unique. There’s also an intro APR offer on both purchases and balance transfers.
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- Free FICO credit score: See your FICO Score 9, based on your Experian credit report.
- Entertainment Access: Access special offers and presale tickets to major events in cities around the United States.
- Cell phone protection: Your phone is covered by up to $600 for damage and theft, as long as you pay your monthly bill with this card.
- Shopping protections: Extended warranty, purchase protection, and return protection
- Travel protections: 24-hour roadside assistance, car rental insurance, travel accident insurance, travel inconvenience insurance, lust luggage reimbursement, travel and emergency assistance
- Purchase and Balance Transfer APR: 0% for 12 months from account opening, then 14.49%-24.99% Variable
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0
- Earn 20,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months – that’s a $200 cash redemption value
- $0 annual fee and no foreign currency conversion fee
- Earn 3X points on eating out and ordering in
- Earn 3X points on popular streaming services
- Earn 3X points on gas stations, rideshares and transit
- Earn 3X points on travel including flights, hotels, homestays and car rentals
- Earn 1X points on other purchases
- Select “Apply Now” to learn more about the product features, terms and conditions
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
Details
(Rates & Fees)securely on the issuer's website
Despite its annual fee, the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express (Review) is one of the most rewarding cash back credit card offers you’ll find if you’re a heavy grocery and gas spender. The card does feature a $6,000 annual spending limit on its 6% cash back reward rate for U.S. supermarket purchases, but that limit is high enough that it doesn’t really detract from its value.
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- Amex Offers: Find extra cash back and significant discounts at a changing selection of merchants and websites.
- ShopRunner membership: ShopRunner provides free two-day shipping and returns at participating online retailers.
- Lowest Hotel Rates Guarantee: If you book a hotel through Amex Travel, and then find the same room, hotel, and dates on another site at a lower price, you’ll get refunded for the difference.
- Shopping protections: Return protection, extended warranty, and purchase protection
- Travel protections: Rental car insurance and Global Assist Hotline
- Purchase APR: 0% on purchases for 12 months, then 13.99% - 23.99% Variable
- Annual fee: $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $95
- Earn 20% back on Amazon.com purchases on the Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership, up to $200 back.
- Plus, earn $150 back after you spend $3,000 in purchases on the Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership. You will receive cash back in the form of statement credits.
- $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.
- 6% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%).
- 6% Cash Back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions.
- 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations and on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more).
- 1% Cash Back on other purchases.
- Low intro APR: 0% for 12 months on purchases from the date of account opening, then a variable rate, 13.99% to 23.99%
- Plan It® gives the option to select purchases of $100 or more to split up into monthly payments with a fixed fee.
- Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit.
- Terms Apply.
American Express is a Credit Card Insider advertiser.
PenFed Platinum Rewards Visa Signature® Card
Details
securely on the issuer's website
- $100 statement credit after spending $1,500 in purchase transactions within the first 90 days of account opening.
- Earn 5 points on gas purchases at the pump.
- Fuel purchases for airplanes and boats and made via inside store attendant receive 1 point per dollar spent.
- Earn 3 points on supermarket purchases (3 points/dollar spent)
- Earn 1 point on all other purchases (1 point/dollar spent)
- No annual fee
- No foreign transaction fees
- No cash advance fee
- Chip and Contactless ‘Tap to Pay’ enabled for added security, ease and convenience at the point of sale
- Click and Pay eligible, via Secure Remote Commerce, so you can enjoy easy and secure online buying checkout
- Digital wallet capable
- Purchase variable rate as low as 13.49% APR
- 0% promotional rate for 12 months on balance transfers made between now and September 30, 2021. After that, the APR for the unpaid balance and any new balance transfers will be a non-variable rate of 17.99%. 3% balance transfer fee per transaction. Subject to credit approval. If you take advantage of this balance transfer, you will immediately be charged interest on all purchases made with your credit card unless you pay the entire account balance, including balance transfers, in full each month by the payment due date.
- Cash Advance APR 17.99%
- Rate and offers current as of May 1, 2021 and subject to change.
If you found this review useful, feel free to share it with a friend! Think we missed something? Tell us in a comment below.
Already using a great rewards card for your gas and groceries? See our picks for the best credit cards in every category to round out your wallet.
The PenFed Platinum Rewards Card earns the most on gas and groceries. There’s a 0% intro offer for both purchases and balance transfers, but the options for reward redemption could be better.
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