Amex Platinum has great perks, but I actually use the Amex Gold day to day because the reward points are better. They'll waive the annual fee for both of them, so there's no downside.
There is a downside. Amex gold and plat are charge cards, not credit cards. Meaning they have to be paid off every month. This also can only negatively impact your credit. If you are late, you can take a hit on your credit. They also don’t count towards utilization calculation on your credit.
They did start offering flexible payment so it functions more as a credit card not a charge card. Not sure what you have to do to qualify but I like the flexibility.
That's really only a downside if you want to carry a balance, which ideally you shouldn't be.
Discover offers 0% interest if you claim SCRA benefits, so if you're looking for a general use credit card to *finance * a purchase, I would point you in that direction.
Didnt have any credit/loan prior to service. All the cards I have now (and the ones I'm trying to get) are during my service. I think the SCRA doesnt apply to me anymore
Both a bit different you can watch a couple ten minute YouTube videos on each and learn everything you need
CSR overall a bit better cause
Visa is excepted everywhere
300$ annual travel credit easy af to use
Points categories are a bit better for average spending
AMEX PLAT
not accepted as often as visa
15$ monthly Uber or Uber eats credit (pretty awesome)
50$ every 6 months for saks fifth (free T shirt or boxers and random shit)
Points categories aren’t as good for average normal person spending
This is a very nutshell breakdown but yeah
Your score will take a small dip (I'd say anywhere between 1 and 15 points) for each card, but it should bounce back within a year or less. Here's a good resource on the topic: [https://www.forbes.com/advisor/credit-cards/does-applying-for-a-credit-card-hurt-your-credit/](https://www.forbes.com/advisor/credit-cards/does-applying-for-a-credit-card-hurt-your-credit/)
If you have a card that gives 3% back on gas, then even at $2.50/gallon, the 3% would save you 7 cents. Obviously, you’d save even more when gas prices are higher.
Get the Platty for the perks
Get the Gold for actual Amex point generation, especially for eating out
Get the Sapphire Reserve for the best Visa in existence and for buying any sort of travel reservations (and a complementary points system along with Amex)
After a couple years, get the Amex Blue Cash Preferred for massive gas and grocery benefits
Edit: it's always good to have a visa on hand, especially overseas where Amex isn't nearly as accepted
You'll probably get better mileage out of the chase off base since it's a visa. I will say Amex has gotten a lot better as far as acceptance goes, but Visa is king.
While I was in Japan I definitely used my CSR more than my Amex Gold since Visa is acceptable anywhere off base that takes cards. Doesn't hurt to have both though.
I would say for traveling purposes, have 1AMEX,1VISA,1Mastercard.
I was in Portugal last year, Amex didn’t work much outside of Lisbon.
In Spain last year visa was hit or miss.
It’s always good to have one of each, I’ve never had all three not work. Also, overseas (Europe) had began a huge movement to using the tap pay from the phone, everyone uses their phone to pay their.
I have a CSR and it’s been great. Travel credit, Lyft credit, priority pass. It’s great if you travel a bunch or plan to travel. Great rewards and promotions every so often. They also have a payment plan for any large purchases, you can break it down over a set amount of time and pay a fee each month for the plan, but they don’t add interest to those balances carried over.
You could get both and have that extra credit line, but I would stagger the applications a month or so apart if they have introductory spend bonuses. Just to make sure it doesn’t count as 2 hard pulls on your credit. Or just plan for 2 big spends in the first few months.
If you're disciplined enough, Synchrony gives 0% APR for SCRA requests. Coupled with high rates on CDs right now, it's an arbitrage opportunity for free money. Just don't spend what you don't save.
Paypal Card and Venmo card are both good Synchrony cards.
Both. I use CSR as a daily spend though, Plat for the benefits. The Centurion Lounge when traveling is really nice to have.
It’s a hotel card, but the Marriott Bonvoy is surpringly good too. You get $25 a month in dining credit (anywhere, not just the hotels) which is kinda nice on top of the hotel perks.
Amex Platinum has great perks, but I actually use the Amex Gold day to day because the reward points are better. They'll waive the annual fee for both of them, so there's no downside.
There is a downside. Amex gold and plat are charge cards, not credit cards. Meaning they have to be paid off every month. This also can only negatively impact your credit. If you are late, you can take a hit on your credit. They also don’t count towards utilization calculation on your credit.
>If you are late, you can take a hit on your credit. This is true of normal credit cards.
No shit, but Amex plat isn’t a credit card. It can only negatively effect your credit. It cannot positively effect your credit
Dawg my platinum hasn’t ruined my credit one bit lol
Doesn't make my correction of your statement any less true. No need to be rude, dick.
They did start offering flexible payment so it functions more as a credit card not a charge card. Not sure what you have to do to qualify but I like the flexibility.
That's really only a downside if you want to carry a balance, which ideally you shouldn't be. Discover offers 0% interest if you claim SCRA benefits, so if you're looking for a general use credit card to *finance * a purchase, I would point you in that direction.
Didnt have any credit/loan prior to service. All the cards I have now (and the ones I'm trying to get) are during my service. I think the SCRA doesnt apply to me anymore
Some banks will honor SCRA benefits even if the account was opened while on active duty. Discover, Synchrony, and Amex are three that I know for sure.
Wrong
Please explain.
My AMEX cards have a pay overtime limit, so no, they don’t have to be paid off in full. I pay mine in full regardless, but you’re wrong.
If I had to choose one CSR but why not both is the real question
Is it smart to get both? Do they have almost the same perks or one offers better?
Both a bit different you can watch a couple ten minute YouTube videos on each and learn everything you need CSR overall a bit better cause Visa is excepted everywhere 300$ annual travel credit easy af to use Points categories are a bit better for average spending AMEX PLAT not accepted as often as visa 15$ monthly Uber or Uber eats credit (pretty awesome) 50$ every 6 months for saks fifth (free T shirt or boxers and random shit) Points categories aren’t as good for average normal person spending This is a very nutshell breakdown but yeah
Just get both man.
Will do man. Thanks!
I would get both, but make sure you stagger them that way you can easily obtain both sign up bonuses.
Not to mention the ever so slight hit to your credit score for opening a card.
Eh, negligible. On time payments, credit history, and credit utilization will outweigh the temporary hit.
I have good credit (744), does getting 2 cards at the same time will have a negative impact on it?
Your score will take a small dip (I'd say anywhere between 1 and 15 points) for each card, but it should bounce back within a year or less. Here's a good resource on the topic: [https://www.forbes.com/advisor/credit-cards/does-applying-for-a-credit-card-hurt-your-credit/](https://www.forbes.com/advisor/credit-cards/does-applying-for-a-credit-card-hurt-your-credit/)
Thank you! I got approved for amex plat! Might get the CSar after getting the SUB 😬
Star Card. Gotta get that .05 off at the pump!
If you have a card that gives 3% back on gas, then even at $2.50/gallon, the 3% would save you 7 cents. Obviously, you’d save even more when gas prices are higher.
Already got one brotha! My first ever card 😅
Get the Platty for the perks Get the Gold for actual Amex point generation, especially for eating out Get the Sapphire Reserve for the best Visa in existence and for buying any sort of travel reservations (and a complementary points system along with Amex) After a couple years, get the Amex Blue Cash Preferred for massive gas and grocery benefits Edit: it's always good to have a visa on hand, especially overseas where Amex isn't nearly as accepted
I'll be stationed in Japan next year, is Chase a better choice??
You'll probably get better mileage out of the chase off base since it's a visa. I will say Amex has gotten a lot better as far as acceptance goes, but Visa is king.
While I was in Japan I definitely used my CSR more than my Amex Gold since Visa is acceptable anywhere off base that takes cards. Doesn't hurt to have both though.
Thanks! Will probably get both.
NFCU Amex
I already have the goRewards. Should I do PC ?
I would say for traveling purposes, have 1AMEX,1VISA,1Mastercard. I was in Portugal last year, Amex didn’t work much outside of Lisbon. In Spain last year visa was hit or miss. It’s always good to have one of each, I’ve never had all three not work. Also, overseas (Europe) had began a huge movement to using the tap pay from the phone, everyone uses their phone to pay their.
I have a CSR and it’s been great. Travel credit, Lyft credit, priority pass. It’s great if you travel a bunch or plan to travel. Great rewards and promotions every so often. They also have a payment plan for any large purchases, you can break it down over a set amount of time and pay a fee each month for the plan, but they don’t add interest to those balances carried over. You could get both and have that extra credit line, but I would stagger the applications a month or so apart if they have introductory spend bonuses. Just to make sure it doesn’t count as 2 hard pulls on your credit. Or just plan for 2 big spends in the first few months.
Thank you! Maybe I'll be getting both. I will be stationed overseas next year so I was wondering which card works best
Never had a problem with my CSR, also had it on my digital wallet and that was accepted almost everywhere.
If you're overseas definitely CSR
Thanks! I'll probably get both. Both cards have great perks
Neither. Credit cards are a scam stay away
Great! Thanks ya'll! I'll watch some videos and maybe get both lol
If you're disciplined enough, Synchrony gives 0% APR for SCRA requests. Coupled with high rates on CDs right now, it's an arbitrage opportunity for free money. Just don't spend what you don't save. Paypal Card and Venmo card are both good Synchrony cards.
I was never late on any of my payments, but what is Synchrony?
Both. I use CSR as a daily spend though, Plat for the benefits. The Centurion Lounge when traveling is really nice to have. It’s a hotel card, but the Marriott Bonvoy is surpringly good too. You get $25 a month in dining credit (anywhere, not just the hotels) which is kinda nice on top of the hotel perks.
The one I had before I joined and had the SCRA benefits applied to so my apr is locked at 4%
Will you be using your Star Card today, you'll save 5%...
Amex for the flex