Alliant Credit Union Visa Platinum Rewards Card Review
Updated February 15, 2021.
The Facts
The Math
Alliant Visa Platinum vs. other non-fee 2% cashback cards: Citi Double Cash doesn't require any banking relationship to apply or to redeem, but has a $25 minimum before you may redeem. Elan Fidelity Visa requires a linked Fidelity account (brokerage, cash management, retirement, or 529 account) and a $50 minimum to redeem for 2% cashback. Alliant Visa Platinum requires that you join Alliant Credit Union before you may apply (technically any person in U.S. can join) and a $20 minimum before you may redeem. Synchrony PayPal MasterCard requires that you have a PayPal account to apply and to keep the card open, but has no minimum redemption requirement.
Alliant Visa Platinum vs. Alliant Visa Signature (2.5% cashback with a $99 annual fee): if your annual spending is larger than $20,000, you should consider Alliant Visa Signature, for better rewards and waived foreign transaction fees.
The Conclusion
Alliant Visa Platinum is one of the 2% cashback cards without an annual fee. When your annual spending exceeds $20K, considering Alliant Visa Signature.
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The Facts
- Annual Fee: none
- Signup Bonus: 5,000 points after spending $500 within 3 months.
- Rewards: 2x points everywhere
- Best Use of Rewards Points: you may redeem points for cash, travel, gift cards, merchandise, or charity. Note that the cash redemption (statement credits or deposit to Alliant Credit Union checking or savings account, starting at $20) rate is $0.01 per point, and this card is essentially a 2% cashback card. Points expire in the December statement cycle four years after earned.
- Other Facts: To join the Alliant Credit Union, please see this page for eligibility. If you are not an employees & retirees of select organizations, a relatives of existing Alliant members, a member of select organizations, or live or work in a qualifying community, at least you can make a one-time $10 donation to Foster Care to Success to become a member. So technically, anyone in U.S. can apply for this card.
- History: After introduction in 2018, this card's cash reward rate had been 1 cent per point (cpp), thus making a non-fee 2% cashback card, except for a short period of time in early 2021 when Alliant quietly changed the rate to 0.6 cpp.
The Math
Alliant Visa Platinum vs. other non-fee 2% cashback cards: Citi Double Cash doesn't require any banking relationship to apply or to redeem, but has a $25 minimum before you may redeem. Elan Fidelity Visa requires a linked Fidelity account (brokerage, cash management, retirement, or 529 account) and a $50 minimum to redeem for 2% cashback. Alliant Visa Platinum requires that you join Alliant Credit Union before you may apply (technically any person in U.S. can join) and a $20 minimum before you may redeem. Synchrony PayPal MasterCard requires that you have a PayPal account to apply and to keep the card open, but has no minimum redemption requirement.
Alliant Visa Platinum vs. Alliant Visa Signature (2.5% cashback with a $99 annual fee): if your annual spending is larger than $20,000, you should consider Alliant Visa Signature, for better rewards and waived foreign transaction fees.
The Conclusion
Alliant Visa Platinum is one of the 2% cashback cards without an annual fee. When your annual spending exceeds $20K, considering Alliant Visa Signature.
© 2011-2021 DrCreditCard.net All rights reserved.