I would like to know the answer too. Anyone here know what is the answer. I'll do some Googling and get back to you if I discover an useful answer. You should email the people at Discover Card as they probably know..

I want to get a Citi Forward because of the good reward program..

Diversification. Rewards. BT offers. Haven't really had big problems with any of the major issuers because I don't go overlimit, carry balances, or pay late...

Lower APRs, higher credit lines, rewards programs, diversity, incentives, and because I can...

BOA= associated with AMTRAK way back when and now has age..

CITI= blacklisted from AMEX in the 80's so I have a CITI AMEX (Costco usage and a 0% BT right now)..

Chase= Now has the AMTRAK affinity account..

Also thanks to CB my credit is all cleaned up I sit around 760-800 (just bought my first house so FICO took a hit) and they don't bother me and I don't bother them...

My two favorite places to shop are Costco and Amazon so, like other posters, I have a Chase Amazon and a Costco Amex. I also have a Chase Disney for the special offers. I have a Pier 1 card with Chase for the coupons. It's all about the bargains and rewards...

For me, it's about the rewards and what suits my needs. I use some more than others. My currents are the Chase Amazon (great rewards program), Amex Blue Cash because I do like looking at a big cash back deal at the end of the year, and my Amex Platinum. I do have to admit that my Amex Platinum was a little bit of an ego thing, but I wanted the double points on gas and groceries...

Similar story. I got mine when they were easy.

To get. Now with 15 to 20 years of history, I hate.

To close them. Of the majors, Amex is my only.

Friend. The rest get their token purchase every.

Three months..

One reason that age matters: The good history.

Will last for ten years, yes, but that's just about.

The time I will retire. When wage income drops.

Toward zero, I'll never be approved again, so the.

Best move now is to keep these open..

Out of the second tier, US Bank is my favorite ....

Good rate, plenty of CLI's, decent humans in the.

Customer service center, fair play. Capital One.

(gasp, them, really?) gets second place, for fair.

Play and for keeping their promises..

ER..

In college, they were handing out apps to struggling college students like myself. I dont think I had a job and was approved for credit cards with citi and discover. not sure where bank of america came from.. I think they came to me and offered to consolidate..

Now that I have a solid income, none of them will offer me anything because of my ruined credit in the past.

I also have chase, but only because of credit rebuilding.. and they bought my wamu acct...

My DGF added the FIA/BoA schwab 2% card that we use for all our household spending for obvious reasons.

I have my personal checking account at BofA, we have our household account at BB&T (for the $100 bonus at opening), and I have a newish account at a local CU.

At BB&T and the CU the best rewards card offered is a Visa Extras style points system that peaks at a little over 1% cashback if you get the most lucrative gift cards, I believe Macy's and BP and some others...

My only two CCs are with WF anbd Citi. They are both secured as I had both eschewed credit cards and switched to debit over 10 years ago and had some more recent baddies. In order of acquisition:.

WF, "platinum," 10k secured. I have banked their for 30 years. Seemed an obvious choice as it was automatically linked with my other accounts there. (various demand, savings, CDs but never credit/loans). The 10k limit was the same as my debit card daily max. I applied because of increased debit card hassles at car rentals and hotels.

Citi, "regular-not even gold - ha!," 25k secured. Got it because I occasionally needed more than 10k CL for a larger purchase. A huge factor in getting me to apply was the 4% interest paid on the secured CD portion. I'm hoping they never unsecure. At least if they keep the 4%. Even if/when I get higher limits I'll keep this puppy if it keeps the 4%.

After getting this I had WF decrease my daily on the debit card as a safety measure. I particularly like Cit's web site and virtual Discover credit card capability..

These are the only two I've applied for. My FICO has gone from non-existant 13 months ago (zero active CLs) to low fives to breaking 7 now. I haven't and don't expect to apply for any CCs unless I can get a CL 50k or more. Secured would be fine so long as it pays some kind of interest. Even a 100k CD securing a 50k line would work but it must pay competitive interest..

Otherwise I'll just wait as I expect to need a higher limit no more than once or twice a year and I can always call WF and have them wire money in those cases...

BofA got fired a few weeks ago. They held my 17+ year-old TL with them hostage for a $19 AF last year, and they wouldn't negotiate. Screw 'em.

I still have Citi and Chase. bit only for age and diversity..

Amex and Discover? I just don't feel the animosity towards them that I feel towards the big three. They've both treated me fairly well throughout this whole economic downturn...

Citi - All my banking is done with Citibank, so having a Discover card from them (at the time - now I have two) just seemed logical - and they were my first college card. They've treated me well, and I monitor/pay them directly from my checking/savings account login at citibank.com..

Bank of America - Nice APR and I've been told good things about them. There was a recruiter at my college campus, so I figured I'd app..

Chase - Wanted to get my food in the door with them with a college card. They too were on my college campus..

American Express - Use at Costco, as well as the fact it's a charge card. I don't carry balances, so I figured I'd add this one to my wallet for extra selection and to get my foot in the door with them.

Best Buy RZMC - I am an employee of Best Buy Company, so 4% rewards banked off employee cost is an awesome deal..

Nationwide Bank - Thread showed good service and high credit lines. It was worth the inq..

Nationwide Bank Business - Same as above - and the Business card gets 3% cash back on gas..

Capital One No Hassle Rewards - pre-screened thing in the mail shortly after getting my first cards. Figured I'd add another card to build history with. Probably my most bland card..

Ameriprise - Airport lounge access, since I travel on business a lot and my company doesn't really pay for lounge access..

Patelco - Wanted to add a credit union. I'll be looking to add another soon, to compliment Patelco..

I've been pretty happy with all of them, as well as my various other issuers..

This post has been edited by J-M: 28 January 2010 - 04:10 AM..

BOA - got it because it was an LLBean card - keep it, because it's my 2nd oldest TL, 2nd highest CL, rewards are bland, but I like the Bill Pay - can pay cc's with my Discover credit card if I want a extra week or two of float..

Citi - 0% no-fee BTs and good rewards - have DE, will likely get a Forward in the next year or so. Consistent CLIs..

Amex - oldest TLs on report. Just got a Costco Amex - good rewards, and nearly 20 more years of history added. Like their customer service, and access to CS..

Discover - good cash back promos and ShopDiscover. Great CS. CLs are conservative, but cash back redemption via giftcards can be great, if you swing that way. $40 for a $50 B&BB g/c is super useful for me..

Love my Barclay's LLBean. Great Bean rewards, highest CL, great CS. If you're not a Bean shopper, not worth it..

Hate Chase (it's mutual) - gave them the boot - would have to be super-stellar rewards to do business with them again..

Smaller banks: NC, FNBO, WFB/Cabelas - all have really great CS, but are not so special otherwise. NC would be better if I didn't have to wait to $100 to redeem my Everyday Rewards cash. For now it's my gas/grocery/restaurant card (when there are no Disc promos) since DE has 0% BTs on it, but it's slow going to $100..

HTH.

This post has been edited by cb_opus: 28 January 2010 - 11:08 AM..

Delta (Amex), American Airlines (Citi), and BA (Chase) mileage bonuses..

This post has been edited by kevinkev99: 28 January 2010 - 11:10 AM..

Cap1, HSBC, BoA and Merrick (Hooters).

All for the same reason. I just need tradelines reporting positive activity.

After 24 months they will be retired or CLIed up to a reasonable limit...

It seems the big banks have better rewards than CUs and smaller banks do. My CUs have better rates, but their benefits can't compete...

So chase has better rewards than NASA? show me the 2% cashback card from chase with no caps...

The beenies, I don't care about the issuer cause it's just *biz-ness..

*(former 5yr boycotter of BOA cards that sold his soul for the FIA issued Schwab 2% card)..

Show me where I said Chase specifically has better benefits than NASA specifically..

Right..

Generally speaking, if you PIF and want card benefits (whether miles, or room nights, or cash back) big banks offer more options, and better benefits.

I have an Orchard Bank 2% cashback card with no cap, Orchard is an HSBC company, one of the largest banks in the world..

My CU card gets a lot of work, but I want other cards for other perks. I don't mind carrying an extra card to use mostly for fuel transactions if it saves me 5% on those transactions, while only saving me 1% on others. As they say, different strokes.....

A lot of months I would have less than half of my spending in the 2% tier (unless there is some kind of billpay choice setup where you get points). I'd be stuck at a lowly 1% and 1.25%. My BP Visa gives 5% on BP purchases and 2% at sit down restaurants, with no tiers..

I'd lose 17.50 in rewards on the first $2K in spending on NASA vs. my Schwab!..

But the generalization about CU cards versus big issuers is over-played.

Many "big issuer" cards have no rewards or crappy rewards...

...and the #1 best reason to keep a Chase card:.

Cardmember character meet and greet at Disney World (Epcot).

Kids who get to meet their favorite characters without huge lines... PRICELESS!!!!..