Credit Cards FAQ
What are the latest and greatest things offered as reward programs by the credit card companies?
Credit card issuers are creating more and different types of reward programs every month. Perhaps the biggest trend amongst all of the card issuers is to make rewards available at a number of merchants instead of just one. For instance both Citibank and American Express have expanded their roster of merchants to include apparel retailers and cable companies.
The Chase Bank is now offering a card that supplies rewards on all purchases with a sizable reward of 3% cash back at a grocery stores, gas stations, 7-11’s and fast food outlets. It is the supreme example of a card that has broadened its rewards to include a number of merchants on one card.
Yet another trend in credit card rebates are “experience” rewards. These types of rewards can be redeemed to pay for concerts, hotel stays, movies and theatrical experiences. For example American Express offers tickets to a Barbara Streisand concert in October 2006 for 20,500 points. Another innovative reward program offered by American Express also offers treats like the downloading of 25 I-Tunes for 3000 points.
Given all of these new developments and the popularity of rewards programs it is difficult to believe that just a mere decade ago there was no such thing as a credit card that offered rewards.