The latest rewards, travel, and personal finance stories from us and other sites of interest:

The Very Latest:

• NEW CREDIT CARD: Apple Card Review / Hot Take – Interesting, but is it a game-changer? (March 25)
• New Amex Offers Deal: Marriott $40 Rebate on $200 Spend – Bonvoy! (March 25)
• UPCOMING: T-Mobile Tuesdays Deals for March 26, 2019 – Free MLB.TV, Taco Bell taco, Shell gas discount, more.

Still New & Exciting:

• Hyatt Announces “Hyatt Centric” Brand Growth in the U.S. with New Hotels Planned for Memphis and Nashville, Tennessee and Austin, Texas – “Hyatt Centric” means boutique-style hotels in case that name confuses you as much as it confuses us. Via Hyatt. (March 22)
• 35,000-Point Bonus Added to American Express Business Gold Card – Had no points bonus since revamp back in November. (March 21)
• Credit Card Bonus Increase: Wells Fargo Propel up to a Possible 50,000 Points – Worth at least $500 if you hit spending requirements. (March 21)
• Famous Footwear Launches New Loyalty Program – Upgraded, though nothing revolutionary. Via Business Wire. (March 21)
• JetBlue’s Future Lands Today as Airline Introduces All-New, Ultra-Comfortable and Fully Connected Core Experience on Airbus A320 Aircraft – Really does look pretty cool. Via JetBlue. (March 20)
• Barclays and RCI Bring New Benefits to the RCI Elite Rewards Mastercard, Boost Travel Rewards Earning Structure – Still uninspiring. Via PR Newswire. (March 20)
• Chase Launches “Secure Banking” Checking Account to Expand Access to Banking – Targeting the “unbanked.” Via Business Wire. (March 20)
• Chase Adds Signup Bonus Tracking Information on Credit Cards (See How Much Spend Remains) – I want you to picture hitting that signup bonus. Via Doctor of Credit. (March 20)

By Adam Jusko, ProudMoney.com, adam@proudmoney.com

Apple just officially announced the upcoming launch of its Apple Card credit card. As rumored, the card will be issued in partnership with Goldman Sachs, and it will be a Mastercard. In terms of availability, you will be able to apply for an Apple Card sometime this summer.

Interesting Features, But Not A Game-Changer

Based on today’s presentation at Apple’s product & service “Special Event,” the Apple Card will have some interesting features but is not nearly as exciting as the on-stage promotion would have you believe.

Let’s look at the details…

Built for Apple Pay

The no-annual-fee Apple Card is built to be used with Apple Pay from the Wallet app on your iPhone. We say this not only because the easiest way to get the card will be through the app, but also because you will get much better rewards on purchases made through Apple Pay than with the physical credit card.

Specifically, you will get 2% cash back on all purchases made through Apply Pay, except for purchases of Apple products, which will get you a 3% rebate. On the other hand, if you use the physical card outside of Apple Pay, it will only get you 1% cash back, a significant disincentive to use the physical card.

Daily Cash

An interesting feature that many credit card users will find appealing is that the Apple Card will give out its cash back rebates on a daily basis. So, instead of waiting for your next card statement, or, worse, having to wait until you’ve reached $25 in rewards to access your cash, this card will give it to you almost immediately via the Wallet app.

T-Mobile Tuesday Deals for Tuesday, March 26, 2019:

• Free season of MLB.TV
• 20% off sports ticket purchases at Fanxchange.com
• 10 cents off per gallon of Shell gas
• Free Taco Bell taco

By Adam Jusko, ProudMoney.com, adam@proudmoney.com

A new Amex Offer we are seeing today will give you $40 back when you spend at least $200 at Marriott hotels in the Bonvoy rewards program.

The fine print includes:

• Offer valid only at participating Marriott Bonvoy properties in the U.S. and U.S. territories.
• Reservations must be made online at Marriott.com, via the Marriott Bonvoy App or by calling 1-888-236-2427.
• Excludes Marriott Vacation Club, Design Hotels, Protea Hotels, and Marriott Executive Apartments.
• Excludes gift card purchases.
• Offer only valid on room rate and room charges.
• Statement credit may be reversed if qualifying purchase is cancelled.

By Adam Jusko, ProudMoney.com, adam@proudmoney.com

American Express has added a potential 35,000-point bonus to new cardholders of the American Express Business Gold Card. You will earn those 35,000 Membership Rewards points if you spend at least $5000 with the card in the first three months of having it.

American Express took away any points bonus when this card was revamped back in November of 2018. This is the first time we have seen a bonus points offer since that time.

By Adam Jusko, ProudMoney.com, adam@proudmoney.com

Wells Fargo has beefed up the potential bonus for new holders of the Wells Fargo Propel American Express Card, with a 50,000-point bonus (worth at least $500) now available. Specifically, you can earn:

• 30,000 points when you spend at least $3000 with the card in the first three months of having the card.
• 20,000 more points if you spend $15,000 with the card in the first year.

By Adam Jusko, ProudMoney.com, adam@proudmoney.com

Starbucks announced big changes to its Starbucks Rewards program today, with a faster track to earning rewards but maybe a slight lowering of the value of reward “Stars” for the frequent Starbucks customer. The changes go into effect on April 16.

Members of Starbucks Rewards will continue to earn 2 Stars per dollar on their Starbucks purchases, but they will be able to start redeeming their Stars as soon as they have earned 25 Stars. This is a big change from the current program, in which a member has had to earn 300 Stars (a spend of roughly $150) in a 12-month period just to be eligible to actually earn free food or drink. In other words, the program will no longer cater only to the true Starbucks junkie, but also to a more casual Starbucks customer.

By Adam Jusko, ProudMoney.com, adam@proudmoney.com

UPDATE: As described below, the Chase Sapphire Preferred bonus offer has now changed to 60,000 points after $4000 in card spend in three months. Annual fee is now $95 without the previous fee waiver in the first year.

Hot on the heels of yesterday’s rumor on changes to the Chase Freedom Unlimited card comes the possibility of a bonus tweak on the Chase Sapphire Preferred. A commenter over at Doctor of Credit claims that the bonus offer and annual fee will be switching from the current 50,000-point bonus to a 60,000-point bonus — but with a catch. The card currently waives its $95 annual fee for the first year, but would no longer do so.

By Adam Jusko, ProudMoney.com, adam@proudmoney.com

New Amex Offers deal: You’ll get a $25 statement credit on your American Express credit card when you buy a new Sam’s Club membership online with your American Express card via http://samsclub.com/JoinAMEX.

Note the “new” qualifier: “Offer valid only on a new Sam’s Club Membership purchased online at US website (SamsClub.com/JoinAMEX) and not valid on memberships purchased in-Club, via mobile app or by phone.”

T-Mobile Tuesday Deals for Tuesday, March 19, 2019:

• Free T-Mobile Umbrella
• 10 cents off per gallon of Shell gas
• Free Taco Bell taco
• Free one-night Redbox rental
• 50% off Legoland tickets