The best bank account bonus offers right now. Be sure to check the expiration dates on these offers when you click through as bonuses do change regularly (and can be difficult to keep up with):

Checking Account Bonuses:

Chase Total Checking $225 Bonus – Get a $225 bonus when you open a Chase Total Checking account AND have a direct deposit into the account “of your paycheck, pension or government benefits (such as Social Security) from your employer or the government” within 90 days.

• Other Requirements: Direct deposit within 90 days & account must stay open 6 months
• Monthly Fees: $0 IF direct deposit of $500 or more or $1500+ daily account balance or $5000 in combined Chase accounts; otherwise a $12 monthly fee

PNC Virtual Wallet $50-$400 Bonus – Earn a bonus of either $50, $200, or $400 depending on the size of the direct deposit that you set up with this account. A bonus of $50 for a $500 direct deposit, a bonus of $200 for a $2000 direct deposit, a bonus of $400 for a $5000 direct deposit.

• Other Requirements: Bonus credited within 60-90 days of direct deposit(s), so you must keep the account open at least that long.
• Monthly Fees: Depends on which account you choose, but all accounts could be fee-free depending on your meeting certain requirements on balances and/or account activity.

No credit card reward is more flexible than cash. That’s why cash back credit cards are the favorite type of card for most people. You might prefer a card that gives you a nice, generous flat rate on all of your purchases, as much as 2%, or you might prefer cards that give greater rewards for certain purchase categories:

2% Credit Cards – 2% Cash Back on Every Purchase:

• Wells Fargo Active Cash Visa – 2% flat cash back on all purchases plus a $200 bonus opportunity for new cardholders.
• FNBO Evergreen Visa – 2% flat cash back on all purchases plus a $200 bonus opportunity for new cardholders.
• Citi Double Cash – 2% “flat” cash back, but note that you only get the full 2% once you’ve actually paid off your purchases. (You get 1% upon purchase and the other 1% when you pay off purchases.)
• SoFi Credit Card – Earn 2% cash back on all purchases, but only if you initially deposit your cash back into a SoFi account. (You’ll need to open a SoFi banking/investing account if you don’t already have one.)
• Fidelity Visa – Earn 2% cash back on all purchases, but cash back must initially be deposited into your Fidelity account. (You’ll need to open a Fidelity investing account if you don’t already have one.)
• PayPal Cashback Mastercard – Earn 2% cash back on all purchases, but cash back must initially be deposited into your PayPal account. (You’ll need to open a PayPal account if you don’t already have one.)

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

Below we list the very best credit cards on the market right now, including cash back and travel rewards cards. See the cards’ applications pages for further details as well as information on introductory bonus offers and any exclusions on rewards & perks.

Best Cash Back Credit Cards

“Flat” Cash Back (Same Rebate Percentage on All Purchases):

• Wells Fargo Active Cash Visa – You get 2% “flat” cash back, meaning you get the same 2% cash back on every purchase with the card. Plus, you can earn a bonus as a new cardholder, something most other 2% cards do not offer. (Right now that bonus is $200 if you spend $1000 or more with the card in the first three months after account opening.)
• FNBO Evergreen Visa – Like the card above, this one offers 2% “flat” cash back on all card purchases, and you can also earn a bonus as a new cardholder. (Current bonus is $200 if you spend $1000 or more with the card in the first three months.)
• Citi Double Cash – 2% “flat” cash back, meaning you get the same 2% cash back on every purchase with the card. (Note that you only get the full 2% once you’ve actually paid off your purchases.)
• SoFi Credit Card – Earn 2% cash back on all purchases, but only if you deposit your earnings into a SoFi account. Notable difference here: No foreign transaction fees on purchases outside of the United States.
• Other 2% “flat” cash back credit cards: Fidelity Visa, PayPal Cashback Mastercard

Updated January 21, 2022 – Comenity Bank and its sister company Comenity Capital Bank are the issuers behind many retail store credit cards and other credit cards as well. If you have a credit card from one of the companies listed below, it’s not issued by the store whose name is on the front, but instead by Comenity:

• Academy Sports Credit Card
• AKC (American Kennel Club) (Card no longer offered)
• Alphaeon Medical Credit
• Ann Taylor
• Arhaus
• Ashley Stewart
• Avenue
• Bealls Florida Credit Card
• Bealls Outlet / Burkes Outlet
• Bed Bath & Beyond
• Big Lots
• BJ’s Wholesale Club
• Blair
• Blue Nile

PayPal has become widely accepted online and sometimes in standard brick-and-mortar stores as well. Below is an alphabetical list of major stores that accept PayPal, with a note of whether PayPal is accepted online, in store, or both. Note that even when PayPal is not directly accepted by a store, you often can pay with your PayPal balance by using a PayPal Cash Card Mastercard or the PayPal Key virtual Mastercard.

• Adidas
• Aeropostale (Online only, not in stores)
• Apple Store (Online, not inside Apple stores. PayPal can also be used for Apple services that require Apple ID.)
• BestBuy.com (Online only, not inside Best Buy stores)
• Brookstone
• Coinbase (Only with linked bank account or debit card, not PayPal balance)
• CVS (Online AND inside CVS stores)
• DHgate
• DX.com DealExtreme
• Eastbay
• eBay
• Emirates Airlines
• Etsy
• Expedia
• Express (Online only, not in stores)
• Foot Locker (Online only, not inside Foot Locker stores)

Looking for a great credit card bonus but don’t want an annual fee? Here are the best current signup bonus offers on credit cards with no annual fee:

Best Cash Signup Bonuses:

• Blue Cash Everyday from American Express – Get a $250 signup bonus when you spend at least $2000 on the card within 6 months after you open your account. (Note that American Express bonus offers change often (even during the same day); if you don’t see the bonus described, you may want to check again at a later time.)
• Chase Freedom Flex – Get a $200 bonus when you spend $500 or more with this card within 3 months after opening the account, plus 5% in rewards on grocery store purchases for a year.
• Chase Freedom Unlimited – Get a $200 bonus when you spend $500 or more with this card within 3 months after opening the account, plus 5% in rewards on grocery store purchases for a year.
• Wells Fargo Active Cash Card – Get a $200 signup bonus on this 2% cash-back credit card when you spend at least $1000 with the card in the first three months after approval.
• FNBO Evergreen Visa – Get a $200 signup bonus on this 2% cash-back credit card when you spend at least $1000 with the card in the first three billing cycles after account opening.

(This is a regularly updated post; last update 1/13/22.) If you’ve ever been pitched on opening a new credit card at a retail store while making a purchase, you know that some stores are more than happy to give you instant credit — you apply on the spot, get approved, and you can use the card immediately. Below we offer a list of such cards, including regular bank credit cards as well as retail credit cards. Apply online and get shopping today. (Note that instant approval is not guaranteed.)

• American Express Cards – Most American Express credit cards and charge cards now offer the possibility of an “Instant Card Number” upon approval. Your “eligibility is based on our ability to instantly validate your identity.” If you are eligible, you’ll get an Instant Card Number that you can use even before you have the physical card in hand. Note, however, that you may not be able to access your card’s complete credit line instantly.
• PayPal Cashback Mastercard – One of the better cash back credit cards on the market lets you use your card today if you are approved instantly. Here’s the language they use to describe the process: “If you’re approved, in most cases, a temporary credit line will instantly be added to your PayPal account and you can start using it on PayPal right away – – even before you receive your card.” Beyond the instant approval, this card gives you a 2% rebate on everything you buy with it — which is the top of the market for cash-back cards with a flat rate on all purchases.

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

Consumer Reports has long been a respected name when it comes to reviewing consumer products and choosing the best of the options in the marketplace. Its coverage of cars & trucks is especially well respected, because it offers reviews of new vehicles as well as used vehicles, including information on which cars have the most problems (and fewest problems) and how long you can expect a certain make and model to last.

To us, it is established that Consumer Reports provides value. But the question is: how much value? Is it worth it to be a paid subscriber?

How much is a subscription?

Let’s talk first about what Consumer Reports actually costs. You can get an online subscription for $39 per year, or you can choose to get that online subscription at $10 per month if you want to test it out for a shorter term. (But note that it will automatically renew each month unless you stop it.)

Below is a list of stores that accept Afterpay for “buy now, pay later’ financing, listed in alphabetical order. NOTE: In some cases, you’ll need to use the Afterpay app to purchase at these retailers:

• Adidas
• American Eagle
• Anthropologie
• ASOS
• Athleta
• Athletic Propulsion Labs (APL)
• Banana Republic
• Bandier
• BCBG
• Bed Bath & Beyond
• Belk
• Birkenstock
• Boohoo
• Buckle

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

American Express has offered you the possibility of getting instantly approved for their consumer credit cards and charge cards for quite some time. In addition, Amex has begun allowing new cardholders to use the card instantly as well, meaning you can potentially make purchases today, even before you have the physical card in your hand.

They call it “Instant Card Number”

American Express describes it like this in the fine print of their cards’ terms & conditions:

“Instant Card Number eligibility is based on our ability to instantly authenticate you. If you are eligible for Instant Card Number, you will receive an Instant Card Number that you may be able to use virtually anywhere American Express is accepted and a physical Card will not be required. In certain instances (for example, if we cannot instantly authenticate you) you may only be able to use your Instant Card Number at a select merchant until you receive your physical Card. You may not have access to your full credit line until after you confirm receipt of your physical Card. We will mail your physical Card within 3-5 days of account approval.”

It’s not clear what criteria must be met in order for Amex to “instantly authenticate you.” It may require you to follow up with a customer service representative by phone if the information on your application is not enough to convince them of your identity.