Easy-to-earn points
If you live in a large city and use public transportation to get around – or if you travel frequently by air – the Bank of the West World Premier MasterCard makes it simple to earn a large number of points in a relatively short period of time. Cardholders earn three points for every dollar they spend on restaurants or travel, and one point for every dollar they spend on anything else. Eligible restaurant purchases include fast food, takeout and bars. Eligible travel purchases include airlines, hotels, motels, car rentals, timeshares, campgrounds, cruises, travel agencies, trains, buses, taxis, limousines and ferries.
Bank of the West doesn’t limit the total number of points you can earn either, so you can potentially build up a sizable collection if you’re frequently on the move.
No sign-up bonus
With such an inclusive points bonus, cardholders can potentially earn substantially more points with this card than most other travel credit cards. Few cards on the market offer so many points for such a large number of eligible travel purchases. However, the Bank of the West card doesn’t offer a sign-up bonus, which is disappointing for a travel card. Most competitors that are similarly priced offer at least $100 or more in one-time bonuses.
Pricey redemption
The Bank of the West card’s restrictive travel redemption policies also limit its appeal – particularly for cardholders hoping to use it purely as a travel rewards card. Like most card issuers, Bank of the West requires cardholders to go through the bank to redeem points for travel, which limits cardholders’ ability to shop around. It also charges a $15 booking fee for booking rewards-funded travel online and a $25 fee for booking travel on the phone. In addition, the bank imposes travel blackout dates and only awards travel on a restricted number of seats, potentially limiting your ability to travel when you want.
On the plus side, Bank of the West does allow you to pay for travel with partial points, which is relatively rare for a travel card. It also doesn’t impose an arbitrary expiration date on points.
Competitive APR
Unlike many travel cards, Bank of the West doesn’t charge an especially high APR, which is good news for cardholders who may need to occasionally carry a balance. Instead of advertising a wide range of potential interest rates, Bank of the West charges a single APR of 14.99 percent, which is slightly below average for a rewards credit card. The average rewards card charges a minimum APR of 15.26 percent. If your credit is excellent, you may be able to qualify for a lower APR through another card. Some travel cards offer rates as low as 10 percent. However, their rewards are typically less generous.
Reasons to get it:
- You travel frequently by air or regularly use car rentals or public transportation and want to get rewarded for your spending.
- You’re looking for a card with more inclusive travel bonus points.
- You want a lower APR than the average travel rewards card and can afford the annual fee.
How to use it:
- To get the most benefit from this travel card, use the card for every restaurant, fast food, drink, travel or public transportation purchase.
- Do your research before redeeming points for travel. You may find that you can get more value out of points by redeeming them for cash and purchasing cheaper tickets elsewhere.
- Check with Bank of the West ahead of time before planning your trip to see if rewards-funded travel is available. If you use points for travel, you may only be able to use them for trips with flexible travel dates.
The post Bank of the West Premier World MasterCard Review appeared first on Reviews.