The ABOC Platinum Rewards Mastercard® Credit Card from the Amalgamated Bank of Chicago is a great fee-free card that offers cardholders unlimited rewards and rotating 5x bonus categories.
While this benefit alone might be reason enough to get the card, there are also a handful of underrated benefits and several perks that come with using the card that save you more money and protect your purchases, all for a $0 annual fee.
But first: The well-known reasons
Here’s a quick look at a few of the headline benefits of the ABOC Platinum Rewards Mastercard® Credit Card:
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Easy-to-earn welcome bonus: Earn a $150 Statement Credit after you spend $1,200 on purchases within the first 90 days from account opening.
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Rotating bonus categories: Earn 5 points per dollar quarterly on popular spending categories like travel and dining, plus 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.
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$0 annual fee.
The underrated reasons
Simplicity when it comes to earning rewards
Unlike other 5x rewards credit cards that require you to opt in to activate your bonus categories, you only have to complete a one-time registration at abocrewards.com and you’ll activate and earn bonuses going forward.
Points don’t expire
Juggling expiration dates for your points can be challenging, so we really like that cardholders’ unlimited rewards points never expire.
No foreign transaction fees
Other no-fee cards will charge up to 3% in foreign transaction fees for purchases made outside of the U.S. This benefit can help you save money if you travel internationally, and since it’s a Mastercard, it is widely accepted in the U.S. and abroad.
Added protections for peace of mind
The ABOC Platinum Rewards Mastercard® Credit Card offers cardholders extra security and benefits when traveling and making purchases.
Protections include:
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Extended warranty protection: Use the ABOC Platinum Rewards Mastercard® Credit Card or ABOC Rewards to make an eligible item purchase and Mastercard will extend the manufacturer’s warranty by doubling an original warranty period of up to 12 months. You will be reimbursed up to the amount paid for the item or $10,000, whichever is less. This can be a smart way to save money on big-ticket item purchases since you can decline additional warranty extensions.
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Zero liability: If unauthorized charges appear on your account, you won’t be responsible for them.
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Mastercard ID theft protection: This benefit protects you from unauthorized use of your personal information, which could be harmful to your credit.
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Price protection: Mastercard’s price protection feature can help save you money. If you paid for an item with your ABOC Platinum Rewards Mastercard® Credit Card and the price decreases within 60 days of purchase, you can file a claim for reimbursement of the difference.
The bottom line
The ABOC Platinum Rewards Mastercard® Credit Card offers a valuable welcome bonus, rich rewards earning potential and a bevy of value-added benefits, all for no annual fee. Even if you’re only a casual traveler, this card can be worth considering for the underrated perks, like access to price protection, no foreign transaction fees and unlimited rewards potential.
How to Maximize Your Rewards
You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2021, including those best for:
Source: nerdwallet.com