PenFed Pathfinder® Rewards Visa Signature® Card Review: A Solid Travel Rewards Card With an Avoidable Annual Fee
Review
Updated
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If you're looking for a credit card that offers travel rewards and travel perks, the PenFed Pathfinder® Rewards Visa Signature® Card is a solid choice. It has an affordable $95 annual fee, which is waived for PenFed Honors Advantage members, and earns up to 4 points per $1 on eligible travel purchases. But you'll need to be a PenFed credit union member to apply for this rewards credit card. Read our full PenFed Pathfinder® Rewards Visa Signature® Card review to determine if this card is an ideal match for you.
Great for: Traveling, especially for PenFed Honors Advantage members
Good (670-850)
Intro APR 0% introductory APR for 12 months on balance transfers made in the first 90 days after account opening.
Balance Transfers: 0%
Regular APR
17.99%, variable
Rewards 4X points on all Travel categories for PenFed Honors Advantage Members. 3X points on all travel categories. 1.5X points on all other purchases.
1.5X-4X
Annual Fee
$95
Welcome Offer 50,000 bonus points when you spend $3,000 in the first 90 days.
50,000 bonus points
The PenFed Pathfinder® Rewards Visa Signature® Card is a solid credit card that offers travel rewards and valuable travel perks for a low annual fee.
We recommend comparing options to ensure the card you're selecting is the best fit for you. To make your search easier, here's a short list of standout credit cards.
| Offer | Our Rating | Welcome Offer | Rewards Program | APR | Learn More |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor |
Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year. | 1% - 5% Cashback Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases. |
Intro: Purchases: 0%, 15 months Balance Transfers: 0%, 15 months Regular: 18.24% - 27.24% Variable APR |
|
|
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor |
$200 cash rewards Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months. | 2% cash rewards Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases. |
Intro: 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers Purchases: 0% intro APR, 12 months from account opening Balance Transfers: 0% intro APR, 12 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers Regular: 19.24%, 24.24%, or 29.24% Variable APR |
|
Apply Now for Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card
On Bank of America's Secure Website. |
Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor |
25,000 points 25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases | 1.5-3 points per dollar Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees, and your points don't expire as long as your account remains open. Earn 3 points per $1 spent on travel purchases booked through the Bank of America Travel Center. |
Intro: 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases. 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the intro APR offer ends, 18.24% - 28.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers will apply. A 3% fee for 60 days from account opening, then 4% fee applies to all balance transfers. Balance transfers may not be used to pay any account provided by Bank of America. Purchases: 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases Balance Transfers: 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days Regular: 18.24% - 28.24% (Variable) |
Apply Now for Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card
On Bank of America's Secure Website. |
This credit card is a good fit for: PenFed credit union members who want to earn travel rewards without an expensive annual fee.
Let's take a closer look at the most notable benefits that are provided with this card.
The PenFed Pathfinder® Rewards Visa Signature® Card has a $95 annual fee. But if you're an existing PenFed Honors Advantage member, you qualify for an annual fee waiver.
You're eligible for PenFed Honors Advantage membership benefits if you're the primary owner of a PenFed checking account. If you have a free PenFed checking account, you must maintain a minimum $500 daily balance or set up monthly direct deposits of $500 or more to maintain eligibility.
Current and former military members are also eligible for PenFed Honors Advantage perks. This includes active duty, reserve, honorably discharged, and retirement service members.
Read more: Best Travel Credit Cards With No Annual Fee
The PenFed Pathfinder® Rewards Visa Signature® Card offers generous rewards. If you're a PenFed Honors Advantage member, you'll earn 4 points per $1 on travel purchases made with your card. Otherwise, you'll earn 3 points per $1 on travel purchases.
The following expenses qualify as travel purchases:
But the reward opportunities don't stop there. You'll earn 1.5 points per $1 on other purchases made with your credit card.
Air travel can get expensive fast, especially when paying additional expenses like checked bag fees. This credit card provides up to $100 in statement credits per calendar year for eligible airline ancillary fees. This benefit only applies to eligible fees charged with domestic airlines, and you must charge the fees to your credit card. The following fees qualify:
With the PenFed Pathfinder® Rewards Visa Signature® Card, you'll also be eligible for a $100 Global Entry or $85 TSA Precheck statement credit to reimburse application fees paid with your card. This benefit is available to cardholders once every four years.
The PenFed Pathfinder® Rewards Visa Signature® Card includes a complimentary standard annual Priority Pass airport lounge membership -- which carries a $99 value. While this membership gets you access to participating Priority Pass lounges, you'll still be required to pay a fee every time you visit a lounge. Members pay $35 per visit and $35 for each guest they bring.
This travel credit card provides a 0% introductory APR on eligible balance transfers for up to 12 months. You must transfer an existing balance within 90 days of account opening. You'll be charged a 3% per transaction fee for each credit card balance you transfer. But if you're working hard to pay off credit card debt, this could be an excellent way to avoid paying additional interest charges.
The PenFed Pathfinder® Rewards Visa Signature® Card doesn't charge foreign transaction fees. This is a valuable benefit for international travelers. Many credit cards without this perk charge a 3% foreign transaction fee whenever you swipe your card for a foreign purchase.
You'll be happy to know that this credit card includes useful travel protections that could make your travel experience better. The following protections are included with your card:
There are a few drawbacks of this rewards credit card.
New cardholders who meet the minimum spend of $3,000 within the first 90 days of account opening are eligible for 50,000 bonus points. However, the maximum value of the welcome offer is $500, which is meager compared to other travel credit card welcome offers. The value of this welcome offer varies depending on how you redeem your points. You can redeem your rewards for travel, gift cards, experiences, and more.
You must be a PenFed Credit Union member to apply for this credit card. Otherwise, you'll be ineligible to receive this card. You can become a member during the application process.
While the PenFed Pathfinder® Rewards Visa Signature® Card provides a 0% introductory APR for 12 months on balance transfers made within 90 days of account opening, this benefit doesn't extend to new purchases made with your card. If you're looking for a credit card that earns rewards and offers 0% intro APR on purchases, you'll need to look elsewhere.
Learn More: Best 0% APR Credit Cards
Another notable drawback of this credit card is the additional fee for paper statements. Unless you enroll in electronic statements, you'll be charged a $2 fee for each paper statement that is mailed to you. But you can easily avoid this extra charge by enrolling in electronic statements.
The PenFed Pathfinder® Rewards Visa Signature® Card is intended for consumers with good to excellent credit. A FICO® Score score of at least 670 is recommended when applying for this card. However, your credit score is only one factor that is considered during the approval process. It's possible to be approved for a credit card when your score is below the recommended range or denied even if your score is within the recommended range.
The PenFed Pathfinder® Rewards Visa Signature® Card is a good option if you are looking for a travel rewards credit card with a generous rewards rate. It has an affordable $95 annual fee, which can be avoided if you're an existing PenFed Honors Advantage member.
But it's worth noting that the welcome offer is not as generous as other travel credit cards, and PenFed points are only worth up to $0.01 each. Additionally, since PenFed is a credit union, you must become a member before applying for this card.
If you prefer premium travel perks or want a more generous welcome offer, you may want to consider a different card. If this card isn't the right fit for you, check out our recommendations for the best rewards credit cards to find something more aligned with your needs.
At Motley Fool Money, we rate credit cards on a five-star scale (1 = poor, 5 = best). Our rating criteria includes rewards rates, welcome bonuses, fees, and perks like travel credits and 0% intro APR offers to evaluate our ratings.
We combine these factors with an evaluation of brand reputation and customer satisfaction to ensure you're getting the best card recommendations. Learn more about how Motley Fool Money rates credit cards.
Yes. You must be a PenFed member to apply for the PenFed Pathfinder® Rewards Visa Signature® Card. If you're not yet a member, you can join during the credit card application process.
PenFed doesn't publish the minimum credit limit for the PenFed Pathfinder® Rewards Visa Signature® Card. However, card users have reported getting approved for credit limits of $5,000 or more.
The value of PenFed Pathfinder points depends on the redemption method. You can expect a minimum value of $0.0085 per point and a maximum of $0.01 per point.
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