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Choice Privileges has launched two new credit cards through Wells Fargo. The welcome bonuses can yield up to 90,000 points, which fans of Choice Privileges will love. But what about beyond that?
Here's a closer look at the details so you can decide whether to apply for or keep these cards long-term.
Details of new Choice Privileges Cards from Wells Fargo
The two new cards available are the Choice Privileges® Mastercard® Credit Card and Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard® Credit Card. Let's look at the positives and negatives of each.
Choice Privileges Mastercard Details
- Welcome bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months.
- Annual fee: $0.
- Earning rates: 5X at Choice Hotels and when purchasing Choice Privileges points; 3X at gas stations, grocery stores, home improvement stores, and phone plans (both landline and cell phone); and 1X on other purchases.
- Key benefits: Complimentary Gold Elite status in Choice Privileges, 10 elite night credits in your account each year, no foreign transaction fees, cellphone protection, and World Elite Mastercard benefits.
With Choice Privileges Gold status, you'll get 10% bonus points on paid stays, a welcome gift on stays in the U.S. and Canada, and up to nine rollover nights per year. Plus, the 10 elite night credits put you halfway to Platinum status each year.
- 5x points on stays at participating Choice Hotels® properties plus on Choice Privileges point purchases
- 3x points on purchases at gas stations, grocery stores, home improvement stores and phone plan services
- 1x points on other purchases
Choice Privileges Select Mastercard Details
- Welcome bonus: Earn 90,000 bonus points when you spend $3,000 in purchases in the first 3 months.
- Annual fee: $95 (waived for the first year).
- Earning rates: 10X at Choice Hotels and when purchasing Choice Privileges points; 5X at gas stations, grocery stores, home improvement stores, and phone plans (both landline and cell phone); and 1X on other purchases.
- Key benefits: 30,000 bonus points on each account anniversary, complimentary Platinum Elite status in Choice Privileges, 20 elite night credits in your account each year, no foreign transaction fees, cellphone protection, World Elite Mastercard benefits, and up to $100 as a statement credit for your Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee (available once every four years).
With Choice Privileges Platinum status, you'll get the Gold benefits plus up to 19 rollover nights per year, Avis Preferred Plus status, and an improved 25% points bonus on paid stays.
- 10x points on stays at participating Choice Hotels® properties plus on Choice Privileges point purchases
- 5x points on purchases at gas stations, grocery stores, home improvement stores and phone plan services
- 1x points on other purchases
Should You Get a Choice Card from Wells Fargo?
If you're considering one of these cards, it's helpful to understand the application rules first. While Wells Fargo does not have a rule about how many of its credit cards you can have, it does limit how frequently you can get a sign-up bonus. Both cards have this rule on the application page:
“You may not qualify for an additional Wells Fargo credit card if you have opened a Wells Fargo credit card in the last 6 months.”
Thus, consider the last time you opened a credit card with Wells Fargo before applying for either Choice Privileges card.
Assuming you're eligible for both cards, which one should you get? The Choice Privileges Mastercard has no annual fee and moderate perks. It's a solid option for those who stay at Choice properties a few times a year and can't justify paying an annual fee in exchange for more perks.
Related: Do Choice Privileges Points Expire?
Those looking for more should consider the Choice Privileges Select Mastercard. The card comes with an annual fee of $95 (waived for the first year), but that's easily offset by the Global Entry/TSA PreCheck application credit and 30,000 anniversary bonus points.
On average, AwardWallet users get 0.58¢ per point in value from Choice points. At that rate, the 30k anniversary points alone provide $180 in value. That's almost twice the annual fee! Even if you value Choice Privileges points at 0.35 cents each, you come out ahead by paying the annual fee to get the anniversary bonus.
Interestingly, both cards provide bonus earnings when buying Choice Privileges points. However, Choice and Wells Fargo didn't provide any extra benefits you could attain through spending on your card — such as free night awards or higher elite status levels.
Related: Choice Hotels Releases New Sweet Spot Rewards (Hotel Nights From 4k Citi Points)
Bottom Line
The new Choice Privileges cards from Wells Fargo are now open for applications. Both cards carry World Elite Mastercard benefits, plus a handful of perks that Choice fans can maximize. The Choice Privileges Mastercard offers plenty of perks despite a $0 annual fee. And the $95 (waived for the first year) annual fee on the Choice Privileges Select Mastercard is easily justified. However, neither card incentivizes heavy spending through additional perks.
The decision between the cards will come down to whether you're eligible for the cards and then which card best matches your travel goals.
Are you planning to apply for one of these cards? If so, which?
The comments on this page are not provided, reviewed, or otherwise approved by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
So I activated my new Choice Privilege card and there is no accessible site to view my account, register my account or anything elese? SO HOW DO I CANCEL MY NEW CHOICE CARD?
I have been on hold now for 67 minutes on your customer service phone #????????????????? A TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hi Michael, please email me at rsmith@awardwallet.com
I’ll put you in touch with someone at Wells Fargo to look for a solution for you.
When you email, please tell me the name/email/phone number on your card account so they are able to contact you. Thanks!
Am I eligible for the bonus points if I’ve had the Barclays Choice Card for over 3 years?
James, I see nothing in the welcome terms stating you can’t earn the bonus if you had the Choice card from another issuer in the past.