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Choice Privileges has launched two credit cards through Wells Fargo. The welcome bonuses can yield up to 60,000 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 Choice Privileges Cards from Wells Fargo
The two cards available are the Choice Privileges® Mastercard® (Rates & Fees) and Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard® (Rates & Fees). Let's look at the positives and negatives of each.
Choice Privileges Mastercard Details
- Welcome bonus: Limited-Time Offer: Earn 60,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months - enough to redeem for up to 7 reward nights at select Choice Hotels® properties. Additional fees may apply.
- 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.
- Apply Now to take advantage of this offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
- Limited Time Offer: Earn 60,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months - enough to redeem for up to 7 reward nights at select Choice Hotels® properties. Additional fees may apply.
- Earn 5X points on stays at participating Choice Hotels® properties.
- Earn 3X points on purchases at gas stations, grocery stores, home improvement stores and on phone plan services. Plus earn 1X points on other purchases.
- $0 annual fee.
- Up to $800 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible.
- Receive 10 Elite night credits qualifying for at least Gold level status each calendar year.
- No foreign transaction fee.
- 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 on phone plan services
- 1x points on other purchases
Choice Privileges Select Mastercard Details
- Welcome bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus points when you spend $3,000 in purchases in the first 3 months - enough to redeem for up to 7 reward nights at select Choice Hotels® properties. Additional fees may apply.
- Annual fee: $95.
- 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.
- Apply Now to take advantage of this offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
- Earn 60,000 bonus points when you spend $3,000 in purchases in the first 3 months - enough to redeem for up to 7 reward nights at select Choice Hotels® properties. Additional fees may apply.
- Earn 10X points on stays at participating Choice Hotels® properties.
- Earn 5X points on purchases at gas stations, grocery stores, home improvement stores and on phone plan services. Plus earn 1X points on other purchases.
- $95 annual fee.
- Up to $800 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible.
- Receive 20 Elite night credits qualifying for at least Platinum level status each calendar year.
- No foreign transaction fee.
- 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 on 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, but that's easily offset by the Global Entry/TSA PreCheck application credit and 30,000 anniversary bonus points.
On average, AwardWallet users get 0.59¢ 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 Sweet Spot Rewards (Hotel Nights From 4k Citi Points)
Bottom Line
The 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 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?
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