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Amalgamated Bank of Chicago Union Strong Mastercard® Credit Card review

Get rewards on rotating categories and a low standard APR.

finder.com’s rating: 4.4 / 5

★★★★★

  • Get this card if you want to earn rewards on rotating categories and save money on interest.
  • Pick something else if you want a stronger signup bonus.
  • Apply with a good to an excellent credit score of 670 or higher.
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Kliment Dukovski
Last Updated

$150

Welcome offer

Up to 5x

Points

$0

Annual fee

0%

Intro purchase APR

for the first 12 months (then to variable)

Details

Annual fee$0
Welcome Offer$150 after spending $1,200 in the first 90 days
Rewards5x points in rotating categories up to $1,500 combined each quarter, then 1x after that and on all other purchases
Purchase APR0% intro for the first 12 months (then from 9.25% variable)
Balance transfer APR0% intro for the first 18 months (then 9.25% variable)
Recommended minimum credit score670
IssuerMastercard
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Review by

Kliment Dukovski is a credit cards and investments writer. He's written over 600 articles to help readers find and compare the best credit cards. Kliment has also written on money transfers, home loans and more. Previously, he ghostwrote guides and articles on foreign exchange, stock market trading and cryptocurrencies.

Expert review

The Amalgamated Bank of Chicago Union Strong Mastercard® Credit Card comes with a $0 annual fee, a decent signup bonus of $150, and you get a long intro APR on balance transfers for the first 18 months and purchases for 12 months. Once the intro periods are over, a variable APR of 9.25% will apply.

Also, you get to earn 5x points on rotating categories each quarter on up to $1,500 in combined purchases, and 1x after reaching the cap. This puts the card on par with similar bank-issued competitor cards, except the Amalgamated Bank of Chicago Union Strong Mastercard® Credit Card has an incredibly low APR.

Overall, if you’re looking to earn the highest rewards on rotating categories while paying low interest rates, this could be a card worth considering.

Best of 2021
Finder experts pick Amalgamated Bank of Chicago Union Strong Mastercard® Credit Card as a 2021 best product for credit cards.

How to apply for Amalgamated Bank of Chicago Union Strong Mastercard® Credit Card

You must be a US resident and at least 18 years old — 19 in Alabama and Nebraska. To apply:

  1. Visit the Amalgamated Bank of Chicago website and locate the card.
  2. Click Apply now.
  3. Fill out the application form using your personal information, employment information and annual income, and your monthly housing payment.
  4. Review the application form and submit.

What credit score do I need?

Increase your chances of success with a good to an excellent credit score of 670 or higher.

Card benefits

  • Reward points.
    Earn 5x points in combined purchases on up to $1,500 on quarterly rotating categories, including dining, groceries, gas and automotive. After reaching the cap, earn 1x points on all purchases.
  • Signup bonus.
    Earn $150 in statement credit bonus after you spend $1,200 in your first 90 days of card membership. This is a high spend requirement as similar cards only require you to spend $500 to earn the bonus.
  • Intro APR period.
    Get a 0% intro APR period on balance transfers for the first 18 months and purchases for the first 12 months after you open your account. After that, a variable APR of 9.25% applies — the lowest interest rate compared to similar cards.
  • No foreign transaction fees.
    You won’t incur any foreign transaction fees when you use the card abroad or when making online purchases at foreign merchants.
  • No annual fee.
    You get to earn rewards and save money on interest without paying an annual fee.

2021 calendar for quarterly rotating categories

QuartersJanuary–March 2021April–June 2021July–September 2021October–December 2021
5x categoryHealth and wellnessSpring spruce-upTravelEnjoy the holidays
ExampleQualifying groceries, fitness clubs, hospitals and pharmaciesQualifying home improvement, gardening, Amazon.com and other major online retailersQualifying airline, cruise, car rental, hotel, travel agency purchases, gas, tolls and ride shareQualifying dining and groceries, food delivery services, liquor stores, and Amazon.com

What to watch out for

  • Loss of intro APR period.
    You may lose your intro APR and incur standard APR instead if you make a late payment.
  • Balance transfer limitations.
    You must transfer your balance within 90 days when you open your account to use the intro APR period. Balance transfers made after your first 90 days will incur the standard APR.

Compare rewards credit cards

Name Product Welcome offer Rewards Annual fee Filter values
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
Up to $350: 20% back on Amazon.com purchases in the first 6 months for up to $200 back, plus $150 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in the first 6 months
6% on select US streaming services, 3% on transit and US gas stations, 6% at US supermarkets on up to $6,000 annually, then 1% after that and on all other purchases (redeem as statement credit)
$0 intro annual fee for the first year ($95 thereafter)
Earn up to $350. In your first 6 months, you can earn a $150 statement credit when you spend $3,000, and earn 20% back on Amazon purchases made with your card, up to $200 total. Having 6 months to earn a welcome offer is a rare benefit as most cards give you only 3. Terms apply, see rates & fees
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Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
Up to $250: 20% back on Amazon.com purchases in the first 6 months for up to $150 back, plus $100 statement credit after spending $2,000 within the first 6 months
3% at US supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year (then 1%), 2% at US gas stations and select US department stores and 1% on all other purchases (redeem as statement credit)
$0
Earn up to $250. You'll get 20% back on Amazon.com purchases in the first six months for up to $150 back, and $100 after you spend $2,000 in the first six months. This is a higher-than-average welcome offer for a card with no annual fee. Terms apply, see rates & fees
Apply now
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Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
100,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months. That's $1,250 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
5x points on Lyft, 2x points on travel and dining and 1x points on all other purchases
$95

Up to $1,250 signup bonus

 Earn a massive signup bonus of 100,000 points with this popular travel card. That's worth up to $1,250!
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Bottom line

The Amalgamated Bank of Chicago Union Strong Mastercard® Credit Card could be a solid choice if you’re looking for a solid rewards credit card with a low standard APR.

But if you don’t find this card appealing, compare your credit card options until you find the right fit for your wallet.

Frequently asked questions

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