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Best Western Rewards® MasterCard® review
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Receive valuable perks including automatic Gold status and a discount on eligible bookings, all for no annual fee.
- Get this card if you’re a Best Western regular, or if you want to save up for an occasional stay.
- Pick something else if you want general travel rewards or premium perks.
- Apply with a good to excellent credit score of 670 or higher.
16,000
Points as welcome offer
Up to 13x
Points
$0
Annual fee
20.24% to 24.24%
Purchase APR (variable)
Details
| Product Name | Best Western Rewards® MasterCard® |
|---|---|
| Card type | Mastercard |
| Annual fee | $0 |
| Purchase APR | 20.24% to 24.24% variable |
| Balance transfer APR | 20.24% to 24.24% variable |
| Balance transfer fee | $10 or 5% of the transaction, whichever is greater |
| Cash advance rate | 26.74% variable |
| Cash advance fee | $15 or 5% of the cash advance amount, whichever is greater |
| Foreign transaction fee | None |
| Interest free period | Up to 21 days |
| Late payment fee | Up to $39 |
| Returned payment fee | Up to $35 |
Expert review
Review by
Kevin Joey Chen
kevin.chen@findercrew.comKevin Joey Chen is a credit cards, banking and investments writer whose work and analysis have appeared on CNN, U.S. News & World Report, Lifehacker and CreditCards.com. He's passionate about helping you get your finances in order and expertly navigate the cutting-edge financial tools available -- including credit cards, apps and budgeting software.
Expert review
The Best Western Rewards® MasterCard® isn’t for everyone, but it’s a strong choice for two types of travelers.
If you’re a frequent Best Western customer, you’ll like generating as many points as you can. You’ll maximize your rewards with this card, and you can quickly rack up free nights through consistent stays.
You might also like this card if you travel infrequently but are certain you’ll stay with Best Western on your next vacation. On top of accelerated rewards for Best Western purchases, the card offers more than the industry standard 1x points on non-Best Western purchases, so you can still accumulate significant rewards from everyday spending.
The perks
Annual fee: None.
You can start earning accelerated rewards on Best Western stays for no annual fee.
Signup bonus: Up to 32,000 bonus points.
Earn 16,000 points after your first purchase, and another 16,000 points on your first Best Western stay.
This is a solid bonus. It’s typically good for two free nights, as the average stay costs 16,000 points. And it could be worth more, as you’ll find free Best Western nights as low as 8,000 points.
Rewards: More points on Best Western stays.
You’ll earn 13x points when you use your card for Best Western stays if you’re a member of Best Western Rewards®, which is free to join. Non-members earn 3x points on Best Western stays.
Earn 2x points on all other purchases.
As a frequent Best Western customer, you’ll like the healthy point boost the card offers. Even if you don’t stay at the hotel chain often, 2x points is a decent rate.
Automatic Gold Elite status.
Jump to Gold status in the Best Western Rewards program. Typically, you’d need 10 nights, 7 qualifying stays or 10,000 points to qualify for this tier. Gold comes with enhanced perks like extra points or a thank-you gift upon arrival, early check-in, late checkout and a 10% points bonus per stay.
Discounts on select Best Western bookings.
Receive a 10% discount when you book an eligible room at the Best Western Rewards Rate. If you’re a Best Western regular, these savings can add up.
You’ll also like …
No foreign transaction fees.
Pay no transaction fees when you use your card abroad or at a foreign website. This is usually a 3% fee, and it can add up if you use your card often.
Travel benefits.
Receive travel accident insurance when you use your card to purchase travel fare. Also receive auto rental insurance when you pay for your rental with your card. It’s a solid pair of benefits for a no-annual-fee travel card.
Purchase benefits.
Receive purchase protection on eligible items you buy with your card. For 90 days after the purchase date, you’ll receive up to $1,000 for an eligible claim. And you’ll receive extended warranties for a maximum of one additional year on eligible items.
What to watch out for
High APR.
Your purchase and balance transfer APR will be 20.24% or 24.24% variable. That’s a high rate considering the average credit card APR is 16%. It’s a good idea to pay off your balance on your Best Western Rewards® MasterCard® each month.
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What should I know before I apply?
To apply for the Best Western Rewards® MasterCard®, you must be at least 18 years old.
Information you’ll need
- Your full name and contact information.
- Your residential status.
- Your annual income, source of income and employment information.
- Your Social Security number.
What credit score do I need?
You’ll have a better chance of being approved for this card if you apply with a good to excellent credit score of 670 or higher.
Here are a few other factors that might affect your odds of approval:
- Hard pulls on your credit report. If you have several hard inquiries on your report, it could imply you’re having trouble managing your debt. First Bankcard — the issuer of the Best Western Rewards® MasterCard® — might think you’re desperate for credit and may be less likely to take you on as a customer.
- Factors that tie into your credit score. Your credit utilization is a major factor First Bankcard considers. The bank prefers a customer with low balances relative to their credit limit. Having many new card accounts may be a red flag too, indicating you’re desperate for credit. It may also give the impression that you’re a flighty customer who’s just hunting for signup bonuses.
What do customers say about the Best Western Rewards® MasterCard®?
First Bankcard isn’t accredited with the Better Business Bureau (BBB), but it earns an A- rating from the agency. As of this writing, it has seven customer complaints on the BBB website. Negative reviews cite unhelpful customer service and unexpected account closures.
First National Bank of Omaha — First Bankcard’s parent company — receives a 1.1 out of 5 rating on Consumer Affairs. Negative reviews cite unfair finance charges, unexpected credit-limit decreases and deceptive interest calculations.
How to apply for the Best Western Rewards® MasterCard®
- Go to the First Bankcard website and click Apply now.
- Complete the application with details like your name, address, annual income and Social Security number.
- Review and submit your application.
I got the card. Now what?
Make payments on time.
Register an account on the First Bankcard website to pay your balance online. You can also enroll in autopay.
Avoid interest.
After the close of each billing cycle, you have a grace period of at least 21 days to pay your balance. If you do, you won’t pay interest on your purchases.
Avoid fees.
For each late payment, you’ll incur a fee of up to $39.
Contact customer service.
If you have questions about your account, call the number on the back of your card. Alternatively, call 888-295-5540 for the general credit card customer service line.
Bottom line
Consider picking up the Best Western Rewards® MasterCard® if you’re a regular Best Western customer or will stay with the chain on occasional trips. With automatic Gold status and booking discounts, the card is most useful if you’re a frequent guest.
If you’re not sure this card is right for you, consider other hotel credit cards.