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Charity Charge World Mastercard® Credit Card review
Last updated:
Earn 1% cash back that’s automatically donated to nonprofits of your choice.
30-seconds take
- Get this card if you want an easy way to donate to charity.
- Pick something else if you want more powerful cash back.
- Apply with a fair credit score of 670 or higher.
Up to 1%
Cash back
$0
Annual fee
1.99%
Intro purchase APR
for the first 6 monthly billing cycles (then 16.24% to 26.74% variable)
1.99%
Intro balance transfer
for the first 6 monthly billing cycles (then 16.24% to 22.24% variable)
Details
| Annual fee | $0 |
|---|---|
| Welcome Offer | N/A |
| Rewards | 1% cash back to your choice of nonprofits, K-12 schools, colleges and religious organizations |
| Purchase APR | 1.99% intro for the first 6 monthly billing cycles (then 16.24% to 26.74% variable) |
| Balance transfer APR | 1.99% intro for the first 6 monthly billing cycles (then 16.24% to 22.24% variable) |
| Recommended minimum credit score | 670 |
| Issuer | Mastercard |
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, Business.com, Lifehacker and CreditCards.com. He's passionate about helping you get your finances in order by expertly navigating cutting-edge financial tools — including credit cards, apps and budgeting software.
Expert review
How to apply for the Charity Charge World Mastercard® Credit Card
- Go to the provider's site and click Apply now.
- Search for a nonprofit to donate your rewards to. After you receive your card, you can choose two more nonprofits.
- Complete the application with the required details.
- Review and submit your application.
How long will it take to get my Charity Charge World Mastercard® Credit Card?
A decision on your application can be reached in under a minute thanks to automated preapproval on the website. If more information is needed, it may take one to two weeks to hear back. Once you’re approved, your card should arrive in the mail within 7 to 10 business days.
The perks
Donate your cash back.
Earn unlimited 1% cash back on your purchases, and automatically donate it to a charity you pick. You can support up to three causes, changing them whenever you want. Because 100% of your rewards go to charity, your donations are also tax-deductible.
Intro APR period.
Enjoy a 1.99% variable intro APR period on balance transfers and purchases for the first 6 monthly billing cycles your account is open. After that, a variable APR of 16.24% to 26.74% variable applies. Other cards offer 0% intro APR periods that can last up to 18 months.
No annual fee.
No annual fee helps you save money while you support charities around the world.
How much cashback rewards can I donate with the Charity Charge World Mastercard® Credit Card?
The cash back you earn is unlimited and at a flat rate, which makes calculating the total fairly straight forward. Supposing you spend around $15,000 annually with the card, that’s $150 donated to a charity of your choice.
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World Mastercard® benefits.
Among Mastercard’s many perks are identity theft protection, extended warranties, price protection, $0 fraud liability and Mastercard Global Service to help out when you lose your card.
Mastercard travel and lifestyle.
Call 855-802-1387 for complimentary professional travel services that can help you plan your trip. Get complimentary room upgrades, daily breakfast and other cool perks in the Mastercard Luxury Hotel and Resorts Portfolio. With Mastercard airport concierge, you can arrange for a personal escort at more than 700 destinations worldwide.
Discounts at OneFineStay.
Get 10% off all bookings through OneFineStay, a service that rents high-end and luxury vacation homes.
Card security.
Get email or text notifications if the provider sees suspicious activity, or temporarily lock your card if you lose it.
What kind of nonprofits can I support?
You can support up to three nonprofits, K–12 schools, universities or religious organizations.
- If you support one nonprofit, it gets 100% of the 1% cash back.
- If you support two nonprofits, each gets 50% of the 1% cash back.
- If you support three nonprofits, each gets 33% of the 1% cash back.
What to watch out for
Penalty APR.
If you don’t make the minimum payment within 60 days of your due date, you’ll pay a penalty APR of 28.74% fixed. To revert the rate, you must pay at least your statement’s minimum on time for six consecutive statements.
Potentially high APR.
The card’s APR spans ranges from 16.24% to 26.74% variable. If you have poor credit, you may receive an interest rate at the higher end of that range.
Foreign transaction fees.
When you travel abroad, you’ll pay a fee equal to 1% fee for transactions made in dollars and 2% of transactions made in foreign currencies.
High balance transfer fees.
You’ll pay either $10 or 5% of the transaction, whichever is greater. This means a $5,000 balance transfer will cost you $250 in fees. That’s relatively high, considering most cards charge the greater of either $5 or 3% of the transaction.
Compare cashback credit cards
How does a balance transfer work with this card?
Transfer balances, including fees, up to your credit limit or $15,000, whichever is lower. Note that you can only transfer balances from accounts outside of Commerce Bank.
For each transfer, you’ll pay a fee of $10 or 5% of the transaction, whichever is greater. That’s a relatively high fee when compared with other cards offering a fee of the higher of $5 or 3% of the transaction. That lower fee could save you $100 on a $5,000 balance transfer.
Know that it can take up to 30 days for transferred balances to post on your account.
What should I know before I apply?
To apply for the Charity Charge World Mastercard® Credit Card, you must be at least 18 years old and a US resident.
You’ll need to provide such information as:
- Your full name and contact information.
- Your employment information, including a work phone number.
- Your financial and housing information.
- The name of the nearest relative not living with you.
While you fill out your application, you can add a coapplicant, request a balance transfer, request access to a savings or checking account or add overdraft protection.
What credit score do I need?
Apply with at least a fair credit score of 670 or higher. Your odds improve significantly if you apply with a good to excellent score of 680 or higher.
Commerce Bank pulls your credit history from TransUnion.
What do customers say about the Charity Charge World Mastercard® Credit Card?
Most customers say they love the option to donate money on everyday spending. However, some customers think the cash back is too low.
Commerce Bank is rated A+ by the Better Business Bureau, which does not accredit the bank.
I got the card. Now what?
- Download the Commerce Bank app. Use it to pay your bills, transfer funds, manage your account and more.
- Add your card to your mobile wallet. The card is compatible with Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, Google Pay, Garmin Pay and Fitbit Pay.
- Personalize your payment. You can pick your due date and your payment method.
- Avoid interest. Your grace period is 25 days after the end of your billing statement period. Pay on time to avoid interest on your purchases.
- Avoid fees. Late payments come with fees of up to $40. Balance transfers and cash advances also come with fees.
- Contact customer service. If you have questions, contact Commerce Bank support at 800-645-2103.
How are my donations processed?
You can select up to three charities to receive your cash back. Simply log in to your Charity Charge account and select the charities you want from your donation dashboard.
Your accumulated cash back is sent to charities every quarter that the total earned is $10 or more. If your cash back doesn’t reach $10 in a quarter, the amount isn’t lost — it’s simply sent when the total accumulated reaches the required minimum. The charities receive money by check from Network for Good, the company that processes your donations.
Bottom line
Charity Charge World Mastercard® Credit Card doesn’t offer the strongest cash back. But for many people, it offers something better: The opportunity to support great charities around the world. The card conveniently forwards your cash back to the nonprofits of your choice — a rare benefit that separates it from the competition.If you’re not convinced that this is the right card for you, compare your options in our guide to credit cards.
Frequently asked questions
- Does the card have a signup bonus?
No, the card has no signup bonus. - Does the card have an annual fee?
No, the card has no annual fee. - Does my cash back ever expire?
No. Charity Charge automatically donates your cash back as soon as you use your card. - How does Charity Charge find my chosen nonprofit?
Charity Charge partners with GuideStar, a nonprofit database that lists every registered 501(c)(3) in the United States. - Is Charity Charge a for-profit business?
Yes. It makes money by collecting fees from its banking partner when new customers sign up. It also generates revenue from merchant processing fees when customers make purchases.
Images: Charity Charge