MVNO Cellular Data Priority Comparison (Why I Switched to US Mobile)

Posted on January 27, 2026 // 13 Comments

I haven’t paid “full price” for a cellular phone plan for decades, but that doesn’t mean there haven’t been any trade-offs. Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) buy network capacity in bulk from major carriers (MNOs like T-Mobile, Verizon, AT&T) and resell them to individual customers. For a while, the main trade-off for going with an MVNO (which buys bulk minutes and data from the major carriers) was slightly worse cellular coverage due to a lack of roaming agreements with other carriers. If you were on a AT&T MVNO, you could only use AT&T cell towers.

These days, the primary catch is data de-prioritization. To manage the demand, there are different Quality of Service Class Identifiers (QCI levels) that have different priorities on the network. In areas where there are a lot of people, especially things like concerts and sporting events, there is a lot of demand and those not at the front of the line will notice slow or no data.

This r/NoContract Reddit post provides an excellent collection of the data prioritization policies of the major carriers. It’s still a lot, so I have attempted to summarize everything below as much as possible.

For Verizon, QCI 8 is the highest priority level for consumers. Includes:

  • All Verizon Postpaid “Traditional” plans (except “Welcome”).
  • Visible+ and Visible+ Pro (owned by Verizon).
  • Total Wireless’ Total 5G Unlimited and Total 5G+ Unlimited (owned by Verizon).
  • Xfinity Mobile and Spectrum Mobile (owned by cable companies).
  • US Mobile Unlimited Premium “Warp” (*for 5G w/ Premium Only)

QCI 9 is a step lower, the base tier. Includes:

  • Verizon’s Unlimited Welcome plan (their most basic plan)
  • Visible Base plan
  • US Mobile Unlimited Starter “Warp” and other Warp plans.
  • All other Verizon prepaid MVNOs.

For AT&T, QCI 7 is the highest priority level for consumers. Includes:

  • Select AT&T Plans with special “Turbo” data.

QCI 8 is a step lower, but still considered higher priority. Includes:

  • Select AT&T Plans with “Extra/Premium/Max” data.
  • Cricket Supreme Unlimited, Cricket Sensible 10GB plans (*owned by AT&T)
  • H2o, Consumer Cellular, and PureTalk MVNOs.
  • US Mobile Unlimited Premium “Dark Star” (*Premium Only)

QCI 6 is another step lower, the base tier. Includes:

  • AT&T base Unlimited plans for both AT&T postpaid and AT&T Prepaid.
  • All other AT&T plans once the “Turbo/Premium” data is used up.
  • Cricket Select Unlimited, Cricket Smart Unlimited plans (*owned by AT&T)
  • US Mobile Unlimited Starter “Dark Star” and other Dark Star plans.
  • All other AT&T prepaid MVNOs.

For T-Mobile, QCI 6 is the highest priority level for consumers. Includes:

  • All T-Mobile Postpaid and Prepaid plans (except “Essentials”)
  • Google Fi

QCI 7 is a step lower, the base tier. Includes:

  • T-Mobile Essentials plans (their most basic plan)
  • All other T-Mobile prepaid MVNOs, including Metro and Mint Mobile (both owned by T-Mobile).

Long-time readers will know that I was with Mint Mobile for a long time. I didn’t need much data back then. But each year, I felt the low priority of Mint Mobile data became more and more noticeable. Anywhere crowded, even an airport, and things would slow down significantly. Oftentimes, I basically had no data at all, which was very frustrating when just trying to call up an Uber. T-Mobile sells a lot of data to MVNOs, so perhaps that’s another reason. I first tried to jump ship to Visible, but they messed up my number port so badly that I couldn’t get 2FA verification codes for days so I quickly switched back to Mint Mobile.

Late last year, after a positive experience with US Mobile’s customer service involving their Apple Watch plans, I decided to switch to US Mobile’s Unlimited Premium plan which offers “Priority Data” on their Warp (Verizon) and Dark Star (AT&T) plans. They run a lot of promotions (often extending them over and over) but I jumped on the Warp plan with Unlimited Premium because it also included a free Apple Watch cellular plan. I’m paying a bit more than I used to with Mint Mobile, but I’ve definitely noticed the improvement in data quality. My number port was nearly instant. With their Unlimited Premium plan, I can even switch between networks for free if one place has better coverage, allowing me access to AT&T and T-Mobile towers.

I am happy with US Mobile as I now have high data speeds, multi-network coverage, reasonable cost, and decent customer service.

You can view the most current US Mobile promos here. You can stack the current promo with my referral link to get an $30 referral credit. Click on my referral link first, which should auto-fill the promo code 0360B9DC before checking out. You will get sent a $30 virtual prepaid card after porting-in at least 1 line on an Unlimited or By the Gig Plan. You no longer have to wait 6 months.

Filed Under: Deals & Offers //

IRS Identity Protection PIN Reminder: Prevent Tax Return Scams

Posted on January 20, 2026 // 13 Comments

Reminder for new tax season. Identity Protection PINs (IP PIN) have been updated for 2026 (they are updated every January).

An important “hardening” tactic against identity theft is to obtain an Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN) from the IRS. The common scam here is that someone with your name, address, and Social Security Number will file a tax return before you do, and then steal the resulting tax refund for themselves. In 2022, over 228,000 taxpayers filed IRS Form 14039, Identity Theft Affidavit, which asserts “I know or suspect that someone used my information to fraudulently file a federal tax return”.

Once you opt-in to the IP PIN program, the IRS will not accept any tax return filed during the current calendar year (even for prior years) without this unique six-digit number. Every calendar year in January, you’ll get assigned a new IP PIN. Getting one at any time will still prevent anyone from filing a fraudulent return during the rest of that calendar year.

To do it completely online, you’ll need an ID.me account, which is a third-party provider that the IRS trusts to verify your identity. From their page:

You can use either a self-service process that requires a photo of a government ID and selfie, or a live call with an ID.me video chat agent that doesn’t require biometric data.

I had already set up an ID.me account for another purpose years ago, but I do remember that the selfie method worked eventually for me but my wife had to go for the live video chat method. I’ve also had to deal with problems with rejected ID photos, too much glare, software crashes, etc.

If you forget your PIN, you can always sign back into your IRS.gov account and view it again under your Profile. This is another reason to take extra care with your ID.me/IRS.gov passwords and MFA methods. ID.me lets you set up a TOTP Authenticator app for MFA. Also set a reminder to use it when you eventually file taxes, so your return doesn’t get rejected.

More information at the IRS IP PIN FAQ page (that’s a lot of acronyms!).

Filed Under: Banking, Deals & Offers, Taxes //

Apple Watch Standalone Phone on US Mobile Review

Posted on January 15, 2026 // 9 Comments

My older two kids do not have smartphones, but instead both have an Apple Watch SE w/ Cellular for basic calling and texting needs. (We like these Anxious Generation guidelines.) After a year on BetterRoaming service, which was the cheapest option at the time for those not on a major postpaid plan, I switched their Apple Watch plans over to the US Mobile Smartwatch Plan.

I’ve been on US Mobile for a few months now, and I wanted to provide an update that US Mobile is the clear winner for our Apple Watch service. US Mobile provides better cellular coverage (in my area) on the Verizon network, a cheaper ongoing price, and a better customer service experience. Here are the details, with direct comparisons to BetterRoaming where available.

Plan summary.

  • $78 for 12 months if paid upfront ($6.50/month), or $9.50 monthly.
  • Unlimited Talk & Text
  • Unlimited Data
  • WiFi Calling Enabled
  • Instant eSIM Activation (Actually true! Under 10 minutes to set up)
  • 24/7 Customer Support
  • Works with 4G LTE and 5G watches

Overall experience using Apple Watch as a standalone phone for a kid. A major takeaway is that the Apple Watch is a tiny phone with a tiny cellular antenna inside. Most people use Apple Watches as companions to their iPhone, so it’s just meant as a backup when you’re out running or swimming or something. As a primary phone, it has a hard time getting a signal in areas of weak coverage and inside buildings. Basically, a throwback to the early 2000s for us more “mature” folks.

Honestly, the most common failure point was a kid forgetting to charge the watch overnight. In other words, you can’t always depend on the watch to work, so you’ll need to work out backup plans (i.e. meet at this tree, or send me an e-mail via school Wifi). The setup is still convenient and useful, and over time they do figure out where you have service and form the habit of charging the darn thing.

Cellular network coverage uses Verizon towers. US Mobile currently only offers their standalone Apple Watch plan on “Warp”, which is their contractually-obligated alternative name for the Verizon network. BetterRoaming is a worldwide eSIM provider, and my best efforts indicate that they are now on the T-Mobile network (but used to be on AT&T?). After switching to the Verizon network, I found that our coverage issues definitely improved, but there are still times where they don’t have a signal, even next to a smartphone that works perfectly fine.

US Mobile lets you pick the area code for your phone number (if not porting-in). BetterRoaming just assigns you one and you don’t get to choose. This may or may not matter to you.

US Mobile has competitive pricing. At my annual renewal, US Mobile’s annual plan was $78 (works out to $6.50 per month) while BetterRoaming was at $99. BetterRoaming has since dropped the price to match, so both are now $78 for the first year if prepaid upfront. However, I don’t know if you can renew at $78 with BetterRoaming, as it says the savings are only for “New customers”. US Mobile lets you renew at $78/year and it’s month-to-month pricing is also lower ($9.50 vs. $10.99 per month).

US Mobile overall has solid customer support and user interface. After setting up Apple Watches with both companies and dealing with multiple MVNOs over the years, I have found that US Mobile has some of the best customer service across all the MVNOs. You can tell they invested some money into this part of the experience. Their videos are useful and their online chat is responsive – most importantly, the reps seem to know what they are doing! In fact, it was such a good experience that (in addition to other reasons), a few months afterward I also switched my personal smartphone line from Mint Mobile to their US Mobile Unlimited Plan*. That’s a separate post, but the customer service part held true, as the port-over and setup process with US Mobile was so much smoother than my stint with Visible.

* That is my US Mobile referral link, which offers a $25 credit after spending 6 months and $100 total at US Mobile w/ port-in. Works on both regular smartphone plans and the Smartwatch plans, but note the port-in part, as I didn’t port-in a number for our Apple Watches. Full fine print:

To qualify for the $25 referral bonus, you must maintain active paid service in good standing for 6 months, port in a new line, and spend a total of $100 on Unlimited, By the Gig, or Smartwatch plans — Other plans, top-ups, devices, add-ons, roaming, and certain promotions (listed at usmobile.com/promo-archive) are excluded. Annual plans will be prorated monthly (e.g. $228 equals $114 after 6 months).

Filed Under: Deals & Offers, Family //

Navy Federal CU Specials: 13-Month CD at 4.00% APY w/ Add-On Feature

Posted on January 14, 2026 // 12 Comments

Updated January 2026. Navy Federal Credit Union is the nation’s largest credit union, with a long history of serving active military members. More recently, they have expanded their field of membership to include veterans and family members of veterans. Here are some current noteworthy offers:

  • 13-month Special Certificate at 4.00% APY. Open with as little as $50, but make additional deposits any time up to the maximum of $250,000. Valid for taxable, IRAs, ESAs.
  • Credit card $250 bonus: Open a new cashRewards or cashRewards Plus credit card and get $250 when you spend $2,500 within 90 days of account opening. Unlimited 2% cash back on all purchases with cashRewards Plus. No annual fee. 1.99% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on balance transfers made in your first 60 days, with no balance transfer fees.
  • Auto loan $200 bonus if your auto refinance loan is at least $5,000. Their rates are usually competitive as well, starting at under 4%.

NavyFed likes to offer these special add-on CDs regularly, and I usually always open one with the minimum $50 because I like the optionality. If rates drop drastically somehow, I’ll have the ability to add unlimited additional funds at 4.00% APY. If nothing big happens (most likely scenario), I’ll only have committed $50, which I can later roll over into the next special CD. Once you have joined NavyFed, it just takes a few clicks.

Filed Under: Banking, Deals & Offers //

Chase MyBonus 2026 Q1: Targeted 5X Points on Gas/Groceries/Restaurants

Posted on January 14, 2026 // 21 Comments

New quarter, new offers. A quick 2026 Q1 reminder that you can discover targeted offers for your Chase-issued credit card at Chase.com/mybonus. This includes both their in-house cards like Sapphire or Freedom Flex and their co-branded cards like United, IHG, Hyatt, Southwest, Amazon, etc. For some reason, these are often offers that they don’t tell you about otherwise by email or snail mail.

You might get 5X points or 5% cash back on up to $1,000 spent on Gas Stations, Groceries, and Restaurants:

You may also simply get a message that your card can’t be found or that you weren’t targeted:

Filed Under: Credit Cards, Deals & Offers //

Best Interest Rates Survey: Bank Accounts, Treasury Bills, Money Markets, ETFs – January 2026

Posted on January 11, 2026 // 3 Comments

Here’s my monthly survey of the best interest rates on cash as of January 2026, roughly sorted from shortest to longest maturities. Banks and brokerages love taking advantage of idle cash, and you can often earn more money while keeping the same level of safety by moving to another FDIC-insured bank or NCUA-insured credit union. Check out my Ultimate Rate-Chaser Calculator to see how much extra interest you could earn from switching. Rates listed are available to everyone nationwide. Rates checked as of 1/11/26.

TL;DR: Savings account interest rates have dropped slightly overall, moving with the Fed rate cut. You can still get 4.6% if you accept some hoops/restrictions, but most are under 4% now. Short-term T-Bill rates have fallen, now ~3.6%. Top 5-year CD rates are ~4% APY, while 5-year Treasury rate is ~3.7%.

High-yield savings accounts*
Since the huge megabanks still pay essentially zero interest, everyone should at least have a separate, no-fee online savings account to piggy-back onto your existing checking account. The interest rates on savings accounts can drop at any time, so I list the top rates as well as competitive rates from banks with a history of competitive rates and solid user experience. Some banks will bait you with a temporary top rate and then lower the rates in the hopes that you are too lazy to leave.

  • The top saving rate at the moment: Pibank at 4.60% APY (no min), but they have some weird restrictions; like you can only use wire/Plaid to deposit and wire transfers to withdraw funds?! OnPath FCU is at 4.40% APY with $25,000 minimum balance. CIT Platinum Savings is now at 3.75% APY with $5,000+ balance and is offering an up to $300 deposit bonus which increases your effective APY for a while. There are many banks in between.
  • SoFi Bank is at 3.30% APY + up to 4.00% APY for 6 months + $325 new account bonus with qualifying direct deposit. You must maintain a direct deposit of any amount (even $1) each month for the higher ongoing APY. SoFi has historically competitive rates and full banking features.
  • Here is a limited survey of high-yield savings accounts. They aren’t the top rates, but a group that have historically kept it relatively competitive such that I like to track their history. This month they start at 3.30% APY on up.

Short-term guaranteed rates (1 year and under)
A common question is what to do with a big pile of cash that you’re waiting to deploy shortly (plan to buy a house soon, just sold your house, just sold your business, legal settlement, inheritance). My usual advice is to keep things simple and take your time. If not a savings account, then put it in a flexible short-term CD under the FDIC limits until you have a plan.

  • No Penalty CDs offer a fixed interest rate that can never go down, but you can still take out your money (once) without any fees if you want to use it elsewhere. Marcus has a 13-month No Penalty CD at 3.95% APY ($500 minimum deposit). Farmer’s Insurance FCU has a 9-month No Penalty CD at 4.00% APY ($1,000 minimum deposit). USALLIANCE Financial CU has a 11-month No Penalty CD at 3.90% APY ($500 minimum deposit). CIT Bank has a 11-month No Penalty CD at 3.75% APY ($1,000 minimum deposit).
  • Genisys CU has a 13-month certificate at 4.16% APY ($500 min). Early withdrawal penalty is a clearly-disclosed 90 days of interest (many places hide this info now). Anyone can join this credit union via partner organization Arthritis Foundation or Paint Creek Center for the Arts (one-time $5 fee).

Money market mutual funds
Many brokerage firms that pay out very little interest on their default cash sweep funds (and keep the difference for themselves). Note: Money market mutual funds are highly-regulated, but ultimately not FDIC-insured, so I would still stick with highly reputable firms.

  • Vanguard Federal Money Market Fund (VMFXX) is the default sweep option for Vanguard brokerage accounts, which has a 7-day SEC yield of 3.64% (changes daily, but also works out to a compound yield of 3.70%, which is better for comparing against APY). Odds are this is much higher than your own broker’s default cash sweep interest rate.
  • Vanguard Treasury Money Market Fund (VUSXX) is an alternative money market fund which you must manually purchase, but the interest will be mostly (100% for 2024 tax year) exempt from state and local income taxes because it comes from qualifying US government obligations. Current 7-day SEC yield of 3.66% (compound yield of 3.72%).

Treasury Bills and Ultra-short Treasury ETFs
Another option is to buy individual Treasury bills which come in a variety of maturities from 4-weeks to 52-weeks and are fully backed by the US government. You can also invest in ETFs that hold a rotating basket of short-term Treasury Bills for you, while charging a small management fee for doing so. T-bill interest is exempt from state and local income taxes, which can make a significant difference in your effective yield.

  • You can build your own T-Bill ladder at TreasuryDirect.gov or via a brokerage account with a bond desk like Vanguard and Fidelity. Here are the current Treasury Bill rates. As of 1/9/26, a new 4-week T-Bill had the equivalent of 3.62% annualized interest and a 52-week T-Bill had the equivalent of 3.51% annualized interest.
  • The iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF (SGOV) has a 3.70% 30-day SEC yield (0.09% expense ratio) and effective duration of 0.10 years. SPDR Bloomberg Barclays 1-3 Month T-Bill ETF (BIL) has a 3.59% 30-day SEC yield (0.136% expense ratio) and effective duration of 0.15 years. The new Vanguard 0-3 Month Treasury Bill ETF (VBIL) has a 3.72% 30-day SEC yield (0.07% expense ratio) and effective duration of 0.10 years.

US Savings Bonds
Series I Savings Bonds offer rates that are linked to inflation and backed by the US government. You must hold them for at least a year. If you redeem them within 5 years there is a penalty of the last 3 months of interest. The annual purchase limit for electronic I bonds is $10,000 per Social Security Number, available online at TreasuryDirect.gov.

  • “I Bonds” bought between November 2025 and April 2026 will earn a 4.03% rate for the first six months. The rate of the subsequent 6-month period will be based on inflation again. More on Savings Bonds here.
  • In mid-April 2026, the CPI will be announced and you will have a short period where you will have a very close estimate of the rate for the next 12 months. I will post another update at that time.

Rewards checking accounts
These unique checking accounts pay above-average interest rates, but with unique risks. You have to jump through certain hoops which usually involve 10+ debit card purchases each cycle, a certain number of ACH/direct deposits, and/or a certain number of logins per month. If you make a mistake (or they judge that you did) you risk earning zero interest for that month. Some folks don’t mind the extra work and attention required, while others would rather not bother. Rates can also drop suddenly, leaving a “bait-and-switch” feeling.

  • La Capitol Federal Credit Union pays 6.50% APY (increased) on up to $10,000 if you make 15 debit card purchases of at least $5 each per statement cycle. Anyone can join this credit union via partner organization, Louisiana Association for Personal Financial Achievement ($20).
  • OnPath Federal Credit Union (my review) pays 6.00% APY on up to $10,000 if you make 15 debit card purchases, opt into online statements, and login to online or mobile banking once per statement cycle. Anyone can join this credit union via $5 membership fee to join partner organization. You can also get a $150 Visa Reward card when you open a new account and make qualifying transactions.
  • Genisys Credit Union pays 6.75% APY on up to $7,500 if you make 10 debit card purchases of $5+ each per statement cycle, and opt into online statements. Anyone can join this credit union via $5 membership fee to join partner organization.
  • Oklahoma Central Credit Union pays 6.00% APY on up to $10,000 if you make 15 debit card purchases (non-ATM) per statement cycle. Anyone can join this credit union if they are “affiliated with another credit union”.
  • First Southern Bank pays 5.50% APY on up to $25,000 if you make at least 15 debit card purchases, 1 ACH credit or payment transaction, and enroll in online statements.
  • Credit Union of New Jersey pays 6.00% APY on up to $25,000 if you make 12 debit card purchases, opt into online statements, and make at least 1 direct deposit, online bill payment, or automatic payment (ACH) per statement cycle. Anyone can join this credit union via $5 membership fee to join partner organization.
  • Andrews Federal Credit Union pays 5.25% APY (decreased) on up to $25,000 if you make 15 debit card purchases, opt into online statements, and make at least 1 direct deposit or ACH transaction per statement cycle. Anyone can join this credit union via partner organization.
  • Capitol Credit Union pays 6.00% APY on up to $15,000 if you make 12 debit card purchases, opt into online statements, and make at least 1 direct deposit or ACH transaction per statement cycle. Anyone can join this credit union via partner organization ($5 to Wild Basin Wilderness).
  • Find a locally-restricted rewards checking account at DepositAccounts.

Certificates of deposit (greater than 1 year)
CDs offer higher rates, but come with an early withdrawal penalty. By finding a bank CD with a reasonable early withdrawal penalty, you can enjoy higher rates but maintain access in a true emergency. Alternatively, consider building a CD ladder of different maturity lengths (ex. 1/2/3/4/5-years) such that you have access to part of the ladder each year, but your blended interest rate is higher than a savings account. When one CD matures, use that money to buy another 5-year CD to keep the ladder going. Some CDs also offer “add-ons” where you can deposit more funds if rates drop.

  • ClearPath FCU has a limited-time 5-year “Flex” certificate at 4.25% APY ($5,000 minimum of new money), which has a unique feature of having no penalty after 12 months (must withdraw it all; partial withdrawals are subject to penalties). Available as regular or IRA. Anyone can join this credit union via partner organization ($5.00 donation to Clear Giving Charitable Association). Hat tip to Deposit Quest.
  • United Fidelity Bank has a 5-year certificate at 4.15% APY ($1,000 minimum), 4-year at 4.10% APY, 3-year at 4.10% APY, 2-year at 4.15% APY, and 1.5-year at 4.05% APY. Early withdrawal penalties are not disclosed clearly online.
  • Mountain America Credit Union (MACU) has a 5-year certificate at 4.00% APY ($500 minimum), 4-year at 4.00% APY, 3-year at 4.05% APY, 2-year at 4.20% APY, and 1-year at 3.80% APY. Early withdrawal penalty for the 4-year and 5-year is 365 days of interest. Anyone can join this credit union via partner organization American Consumer Council (use promo code “consumer” when joining).
  • You can buy certificates of deposit via the bond desks of Vanguard and Fidelity. You may need an account to see the rates. These “brokered CDs” offer FDIC insurance and easy laddering, but they don’t come with predictable early withdrawal penalties. Right now, I see a 5-year non-callable brokered CD at 3.75% APY (callable: no, call protection: yes). Be warned that both Vanguard and Fidelity will list higher rates from callable CDs, which importantly means they can (and will!) call back your CD if rates drop significantly later.

Longer-term Instruments
I’d use these with caution due to increased interest rate risk (tbh, I don’t use them at all), but I still track them to see the rest of the current yield curve.

  • Willing to lock up your money for 10 years? You can buy long-term certificates of deposit via the bond desks of Vanguard and Fidelity. These “brokered CDs” offer FDIC insurance, but they don’t come with predictable early withdrawal penalties. You might find something that pays more than your other brokerage cash and Treasury options. Right now, I see a 10-year CDs at 3.65% (non-callable) vs. 4.15% for a 10-year Treasury. Watch out for higher rates from callable CDs where they can call your CD back if interest rates drop.

All rates were checked as of 1/11/26.

* I no longer recommend fintech companies due to the possibility of significant loss due to poor recordkeeping and the lack of government protection in such scenarios. The point of cash is absolute safety of principal.

Photo by Giorgio Trovato on Unsplash

Filed Under: Banking, Deals & Offers, Investing // Tagged:

Webull ACAT Transfer Bonus: 3% to 4% of Assets ($2k/100k Minimum)

Posted on January 7, 2026 // 8 Comments

Updated with new offer. The Webull brokerage app is offering an updated ACAT Transfer bonus of up to 4% of assets transferred plus up to $100 in outgoing fee reimbursements on your first transfer of at least $2,000. This specific offer ends March 31, 2026. This is for individual taxable brokerage accounts. Joint, Crypto, and IRA accounts are excluded.

You must transfer at least $100,000 in assets to get a 4% match, with a minimum hold of 5 years to get the full payout (they break it up into installments with the last one being paid March 2031). Max funding is $2,000,000. You must transfer at least $2,000 in assets to get a 3% match, also with a minimum hold of 5 years. 4% is a very high bonus, but it is a long hold period. Be sure to read all the terms and conditions.

Filed Under: Deals & Offers, Investing //

Prime Visa Review: $250 Instant Gift Card, 5% Back at Amazon + Whole Foods

Posted on January 6, 2026 // 16 Comments

Limited-time offer now scheduled to expire 1/8. If you have an Amazon Prime membership, you probably spend a good chunk at Amazon and should at least consider the Prime Visa, a credit card (not store card) available only to Amazon Prime members. During the holiday season, the bonus has boosted to a high of $250 but is going to expire 1/8. Highlights:

  • $259 Amazon Gift Card *instantly* upon approval exclusively for Prime members. No spending requirement.
  • 5% back at Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods Market with an eligible Prime membership.
  • 5% back on Chase Travel(SM) purchases with an eligible Prime membership.
  • 10% back or more on a rotating selection of items and categories
    on Amazon.com with an eligible Prime membership.
  • 2% Back at gas stations, restaurants, and on local transit and commuting
    (including rideshare).
  • 1% Back on all other purchases.
  • No foreign transaction fees.
  • No annual fee.

Rewards can be redeemed easily either on your next Amazon.com purchase or as a statement credit on your bill. But since you get 5% back on your Amazon purchases on this card… it’s slightly better to take the statement credit, even though it is also slightly more hassle.

I have this card set up as my default credit card at Amazon, and that’s its primary purpose in life, to absorb all my Amazon and Whole Foods purchases. (Which is still a lot, unfortunately…)

If you do this, remember that there are also the following extra protections built into the card:

  • Extended warranty protection. Extends the time period for the U.S. manufacturer’s warranty by an additional year, on eligible warranties of three years or less.
  • Purchase Protection. Covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $500 per claim and $50,000 per account.

Bottom line. If you are a Prime member that spends a lot of money at Amazon and/or Whole Foods and prefer simplicity, using the Prime Visa can add up with minimal extra effort. Be sure to make it your default card for your Amazon account. You can then track all your Amazon spending on one card, and also be sure you remember that you get extended warranty protection and purchase protection on those items.

Filed Under: Credit Cards, Deals & Offers, Reviews //

E-Trade from Morgan Stanley: Savings and Checking Account Bonuses

Posted on January 5, 2026 // 26 Comments

Savings offer improved. E*Trade (Morgan Stanley Private Bank) is running promotions for new customers on both their savings and checking accounts:

Hat tip to reader Greg on this one.

Up to $2,000 Savings promo details (deposit bonus).

  • Open a new Premium Savings Account on etrade.com by February 28, 2026 using promo code SAVE26.
  • Deposit qualifying new money (see tiers below) within the first 30 days after account opening.
  • Maintain your balance for 45 additional days after the 30-day funding period ends to earn your bonus.

If your deposit meets the minimum of a tier exactly then it works out to up a 1.5% bonus. Note that on some tiers it might be as low as 1%. If let’s say you hold for 60 days for some wiggle room, 1.5% for 60 days works out to a 9% bonus on an annualized basis. Add on the current 3.50% APY on the Premium Savings account for a total of 12.50% APY.

Even on the 1% bonus for 60 days, that works out to a 6% bonus on an annualized basis. Add on the current 3.50% APY on the Premium Savings account for a total of 9.50% APY. Not bad.

$300 Checking promo details (direct deposit required).

    CHECKING25. You are not eligible if you have or had owned or co-owned (joint) a Checking or Max-Rate Checking Account within the last 12 months from when you enroll in this offer.
  • Make at least 2 direct deposits, each of $1,500 or more, within 90 days of opening your new account.
  • Your bonus should arrive around 120 days from account opening.

As of 1/5/26, Max-Rate Checking Account pays 2.00% APY. You must maintain a $5,000 average monthly balance, otherwise there is a $15 monthly fee. The basic Checking Account only pays 0.05% APY (basically nothing), but has no minimum balance. This is notable since you’ll need to maintain an open account for at least a few extra months to get the bonus, so the basic Checking might be better.

Filed Under: Banking, Deals & Offers //

Capital One 360 Checking Bonuses: $250 w/o Direct Deposit, $300 w/ Direct Deposit

Posted on January 5, 2026 // 2 Comments

Updated. Capital One has two different checking bonuses for new customers right now, one that requires direct deposit and another that requires 20 debit card transactions. You’ll have to pick one.

$250 bonus w/o Direct Deposit requirement:

  • Open a 360 Checking account using promotional code DEBIT250.
  • Use your 360 Checking debit card for qualifying transactions at least 20 of $10 or more within 75 days of account opening.

What is “new”? If you have or had an open 360 Checking, Simply Checking, or Total Control Checking account as a primary or secondary account holder with Capital One on or after January 1, 2024, you will be ineligible for the bonus. Hat tip to DoC.

$300 bonus w/ Direct Deposit requirement:

  • Open a 360 Checking account using my referral link. They should fill in the promo code for you.
  • Set up and receive at least 2 Qualifying Direct Deposits each of $500 or more to your 360 Checking account within 75 days of account opening.

For this one, if you have or had an open 360 Checking, Simply Checking, or Total Control Checking account as a primary or secondary account holder with Capital One on or after January 1, 2024, you will be ineligible for the bonus.

The 360 Checking account offers a rather disappointing 0.10% APY interest rate, and nothing exceptional other than the ability to link easily with 360 Savings. Highlights:

  • No monthly fees, no minimum balance required.
  • 0.10% APY on all balance tiers.
  • Remote check deposit via app.
  • Paper checks will cost you $20 for 50 checks, or $25 for 100 checks.
  • In addition to their own ATMs, Capital One uses the Allpoint ATM network for fee-free ATM access.
  • You can use your 360 Savings as the overdraft backup source of funds.

A pretty generous checking bonus if you are eligible, but not that attractive long-term unless you already prefer using CapOne 360 Savings. Capital One does seem to keep offering these bonuses regularly each year, making it a good idea to close any idle Capital One 360 accounts.

Filed Under: Banking, Deals & Offers //

Free Credit Monitoring Alerts From All 3 Major Credit Bureaus

Posted on January 1, 2026 // 5 Comments

Updated. Happy New Year! 🎉 🥳 In terms of keeping my finances in order, what I’ve been finding most useful recently are credit monitoring alerts. The last time I applied for a credit card, I received multiple e-mails within minutes alerting me that someone had checked my credit report. I’m also told if a new account is added. This makes me feel more comfortable knowing that I’ll be alerted quickly if someone does try to steal my identity. The following third-party services listed below provide you a free credit score (of various algorithms) and/or free continuous credit monitoring from select credit bureaus.

Credit Karma

  • Free credit score (VantageScore 3.0) from both Transunion and Equifax.
  • Free credit monitoring from both Transunion and Equifax. Via e-mail alerts or app notification. Will let you know about things like a new credit check or a new account added.
  • Limited identity theft monitoring. Credit Karma uses your email address to search and notify you if they are listed in public data breaches.

Credit Sesame

  • Free credit score (VantageScore 3.0) from Transunion. Daily credit score updates and weekly credit report profile updates.
  • Free credit monitoring from Transunion. Via e-mail alert. Will let you know about things like a new credit check or a new account added.

Experian.com (Free Tier)

  • Free credit score (FICO 8) from Experian. Daily credit score updates and daily credit report profile, refreshed upon login.
  • Free credit monitoring from Experian. Free e-mail alerts.
  • Warning that Experian will regularly try to upsell you to a paid membership tier. Simply click “No, keep my membership” to stay on the free tier. I’ve been on it for years.
  • Improve your credit score by adding utility payments. Experian Boost is a free option that can potentially improve your Experian-based credit score by adding on-time utility and phone bill payments.

WalletHub

  • Free credit score (VantageScore 3.0) from Transunion. Daily credit score updates and free daily full credit reports.
  • Free credit monitoring from Transunion. Via e-mail alert. Will let you know about things like a new credit check or a new account added.

CreditWise from Capital One

  • Free credit score (FICO 8) from Transunion. You do not need to be a Capital One customer to sign up.
  • Free credit monitoring from both Transunion and Experian.

None of the services above require a trial or credit card number to sign up for their free tiers. They may ask for the last 4 digits of your SSN for verification. These are all ad-supported (they will pitch you stuff) and usually have a paid upgrade option (but you can stay on the free tier forever).

The government requires the credit bureaus to provide you a free credit report at least once every 12 months (now actually weekly since the pandemic). However, the site will not provide you credit scores or pro-active alerts if anything changes on those reports.

Note that some of the scores above are not FICO scores because Fair Isaac might charge more money in licensing fees. If you really want a FICO number, nearly every major credit card issuer now includes a monthly FICO score with their cards: Chase, Citi, Bank of America, Discover, Barclaycard, and American Express.

Bottom line. Used in combination, I use the services above to keep track of changes to my credit reports across all three credit bureaus for free. None of them require my credit card number, and they quickly alert me to things like new accounts, new credit check inquiries, and high credit line usage. I just ignore the generic ads and upsells.

Filed Under: Credit Cards, Deals & Offers, Debt //

Lyft: $15 Ride Credit by Linking Atmos (Alaska Airlines) Account

Posted on December 29, 2025 // 1 Comment

Get a $15 Lyft ride credit if you link your Atmos Rewards (Alaska/Hawaiian Airlines) and Lyft accounts for the first time before 1/14/26. Lyft ride credits will be awarded within 5 days of the end of the Promotional Period and expire on January 31, 2026 at 11:59PM PT. Just did it, was easy enough.

If you pick Atmos as your rewards earning partner on Lyft, you get:

  • 2 Atmos points per $1 spent on everyday Lyft rides including Standard, Priority Pickup, and XL rides.
  • 3 Atmos points per $1 spent on airport rides and elevated Lyft rides including Extra Comfort, Black, and Black SUV rides.
  • Work rides earn double points – With Lyft Business Rewards, eligible riders can earn 4-6 points per $1 spent on business profile rides vs. 2-3 points on personal rides.

Fine print:

Eligible Members who link their Atmos™ Rewards and Lyft accounts for the first time during the Promotional Period will receive a $15 Lyft ride credit. “Eligible Members” means Atmos™ Rewards Members who have linked their Atmos™ Rewards and Lyft accounts on alaskalyft.com during the Promotional Period and have selected “Atmos™ Rewards by Alaska and Hawaiian” as their active partner in the ‘Rewards’ section of the Lyft App at the time the Lyft ride credit is deposited. “Promotional Period” means December 17, 2025, at 12:01am PT to January 14, 2026, at 11:59pm PT. The Lyft ride credit is eligible to be used on any Lyft ride type, excluding bicycle and scooter rides. Valid only in the United States (including Puerto Rico). Members who linked their Atmos™ Rewards and Lyft accounts prior to the Promotional Period are not eligible for a $15 retroactive ride credit. Lyft ride credits will be awarded within 5 days of the end of the Promotional Period and expire on January 31, 2026 at 11:59PM PT. This offer may be modified, suspended, or terminated at any time without notice.

Filed Under: Deals & Offers //
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