
credit card advice
Disclosure: When you apply through links on our site, we often earn referral fees from partners. For more, see our ad disclosure and review policy.
Credit cards haven’t had a makeover in years, but all that changed with the introduction of EMV (Europay, MasterCard, and Visa) technology. EMV offers a much more secure shopping experience in that every time the card is inserted into a chip-enabled checkout device, the purchase generates a unique transaction code that cannot be used again.
There is an important difference between chip-and-PIN and chip-and-signature transactions, both of which are offered with EMV. Most of us will continue to have to sign for purchases with our chip cards, as memorizing a PIN for your purchases, the other option, isn’t very popular yet in the US. Since most of Europe requires you to have a PIN with your chip-enabled card, however, it’s wise to have at least one in your wallet for international travel.
Let’s take a look at some of the top chip-and-PIN credit cards here in the United States (none of which have any foreign transaction fees!), or skip ahead to the best chip-and-signature cards.
1. Visa Signature® Flagship Rewards Credit Card
2. AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard®
3. PenFed Power Cash Rewards VISA Signature® Card
4. BankAmericard Travel Rewards
5. Diners Club Card Premiere
6. Wyndham Rewards® Visa® Card
7. Priceline Rewards Visa from Barclays
8. Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite MasterCard®
9. USAA Preferred Cash Rewards Visa Signature® Card
10. Sam’s Club® MasterCard®
11. U.S. Bank FlexPerks® Select+ American Express® Card
12. Fargo Advisors Premium Rewards Visa Signature® Card
(The information related to Fargo Advisors Premium Rewards Visa Signature® Card has been collected by CardRates.com and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer or provider of this product or service.)
The Best Chip-and-Signature Cards
Chip-and-Signature is still the prevailing technology among credit cards, especially for those based in the US. Until consumers get accustomed to skipping the swipe and become more familiar with the convenience and security of chip cards, expect these cards to be among the most likely to be offered by your bank. These cards offer excellent customer service, travel-friendly perk packages, and no foreign transaction fees!
- Enjoy a one-time bonus of 50,000 miles once you spend $3,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $500 in travel
- Earn 2X miles on every purchase, every day.
- Receive up to $100 application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA Pre✔®
- Fly any airline, stay at any hotel, anytime; no blackout dates. Plus transfer your miles to over 12 leading travel loyalty programs
- Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
- Named ‘The Best Travel Card' by CNBC, 2018
Intro (Purchases) | Intro (Transfers) | Regular APR | Annual Fee | Credit Needed |
---|---|---|---|---|
N/A | N/A | 17.49% - 24.74% (Variable) | $0 intro for first year; $95 after that | Excellent, Good |
- Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
- 2X points on travel and dining at restaurants worldwide & 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.
- Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel
Intro (Purchases) | Intro (Transfers) | Regular APR | Annual Fee | Credit Needed |
---|---|---|---|---|
N/A | N/A | 17.49% - 24.49% Variable | $95 | Good/Excellent |
- $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
- Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $1,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel
- Earn 1.25X miles on every purchase, every day
- Travel when you want with no blackout dates and fly any airline, stay at any hotel, anytime
- Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
- Transfer your miles to over 12 leading travel loyalty programs
Intro (Purchases) | Intro (Transfers) | Regular APR | Annual Fee | Credit Needed |
---|---|---|---|---|
0% for 12 months | N/A | 13.74% - 23.74% (Variable) | $0 | Excellent, Good |
- One-time $150 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
- Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day
- No rotating categories or sign-ups needed to earn cash rewards; plus, cash back won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how much you can earn
- 0% intro APR on purchases for 15 months; 15.74%-25.74% variable APR after that
- 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 15 months; 15.74%-25.74% variable APR after that; 3% fee on the amounts transferred within the first 15 months
- Pay no annual fee or foreign transaction fees
Intro (Purchases) | Intro (Transfers) | Regular APR | Annual Fee | Credit Needed |
---|---|---|---|---|
0% for 15 months | 0% for 15 months | 15.74% - 25.74% (Variable) | $0 | Excellent, Good |
With TSA-lines, passport updates, hotel reservations, and flight changes to worry about, you’ll need peace of mind that your credit card has your back. Many travelers see their card as an ally in their adventures. They should be able to depend on it, not only for purchasing power, but as a lifeline to customer service teams that can help them troubleshoot any travel glitches that may arise during their trip.
Don’t Pay for Convenience
While foreign transaction fees may allow global travelers to be able to shop wherever they go, they are not something most cardholders should settle for paying. With all the competition among chip-and-PIN and chip-and-signature card issuers, most will be working hard to get your business — this includes skipping the foreign transaction fees altogether.
If your bank insists you pay for the privilege of shopping where your wanderlust takes you, it may be time to consider an account with a more customer-minded issuer.