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Standing out in a crowd can be tough, particularly when you're talking about credit cards, where thousands of offers compete for consumers' attention.
But occasionally an issuer will offer something different to capture the imagination: a benefit that's cool enough, or at least unusual enough, to be worthy of notice.
To make this list, cards had to provide perks beyond run-of-the-mill points, miles and rebates programs. I relied heavily on Curtis Arnold and his staff at CardRatings.com for their help in compiling these winners. (You can find details about each card, from a variety of sources, by clicking on the links provided.)
- Talk back: What are your favorite rewards cards?
Free credit scores: Washington Mutual credit card customers who sign up for online access to their accounts can view their FICO credit scores from all three bureaus. (Credit scores are three-digit numbers used to gauge creditworthiness, and FICO is the leading credit score, used by most mortgage and other lenders.) The scores are updated once a month.
Phone discounts: The AT&T Universal MasterCard from Citi gives you up to a 10% rebate on your AT&T phone bill (or other AT&T purchases) for the first 12 months. The rebate is 5% after that. You also earn one ThankYou point for each dollar you charge; the points can be redeemed to buy stuff.
Theme park tickets: Getting a card emblazoned with Mickey or Bambi might be enough for die-hard Disney fans, but there's more. The Disney Rewards Credit Card from Chase gives you discounts on Disney theme park tickets, discounts in Disney stores and 0% financing for 6 months on Disney vacation packages.
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Wild, wild life: Bank of America has a slew of cards that earn you rewards while also benefiting various outdoor causes (See "Can spending help save the earth?") Some benefit preservation-oriented organizations such as Sierra Club, Nature Conservancy and Defenders of Wildlife, while others are geared toward those who enjoy nature by hunting it: Ducks Unlimited, Whitetails Unlimited, and the gobbler-emblazoned National Wild Turkey Federation WorldPoints Platinum Plus card.
If you like to fish, consider the Bass Pro Shops Outdoor Rewards Platinum Plus Visa, which gives you 4% rebates on Bass Pro Shop branded merchandise while making a contribution to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.
Bonus cash: Like many other cash-back cards, Capital One's No Hassle Cash Rewards gives you a 1% rebate on every purchase. But you also get a 25% annual bonus based on the cash rewards you've earned during the year. (Heavy chargers can earn a higher rate of return with other cards, notably American Express Blue Cash and Discover, which have tiered rewards structures. But Cap One's card offers a decent rebate rate for light chargers.)
Gift cards: As regular readers know, I'm no fan of gift cards as a substitute for real gifts. But I do like Discover's cash-back program, which allows you to boost your rebate by using it to get gift cards from a variety of retailers. A $20 rebate, for example, can be doubled into a $40 Sharper Image card -- which you can then use to go buy someone (or yourself) an actual gift.
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4 coolest credit card perksMSN Money's Liz Pulliam Weston discusses which cards offer extras ranging from free credit scores to NASCAR passes.
Carbon offsets: Some rewards programs allow you to donate frequent-flier miles and other perks to charity (and you can always use your plastic to charge a donation). For those concerned about global warming, GE Money Earth Rewards Platinum MasterCard makes it even easier -- you can donate all or half of your 1% cash rebate on purchases to a fund that invests in projects to reduce carbon emissions.
Airport lounges: These havens from crowded concourses typically offer a relatively quiet space to work, relax and have a free drink or snack. Travelers often pay $300 to $400 a year for access to a specific airline's lounges, or a similar amount for a service like Priority Pass that allows members into lounges run by a variety of airlines.
Holders of American Express Platinum cards, however, can get into participating American, Continental, Delta and Northwest lounges just by showing their plastic and a same-day ticket for travel on that airline. Likewise, Diners Club International cardholders have access to lounges around the world (although the domestic pickings are limited to Miami and Newark). Annual fees for these cards aren't cheap: $300 and up for Diners and $450 for American Express Platinum.
Continued: Beware of the risks