Negatives Changes To The Delta Earning Debit Card From SunTrust

SunTrust used to offer a debit card that earned 1 Delta mile per $1 spent, that card is no longer available for new sign ups but I know a lot of people still have their card. A number of people (jk2 on Flyertalk) have reported receiving a letter stating that starting July 25th, a number of negative changes are being introduced:

• Annual fee changes:
  • Clients with Signature Advantage accounts and less than $100,000 in combined consumer deposits and investment balance as of the last business day of the prior month, the Delta SkyMiles World Debit Card annual fee is $75
  • Clients with Signature Advantage accounts and $100,000 or more in combined consumer deposits and investment balance as of the last business day of the prior month, the Delta SkyMiles World Debit Card a reduced annual fee of $25 will apply
  • For clients of the SunTrust Premier program a reduced fee of $25 will apply
  • For cards opened before July 25th, 2015 and not associated with a Signature Advantage account, the annual fee is $95
  • Annual fee for Delta SkyMiles Business Debit Card is $120
• Monthly earning cap (per thirty day period):
  • 4,000 miles for Signature Advantage account holders
  • 2,000 miles for non-Signature Advantage account
  • 2,000 miles for Delta SlyMiles Business Debit Card holders
• Earning miles:
  • 1 mile per $1 for PIN point of sale and signature based qualifying purchases and 2 miles per $1 for Direct Delta purchases for Signature Advantage account holders
  • 1 mile per $2 for PIN point of sale and signature based qualifying purchases and 1 miles per $1 for Direct Delta purchases for non-Signature Advantage account holders
  • 1 mile per $2 for PIN point of sale and signature based qualifying purchases and 1 miles per $1 for Direct Delta purchases for Delta SkyMiles Business Debit Card

Full letter below:

My Thoughts

Not a surprise that this is being introduced, the interchange fees on debit card transactions are ridiculous small since the introduction of the Dodd-Frank act. I think the main reason that this has lasted so long is that the card has been closed to new sign ups and they’ve been shutting down accounts that have had a large amount of transaction volume.

Recently UFB direct made a similar change to their American Airline earning debit card. It seems the days of earning easy miles on debit card transactions is finally over, it was a fun ride while it lasted. A full list of rewards earning debit cards can be found here.

Thanks to Saianel for letting me know about this change.