(Ending Soon) VantageWest Credit Union Connect Rewards Credit Card – You Pick 5% Category, 3% Gas [AZ only]

Update 8/4/24: They sent out an email that the 5x program is ending effective October 1, 2024. New program will be 2% on dining, entertainment, and groceries and 1.5% on everything else.

Update 1/7/21: $400 bonus no longer being offered.

Update 9/21/20: There is now a $400 offer after $2,000 in spend. It does say mail offer, but not sure if that is enforced. Hat tip to reader lintj

Update: looks like from November 22nd – December 30th they are adding additional categories for a few days. Each set of days has a different category. Hat tip to reader Wyle.

Looks like the state restriction is now being enforced, making this AZ only.

The VantageWest Credit Union offers the Connect Rewards Visa Signature card. Let’s take a look at this card in our quick review.

Card Basics

• The card earns at the following rates:
  • 5x in a category of your choice from the following list ($1,500 in spend max per quarter. Can change category each quarter if wanted):
    • Travel
    • Restaurants
    • Utilities[water, cell, electric, etc.]
    • Wholesale[Costco, Sam’s Club, etc.] This is now in store only
    • Department Stores
    • Hardware & Home Improvement Stores
    • Charitable Organizations
    • Pharmacies & Drug Stores
    • Amazon.com
  • 3x cash back on gas purchases
  • 2x back on grocery store purchases
  • 1x back on all other purchases
• No annual fee
• Paper statements come with a $3 fee
• Points are worth 1¢ each when redeeming for a statement credit. Minimum redemption is $25 (2,500 points)
• No sign-up bonus

Becoming A Member

Seems to be restricted membership to join the credit union and that’s a requirement of applying for the card. Membership is open to anyone who lives, works, worships, attends school or volunteers in (as well as all businesses located in¹) these geographic areas…

• Pima, Pinal, Cochise, or Maricopa Counties
• Gila River Indian Community Reservation
• Arizona’s “Copper Basin” Area

Update: Anybody can join and become a member by becoming a member of Greater Arizona Bicycle Association for $15. Thanks to theforerunner343 for finding this out. This is no longer possible.

Our Verdict

Wholesale clubs are probably the easiest of those to manufacture spend in. 5% back at restaurants & charity would also be pretty useful. 3x back on gas isn’t that bad, but there are other cards that earn up to 5%. Shame it has no signup bonus and restricted membership otherwise this would be an easy apply for me. If you’re able to max out the 5% categories then you’d earn $300 per year (2% card would earn you $120).

Realistically you’d need this card to stay around for awhile to get any true value from it.

Hat tip to /r/churning