[CA Only] California Credit Union Rewards Visa – 20k Bonus

Update 8/27/25: the text has changed and now says only 3% back on groceries, gas and restaurants

California Credit Union Rewards Visa has a rewards visa card that looks very interesting. Card details:

  • No annual fee
  • Earn up to 20,000 Introductory Bonus Points3 when you spend $1,500 within the first 90 days
  • Card earns at the following rates:
    • 5X Points on Streaming Services ($6,000 limit)
    • 5x points on gas, grocery & restaurants ($6,000 limit)
    • 1x points on all other purchases

Points are worth 1¢ each according to MyFICO. It doesn’t say if the $6,000 limits are per quarter or per month or per year. To apply you must live or work in San Diego, Riverside or Orange County, CA.

Hat tip to reader Bockrr
    William Charles
  • On August 21, 2025, 12:00

View Comments (33)

  • Attention! If you click the link, the text has changed and now says only 3% back on groceries, gas and restaurants!

    The 5% was indeed too good to be true :(

  • Can you apply for only a credit card or does it require opening another account like a checking or savings?

  • Tried opening a deposit account to establish my membership, but they seem Chex sensitive and they denied me. Email referenced Equifax and Chex (but I only applied for savings and had Equifax frozen)

    • Update, actually it seems my Chex report was frozen so maybe I just need to call and unfreeze Chex

      • Denied because Chex systems had my current address as a former address and former address as current address. Told me to correct it and try again in a few months once its corrected. So pretty low risk tolerance it seems!

  • Data point -

    I live and work in one of the counties in their footprint.

    No pre-existing relationship with the CU, currently or in the past.

    3/24, 1/12, and 0/6.

    Applied yesterday online.

    Proactively uploaded recent pay stub and photo of driver's license with the application.

    Received a message in my email today to call so I could verify my identity due to a fraud alert on my credit report.

    Verified my identity by answering some questions over the phone this afternoon.

    Received approval about 30 minutes later for Rewards Visa with $5k CL (that's all I requested thinking it may increase my odds of approval)..

    About an hour later I received an email with link to a card agreement and I signed it with Docusign.

    • Hope they honor the 5x Streaming, gas, grocery, and restaurant that was on the website if not that was a waste of HP/inquiry and 5/24 slot

    • They just changed it to 3x on GGR. Does your card still count those categories as 5x or 3x? Would be interested to know if they grandfathered or let those who got in early keep the 5x.

      • I just got my approval letter in the mail today.

        And it's only 3x points on gas, groceries and restaurants!

        "Earn up to 20,000 Introductory Bonus Points when you spend $1,500 within the first 90 days. And, with our Exclusive Rewards program, you can earn up to 5x Points on Streaming Services, 3x Points on Gas, Groceries & Restaurants and 1x points on Everything Else."

        Supposed to receive the card within 14 business days.

        Major bummer. Oh well, at least everyone has a solid data point. Guess I took one for the team... 😆

  • Found a California university I never attended with an alumni association open to "friends of the university" and with free membership. Looks like $500 credit card funding, and there is also a secured version of this card with same earning structure if you don't want to risk a denial / hard pull (but you have to call or go in branch.)

  • Nice card to know about for those who qualify. Thanks!

    This card pretty much tops the other "best use cards" for gas/restaurant/groceries, but the $6k limit will add up fast (only $500/mo on average). Going to guess the $6k limit is annually similar to Amex BCP 6k limit. Also PNC limit is $8k annually for their 4% gas card.

    Currently using the Citi Custom Cash as my 5% restaurant card, but would often go over the $500 max per month, so am considering this card to not have that hard monthly cap (some months dine out more than others so it's nice to not be penalized for the overage).

  • Any idea what the transferfee is? I see 12 months 0% apr but will 1500$ of spend disqualify or affect the 0% interest the transfer apr offer??

  • 5% cash back on food, grocery and gas is a great deal, even if it’s quarterly. They just need to have off-ramps with point transfer partners and it’s a national best seller.

    • 5x points on gas, grocery & restaurants ($6,000 limit)

    does anyone know the cpp cashout options for these points? Is it 1:1?

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