There is a new credit card being offered by a number of credit unions called ‘Elan Max Cash Preferred’. This card is basically identical to the U.S. Bank Cash+ card, although the sign up bonus is usually $150 instead of the common $200 offer on the Cash+ card. Card basics:
- No annual fee
- You can choose two categories to earn 5% in (limit $2,000 in spend per quarter), one category to earn 2% in one and 1% on all other purchases
The advantage to the Elan card is that it seems to be easier to approved than the Cash+ card. It’s available from the following credit unions (via MyFICO):
- Abby Bank (Wisconsin)
- Air Force Academy Federal Credit Union (Colorado, veterans)
- Allegiance Credit Union (Oklahoma)
- Alliance Credit Union (Missouri)
- All South Federal Credit Union (South Carolina)
- Amplify Credit Union (Texas)
- Astera Credit Union (Michigan)
- Atlantic Union Bank (Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina)
- Banc of California (California)
- Bank of Albuquerque (New Mexico)
- Bank of Clarke County (Virginia)
- Bank Five Nine (Wisconsin)
- Bank of Oklahoma (Oklahoma)
- Bank of Texas (Texas)
- Bank of Utah (Utah)
- Banner Federal Credit Union (Arizona)
- Bay Coast Bank (Massachusetts, Rhode Island)
- Beacon Credit Union (Indiana)
- Bell Bank (Arizona, Minnesota, North Dakota)
- Bremer Bank (Minnesota, North Dakota, Wisconsin)
- Byrn Mawr Trust Company (Pennsylvania)
- Buckeye State Bank (Ohio)
- Busey Bank (Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Florida)
- Capital City Bank (Florida, Georgia, Alabama)
- Capital Credit Union (Wisconsin)
- Cattle Bank and Trust (Nebraska)
- CCF Bank (Wisconsin, Minnesota)
- Central Pacific Bank (Hawaii)
- Centricity Credit Union (Minnesota)
- Centris Federal Credit Union (Nebraska, Iowa)
- Chevron Federal Credit Union (United States)
- Comerica Bank (California, Arizona, Texas, Florida, Michigan)
- Cornerstone Bank (North Dakota, South Dakota)
- Credit Union of Georgia (Georgia)
- Envision Bank (Massachusetts)
- Desert Financial Credit Union (Arizona)
- First Class Community Credit Union (Iowa)
- First Financial Northwest Bank (Washington)
- First National Bank Texas (Arkansas, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona)
- First National Bank of Waterloo (Illinois)
- First State Bank of Florida Keys (Florida)
- Flagstar Bank (California, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Wisconsin)
- F&M Bank (Farmers and Merchants) (California)
- Fulton Bank (Virginia, Maryland, DC, Pennsylvania)
- Greater Nevada Credit Union (Nevada)
- Green Belt Bank and Trust (Iowa)
- Guaranty Bank and Trust (Texas)
- Highland Bank (Minnesota)
- Home Federal Bank (Tennessee)
- Horizon Bank (Indiana, Michigan)
- Incredible Bank (Wisconsin)
- Intrust Bank (Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas)
- Johnson Financial Group (Wisconsin)
- Liberty Bank (Connecticut)
- Meriwest Credit Union (California)
- Merrimack Valley Credit Union (Massachusetts)
- Mid Penn Bank (Pennsylvania)
- MIT Federal Credit Union (Massachusetts)
- Nodaway Valley Bank (Missouri)
- Northside Community Bank (Illinois)
- NRL (Naval Research Lab) Federal Credit Union (DC, Virginia, Maryland)
- Oklahoma Central Credit Union (Oklahoma)
- Park National Bank (Ohio)
- Pawtucket Credit Union (Rhode Island)
- People’s United Bank (Connecticut)
- Pikes Peak Credit Union (Colorado)
- Premier Bank (Ohio, Indiana, Michigan)
- Prevail Bank (Wisconsin)
- Public Service Credit Union (Michigan)
- Renasant Bank (Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, Florida)
- Radius Bank (Massachusetts)
- Rockland Trust (Massachusetts)
- Twin River Bank (Idaho, Washington)
- U.S. Employees Credit Union (US government employee and retiree)
- Valley National Bank (New Jersey, New York, Florida, Alabama)
- Wesbanco (West Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio)
Old National Bank also offers this card.
Weird note for everyone with this card. It appears they charge a foreign transaction fee for any transactions that are processed in a different country regardless of whether or not the transaction is in a different currency.
I paid a seller in Hong Kong via PayPal and was charged a 3% fee even though the transaction was 100% in USD. I’ve paid the same seller…via PayPal…with other cards and never had this problem before.
Meriwest Credit Union offers this card as well
Do you need to join Meriwest credit union to apply for this credit card?
I believe so; most credit unions require a membership to sign up for their cards, else it’ll end up being a denial.
I am now at 1/6 (latest card will be exactly 6 months old on 04/22), 1/12 and 4/24. I have a USB C+ but regularly hitting $2000 almost every quarter. Looking for an MCP and feel Banc of Cali will be a good choice (Mastercard).
What are my chances? Scores are all in the 800s. HPs are between 0 and 3 over the last 2 year period.
Btw, when does the 1/6 become 0/6? After 7 months of holding the card? And is it that important to get to 0/6 or is 1/6 good enough? Thanks!
NRL (Naval Research Lab) Federal Credit Union (DC, Virginia, Maryland) is now Spectra Federal Credit Union. Old link no longer works. https://www.spectracu.com/products/credit-cards
DoverPhila Credit Union too.
Sorry for bumping this old thread, but I have a Fidelity credit card (issued by Elan) that I’m no longer using. Has anyone product changed a Fidelity credit card to a Max Plus without being a member of one of the listed credit unions?
I don’t see that happening. When you try to get a CC from a CU, they force you to become a member. Just sock drawer the Fido card and get your free $1 (small balance waiver) each month.
That’s too bad. I was hoping to get a more useful card without wasting a hard pull.
If you want to pursue, I would pick a bank that you would be in footprint for (there are a few on the list), not a credit union, and try that route to convert. But I really feel like they are going to shoot it down… it’s not the same entity. I think Fidelity is not going to release you to another bank. I’d be shocked, but don’t let me deter you from trying.
I just product changed into this card from another card at Associated Bank
Wow! Mind elaborate a little more details?
You product changed Fidelity Rewards Visa issued by Elan (https://www.fidelity.com/cash-management/fidelity-visa-signature-card) to this Elan 5% card?
Telhio Credit Union offers it as well.
It’s showing up at a few banks in Maine as well now.
Just applied through Bar Harbor Bank (got an acct for a bonus there last year and never closed it, have $25 there still) and approved w/a $25,000 limit. Elan is actually the service behind my Fidelity card as well, where I have a $17,000 limit. I guess they are generous.
Applied and approved for Elan Max Prefered Visa from Workers Credit Union. Have an account with them at $1k for less than a year. Pulled TU, 750+ credit score and 1/12 inquiries on TU. In terms of opened accounts I’m 6/24, 6/12, 4/6