Affinity Federal Credit Union Credit Card – $150 Bonus & 5% On Bookstores (Including Amazon), 5% Rotating Categories To Be Removed

Update 11/28/23: Bonus now $150.

Update 9/16/23: 5% is limited to $1,000 a month now.

Update 12/29/22: Looks like the 5% rotating categories are being removed.

Update 4/29/20: They have added 5% on grocery, and streaming services for April, May & June. This in addition to 5% on gas. This means you’ll earn 7% on grocery and 6% on streaming. Hat tip to reader Scott F & Ari

Update 4/15/20: Readers are now being shown a $3,500 cap on bookstore purchases per month. It doesn’t show on the landing page at all, but under ‘Credit Card Rewards tab’ when logged in. This seems misleading to not display or mention this cap on the landing page. Hat tip to readers TinkoDinko & PG

Update 1/20/20: Card now has 5% rotating categories:

  • January – March: Restaurants
  • April – June: Gas
  • July – September: Clothing & Home Furnishing
  • October – December: Bookstores/discount retailers

This is in addition to the points you’d normally earn

Hat tip to reader David

Update 8/8/19: Card no longer has an annual fee of $95.

Update 3/6/19: This card also earns 5% back on restaurants for the month of March.

Affinity Federal Credit Union offers the ‘Affinity Cash Rewards Visa® Signature Credit Card‘. Let’s take a look at this card in more details

Card Basics

  • $200 cash back after $3,000 in spend within the first 90 days
  • Card earns at the following rates:
    • 5% cash back at all bookstores including Amazon
    • 2% cash back at restaurants, gas stations and supermarkets
    • 1% cash back on all other purchases

Our Verdict

There are lots of cards that earn at a high rate on Amazon purchases. There aren’t really any that earn 5% back at all bookstores anymore. It also looks like you need to be a member to apply, anybody can become a member by donating $5.

Hat tip to reader batsy71

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255 Comments
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Paul
Paul (@guest_1788126)
January 29, 2024 18:36

Just applied; also tried opening a checking acct with them at the same time. Got denied a CU membership within about an hour. Called and asked if they could provide any clarity. While the agent wouldn’t give any details, the story was that it was “to prevent fraud” and if I wanted to open a new account, I needed to come into a branch, and if I wasn’t local (which I’m not) I should consider looking at a local credit union and opening an account there. Seem to be trying to cut down on non-footprint customers. (have a score over 800, nothing else on my reports should scream risk)
At this point I’d say applicant be warned – it seems like a throw-away credit report hit.

mangorunner
mangorunner (@guest_1747087)
November 28, 2023 15:45

Sign-up bonus reduced from $200 to $150 for $3k spend in 90 days.
https://www.affinityfcu.com/personal-banking/banking/credit-card/cash-rewards-visa

Acid Bath
Acid Bath (@guest_1697050)
September 18, 2023 20:46

“You’ve been selected for a limited-time offer.

Earn 3X cash back* with your Affinity Cash Back Debit Card during the month you establish a recurring direct deposit of $500 or more. That’s triple the cash back! Offer ends December 31, 2023.”

Lochquel
Lochquel (@guest_1695447)
September 16, 2023 11:25

 William Charles Nerfed 5% further. Down to $1000 max a month now. Card page changed without notice. https://www.affinityfcu.com/personal-banking/banking/credit-card/cash-rewards-visa

Lochquel
Lochquel (@guest_1697346)
September 19, 2023 08:43

Now the page is back to 3500. Wonder if they rolled out change too early? Some dp of 5% not being earned now though too.

Trevor
Trevor (@guest_1708278)
October 3, 2023 18:07

Official details of the change shows on the Credit Card Rewards page:
Beginning on October 1, 2023, the 5% cash back on monthly book store spend will be capped at $1,000, reduced from $3,500

Amanda
Amanda (@guest_1686680)
September 5, 2023 23:31

Hey, fyi the link to the card on the post is broken. Here’s a working link:
https://www.affinityfcu.com/personal-banking/banking/credit-card/cash-rewards-visa  William Charles

Lrdx
Lrdx (@guest_1522188)
December 30, 2022 01:10

Apparently there is also a “secondary” sign-up bonus as well, 25000 points == $250 if you spend $25k in the first 12 months, in additional to the regular $200 / $3000 in the first 90 days offer. It’s a bit high to be taken seriously.

MAS
MAS (@guest_1522368)
December 30, 2022 09:42

Thinking about non-category spending, that is just 1% extra on top of 1% base earning. That gives 2% on general spending, only if someone reaches the 25k threshold spending.

Ben
Ben (@guest_1521782)
December 29, 2022 15:14

I want my 7% on gas at Costco :’(

Josh
Josh (@guest_1521613)
December 29, 2022 11:22

The rotating categories aren’t being nerfed. It’s just not available this quarter. This quarter’s bonus is essentially earn an extra ~1.5 % depending on how much you spend.

I’m not a huge spender but at $2000-$5000 spend that would make this card for the first quarter of 2023:

6.5% on Amazon + bookstores
3.5% on gas and groceries
2.5% everything else

Still pretty bad ass if you ask me..

Lrdx
Lrdx (@guest_1521675)
December 29, 2022 12:48

Those percentages only apply to exactly $2000 spend.

Josh
Josh (@guest_1521691)
December 29, 2022 13:08

False

Lrdx
Lrdx (@guest_1522185)
December 30, 2022 01:05

OK wise guy, tell me then how much rewards does this card get after $3000 spend at Amazon.

Josh
Josh (@guest_1522661)
December 30, 2022 16:49

6%? And this is after further breakdown from the initial post on reddit/myfico. At the time of my post, info said what I stated.

You still said “exactly $2000” which is still a false statement, I presume?

Please tell me how much for $2000-$2499 spend?

If I’m wrong, my apologies in advance.

Shawn
Shawn (@guest_1522685)
December 30, 2022 17:32

I’ll hop in here as I’m the one that posted the breakdown on Reditt & MyFico (I’m MLJ_The_Shield on both):
Ldrx is technically correct.
$2499 spend would get you: $124.95 (Flat 5%) + the 3000 points. Total = $154.95 for Amazon spend, or exactly 6.198% CB, not 6.5%.
$2499 spend on groceries, fast food, restaurants would get you $49.99 (Flat 2%) + 3000 points. Total = $79.99, or exactly 3.2% Cash back, not 3.5%.
$2499 “general” spend would get you: $24.99 (Flat 1%) + the 3000 points. Total = $54.99, or exactly 2.2%, not 2.5%.

It gets worse as you go up the spend chart before the next “bonus” threshold. Meaning if you spent $4900 exactly, your Amazon bonus would be 5.61%. Feel free to do the math on the rest.

I still like this card and really, really like Affinity (they have a 3.5% up to 5k savings account, a nice app, they have Zelle) and will continue to use them. I just don’t do the whole gift card thing nor have I ever tried.

m&W
m&W (@guest_1521740)
December 29, 2022 14:17

You already got confirmation from the bank on this? Seems really odd as cards with 5% quarter bonus never skip a quarter on them to implement something weird like this

Josh
Josh (@guest_1521939)
December 29, 2022 18:31

It’s in the email from Affinity. LOL.

“FOR THE NEXT QUARTER the bonus points are earned based on how much is spent with your card”

Also, this isn’t a 5% rotating categories card. In fact, it’s never been it’s main rewards. It’s always been a bonus for both their rewards cards.

Amanda
Amanda (@guest_1686671)
September 5, 2023 23:19

Unfortunately it looks like it’s permanent, unless they change their minds.

Lakers
Lakers (@guest_1521579)
December 29, 2022 10:31

Nothing lasts forever

20201103
20201103 (@guest_1520874)
December 28, 2022 14:55

A post on MF forum implies the cashback scheme is somewhat nerfed, though could still be interesting to some. (I’ll SD it.) https://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/Credit-Cards/Affinity-FCU-There-are-no-more-categories-my-friends-Email-from/td-p/6628134