Earn up to 5% Cash Back with the BBVA Compass NBA Credit Card
Every now and then, a bank comes up with a clever marketing scheme to attract a given fan base to a product. Last year, BBVA Compass did this with the BBVA Compass NBA Credit Card from American Express, offering 5x points on all spending during the February NBA All Star Weekend and the NBA Finals in June. The bank is repeating this promotion in 2016.
The NBA American Express Credit Card has no annual fee and is currently offering a limited-time sign-up bonus of 20,000 points after spending $1,000 in the first 90 days of account opening. Points can be utilized for one of a few basketball-specific redemptions, but are really worth their weight in the form of 1% cash back. The card earns:
- 5x points on all purchases, including non-NBA-related items, during the NBA All-Star Weekend and two weeks of the NBA finals
- 3x points on transactions for qualifying NBA tickets, NBA in-stadium transactions and NBAStore.com transactions
- 2x points at gas stations and supermarkets
The 5x points category is the kicker, as during the All-Star Weekend and two whole weeks of the finals you earn 5% cash back on all spending — everywhere — uncapped. Considering that All-Star Weekend is just a few weeks away — and that BBVA is known to take a while to approve new applications — now's the time to apply to make sure you're all set up for February 12-14.
It's also important to get the card as soon as possible so you can develop spending habits before the bonus periods start so you won't end up having your card frozen due to any large purchases and miss out on valuable 5% cash back. Too bad I couldn't wait to buy my car with this card during the All-Star weekend, as I would gladly have taken another 5% off the purchase price.
Given the perks — plus no annual fee, the current $200 sign-up bonus and the 5x bonus bringing excitement back to what's usually a rather boring All-Star weekend from the pure basketball perspective — I find this card to be well worth it. You can also select any of the NBA teams to personalize your card — if you see someone burning a whole in an Atlanta Hawks-branded piece of plastic in February, it could very well be me.
The icing on the cake is a possibility mentioned in some forums: The 5x stacking with the incumbent 2x spending bonus with gas stations and supermarkets, making for a possible 7x points during February and June. I wouldn't count on it, but wouldn't that be awesome?
Are you going to sign up for the card before the NBA All-Star Weekend?
TPG featured card
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| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta
- Annual companion ticket for travel on Delta (upon renewal)
- Ability to earn MQDs through spending
- Various statement credits for eligible purchases
Cons
- Steep annual fee of $650
- Other Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories
- Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees