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?
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 5X | New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Valuable dining and food-related credits
- Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
- Multiple travel and purchase protections
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.