Capital One's Venture Rewards Credit Card has long been a solid option for those who want flexibility in redeeming their travel rewards, since you can use miles to "wipe" charges from your statements. And thanks to a new promotion it will join the ranks of cards with more premium-looking designs.
Capital One just announced that, as of today, new Venture Rewards Card holders will receive a metal card, rather than a plastic one. The new design includes a stainless-steel veneer and is made of 75% recycled materials. The color scheme and overall look is the same; the only substantial change is the material and the weight; it's now a heftier .6 of an ounce — compared to about .2 ounces for the plastic version. It's heavier than the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card and the Chase Sapphire Reserve, but not as hefty as the 1-ounce Ritz-Carlton Rewards Credit Card. This update doesn't affect existing cardholders; if you already have the card it'll be replaced with a plastic one when it expires.
In addition to offering a new metal design, the card is now a Visa Signature Preferred product rather than a MasterCard World Elite product. This means you'll have access to slightly different travel protections along with some unique perks like discounts at Sonoma wineries. With the Venture Rewards Card, you'll still get an unlimited 2x miles on all purchases; the sign-up bonus is 50,000 miles after you spend $3,000 in the first three months; and the annual fee will remain at $95 after being waived the first year.
Capital One's Vice President of US Card, Daniel Mouadeb, had this to say about the card refresh:
At Capital One, we’re always looking for ways to enhance the experience our customers have with our products. That’s why, beginning February 15, Capital One Venture cards issued for new cardholders will be made of metal. The new metal card offers the same great benefits our customers have come to know and love, like unlimited 2x miles on every purchase every day. Capital One is focused on creating customer experiences that are thoughtfully designed from the physical look and feel of our products to our digital tools that put customers in control of their finances.
Bottom Line
The design may not be incredibly significant in the grand scheme of things, but it does lend the card a more premium feel — most cards made of metal come with $450 (or higher) annual fees, but the Venture Rewards Card is a relatively low $95 per year (waived for the first year). This isn't reason enough to sign up for the card, but if you've already been considering it thanks to the ability to redeem miles to cover a wide variety of travel purchases, the new design could make it a tad more appealing. It's unclear how long this promotion will run, so sign up sooner than later if you're interested.
For more information, see this post: Is the Capital One Venture Rewards Card Worth Getting?
