Charles Schwab VISA (offered by MBNA (http://www.mbna.com/creditcards/index.html)) is offering a FREE $150 VISA gift card upon credit approval.

Apply online (https://promo.schwabon.com/ad046/ad046home.asp?campaign=ccae05&mp=ccae05b) or by calling 1-866-724-9223 and mentioning priority code CGE4

FAQ:

Once again apply over the phone, do not apply online if you want an instant credit decision.
Most people who apply online will receive the ambiguous "an instant decision cannot be provided at this time" message.
Phone application should take about 15 minutes, give or take. They will ask you all the standard identity, credit, income, employer and other questions.
If you are married, I would suggest applying for individual accounts.
That way each of you can receive a free $150 VISA gift card.
New York residents are excluded from this offer. Why? I have no idea, ask Charles Schwab/MBNA.
Your free $150 VISA gift card will be mailed to you about 10 weeks after your first transaction. A transaction can be either a purchase, balance transfer or payment. So after you receive your credit card, activate it, go out and buy something. Make a payment, so you avoid paying any interest (yes there is a grace period just like other standard credit cards).
There is a balance transfer fee of 3% or $75, whichever is greater. My balance transfer offer was 1.9% fixed for 12 months then it becomes 7.65% variable.
$0 annual fee
Payoff your credit card in full every month on or before the due date and avoid paying any interest. This is a "grace" period which most credit cards offer. For instance your statement date is 5/20, your due date would be 6/9. If you payoff your balance in full on or before 6/9, you pay $0 in interest charges.
The $150 VISA gift card has a $2.50 per month maintenance fee after 6 months. How do you avoid this? Spend it as soon as you receive it. This is NOT a credit card monthly fee, again it only applies to your VISA gift card.
Can you spend the $150 VISA gift card then close your Schwab VISA credit card? Yes.
Ok this sounds great but what's the catch? There are only 5 that I can think of:
1) Apply over the phone, do not apply online if you want an instant credit decision.
2) This offer expires TODAY at 11:59 PM Eastern which is 3 hours from now.
3) New York residents are excluded.
4) As with most credit applications, this will count as an inquiry on your credit report.
5) After your first transaction, your free $150 VISA gift card will be mailed to you. So after you receive your cc, buy something then pay it off.


I applied over the phone and was instantly approved for a $10,000 limit.

This was surprising considering MBNA is a major credit card issuer and I have less than perfect credit (FICO score is around 660).

I'll probably use my FREE $150 VISA gift card to buy this (http://www.xbox-360.com/) in a few months :gd_pineap

The $150 VISA gift card has a $2.50 per month maintenance fee after 6 months. How do you avoid this? Spend it as soon as you receive it. This is NOT a credit card monthly fee, again it only applies to your VISA gift card.
I don't think that will be a problem for anyone here. :rotflol:

MBNA is a great CC provider. One time use CC numbers, easy-to-use online account system and more.

I don't think that will be a problem for anyone here.
Yep I know a few people here need to buy new appliances.

This $150 sure would come in handy for a new stove, power washer, washer/dryer or lawn mower.

There's nothing better than FREE MONEY :nahnah:

i don't think they'll approve me... heh.. i just took out a car loan.... ha.

Thanks, I just did the online application... I don't care if I don't find out right away, the answer will be the same. :)

Do you simply have to apply by the deadline to get the Visa gift card, meaning online apps are OK for the deal, or do you need the decision today to get it, meaning if you don't apply over the phone you are screwed? Not that I anticipate us gettting approved...but you never know.

i don't think they'll approve me... heh.. i just took out a car loan.... ha.


It's still worth a try, the only consequence is an inquiry on your credit report. For the chance to get $150 I'd say it's worth a shot.

I thought they might decline me but I was approved despite our new car loan and other credit card debt.


Thanks, I just did the online application... I don't care if I don't find out right away, the answer will be the same.


Awesome, you can probably call tomorrow to find out the decision. Just make sure you used the above link and entered the priority code, if prompted for it.


Do you simply have to apply by the deadline to get the Visa gift card, meaning online apps are OK for the deal, or do you need the decision today to get it, meaning if you don't apply over the phone you are screwed? Not that I anticipate us gettting approved...but you never know.


Correct you just have to APPLY by Midnight EDT tonight.

Just an FYI, 2 hours 14 minutes from this post, the offer will expire.

Ok, with dh's approval, I filled out one online app for him and one for me. We will see if they approve either of us. (My credit is better than his, but still not great, and I have no "real job"...his credit is not as good but he has a nice solid work history and paycheck in his name. Should be interesting.)

Here's hoping. We could REALLY use that $150. I'm not even daring to hope for $300 LOL.

outnumbered - I'll keep my fingers crossed for both of you, please let us informed :)

When you apply online, does it ask for a priority code?

No--the link you provided brought up a main page that said "Get a $150 Visa gift card, click here to start the application..." etc. So I followed the appropriate link on that page and it brought up the application...no code.

Just applied for Jenni as well... hopefully she gets approved, she got rejected for Citi Dividend Platinum Select because she doesn't have much of a credit history.

Just applied for Jenni as well... hopefully she gets approved, she got rejected for Citi Dividend Platinum Select because she doesn't have much of a credit history.

I didn't have any credit history, and Citi approved me. :)

I didn't have any credit history, and Citi approved me. :)

For the college card or the non-college card? Was it the Dividend Platinum Select or one of their other cards?

For the college card or the non-college card? Was it the Dividend Platinum Select or one of their other cards?

It's just Platinum Select, not sure if it's the college card. It's time for me to apply for one more CC.

I don't need another credit card... have enough as it is... not going to apply.. but it is a nice offer.

It's just Platinum Select, not sure if it's the college card. It's time for me to apply for one more CC.

If you got it while you were (or are as the case may be) in college, that probably would have helped. Credit card companies love college students for some reason, I used to get TONS of applications in the mail and was never denied. For some reason Jenni did not take advantage of that while she was in school, and it's hurting her now.

If you got it while you were (or are as the case may be) in college, that probably would have helped. Credit card companies love college students for some reason, I used to get TONS of applications in the mail and was never denied. For some reason Jenni did not take advantage of that while she was in school, and it's hurting her now.

When I turned 17, I had alot of applications, I never apply for them. Two years later, CC companies kept on rejecting until this year, Citi approved me. And I was still in college those 2 years.

They love college students because they know we'll use the card, and our interest will raise since they know most of us would pay the min. balance.

30 minutes and counting until this offer expires.

When I turned 17, I had alot of applications, I never apply for them. Two years later, CC companies kept on rejecting until this year, Citi approved me. And I was still in college those 2 years.

They love college students because they know we'll use the card, and our interest will raise since they know most of us would pay the min. balance.

Credit card companies make no sense at all. :mad: Glad you finally got it, use it wisely. :)

argh MBNA. i have now cleared the balance off of that card and i intend on keeping it at zero forever. they have done nothing for me except at last check give me 23% apr.

they'll send me "3.99% balance transfers" that expire in five months. meanwhile, my chase card sneds me "4.99 for the life of the loan" etc etc.

i won't close it, as it is my oldest account and my largest limit, but damnit they do nothing for you. this is the best thing from them so far. i don't even carry it in my wallet anymore, but it's my UCLA alumni card.

The only reason my wife and I keep our MBNA cards is that they are our Alumni Cards as well. I should really consider switching to a card that gives benefits.

The funny thing is... we keep the cards at 0 balance each month and our credit line is hugh. Between the two of us, we have almost $100K. We do use the cards fairly regularly, but always pay them off.

It's still worth a try, the only consequence is an inquiry on your credit report. For the chance to get $150 I'd say it's worth a shot.

I thought they might decline me but I was approved despite our new car loan and other credit card debt.


heh, shoulda tried then. oh well.

The only reason my wife and I keep our MBNA cards is that they are our Alumni Cards as well. I should really consider switching to a card that gives benefits.

The funny thing is... we keep the cards at 0 balance each month and our credit line is hugh. Between the two of us, we have almost $100K. We do use the cards fairly regularly, but always pay them off.

yups, i remember when i actually used this card they'd raise my limit every few months. now that it's back to zero, and will stay that way, my vengeance on MBNA shall be wreaked.

i hope you all get the 150. i only use the citiplatinum dividends card now.

i only use the citiplatinum dividends card now.

hells yeah! I didn't know they added drugstores to the 5% list. Or did I just miss that when I signed up?

hells yeah! I didn't know they added drugstores to the 5% list. Or did I just miss that when I signed up?

i have no idea when they added it, but all prescriptions are now charged.

hells yeah! I didn't know they added drugstores to the 5% list. Or did I just miss that when I signed up?
The CitiBank Dividend Platinum Select has always offered 5% cash rebate (http://www.bettercreditcard.com/) on all grocery store, drug store and gasoline purchases.

We rarely go to drugstores (except for Walgreens which had 2 DVD-RWs for $3.99).

Haha, I sent information about this to my dad the other day, we already got the card :P

A few other forums report your purchase needs to be $25 or more in order to receive the $150 VISA GC.

I was approved!!!!! :D

Not only was I approved but they gave me a $1,000 credit limit! The Chase people wouldn't even approve me and they gave dh a $200 limit, and that was only a couple months ago...so I was not at all expecting either of us to be approved this time but especially not me. WOW!

Still waiting for word on dh. I applied for both of us, individually, at the same time...my card came in yesterday's mail and there was nothing in today's. Not sure what's happened with his letter--he should either get a card or a rejection letter and you'd think they'd arrive on the same day but I guess maybe Tuesday?

Anyway, WOOHOO and thank you so much for posting about this deal. I think I'm going to use the card for swimming lessons for my 5-year-old, and then get my $150 gift card--maybe even in time for vacation?!

:D

outnumbered,

Congratulations! A $1,000 limit is a lot more generous than a pathetic $200.

Remember to make your first purchase $25 or more. In about 10 weeks you should receive your free $150 VISA GC :)

Ross

I received my MBNA card in the mail today.

That would be soo cool!

Just a note, WELUVKDS79 bumped a 6 month old thread.

Sorry folks this deal is dead.

I still haven't spent my $150 GC I need to use it soon.