Jun 14, 2014, 11:15 am
Last edit by: MDtR-Chicago
PenFed cards are cashback or proprietary points redemption cards issued by Pentagon Federal Credit Union.
This thread is for general discussion of joining the credit union and choosing the best card, plus Chip & PIN questions/discussion across all PenFed cards.
Threads to discuss specific cards:
PenFed Premium Travel Rewards AmEx [5x/3x/1x, $0 fee, 20K bonus]
No annual fee
Earn 5 points on airfare purchases
Earn 1 point on all other purchases
20,000 bonus points when you spend $2,500 within the first 3 months of opening the Card account
Penfed Platnum Rewards Visa [5x/3x/1x points + $0 fee]
No annual fee
Earn 5 points on gas purchases at the pump
Earn 3 points on supermarket Purchases
Earn 1 point on All Other Purchases
PenFed Platinum Cash Rewards Visa Card [5% on gas, no annual fee]
Plus Version, for which most people can easily qualify:
No annual fee
5% Cashback for Gas Purchases at the Pump
No cashback on other purchases
Qualifications for joining PenFed: https://netmember3.penfed.org/NetMember/Forms/OpenAccounts/Eligibility.aspx
The easiest way to qualify is to be a member of the US military or a government employee. If none of the eligibility criteria apply to you, you can still join by first becoming a member of the National Military Family Association ($20 tax deductible) or Voices for America's Troops ($15 not tax deductible).
Other reasons to join:
Many FTers use PenFed for auto loans, as they usually offer very attractive rates. The auto loan product is also a qualifying product for "Plus" level on the Cash Rewards card.
This thread is for general discussion of joining the credit union and choosing the best card, plus Chip & PIN questions/discussion across all PenFed cards.
Threads to discuss specific cards:
PenFed Premium Travel Rewards AmEx [5x/3x/1x, $0 fee, 20K bonus]
No annual fee
Earn 5 points on airfare purchases
Earn 1 point on all other purchases
20,000 bonus points when you spend $2,500 within the first 3 months of opening the Card account
Penfed Platnum Rewards Visa [5x/3x/1x points + $0 fee]
No annual fee
Earn 5 points on gas purchases at the pump
Earn 3 points on supermarket Purchases
Earn 1 point on All Other Purchases
PenFed Platinum Cash Rewards Visa Card [5% on gas, no annual fee]
Plus Version, for which most people can easily qualify:
No annual fee
5% Cashback for Gas Purchases at the Pump
No cashback on other purchases
Qualifications for joining PenFed: https://netmember3.penfed.org/NetMember/Forms/OpenAccounts/Eligibility.aspx
The easiest way to qualify is to be a member of the US military or a government employee. If none of the eligibility criteria apply to you, you can still join by first becoming a member of the National Military Family Association ($20 tax deductible) or Voices for America's Troops ($15 not tax deductible).
Other reasons to join:
Many FTers use PenFed for auto loans, as they usually offer very attractive rates. The auto loan product is also a qualifying product for "Plus" level on the Cash Rewards card.
Master Thread: PenFed Family of Cards [5x/5% back] + Chip & PIN Questions
Feb 15, 2014, 10:21 am
#1
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: ORD
Posts: 14,231
Master Thread: PenFed Family of Cards [5x/5% back] + Chip & PIN Questions
I have a PenFed Visa with chip-and-PIN. I've never used the PIN (Haven't been out of the US since getting it) but I'm going to France in a month and will use it there.
I don't quite remember what I set my PIN to...I think it's one of three or four possibilities. I called PenFed to ask, and they sent me the PIN on my card that's used for ATM withdrawals.
Questions:
1. There is a separate PIN for the built in chip - right?
2. Is there any way to verify what the chip's PIN is besides trying to use it?
3. If I enter the wrong PIN a few times, what happens?
Thanks!
I don't quite remember what I set my PIN to...I think it's one of three or four possibilities. I called PenFed to ask, and they sent me the PIN on my card that's used for ATM withdrawals.
Questions:
1. There is a separate PIN for the built in chip - right?
2. Is there any way to verify what the chip's PIN is besides trying to use it?
3. If I enter the wrong PIN a few times, what happens?
Thanks!
Feb 15, 2014, 10:48 am
#3
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: KWI
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 806
I have a PenFed Visa with chip-and-PIN. I've never used the PIN (Haven't been out of the US since getting it) but I'm going to France in a month and will use it there.
I don't quite remember what I set my PIN to...I think it's one of three or four possibilities. I called PenFed to ask, and they sent me the PIN on my card that's used for ATM withdrawals.
Questions:
1. There is a separate PIN for the built in chip - right?
2. Is there any way to verify what the chip's PIN is besides trying to use it?
3. If I enter the wrong PIN a few times, what happens?
Thanks!
I don't quite remember what I set my PIN to...I think it's one of three or four possibilities. I called PenFed to ask, and they sent me the PIN on my card that's used for ATM withdrawals.
Questions:
1. There is a separate PIN for the built in chip - right?
2. Is there any way to verify what the chip's PIN is besides trying to use it?
3. If I enter the wrong PIN a few times, what happens?
Thanks!
Feb 15, 2014, 11:17 pm
#4
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,944
Feb 25, 2014, 2:00 pm
#5
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: IAH
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, SPG Platinum, Hilton Diamond, A3 Gold
Posts: 601
What's the best PenFed Chip + PIN CC?
The other day, I tried to buy a ticket for the tube in London using my CSP Chip + Signature, but no luck. No problem, I had some cash on hand for cases like this. Still, I thought it may be time to get a Chip + PIN CC for my next trips. I'd like to avoid annual and foreign transaction fees. I've been a PenFed member from the days when their CDs were competitive, so I thought a PenFed would be a logical choice.
The following PenFed CCs seem to meet the above criteria:
PenFed Visa Platinum Rewards Card
PenFed Promise Card
PenFed Visa Gold Card
Of those, it seems that the PenFed Visa Platinum Rewards Card is the best as it actually does come with some rewards.
What am I missing? Are there any other cards I should look at that may be better? I'm not the kind that applies for CCs left and right (not that I'm implying any of you would).
The following PenFed CCs seem to meet the above criteria:
PenFed Visa Platinum Rewards Card
PenFed Promise Card
PenFed Visa Gold Card
Of those, it seems that the PenFed Visa Platinum Rewards Card is the best as it actually does come with some rewards.
What am I missing? Are there any other cards I should look at that may be better? I'm not the kind that applies for CCs left and right (not that I'm implying any of you would).
Feb 25, 2014, 2:11 pm
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: ORD
Posts: 14,231
I've had the PenFed Cash Rewards card for a while now. Not sure if they stlil offer it.
Note that PenFed charges $25 annual fee if you have a credit card but no other PenFed products and an insignificant amount of money with them.
Note that PenFed charges $25 annual fee if you have a credit card but no other PenFed products and an insignificant amount of money with them.
Feb 25, 2014, 2:17 pm
#7
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,958
Feb 25, 2014, 2:23 pm
#8
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: IAH
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, SPG Platinum, Hilton Diamond, A3 Gold
Posts: 601
Good point. I actually, just checked my records and it was the S-Bahn in Frankfurt where I had the problem, but even there I cannot be certain what the issue was. I was able to buy the London tube ticket at the kiosk using my CSP Chip + Signature.
Feb 25, 2014, 2:24 pm
#9
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: IAH
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, SPG Platinum, Hilton Diamond, A3 Gold
Posts: 601
How much money does one need to have with them to avoid the annual fee?
Feb 25, 2014, 2:24 pm
#10
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: KWI
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 806
Good point. I actually, just checked my records and it was the S-Bahn in Frankfurt where I had the problem, but even there I cannot be certain what the issue was. I was able to buy the tube ticket at the kiosk using my CSP Chip + Signature.
Feb 25, 2014, 2:28 pm
#11
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: IAH
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, SPG Platinum, Hilton Diamond, A3 Gold
Posts: 601
Yeah, that's possibility. I have a German DKB Cash Card (with a chip) and it didn't work either. I actually ended up a Schwarzfahrer as I didn't have cash. No risk no fun.
Feb 25, 2014, 3:57 pm
#14
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Posts: 2,506
The other day, I tried to buy a ticket for the tube in London using my CSP Chip + Signature, but no luck. No problem, I had some cash on hand for cases like this. Still, I thought it may be time to get a Chip + PIN CC for my next trips. I'd like to avoid annual and foreign transaction fees. I've been a PenFed member from the days when their CDs were competitive, so I thought a PenFed would be a logical choice.
The following PenFed CCs seem to meet the above criteria:
PenFed Visa Platinum Rewards Card
PenFed Promise Card
PenFed Visa Gold Card
Of those, it seems that the PenFed Visa Platinum Rewards Card is the best as it actually does come with some rewards.
What am I missing? Are there any other cards I should look at that may be better? I'm not the kind that applies for CCs left and right (not that I'm implying any of you would).
The following PenFed CCs seem to meet the above criteria:
PenFed Visa Platinum Rewards Card
PenFed Promise Card
PenFed Visa Gold Card
Of those, it seems that the PenFed Visa Platinum Rewards Card is the best as it actually does come with some rewards.
What am I missing? Are there any other cards I should look at that may be better? I'm not the kind that applies for CCs left and right (not that I'm implying any of you would).
Your post prompted me to change my current card to the Chip card. To convert your current card to a Chip card, log into your PenFed account, click on the Credit Cards tab, then under your credit card listings click on the + at More account info and actions, then then click on Convert to a Chip Enabled Card.
Feb 25, 2014, 4:25 pm
#15
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: IAH
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, SPG Platinum, Hilton Diamond, A3 Gold
Posts: 601
https://www.penfed.org/Platinum-Cash-Rewards/
You can earn 5% on gas purchases paid at the pump and avoid an annual fee by obtaining a qualifying PenFed product:
Active checking account with direct deposit ($250 min.)
Money Market Certificate or IRA Certificate
Mortgage
Installment loan
Equity Loan or Equity Line of Credit with a balance
Thrifty Credit Service
Personal Line of Credit
Education Line of Credit
Money Market Savings Accounts
The Money Market Savings Accounts seems like an easy one, considering it has no fees.
Active checking account with direct deposit ($250 min.)
Money Market Certificate or IRA Certificate
Mortgage
Installment loan
Equity Loan or Equity Line of Credit with a balance
Thrifty Credit Service
Personal Line of Credit
Education Line of Credit
Money Market Savings Accounts