I receive compensation for content and many links on this blog. Citibank is an advertising partner of this site, as is American Express, Chase, Barclays and Capital One. Any opinions expressed in this post are my own, and have not been reviewed, approved, or endorsed by my advertising partners. I do not write about all credit cards that are available -- instead focusing on miles, points, and cash back (and currencies that can be converted into the same). Terms apply to the offers and benefits listed on this page.
Update: [Product details expired]
Reader Lee Y. asks my take on the upcoming X1 Credit Card which isn’t available for application yet.
Here’s what we know:
- No annual fee, no late fees, no foreign transaction fees
- Up to 4% rebate
- Stainless steel
They seem to make a big deal about the look and feel of the card, but at an advertised 17 grams this is no heavier than an Amex Platinum or Capital One Savor card and lighter than Citi Prestige (18g) and J.P. Morgan Reserve (27g), and only a hair heavier than Capital One Venture (16g).
Your Income Not Your Credit Score
Much of the coverage of the card has focused on determining your credit line ‘based on your current and future income’ not your credit score. What this means isn’t entirely clear. I haven’t seen them say they don’t look at credit scores to approve cardmembers for the product.
They suggest that “some customers” can expect credit limits as much as 5 times higher than with another credit card, but that’s a pretty meaningless claim since almost any card issuer can make it. It’s like saying that a majority of people who switch to [particular car insurance company] save money, that’s because nearly the only people who switch are those getting a better deal.
They’ve got a different algorithm, it seems, but what this means in practice compared to meaningless marketing hype is simply not yet clear.
Potentially The Best General Rebate Card – But Average For Most?
Here’s the reward structure:
- 2x on all purchases
- 3x on purchases over $15,000 in a year
- 4x on purchases for a month for each successful referral to the card
We do not know yet how much each point is worth but for the sake of argument let’s assume one cent in value. The card website says that 45,000 points are worth “at least $450” but it’s not clear whether lower point totals can have a value that’s less than one cent, or will in the future.
We also don’t know how they’ll let you use the points, other than listing specific retail partners on their website including Airbnb, Alaska Airlines, Apple, Delta, HotelTonight, JetBlue, Nike, Sephora, and zipcar.
This card is presumably a 2% back card at a restricted set of merchants, though it gets up to 3% for spend over $15,000. You have to discount that if the choices of how to use the points are restricted, since that’s not as valuable as cash. And for most people spending up to or not much more than $15,000 a year then the Citi® Double Cash Card is better since that’s going to generate 2% back in real cash.
Where this card shines is for folks who can generate a lot of referrals. 4% back, even with a restricted set of merchants, it a pretty good return for otherwise-unbonused spend. It won’t get my travel, dining, or other category bonus spend where I’m already doing better than this (5% – 9% effective return) but it serves a role at merchants not bonused by other cards.
Still, it could be strategically useful for big unbonused purchases – refer a friend or family member so that you can qualify for a 4% rebate, then make your large purchase as a one-off.
Cancel Recurring Payments
The card helps you avoid getting hit with recurring payments for services you’re not interested in. They offer virtual credit card numbers so services can’t keep billing you, and there’s a feature of their app to cancel subscriptions that are being billed to the card.
A lot of businesses rely on providing low value at low prices, with transaction costs to cancel so high that people don’t bother. In other words, effectively taxing consumers. Card issuers should help customers avoid these traps – while respecting the merchants they work with who provide genuine value for subscriptions.
X1 Card’s Bottom Line
We don’t know enough about this product yet to have a real idea of its value – if you can actually generate a 4% return through spend and referrals that’s going to be really strong, but most people won’t be able to successfully refer someone every month.
Referrals aside then we’re talking about 2% back on the first $15,000 of spend each year. This card is only interesting for spend above $15,000 to get to 3% back. But you’re going to have to spend substantially more than $15,000 on the card before you’re really getting enough value to make the higher rate of return worthwhile.
What do you think of the X1 Card coming ‘winter 2020’?
The points are worth a minimum of 1 cent each – up to 2 cents, depending on the retailer. Right now, there are a little over 100 retailers but they will be adding more before launch.
Referrals are uncapped and if you earn a bunch in one month, they stack on top month to month (so 12 in one month gives 1 year at 4X).
Not sure who is the issuer? I suspect Apple Card begun a trend and now a lot of issuer (if not the same) are copying. Am I wrong?
@Charlie – referrals are uncapped, that’s great for bloggers 😉 my point is the value of this card is going to depend on a cardmember’s referral potential/network.
If they offer a plastic version, I’m a buyer. Metal cards make my pocket heavier, and there’s nothing worse than the douchebag at the register who clanks his metal card down on the counter in order to impress the people behind him.
@Gary – right, I was just saying that it is ok if people get referrals racked up early because they will stack and they won’t offset if they are in the same month.
Yes, and blog readers now, too! I am cycling through reader links since I should have 4X for the next 80 years – if everyone actually gets it. 🙂
Free card?
So potentially, I could overpay my January estimated taxes by $1m using a card processor that charges 1.9 percent. Earn a spread of 1.1 percent if I file taxes early and get a refund. Although realistically I can’t possibly file before May with all the K1s
@Charlie – yes, sorry if I wasn’t clear enough on this point [it was clear in my head if not in my post!]
I think Hal is on to something here. I think those with large tax bills may find this quite promising.
And if the Citi 2% card is perhaps better, then then Amex/Schwab combo and Alliant card, each of which yield 2.5%, cash back, are perhaps much better for many.
Well, at least we can identify one thing that’s worse: the DL Amex card. It was getting really difficult to squeeze more than a penny a mile out of Skypesos, even before ‘rona, so X1’s 2X on Delta flights alone beats DL Amex.
Here’s my X1 referral link, and thank you if you use it: https://x1creditcard.com/r/uFSFEBv
This is a 4X points card. So its not direct cashback. This will all depend on what you can redeem the points for an how. If so this is a major shakeup to the points game. Especially considering travel is down for most for at least 2020 and possibly a good part of 2021.
If you want to get 4x points for 30days use this promo code, 2TOHnuy, or the link https://x1creditcard.com/r/2TOHnuy
🙂
Use referral code hyLUxyv or Sign up at the link below for 4x points for your first month! Plus get an additional month and move up the waitlist for every referral you get!
https://x1creditcard.com/r/hyLUxyv
Let’s get 4x points together! 🙂
My referral link:
https://x1creditcard.com/r/AWZu8sp
Looking forward to this concept.
Click the link for referral
https://x1creditcard.com/r/U6Gxnzr
The card is out now. I just got it.
Beware. The card has no telephone customer support at all. They failed to send me a payment notice, charged me interest on the resulting late payment, and then wasted two hours texting me back and forth that they wouldn’t to anything about it. Scary arrogance, insensitivity and lack of responsibility.