Right now, Hyatt is the only hotel rewards program worth a damn; challenge is no Canadian card transfers to em.

If you wanna go full ham, I'd find a way to get an ITIN and get started on some Chase cards

IIRC, BMO's all-inclusive account is free with 6k balance.

missed HSBC

TD's all inclusive plan is free as well at a $5k monthly balance. If you can maintain a $5k balance then the big banks are all the best bets - just a matter of who has a branch/ATM near you or if you already bank with them in other ways. Most of the big banks will also cover the annual fee on one of their premium cards - I get my TD Aeroplan card for free.

If you can't keep a balance then Tangerine works just fine as a free account especially if you have a Scotia ATM/branch near you.

EQ Bank - https://www.eqbank.ca/personal-banking/personal-account
No monthly fees
Free ATM anywhere in Canada
Free e-transfers
No minimum balance required

So EQ is like Tangerine ... except with the Levy father-son as their face of the bank except with different features.

Here's a comparison chart of the two
https://www.nerdwallet.com/ca/bankin...k-vs-tangerine

Yes, similar but they have their differences. As they say. Pick your poison.

I've been using EQ Bank for a number of years. So far, so good.

I flip $ between EQ and Tangerine depending who has better rates at any given time. Works good.

Ballin'! :ahwow:

If you are a current holder of the HSBC WE MC, you would've received a transition package to RBC and a new RBC Avion visa (that includes the same terms for 1 year as the HSBC MC) card.

But you can't use them at Costco Canada! It sucks as that was my Costco card.

I ended up with the Rogers Mastercard now that my HSBC card is gone.

Details here:
https://forums.redflagdeals.com/roge...thing-2292136/

Originally I was going to live with the Avion Visa until realizing I still need a Mastercard for Costco.

That's a very solid card as a #2 card (after the Cobalt). If I didn't spend so much on Amazon (I use the MBNA Amazon MC) I'd consider that as my standard MC.

https://youtu.be/KAHrH06BaVQ?si=mOajYwYPspWT9cD-
The Rogers mastercard made it to this guys top 7 list

Hmm your link went to a BMO card video.

K, try again. I think it copied the link to the ad after the video finished

So Amex is raising the monthly fees on its Cobalt card to $15.99/mo and I'm not sure I'm going to stick with it as my bonuses are gone and I just don't eat out as much as I used to and most of my grocery shopping is at Costco/Superstore now.

What's everyone preferred card stack right now?

I'm:

Cobalt: Groceries (Save-On/PriceSmart), Restaurants
Amazon MC: Amazon and Costco
CT MC: Prop tax, utilities.
TD Visa Infinite Aeroplan (free card): Everything else

This used to work great for me when I ate out a lot, bought tonnes on Amazon, and shopped more at Save-On but all three of those are down a lot this year (and will be for the next few years).

Other considerations:
- I'm not with Rogers so the Rogers card isn't that appealing to me (I think).
- I've been mostly collecting points the last 3 years. I have >525k Amex points and >200k Aeroplan.
- I'm self-employed now so that will limit some of my card options (My wife earns over $100k though so we can apply through her).
- We spend over $1k/mo at Costco
- We won't be travelling to the states any time soon but we do plan on international travel in the coming years (Japan!)
- Amex restaurant spending is only around $600/mo now, the rest goes on other cards or is in cash.

Based on what you're saying, I'd just replace the Cobalt with the TD Aeroplan card to continue racking up AP points and keep everything else the way it is.

I switched from Amex aeroplan reserve to the TD Infiniti aeroplan prestige reserve douche bag card. Whatever it’s called, it’s the same thing as the Amex card other than it’s a visa and taken everywhere.

The Amex card was okay but nobody wanted to take it in Asia.

i just want the best cash back...

Cash back is the worst option to take. Always go with a mileage or rewards card as the perks easily pay for themselves and then some.

For example my td aeroplan blah blah blah 599 annual fee one comes with a companion pass. That means my wife flies whatever class I pick and pays a 300 dollar “fee”. That’s a huge saving by itself. Used it in Australia and saved like 3k right there. Single perk.

Not to mention the amount of aeroplan points I’ve accumulated. If you spend like me, you’ll easily get two business class tickets to Hong Kong round trip every year on points alone. That’s what ? 8-10k a ticket ? So almost 20k of rewards right there.

There is you. :accepted:

And there is everyone else. :lol

Start typing my name on application for TD Aeroplan and it stopped me like 3 letters in, said not Hobz or Asian enough. Better luck next time.

If you primarily fly AC, TD Aero or AMEX Aero are the two best cards.

But if you don't fly AC or like me, who avoid AC whenever I have the option, I suggest AMEX Cobalt. The requirement isn't all that bad and the transfer partner flexibility is amazing.

This is especially useful if you want to fly first class on points as most airlines with truly good F now kinda reserve their F for only their own mileage members.

Of course there's AMEX Platinum if you are big business spenders. Unlike Cobalt, which has a usual limit, the Platinum has no hard limit per se unless they suspect a fraud. Works great for businesses (or if you can get reimbursed) since you never want to be in a position where your card gets declined. A buddy of mine racks up anywhere from 200-400k a month on average and up to 800k for his video production business, he's firm AMEX Plat believer as he never has to worry getting to close to the spending limit. It's not a perk for most, but if you are spending for business, it's definitely worth looking into and one that I rarely hear people talking about.

Anyone gotten a ITIN and gotten US Cards?

I heard of Canadians using their friends address in NY to ship cards and also be an Auth user to build credit.