Award News

Heads up, award travelers! There are new debit cards popping up that let you earn United miles or Southwest points on your everyday spending. Now, I know what you're thinking: debit cards and rewards don't usually go together. But these new options could be a game-changer, especially if you have big expenses where credit cards just don't cut it. Think about tuition payments, for example. Many schools charge a fee to use a credit card, which can wipe out any rewards you might earn. With these debit cards, you can potentially earn miles or points without those pesky fees. It's like finding a loophole in the rewards system! The big question is, does it actually make sense? You'll want to crunch the numbers and compare the rewards you'd earn against any potential fees associated with the debit card itself. But for those large, fee-ridden expenses, this could be a surprisingly rewarding strategy. Definitely worth checking out if you're a United or Southwest loyalist!

The Wells Fargo Active Cash card is offering a sweet deal for new applicants: a $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 in the first three months. Beyond that, you'll earn an unlimited 2% cash rewards on every purchase you make. Why should you care? Well, for savvy travelers, this is a great way to boost your travel fund with everyday spending. Think of it as a simple, no-fuss way to earn rewards without juggling multiple cards or bonus categories. Two percent back on everything is a solid return, making it a great "workhorse" card for purchases that don't fall into specific bonus categories on your other cards. If you are looking for a straightforward cash-back card to cover your daily spending and earn a quick bonus, the Wells Fargo Active Cash card is definitely worth a look. It could be the perfect addition to your wallet!

M&T Bank is bringing back its offer of a $500 bonus for opening a new Tailored Business Checking account! This is relevant to you, awardtrail reader, because it's essentially free money for meeting some pretty straightforward requirements. To snag the bonus, you need to maintain an average daily balance of at least $5,000 in the account during the third full month after you open it. Here's the catch: the account has a $20 monthly fee, BUT you can waive it by keeping a $10,000 monthly average ledger balance, holding $25,000 average across checking and savings, spending $2,000 on a linked M&T business card, or having merchant service proceeds deposited. You'll also forfeit the bonus and pay a $50 fee if you close the account within six months. The offer is valid until March 31, 2023, and is available in-branch only, in CT, DE, D.C., MD, NJ, NY, PA, VA, and WV. Keep in mind this bonus is considered income, so you'll owe taxes on it. But hey, free money is still free money!

Grasshopper Bank is sending out targeted offers for a bonus of up to $750 when you open a new Innovator Savings account using the promo code BUNDLE26. The bonus tiers are: $750 for depositing $100,000+, $500 for $50,000 - $99,999, and $250 for $25,000 - $49,999. Sounds tempting, right? Here's the catch: You need to fund the account by February 15th, 2026, and maintain that balance from February 16th to April 16th, 2026 (about 60 days). So, is it a good deal? Well, the account itself has a base APY of 3.1%. Factoring in the bonus, the lower tiers translate to an additional annualized return of about 6.1%, effectively giving you a whopping ~9.1% APY... but only for those 60 days. The highest tier is actually a worse deal percentage-wise. More importantly, this offer is targeted, meaning it's not available to everyone. Check your email to see if you were one of the lucky ones! For the award travel enthusiast, this might not be the most exciting news. It's not going to directly fuel your points and miles balance for that dream vacation. However, it's always good to be aware of opportunities to earn extra cash on your savings, which can then be used to offset travel expenses. Just make sure you crunch the numbers and consider if tying up your funds for 60 days is worth the bonus, especially considering it's a targeted offer.

Independent Bank is offering a sweet $350 bonus for new checking account customers in Michigan! To snag the bonus, you'll need to open a new checking account and set up direct deposits totaling $500 or more within 90 days. Once you meet the requirements, the bonus will be deposited into your account within 60 days. The offer is valid until March 31, 2027. Why does this matter to you, the savvy award traveler? Well, it's basically free money! Bank account bonuses are an easy way to pad your travel fund. Just make sure you can meet the direct deposit requirement and keep the account open for at least 60 days to avoid a small $10 early closure fee. Plus, there are no monthly fees if you opt for eStatements, making this a pretty hassle-free way to boost your travel budget. Remember that the bonus will be reported as income, so you'll need to pay taxes on it.