Credit Card Deals and Promotions: May 2017

Hot Deals 2017!

Signing up for a card with a sign-up bonus or an introductory offer can be a great way to get a head start on earning rewards or to get a handle on your debt.

Here is the complete GIANT list of credit card promotions and signup bonus offers on CreditDonkey.

Check out the credit card bonuses below to find one that’s right for your spending habits.

Credit Card Deals for Miles

© CreditDonkey

How does everyone else seem to get enough miles and points to score free hotel stays and flights? The smartest deal seekers know that signing up for a new credit card promo is a crucial way to make leeway on their mileage balance.

Lean in. Credit card companies are now offering new deals and lucrative sign up bonus promotions for new customers.

In one short list, we're going to tell you the featured credit card bonus on CreditDonkey - but it's only available for those with excellent credit.

• 
  Like to travel? If you spend over $1,334 per month on your credit card, this promotion is for you: Chase Sapphire Preferred. You'll earn 50,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $625 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. There is an Introductory Annual Fee of $0 the first year, then $95.

  Besides the lucrative Chase credit card promotion, the Sapphire Preferred gets our attention because you can earn 2X points on travel and dining at restaurants & 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases worldwide. For folks who eat out or travel often, this credit card is worth signing up for.

  But there's more. Frequent travelers know airline miles are the key to saving money, and the Chase Sapphire Preferred lets you transfer the rewards points to participating frequent travel programs — at full 1:1 value.

  This card was made for international traveling. There's zero foreign transaction fee and it's chip and signature enabled for wider acceptance. Plus, you get premium travel perks, such as trip cancellation and trip interruption insurance -- and purchase protection benefits such as extended warranty.

  To learn more, read our Chase Sapphire Preferred Review. We'll discuss the reasons why we like the card (and the reasons to skip it).

• Big spender? If you spend over $1,000 per month on your credit card and want 2x miles on all purchases, consider the Barclaycard Arrival Plus. You'll earn 50,000 bonus miles (worth a $500 travel statement credit) if you make $3,000 or more in purchases in the first 90 days from account opening. The card earns 2x miles on all purchases and you can redeem miles for a statement credit toward any airline purchase to any destination with no blackout dates. Additional benefits include: 5% miles back to use toward your next redemption, every time you redeem your miles; no foreign transaction fees; and complimentary access to your online FICO credit score. There is an $89 annual fee (waived for first year).

• Airline / Delta: If you spend over $1,000 per month on your credit card and fly Delta, consider the Gold Delta SkyMiles Credit Card from American Express, a CreditDonkey partner. As a limited time offer, you'll earn 60,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on the card within the first 4 months. Plus, if you make a Delta purchase with your new card within the first 4 months, you can earn a $50 statement credit. This limited time offer expires 7/5/2017.

  You can redeem the miles toward award travel. Domestic one way award tickets start at 10,000 miles (plus taxes and fees) for travel within and between the Continental U.S., Alaska and Canada.

  You'll earn 2 miles per dollar spent on purchases made directly with Delta and 1 mile for every dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. Additional benefits include: check your first bag free on Delta flights; priority boarding; and no foreign transaction fees.

  There is a $95 annual fee ($0 introductory annual fee for the first year). For some travelers, the $95 annual fee is worth it. For example, the ability to check your first bag free on Delta flights is a potential savings of up to $200 per round trip for a family of four. To learn more, read our Gold Delta SkyMiles review.

• Hotels / Starwood: If you spend over $1,000 per month on your credit card, consider the Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card from American Express, a CreditDonkey partner. You'll earn 25,000 bonus Starpoints after you spend $3,000 on the card within the first three months.

  What can you do with Starpoints? You can redeem Starpoints at over 1,300 hotels and resorts in over 100 countries. This includes popular hotel chains such as Sheraton, Westin, W Hotels, St Regis, Le Meridien, element, and aloft. Additional benefits include: free in-room premium internet access; complimentary unlimited Boingo Wi-Fi (on up to 4 devices; enrollment required); and no foreign transaction fees.

  There is a $95 annual fee ($0 introductory annual fee for the first year). Is the Starwood credit card worth having? Read our in-depth review before you decide.

• Hotels / Hilton: If you spend over $667 per month on your credit card, consider the Hilton Honors Credit Card from American Express, a CreditDonkey partner. You'll earn 80,000 Hilton Honors bonus points after you spend $2,000 in purchases on the card within the first three months. This limited time offer ends 05/31/2017. You can redeem Hilton Honors points toward award stays. A category 1 hotel award stay costs 5,000 points per night. Higher category hotels cost more points per night, with some hotels costing 70,000 to 95,000 points per night. There is no annual fee.

Cashback Deals

© CreditDonkey

One of the biggest mistakes you can make when in the market for a new cashback credit card is signing up for the first credit card bonus offer that comes along. You could be missing out on a lucrative sign-up bonus that could put cash in your pocket for using the new card frequently within the first few months of owning it. Don't miss out.

Take a look at our list of the featured cashback promotions:

• Cash Back Bonus: If you spend over $334 per month on your credit card, consider the Barclaycard CashForward. You'll receive $200 bonus after you spend $1,000 on purchases within your first 90 days from account opening. There is no annual fee.

  Not only is there a potential $200 bonus on the table, this card offers a 0% introductory APR for the first 15 months on purchases. Plus, a 0% intro APR for 15 months on balance transfers made within 45 days of account opening. After that, a variable APR will apply, 15.74%, 20.74% or 25.74%, based on your creditworthiness.

  And it's not just the introductory promotions that attract us. With this cashback card, you earn an unlimited 1.5% cash rewards on every purchase. Plus, every time you redeem, you get a 5% cash rewards redemption bonus to use toward your next redemption.

• Supermarket & Gas: If you spend over $333 per month on your credit card, consider the Blue Cash Preferred. This card from American Express, a CreditDonkey partner, offers a $150 statement credit after you spend $1,000 in purchases on the card in the first three months.

  Attention grocery shoppers, this credit card earns 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%) and 3% at U.S. gas stations. That means if you spend $100 a week on groceries at your local U.S. supermarket, you would earn back $312 a year.

  But what's the catch? The card comes with a $95 annual fee.

  Otherwise, you might want to consider the Blue Cash Everyday, the no annual fee sibling. Instead of the 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets, the Blue Cash Everyday earns 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%) and 2% at U.S. gas stations. With the Blue Cash Everyday, you can earn a $100 statement credit (instead of $150) after you spend $1,000 in purchases on the card in the first three months.

  Both the Blue Cash Everyday and Blue Cash Preferred have a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months. After that, a variable APR, currently 13.74% to 24.74%.

  Can't decide which American Express promotion to sign up for? Read our in-depth Blue Cash Review here.

Tip: How to Meet Minimum Credit Card Spending Requirements

Balance Transfer Deals

© CreditDonkey

• Low Interest: If you have credit card debt, consider the Barclaycard Ring.

  Barclaycard Ring offers a 0% Introductory APR for the first 15 months on purchases. Plus, you'll get a 0% introductory APR for 15 months on Balance Transfers made within 45 days of account opening. After that, a variable APR will apply, 13.74%. There are no balance transfer fees, no foreign transaction fees, and no annual fee.

  Additional benefits include rewards through the Giveback program; and access to an online community to vote on the card features you like.

Tip: How to Save Money with Balance Transfers
Related: See Credit Cards for Balance Transfers Comparison

Rewards Credit Card Point Promos

• If you spend over $334 per month and prefer a no annual fee credit card with rewards, consider the Amex EveryDay. You'll earn 10,000 Membership Rewards points after you use your new card to make $1,000 in purchases within the first three months.

  What can you do with 10,000 Membership Rewards points? You can transfer them to one of Amex’s airline partners such as Delta. Or you can transfer the points to a hotel partner like Hilton.

  Don't like to travel? Then redeem the points for a gift card or statement credit. But we really suggest you at least take the moment to learn why we're big advocates of airline miles and points.

  You earn 2x points at US supermarkets (on up to $6,000 per year in purchases) and 1x points on other purchases.

  But here's the kicker: if you make 20 or more purchases with your card in a billing period, you'll get 20% extra points on those purchases (less returns and credits).

  Plus, you get a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months. After that, a variable APR applies, which is currently 13.74% to 23.74%.

  There is no annual fee.

  To learn more, read our Amex EveryDay review. The in-depth review includes the pros and cons to this American Express credit card.

• If you spend over $667 per month and pay off your card in full each month, consider the Premier Rewards Gold Card from American Express. You'll earn 25,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you use your new Card to make $2,000 in purchases within the first 3 months. Terms Apply. You can also get up to a $100 airline fee credit per year toward baggage fees and more at one airline (you need to enroll and select a qualifying airline in advance).

  With this card, you'll earn 3X points for flights booked directly with airlines. 2X points at US restaurants, US gas stations, and US supermarkets. 1X points on other purchases. Terms Apply. There is a $195 annual fee ($0 introductory annual fee for the first year). To learn more, read our Premier Rewards Gold Card review.

• If you spend over $1,667 per month and pay off your card in full each month, consider the Platinum Card from American Express, a CreditDonkey partner. You'll earn 60,000 points after you use the card to make $5,000 in purchases within the first three months. You earn 5x points on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel. You can also get up to a $200 airline fee credit per year toward baggage fees and more at one airline (you need to enroll and select a qualifying airline in advance).

  Additional benefits include: Up to $200 Uber Savings annually; Platinum Card Concierge; access to 5 airport lounge networks including complimentary access to Delta Sky Club lounge and Priority Pass Select (requires enrollment at no additional cost); and up to a $100 credit toward Global Entry or TSA Pre application fee every 4 years.

  But this card is not for anybody. There is a $550 annual fee. To learn more, read our Platinum Card review.

  Do you own a small business? Even being an independent contractor makes you a small business. For business owners, consider the Business Platinum Card instead.

  While the business card has a higher minimum spending threshold to qualify for the bonus, you'll enjoy some benefits that the personal Platinum Card does not offer. Like what? You'll get 10 Gogo inflight internet passes annually. And when you use Membership Rewards Pay with Points with American Express Travel for flights with your selected qualifying airline, you'll get 50% of the points back.

  To learn more, read our Business Platinum Card review to see if it makes sense for your business.

Related: American Express Promotions

Small Business Deals

© CreditDonkey

These small-business credit card promotions are not just limited to businesses with lots of employees.

If you do freelance work or have a side business selling stuff on eBay, you, my friend, are an entrepreneur and a business owner. If you do business in your own name, you are usually a sole proprietor. In that case, you would enter your name as your business name on the application and your Social Security number as the tax ID.

• If your small business spends over $834 per month on your business credit card, consider the SimplyCash Plus from American Express, a CreditDonkey partner. You'll receive a one-time $200 statement credit after you spend $5,000 in qualifying purchases within the first six months of card membership. Plus, you can earn an additional $200 statement credit after you spend an additional $10,000 or more in qualifying purchases within the first year of card membership. There is no annual fee.

  Why Your Business Should Consider This Card: You get 3% cash back on the category of your choice (from a list of 8 select categories, on purchases up to $50,000 per calendar year).

  So if your business tends to entertain a lot of clients at restaurants, then you can choose the "purchases at U.S. restaurants" category. But say you rarely entertain clients, but you spend a lot on online advertising, then you would choose "U.S. purchases for advertising in select media". Select media includes media providers such as Google, Facebook and Yahoo.

  But regardless of which category you choose, most businesses still need office supplies and cell phone services. That's why this card offers 5% cash back at U.S. office supply stores (such as Staples and Office Depot) and wireless telephone services (purchased directly from U.S. service providers such as Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Sprint). The 5% applies to purchases up to $50,000 per calendar year (after that, it'll be 1% thereafter).

  How about other purchases? You'll earn 1% on those, so choose your category wisely.

  To learn more, read our SimplyCash Plus review to see what we like (and dislike) about this no annual fee business cash back credit card.

• Blue Business Plus offers 20,000 points after you spend $3,000 in qualifying purchases on the Card within your first 3 months of Card Membership. Earn 2X Membership Reward® points on the first $50,000 spent on eligible purchases each calendar year, 1 point per dollar thereafter.

  This card also has a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months. After that, a variable APR, currently 11.99% - 19.99%. There is no annual fee. Terms apply.

  To learn more, read our Blue Business review, including the reasons to choose the card (and the reasons to look elsewhere).

Other people seem to have a pulse on the latest credit card bonuses. Now you can be in-the-know with our list of current promotional bonus offers on CreditDonkey. Here you can find the signup bonuses so you can get rewarded with miles, points, or even cash just for using your new card.

Terms and conditions apply.

Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author's alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer. This site may be compensated through the Advertiser's affiliate programs.