There is a new credit card being offered by a number of credit unions called ‘Elan Max Cash Preferred’. This card is basically identical to the U.S. Bank Cash+ card, although the sign up bonus is usually $150 instead of the common $200 offer on the Cash+ card. Card basics:
- No annual fee
- You can choose two categories to earn 5% in (limit $2,000 in spend per quarter), one category to earn 2% in one and 1% on all other purchases
The advantage to the Elan card is that it seems to be easier to approved than the Cash+ card. It’s available from the following credit unions (via MyFICO):
- Abby Bank (Wisconsin)
- Air Force Academy Federal Credit Union (Colorado, veterans)
- Allegiance Credit Union (Oklahoma)
- Alliance Credit Union (Missouri)
- All South Federal Credit Union (South Carolina)
- Amplify Credit Union (Texas)
- Astera Credit Union (Michigan)
- Atlantic Union Bank (Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina)
- Banc of California (California)
- Bank of Albuquerque (New Mexico)
- Bank of Clarke County (Virginia)
- Bank Five Nine (Wisconsin)
- Bank of Oklahoma (Oklahoma)
- Bank of Texas (Texas)
- Bank of Utah (Utah)
- Banner Federal Credit Union (Arizona)
- Bay Coast Bank (Massachusetts, Rhode Island)
- Beacon Credit Union (Indiana)
- Bell Bank (Arizona, Minnesota, North Dakota)
- Bremer Bank (Minnesota, North Dakota, Wisconsin)
- Byrn Mawr Trust Company (Pennsylvania)
- Buckeye State Bank (Ohio)
- Busey Bank (Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Florida)
- Capital City Bank (Florida, Georgia, Alabama)
- Capital Credit Union (Wisconsin)
- Cattle Bank and Trust (Nebraska)
- CCF Bank (Wisconsin, Minnesota)
- Central Pacific Bank (Hawaii)
- Centricity Credit Union (Minnesota)
- Centris Federal Credit Union (Nebraska, Iowa)
- Chevron Federal Credit Union (United States)
- Comerica Bank (California, Arizona, Texas, Florida, Michigan)
- Cornerstone Bank (North Dakota, South Dakota)
- Credit Union of Georgia (Georgia)
- Envision Bank (Massachusetts)
- Desert Financial Credit Union (Arizona)
- First Class Community Credit Union (Iowa)
- First Financial Northwest Bank (Washington)
- First National Bank Texas (Arkansas, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona)
- First National Bank of Waterloo (Illinois)
- First State Bank of Florida Keys (Florida)
- Flagstar Bank (California, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Wisconsin)
- F&M Bank (Farmers and Merchants) (California)
- Fulton Bank (Virginia, Maryland, DC, Pennsylvania)
- Greater Nevada Credit Union (Nevada)
- Green Belt Bank and Trust (Iowa)
- Guaranty Bank and Trust (Texas)
- Highland Bank (Minnesota)
- Home Federal Bank (Tennessee)
- Horizon Bank (Indiana, Michigan)
- Incredible Bank (Wisconsin)
- Intrust Bank (Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas)
- Johnson Financial Group (Wisconsin)
- Liberty Bank (Connecticut)
- Meriwest Credit Union (California)
- Merrimack Valley Credit Union (Massachusetts)
- Mid Penn Bank (Pennsylvania)
- MIT Federal Credit Union (Massachusetts)
- Nodaway Valley Bank (Missouri)
- Northside Community Bank (Illinois)
- NRL (Naval Research Lab) Federal Credit Union (DC, Virginia, Maryland)
- Oklahoma Central Credit Union (Oklahoma)
- Park National Bank (Ohio)
- Pawtucket Credit Union (Rhode Island)
- People’s United Bank (Connecticut)
- Pikes Peak Credit Union (Colorado)
- Premier Bank (Ohio, Indiana, Michigan)
- Prevail Bank (Wisconsin)
- Public Service Credit Union (Michigan)
- Renasant Bank (Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, Florida)
- Radius Bank (Massachusetts)
- Rockland Trust (Massachusetts)
- Twin River Bank (Idaho, Washington)
- U.S. Employees Credit Union (US government employee and retiree)
- Valley National Bank (New Jersey, New York, Florida, Alabama)
- Wesbanco (West Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio)
View Comments (100)
Eastern Bank (Massachusetts / East Coast) also has this https://creditcardlearnmore.com/11t3/index?ecdma-lc=20091&ecid=OTHE_25940
I applied but application got pending. Who I can call to check status of the application?
I always get pending on US Bank. A few days later, the card is in my profile.maybe give it a few days?
Fulton Bank is also in NJ. https://www.fultonbank.com/Maps-and-Locations
MidPenn is now in NJ as well. https://midpennbank.com/
"Envision Bank (Massachusetts)" no longer a valid website-- google indicates it was bought by Abington Bank (also MA) -- website does indicate a 150 bonus on the 5% Max card
I talked to someone from the Elan recon line today, and they said that "if your banker submits the application" then Elan will take your bank relationship into account when doing their underwriting.
Does that seem right?
If so, do you think it help me or hurts me to apply through my bank? I've been with them 3 months and have about 15k with them.
Some of these now require an existing bank/CU login or tell you to go to a branch to apply, anyone know whats going on? Is it system wide?
You should take Flagstar bank off the list. Their card is now turning into a 3% grocery card. Very frustrating as I was using it for utilities and now I have no use for it now.
I'm so sorry this happened to you!! It happened to me too and I can't get over how frustrating it is.
Old National Bank also offers this card.
Weird note for everyone with this card. It appears they charge a foreign transaction fee for any transactions that are processed in a different country regardless of whether or not the transaction is in a different currency.
I paid a seller in Hong Kong via PayPal and was charged a 3% fee even though the transaction was 100% in USD. I've paid the same seller...via PayPal...with other cards and never had this problem before.