FNBO To Issue New Amtrak Card

At the end of the last year the Bank of America Amtrak cards stopped accepting new applications, amid rumors that Amtrak was weighing options to shift to a new card issuer. There is now a First National Bank of Omaha (FNBO) page for Amtrak discussing what happens to existing cardholders. The migration will happen on October 23, 2022. The annual fee will also be increasing to $99 with the benefits mostly staying the same. It’s unclear what sign up bonus will be offered for new cardholders. You can find out more information regarding FNBO by clicking here.

View Comments (30)

  • Anyone else getting a message saying you need to call in order to register online access?

  • Don't assume that all your earning rates on Amtrak stay the same. When my no-AF Best Western card moved from Barclays to FNBO years ago, they reduced the number of points you earned for spending at Best Western hotels, from 5 to 3.

    • Lots of existing cardholders have been getting mailers outlining the benefits after the swap, and it does appear as if pretty much everything is staying the same, even some slight improvements (like I think dining & rideshare were added at 3x on the fee card - don't quote me!) There's some chatter over on Flyertalk about it.

    • I question this. The mailer & T&C make no mention at all of the existing 5% rebate on points redemptions for Amtrak travel. It very much looks as if they’re silently eliminating that benefit.

      • UPDATE: A certain travel blogger has claimed that the rebate benefit will remain, allegedly per an FNBO rep. We will see.

  • Will this result in a new account inquiry along with a account closed inquiry on my credit report?

        • I don't see why it should. It has never happened before when other cards were transferred between banks, including when my Best Western card was transferred from Barclays to FNBO years ago.

          • Alright thanks.
            My gap store card was upgraded to regular credit card and it resulted in a inquiry on my report that’s why I thought this might be the same.

          • Synchrony does close out the "store" card when you open the "Dual" card with the Visa/MC logo, so their upgraded card counts towards the count of new accounts, and if you've asked for it, rather than wait to be offered, there's an inquiry involved.

            When an account transfers from one lender to another (e.g. recently BP, Walmart, and Gap family of brands) there's no inquiry, and the new account number and lender replaces the old position on the report. Years ago the Toyota Visa transferred to Comenity, so with the upcoming BoA transitions of AAA to Comenity/Bread, and Amtrak to FNBO, fully expect they'll just update the lender name and card number, but still have the original account opening date.

  • Called BoA today to product change from the Amtrak card ($79 AF just hit) to cashback unlimited. The rep said I couldn’t PC out of the Amtrak card but helped me apply for Cashback, transferred all the credit from Amtrak to the new card, then closed Amtrak for me. So now I have a $45k limit and 0% APR for 18 months. Plus the $200 SUB.

    I would have preferred product change, but this seems like a pretty good deal too.

          • Worth it for me, but of course YMMV. I am over 5/24, have the limit for Amex, and was obviously churning the Amtrak card, so I’m frankly surprised BoA gave me another card. I think calling helped me get approved.

          • Now you are further away from 5/24. And you got a new inquiry so many banks will not issue you new cards.

            Since you are seeking for new credit line, your credit score will drop.

          • Chase's 5/24 is based on cards showing on your credit report with an age under 24 months, NOT based on inquiries. So an inquiry doesn't put ANYONE further away from 5/24.