Wells Fargo has opened applications for two new companies Choice privileges credit cards like today.
We first heard about the new free annual Choice Privileges® Mastercard® in February when hotel of choice making Wells Fargo the official credit card issuer and Mastercard the exclusive payment network for Choice privileges programme. If you currently have a Choice Privileges credit card, your card will soon be converted to a Choice Privileges Mastercard.
Now, Wells Fargo has launched its second Choice Privileges card: the Choice Privileges Select Mastercard, which has a $95 annual fee and a hot sign-up bonus.
Hotel credit card can offer significant value if you stay with a particular loyalty program on a regular basis. So here’s what you need to know about the new Choice Privilege Mastercard.
Information about the Choice Privileges Mastercard and the Choice Privileges Select Mastercard has been independently collected by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Overview of the new Mastercard Choice Privileges Card
Before we dive into the details of the new Choice Privilege Mastercard, here’s an overview of what these cards have to offer:
| Mastercard selection offer | Privileges to choose Choose Mastercard | |
|---|---|---|
| Initial limited-time sign-up bonus | 60,000 points after spending $1,000 on qualifying purchases in the first three months. | 90,000 points after spending $3,000 on qualifying purchases in the first three months. |
| income rate | 5 points for every dollar spent when staying at participating Choice hotels.
3 points for every dollar spent on qualifying purchases at gas stations, grocery stores, home improvement stores, and phone plans. 1 point for every dollar spent on other purchases. |
10 points for every dollar spent when staying at participating Choice hotels.
5 points per dollar spent on qualifying purchases at gas stations, grocery stores, home repair shops, and phone plans. 1 point for every dollar spent on other purchases. |
| Elite Night Credits per year | 10, enough for at least Gold Elite status per calendar year. | 20, which is enough for at least Platinum Elite status each calendar year. |
| Annual fee | There is no annual fee. | $95 annual fee, waived for the first year. |
| Other notable perks | Mobile phone protection.
There are no currency conversion fees. World Elite Mastercard benefits. |
Mobile phone protection.
There are no currency conversion fees. 30,000 bonus points per account anniversary day. TSA PreCheck or Global Entry statement credit. World Elite Mastercard benefits. |
Related: Which credit card offers the most lucrative hotel stay rewards?
Choice Privileges Mastercard: No annual fee
Applications are now open for the new Choice Privileges Mastercard. For a limited time, the card offers new subscribers a sign-up bonus of 60,000 points after spending $1,000 on qualifying purchases in the first three months. Based Valuation of TPGThis bonus is worth about $360.
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This annual free card has a number of useful features, including mobile phone protection, No foreign transaction fees And The world’s elite Mastercard benefits. Here’s a look at the card’s other benefits.
income rate
When you make eligible purchases with your new Choice Privileges Mastercard, you will Earn Option Points as follows:
- 5 points per dollar spent on eligible stays at participating Choice hotels.
- 3 points for every dollar spent on purchases at gas stations, grocery stores, home repair shops, and phone plans.
- 1 point for every dollar spent on other purchases.
Choice Hotels acquires Radisson Americas in 2022 and have plans integration of Radisson Rewards Americas into Choice Privileges later this year. So you’ll also earn 5 points for every dollar spent at Radisson brands in the US, Canada, Latin America and the Caribbean once these hotels are bookable through Choice.
Related: From Yellowstone to Austria: 27 hotels you can book cheaper with Choice Hotels Sweet Spot rewards
10 elite night credits for Gold Elite status
As a Choice Privileges Mastercard cardholder, you’ll receive 10 elite night credits each year as a perk in your card account. These elite night credits will automatically get you Gold Elite status and can also help you win higher status in Choice Privileges.
I hope we will see Changes to the Choice Privilege programincluding elite status benefits, like Radisson Rewards Americas Integrated. So while Choice Privilege’s elite status doesn’t offer many useful benefits right now, it could become more valuable later this year.
Related: Is the hotel’s elite status worth it anymore?
Choice Privilege Choose Mastercard: $95 annual fee
Applications for the new Select Mastercard Select Privilege are also open now. For a limited time, this card offers new subscribers a sign-up bonus of 90,000 points after spending $3,000 on qualifying purchases in the first three months. Based on TPG’s valuation, this reward is worth approximately $540.
Additionally, for a limited time, new subscribers will also receive a free annual $95 card for the first year.
Choice Privileges Select Mastercard cardholders also enjoy a number of ongoing benefits, including mobile protection, no foreign transaction fees, World Elite Mastercard benefits, and a TSA PreCheck or Global Entry credit statement. Now, let’s see the other key benefits of the card.
income rate
The Choice Privileges Select Mastercard offers better earning rates on most purchases than the Mastercard Choice Privileges card. Specifically, you’ll earn the following with the Choice Privileges Select Mastercard:
- 10 points per dollar spent on eligible stays at participating Choice hotels.
- 5 points for every dollar spent on purchases at gas stations, groceries, home repair shops, and phone plans.
- 1 point for every dollar spent on other purchases.
This means you’ll receive an effective 6% return on qualifying stays at participating Choice hotels, according to TPG’s valuation. The rate of return on stay at this hotel is competitive with some best travel rewards cardsuch as Chase Sapphire Reserve® and Citi Premier® Card.
Related: 8 best credit cards for general travel purchases
20 elite night credits for Elite Platinum status
As a Choice Privileges Select Mastercard cardholder, you’ll receive 20 elite night credits per year. These elite night credits are enough for automatic Premium Platinum status, but can also help you achieve Diamond Premium status (requires 40 nights per year).
Annual bonus points
Travelers with Choice Privileges Select Mastercard also receive 30,000 points on each account anniversary. Based on TPG’s valuation, those points are worth about $180—more than enough to justify the card’s $95 annual fee after the first year.
Come up with another way, you’ll get 30,000 Choice points per year for $95. So you are efficient buy Option Points at 0.31 cents per point. This is in line with TPG’s valuation of Option points at 0.6 cents each, presenting excellent value if you’re interested in redeeming Option points.
Related: College sports fans: You can redeem Choice points for exclusive events and experiences
bottom line
The new free annual Choice Privileges Mastercard could be a good choice for Choice loyalists due to its 10 elite night credits per year and no foreign transaction fees. However, the earning rate may be too low to compete with other travel rewards and daily spending card.
The new Choice Mastercard Select Mastercard is a more appealing offer for most Choice loyalists. The limited-time sign-up bonus and the waived annual fee for the first year are great reasons to get the card. Additionally, 30,000 points on each account anniversary and higher earning rates will provide enough value to justify long-term card retention.
