Union Plus Cash Rewards Card

Union Plus Cash Rewards Card Review

The Union Plus Cash Rewards Card is a flat-rate cash back card that benefits from no annual fee.

0% Intro APR for 12 Months

The Capital One Union Plus Cash Rewards also benefits from 0% introductory APR on both balance transfers and purchases. This 0% intro period extends from the date the account is opened through the first 12 months, which is a lengthy period in which to pay down expensive purchases or reduce existing credit card balances without incurring further interest.

Once the 12-month introductory window closes, the Union Plus Cash Rewards Card features an APR on purchases and balance transfers that varies considerably depending on the applicant’s creditworthiness.

The Capital One Quicksilver, the non-union sibling of the Cash Rewards Card, doesn’t come with an introductory period for either balance transfers or purchases, so the fact that this card features both is a pretty nice bonus for union members.

Earn 1.5% Cash Back on Every Purchase

Cash-back credit cards usually come in two forms: a fixed-rate back on every purchase or a flat rate on most purchases, with select categories earning cash back at an accelerated rate. Examples include the Chase Freedom Flex and the Discover it Cash Back, which earn 5% back in rotating categories and 1% back on everything else.

Union Privilege and Capital One have taken the former route with their Union Plus Cas Rewards Card. The card earns a fixed rate 1.5% cash back on every purchase, which puts it in the same league as  Chase Freedom Unlimited and  Quicksilver (also from Capital One).

Getting 1.5% back isn’t an eye-watering amount, like the 5% back with the previously mentioned cards, but it is an enhanced level of cashback that trumps the 1% back those cards get for purchases outside of the rotating categories – where the majority of purchases made are likely to occur.

Cash Back Comparison

	Union Plus Cash Rewards	Upgrade Cash Rewards Visa®
Rewards	$0	$0
Annual fee	Unlimited 1.5% cash back	Unlimited 1.5% cash back
Network	Mastercard	Visa

How to Redeem Cash Back

Unlike other rewards programs, like Chase, Union Plus Cardholders don’t have many options for redeeming their cash back rewards. Redemption options include statement credits to the card account, a check mailed to the account holder, or gift cards.

The fact that a cardholder can receive a physical check is a nice perk, as many credit card issuers stipulate the rewards can only be applied to their accounts. This option, however, allows cardholders to apply their rewards to external accounts – or even spend it on themselves.

There is no cap on the total amount of cash back earnable, and rewards never expire if the account is open and active.

Union Plus Card Comparison

Which Union Plus credit card from Capital One is right for you? Here are the three cards compared:

Other Card Features

The Cash Rewards Card comes with Mastercard consumer perks and protections, including zero fraud liability if the card is lost or stolen. Cardholders also have access to Mastercard’s identity theft resolution services, price protection for eligible purchases found cheaper elsewhere, and MasterRental Collision Damage Waiver for when rental cars booked through the card are lost, stolen, or damaged.

Hardship Grants

Like other Union Plus Cards, the Cash Rewards Card also offers access to hardship grants through Union Privilege and the AFL-CIO. These awards provide financial assistance for members who face unforeseen hardships and require aid. These grants never have to be repaid, but the Union Plus Cardholder account must be in good standing to receive them. Additionally, members only have access to one grant of each variety, regardless of the number of Union Plus accounts they have.

There are four types of hardship grants in the program:

• Disability Grant: $1,600 to $2,700 for individuals who have a disability or long-term illness
• Hospital Grant: $1,200 for unreimbursed hospital expenses
• Job Loss Grant: $300 for those laid off work
• Strike Grant: $300 for individuals on union-sanctioned lockouts or strikes

Member Rebates and Discounts

Union Plus Cash Rewards Cardholders also receive rebates and discounts just for being a Union Privilege members. These rebates and discounts include:

• Up to $250 in rebates from AT&T
• Up to 25% off car rentals when booking with Avis or Budget
• $1 for the first month ($6.90 after that) on membership in the Union Plus Motor Club when using their Union Plus Card and selecting the “Family Plus” plan.
• 25% discount with Teleflora – 5% more than the typical union member discount

Capital One Ratings

How is Capital One a credit card issuer? Here is a selection of reviews for the bank from consumers and experts alike:

Should You Apply for the Union Plus Cash Rewards Card?

The Union Plus Cash Rewards Card from Capital One is a robust cash back credit card option for more than just its 1.5% back on all purchases. Sure, 1.5% back makes it as reliable a rewards card like the Freedom Unlimited from Chase or even the Capital One Quicksilver, but the addition of two 05 intro APR periods for the first 12 months beats both other options. The Freedom Unlimited offers 0% intro APR on purchases for 15 months, but it lacks the same intro period on balance transfers – something the Cash Rewards also provides.

The Union Plus Card also offers a lower regular APR than both these options. While the standard rate is comparable to the Chase Freedom Unlimited (though slightly lower), it is head and shoulders above the Quicksilver, whose fixed-rate APR makes it a challenging option for carrying a balance.

The Cash Rewards Card balances the interest-free promotional period and cash back rewards tightrope brilliantly, creating a rewards card that union members will be happy to use every day. Even better, the card has no annual fee, and members can access hardship grants if something goes wrong. Union Privilege and the AFL-CIO have created a successful partnership with Capital One, and the Union Plus Cash Rewards Card is one such example of this fruitful collaboration – and one union member should carefully consider.