Is The Jeep Rewards Mastercard Actually A Decent Cashback Option?

by joeheg

After my wife purchased her purple Jeep Wrangler, affectionately known as Jeep Jeep, there were many things she needed to learn. She needed to learn a new set of social norms shared between Jeep owners, such as the Jeep Wave. For those of you who, like me, didn’t know, this is a real thing. Jeep owners are so proud of their car choice that they need to reaffirm their love whenever they see someone driving the same car as them.

JW

She’s also learned about the tradition of Jeep ducking and keeps a supply of ducks on hand if she needs one.

Jeep knows it has a loyal fan base, so what better way to monetize that than with a co-brand credit card? After our new vehicle purchase, we were sent a monthly invitation to apply for the Jeep Mastercard.

I wouldn’t think that right after making a huge, possibly financed, purchase would be the best time to sign up for a new card, but maybe First National Bank of Omaha, the issuer of this card, knows more than I do.

I like looking into these credit cards, which many people overlook. Is there something here worth taking advantage of? What does the Jeep Mastercard have to offer?

Jeep Rewards Mastercard

The Jeep Rewards Mastercard has undergone minor changes and offers different benefits and bonus categories from the other FCA-branded cards (Chrysler, Fiat, Ram Trucks).

a credit card with a logo and a chip

Annual Fee

No Annual Fee

Sign Up Benefit 

New customers will earn a $100 Statement Credit when they spend $100 on FCA US dealership purchases in their first billing cycle.

Cardholders also earn a $1,000 bonus certificate toward a new FCA US LLC vehicle when they spend $7,500 in the first reward year.

Spending Bonus Categories

  • 7% cash back on FCA Dealership purchases – includes parts, repairs and maintenance
  • 2% cash back on purchases everywhere else 

Foreign Transaction Fees

The Jeep Rewards Mastercard charges a 3% foreign transaction fee. When traveling outside the US, leave this card at home in favor of a card that doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees.

Redemption Options

What are your options when redeeming rewards with the Jeep Rewards Mastercard?

  • Cash Back – as a statement credit to the Account, an ACH deposit to any checking or savings account (ABA routing number required), or as a check sent by mail
  • Dealership Redemption Prepaid Mastercard (in 2,500-point increments equaling $25)
  • Travel – you can use your points to book travel (Air, Hotel and Rental Cars)
  • Gift Cards/Certificates
  • Merchandise

Rewards Expiration

Rewards earned with the card expire seven years after they are rewarded

Is it worth getting?

The Jeep Rewards Mastercard has no annual fee so you have to look to see if getting the card would keep you from getting another card and if the rewards are worth applying for the card.

What other no-annual-fee cards are available? Instead of applying for this card, you could apply for the Chase Freedom Unlimited card.

Maybe you’re over 5/24 and can’t get a new Chase card or don’t want to pay the annual fee for a card like the Sapphire Preferred. You can always get a card like the Citi Double Cash and earn 2% back on every purchase.

I can see a niche of customers for whom this card would make sense. That would be for people that spend a lot of money on official Jeep parts and accessories. Now, this isn’t the person who just spends a ton of money on their Jeep at places like the “Jeep-boree” we went to in Tennessee.

ji_scroller_3

You’d have to spend the money at the dealership. You could earn 7% back on all of those purchases. That’s a decent return but you’d need to spend a lot of money to have that one benefit make sense. And you’d also be paying dealership prices for everything which might eat up your savings.

Final Thoughts

The Jeep Rewards Mastercard isn’t as bad as some other co-brand cards I’ve seen. It’s a 2% cash-back card with additional earning potential on Jeep expenses. That’s better than almost any other no-annual-fee card.

JEEP WAVE!!!!!!!

Jeep

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