My Best Buy Visa credit card review: Strong earning rates at Best Buy and a range of financing options — but one 'benefit' could end up costing you lots of money in the long run

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$0–$59, based on creditworthiness 23.24% - 27.99% variable N/A $0–$59, based on creditworthiness 23.24% - 27.99% variable N/A
  • Pros & Cons
  • Details
  • Pros
    • Up to 6% back on Best Buy purchases
    • no interest on Best Buy purchases for up to 36 months on select purchases
    • No annual fee
    Cons
    • Rewards can only be used for Best Buy purchases
    • You will be charged interest retroactively for your entire purchase if you fail to pay off expenses during the interest-free window
    • Expensive balance transfer fee
    • The information related to the My Best Buy® Visa® Card has been collected by Business Insider and has not been reviewed by the issuer.
    • 5% back in rewards on travel purchases (offer ends 12/31/21, activation required)
    • Get 5% back in rewards (6% for Elite Plus Cardmembers) on qualifying Best Buy® purchases with Standard Credit
    • Get 3% back in rewards on gas station purchases
    • Get 2% back in rewards on restaurants, bars and grocery stores purchases
    • Get 1% back in rewards on all other purchases

    Review: Is the My Best Buy Visa Card the best credit card for you?

    When you apply for a Best Buy credit card, the one you receive will not necessarily be the one you want. There are three variants of the card, and the one Best Buy offers you is based on your credit.

    The My Best Buy® Visa® Card is the most rewarding card. It earns up to 6% on Best Buy purchases, and it comes with various financing options depending on what you're buying. You'll even earn bonus rewards for spending at gas stations, restaurants, and grocery stores. The card comes with an annual fee between $0–$59, based on creditworthiness.

    Depending on your credit, Best Buy may alternately issue the My Best Buy Credit Card, which is a store card that can only be used at Best Buy. Earnings for Best Buy spend are identical to the My Best Buy® Visa® Card .

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    The My Best Buy® Visa® Card 's up to 6% return rate is substantial — and you'll even get 10% back at Best Buy during your first day of purchases within 14 days of account opening. It also gives you the opportunity to pay off large purchases for up to three years without accruing interest.

    There are a number of downsides, however:

    • You can only redeem the card's rewards at Best Buy
    • The card implements "deferred interest" which will penalize you for not paying your balance within a specified window of time
    • You won't get purchase protection or extended warranty benefits as you will with many other credit cards — very useful coverages when purchasing expensive electronics

    If you're happy to live exclusively within the Best Buy ecosystem, this card could be worthwhile. However, there are many other cash-back credit cards that are more practical for most customers.

    For example, with the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card , you can choose online shopping as your 3% cash back category and earn that rate at BestBuy.com. You'll also earn 2% back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs (on up to $2,500 in combined purchases each quarter combined with the 3% category, then 1% back). You don't even have to spend that cash at Best Buy if you don't want to.

    Still, if you're a Best Buy power-shopper, this card may serve you well. Here's everything you need to know.

    Comparison: My Best Buy Visa vs other store cards

    $0–$59, based on creditworthiness

    $0 (with a Prime Membership)

    None

    2.5 points per dollar for Best Buy purchases (3 points per dollar after you spend $3,500 in a calendar year)*

    2.5 points per dollar on travel (ends December 31, 2021)*

    1.5 points per dollar on gas purchases*

    1 point per dollar for dining and grocery purchases*

    0.5 points per dollar on all other eligible purchases*

    10% back or more on select products**

    5% cash back at Amazon***

    5% cash back at Whole Foods***

    2% cash back at restaurants, gas stations, and drugstores

    1% cash back on everything else

    5% cash back at Walmart.com (including pickup and delivery)

    2% cash back at Walmart stores in the US and Puerto Rico, and at Walmart and Murphy USA gas stations

    2% cash back on gift cards purchased through Walmart

    2% back at restaurants and on travel

    1% cash back on all other eligible purchases

    Total of 10% back (5 points per dollar) at Best Buy during your first day of purchase within 14 days of account opening

    OR

    Limited-time 18-month financing on Best Buy purchases (ends December 26, 2021)

    $150 Amazon gift card instantly upon approval

    5% back in Walmart stores when using Walmart Pay for the first 12 months of account opening

    Fraud liability protection

    Monthly credit bureau reporting

    Secondary car rental insurance

    Baggage delay insurance

    Lost luggage reimbursement

    Travel accident insurance

    Extended warranty

    Purchase protection

    Travel and emergency assistance

    Roadside dispatch

    Access to Visa Signature Luxury Hotel Collection

    Visa Signature Concierge

    Cardholders can choose a 0% APR on purchases of $50 or more for six to 18 months (then a 14.24% to 22.24% Variable APR) instead of cash back at Amazon checkout

    No foreign transaction fees

    Purchase assurance

    Price protection

    Extended warranty

    Mastercard ID Theft Protection

    Cell phone protection****

    World Elite Mastercard Concierge****

    Identity fraud expense reimbursement****

    Travel assistance services****

    Car rental insurance****

    Travel accident insurance****

    Trip interruption/cancellation insurance****

    Baggage delay insurance****

    Lost or damaged luggage insurance****

    *Best Buy points are each worth 2% back towards Best Buy purchases
    **Limited-time offer
    ***5% cash back at Amazon and Whole Foods requires a Prime Membership and that your card is loaded to your eligible Amazon account; otherwise earn 3% back on these purchases
    ****World Elite Mastercard version only

    Citi My Best Buy Visa vs other cash-back 0% APR credit cards

    $0–$59, based on creditworthiness

    $0

    $0

    2.5 points per dollar for Best Buy purchases (3 points per dollar after you spend $3,500 in a calendar year)

    2.5 points per dollar on travel (ends December 31, 2021)

    1.5 points per dollar on gas purchases

    1 point per dollar for dining and grocery purchases

    0.5 points per dollar on all other eligible purchases

    5% cash back (5x points) on travel purchased through Ultimate Rewards

    5% cash back (5x points) on up to $1,500 in purchases each quarter in rotating bonus categories when you activate

    3% cash back (3x points) on dining and drugstore purchases

    1% cash back (1x points) on everything else

    1.5% cash back on all purchases

    Total of 10% back (5 points per dollar) at Best Buy during your first day of purchase within 14 days of account opening

    OR

    Limited-time 18-month financing on Best Buy purchases (ends December 26, 2021)

    $200 after spending $500 on purchases in the first three months from account opening

    5% cash back (5x points) at grocery stores (excluding Target and Walmart) on up to $12,000 in spending during the first year of account opening (then 1x)

    One-time $200 cash bonus once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months of account opening

    Fraud liability protection

    Monthly credit bureau reporting

    Cell phone protection

    Car rental insurance (secondary in the US, primary otherwise)

    Trip cancellation/interruption insurance

    Purchase protection

    Extended warranty

    Travel and emergency assistance services

    Extended warranty

    Travel accident insurance

    Travel assistance services

    18-month financing on storewide purchases of $499 and up (then 23.24% - 27.99% variable )

    0% APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months, then a 14.99% - 24.74% Variable APR

    0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months, then a 14.99% - 24.99% Variable

    How to earn rewards from the Best Buy credit card

    With the My Best Buy® Visa® Card , you'll earn rewards for the following purchases:

    • 5% back (2.5 points per dollar) for Best Buy purchases — or 6% back (3 points per dollar) after you achieve Best Buy Elite Plus status.
    • 5% back (2.5 points per dollar) on travel (ends December 31, 2021)
    • 3% back (1.5 points per dollar) on gas purchases
    • 2% back (1 point per dollar) for dining and grocery purchases
    • 1% back (1 point per $2 in spending) on all other eligible purchases

    You can become an Elite Plus member in two ways:

    • Making $3,500 in purchases in a calendar year with your My Best Buy® Visa® Card
    • Spending $3,500 at Best Buy with any credit card

    Also, you can choose as a welcome bonus 10% back (5 points per dollar) at Best Buy during your first day of purchase within 14 days of account opening.

    How to use Best Buy points

    The My Best Buy® Visa® Card earns points that can be used for one thing: Best Buy merchandise. Think of it as a card that earns cash back which you can only spend at Best Buy.

    Every time you earn 250 points, you'll receive a $5 certificate for Best Buy. For example, if you spent $1,000 at Best Buy with your My Best Buy® Visa® Card , you'd earn 2,500 points. That's worth $50. Just note that these certificates tend to expire after 60 days. If you're not redeeming rewards often, you may forfeit your points.

    That's a solid return for Best Buy purchases — but beyond that, these points aren't useful. You'll have to spend consistently at Best Buy for this card to be worthwhile.

    Benefits and features

    One of the biggest considerations when choosing a credit card to make large purchases is purchase protection and extended warranty coverage. The My Best Buy® Visa® Card comes with neither of these.

    If you value these insurances, here are a few of the best credit cards for purchase protection :

    Interest-free purchases (but beware)

    With the My Best Buy® Visa® Card , you'll receive special financing options for Best Buy purchases. The amount of time you have to pay off your balance without interest depends on the amount you buy, and sometimes the specific items you buy:

    12 months
    18 months
    24 months
    24 months
    24 months
    36 months (Limited-time offer, expires January 2, 2022)

    This sounds great for those who need a few billing cycles to pay off a purchase. You'll still have to make a minimum payment each month, but you won't incur any interest for the duration of the promotional period.

    However, Best Buy uses something called "deferred interest." If your purchase isn't paid in full within the specified interest-free window, Best Buy will retroactively charge you interest for the many months the balance has been hanging on your card!

    Here's a visual example Best Buy offers: If you purchase a $1,500 laptop, you'll have 24 months to pay it off. The minimum payment is $29.

    Best Buy's example of deferred interest and how it works.
    Best Buy

    If you only pay the minimum of $29 per month, you'll have paid $696 toward your balance by the end of 24 months. But because you didn't pay off your purchase, you'll be hit with $607 in retroactive interest.

    This can be a very unpleasant surprise for many customers if they aren't careful with their budget. If you know you've got a big purchase coming up and don't want to risk the effects of deferred interest, there are plenty of cards that come with lengthy 0% intro APR offers that won't apply retroactively to your balance:

    0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months (then 14.99% - 24.74% Variable)

    0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months (then 14.99% - 24.74% Variable APR)

    0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months (then 14.99% - 24.99% Variable)

    0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months (then 14.99% - 24.99% Variable)

    0% intro APR for 14 months on purchases and balance transfers (then 11.99% - 22.99% Variable)

    0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers (then 13.99% – 23.99% Variable)

    0% intro APR on purchases for 15 months from account opening (then 13.99% to 23.99% variable APR)

    Credit monitoring services

    The My Best Buy® Visa® Card also comes with credit report upkeep services like $0 fraud liability and monthly credit bureau reporting. These are common benefits, but important to keep you safe and informed.

    $0–$59, based on creditworthiness 23.24% - 27.99% variable N/A $0–$59, based on creditworthiness 23.24% - 27.99% variable N/A
  • Pros & Cons
  • Details
  • Pros
    • Up to 6% back on Best Buy purchases
    • no interest on Best Buy purchases for up to 36 months on select purchases
    • No annual fee
    Cons
    • Rewards can only be used for Best Buy purchases
    • You will be charged interest retroactively for your entire purchase if you fail to pay off expenses during the interest-free window
    • Expensive balance transfer fee
    • The information related to the My Best Buy® Visa® Card has been collected by Business Insider and has not been reviewed by the issuer.
    • 5% back in rewards on travel purchases (offer ends 12/31/21, activation required)
    • Get 5% back in rewards (6% for Elite Plus Cardmembers) on qualifying Best Buy® purchases with Standard Credit
    • Get 3% back in rewards on gas station purchases
    • Get 2% back in rewards on restaurants, bars and grocery stores purchases
    • Get 1% back in rewards on all other purchases

    Fees and costs

    Annual fee (depending on creditworthiness)

    The My Best Buy® Visa® Card comes with no annual fee. However, depending on your credit, Best Buy may charge you a $59 annual fee. You won't know until you apply.

    If you've got a good credit score , it's very unlikely you'll be charged an annual fee.

    High balance transfer fees

    This card charges a 5% balance transfer fee (minimum $15). This is higher than many cards, which usually charge 3%. Balance transfers won't benefit from any intro APR anyway, so you probably won't be doing this.

    Deferred interest is dangerous

    Again, this card offers myriad interest-free opportunities, but they all come with the massive caveat of deferred interest. If you don't pay off your balance during the interest-free period, your card balance could be stuck with several hundred dollars in retroactive interest fees.

    Read more: The best low-interest and 0% APR credit cards

    With this card, it's especially important not to buy something you can't pay off.

    Editor's Rating Editor's Rating Annual Fee $95 Featured Reward 60,000 points Credit Needed Good to Excellent Editor's Rating Editor's Rating Annual Fee $95 Featured Reward 3 free nights (each valued up to 50,000 points) after qualifying purchases and 10x total points on eligible purchases in select categories Credit Needed Good to Excellent Editor's Rating Editor's Rating Annual Fee $0 Featured Reward $200 after spending $500 on purchases in the first three months from account opening Credit Needed Good to Excellent


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