AGR FNBO Credit Card discussion 2023 H2 -2024

Advertise with us
shop deals on amazon
Shop deals on ebay
Amtrak Unlimited Discussion Forum

Help Support Amtrak Unlimited Discussion Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.
Good experiences with FNBO so far, The .025-.027 value of the points is a good return especially if you add in the Amtrak points rebate at the time of purchase and the coupons on your AGR account. The only issue these days is that Amtrak LD sleeper trips are getting quite expensive and require loads of points to book.
 
It depends on the age of your account and what your credit limit is. Transactions that add up to more than your credit limit in one month is considered suspicious, especially if it's a new account. That's even if the current balance never goes over the limit.

People who get a card with a spend bonus frequently get bitten by this, especially if there's a low limit. They get a $2000 limit and try to push through $5000 in in one month.
 
alanh said:
It depends on the age of your account and what your credit limit is. Transactions that add up to more than your credit limit in one month is considered suspicious, especially if it's a new account. That's even if the current balance never goes over the limit.

People who get a card with a spend bonus frequently get bitten by this, especially if there's a low limit. They get a $2000 limit and try to push through $5000 in in one month.
Click to expand...
This is the correct answer. It's called credit cycling and definitely raises red flags. If you have a longer or in-depth relationship with the bank, then credit cycling probably won't affect you.
 
Not sure if this is targeted, but I just got the following promo from Amtrak and FBNO. I have the $99 Amtrak card.

"Between August 9, 2024 and October 31, 2024 enjoy earning 3X bonus points1 on streaming services when you pay with your Amtrak Guest Rewards® Mastercard®."
 
diesteldorf said:
Not sure if this is targeted, but I just got the following promo from Amtrak and FBNO. I have the $99 Amtrak card.

"Between August 9, 2024 and October 31, 2024 enjoy earning 3X bonus points1 on streaming services when you pay with your Amtrak Guest Rewards® Mastercard®."
Click to expand...
I got that, but I'm already getting a good cashback on streaming on another card.

I think they're hoping that you'll switch your streaming payments to them for the 2-month bonus, and then not bother to switch them back.
 
You're definitely right about them hoping you forget to switch.....and I know some US Bank cards give a bonus if you charge 11 consecutive months of streaming. Of course, if there is any interruption the bonus is forfeited.

If you already have the Chase Sapphire Preferred that offers 3X on streaming by default.
 
diesteldorf said:
Not sure if this is targeted, but I just got the following promo from Amtrak and FBNO. I have the $99 Amtrak card.

"Between August 9, 2024 and October 31, 2024 enjoy earning 3X bonus points1 on streaming services when you pay with your Amtrak Guest Rewards® Mastercard®."
Click to expand...
We signed up for a couple of streaming services when they had heavily-discounted rates (like $0.99-$1.99/month) during Christmas/New Year's. If we were to switch to using our AGR Mastercard for those services, perhaps we'd lose the discounted rate?
 
diesteldorf said:
Has anyone had any luck downgrading from the $99 card to the no-fee card? I was told previously by an FBNO rep that they won't do this and each card must be applied for separately.
Click to expand...
I was told recently by FNBO that I would have to reapply for the no fee card. Since I do not travel as much as I used to travel, I decided to cancel the premium card. I was told to wait a few days before applying for the no-fee card. I waited over a week and applied today. I unfroze my credit temporarily and I was approved within minutes with a credit limit slightly higher than my credit limit on my premium card.
 
pennyk said:
I was told recently by FNBO that I would have to reapply for the no fee card. Since I do not travel as much as I used to travel, I decided to cancel the premium card. I was told to wait a few days before applying for the no-fee card. I waited over a week and applied today. I unfroze my credit temporarily and I was approved within minutes with a credit limit slightly higher than my credit limit on my premium card.
Click to expand...
I learned another lesson with FNBO the hard way earlier this year. I had the premium card already and wanted to get the 40k point bonus promotion.

I flew too close to the sun, thinking I could be clever and cancel that card and reapply a couple of weeks later. I was rejected because I already had the base card.

I pulled this gambit successfully with BofA a few years ago, but FNBO has a different approach.
 
PaTrainFan said:
I learned another lesson with FNBO the hard way earlier this year. I had the premium card already and wanted to get the 40k point bonus promotion.

I flew too close to the sun, thinking I could be clever and cancel that card and reapply a couple of weeks later. I was rejected because I already had the base card.

I pulled this gambit successfully with BofA a few years ago, but FNBO has a different approach.
Click to expand...
Did you already have the basic and premium card prior to the migration from BOA to FBNO, or did you acquire one or both directly from FBNO?

Just curious. It'll be interesting if you ever really "want" the premium card. Will they tell you to cancel your basic card, with the potential of NOT being approved for the premium and NOT having any AGR card.

Part of me is curious, because, while I'm currently happy with the premium card and will keep it, applying for the no-fee card would allow me to maintain my relationship with FBNO if I ever cancel my premium Amtrak and premium Best Western cards.
 
diesteldorf said:
Did you already have the basic and premium card prior to the migration from BOA to FBNO, or did you acquire one or both directly from FBNO?

Just curious. It'll be interesting if you ever really "want" the premium card. Will they tell you to cancel your basic card, with the potential of NOT being approved for the premium and NOT having any AGR card.

Part of me is curious, because, while I'm currently happy with the premium card and will keep it, applying for the no-fee card would allow me to maintain my relationship with FBNO if I ever cancel my premium Amtrak and premium Best Western cards.
Click to expand...
I already had both the premium and basic card with BofA which converted to FNBO. For other reasons, I am not going to risk cancelling my current card to try again for the premium, for fear that for some technicality I'll be aced out.
 
Just a comment: I have never experienced customer service, at least in the financial services industry, as efficient as FNBO.

Almost anytime I call, morning, late afternoon, whenever, invariably someone comes on before the recording "Your estimated wait time is ..." completes.

With BOA, it could be a half hour or more. Plus, their people are pleasant to deal with and generally very quick to act on issues.

At least, this is my experience. YMMV.
 
PaTrainFan said:
Just a comment: I have never experienced customer service, at least in the financial services industry, as efficient as FNBO.

Almost anytime I call, morning, late afternoon, whenever, invariably someone comes on before the recording "Your estimated wait time is ..." completes.

With BOA, it could be a half hour or more. Plus, their people are pleasant to deal with and generally very quick to act on issues.

At least, this is my experience. YMMV.
Click to expand...
Second all that. Their Customer Service all seem to make a genuine effort to help in finding solutions and are "Midwest Nice" in the bargain. BoA agents all seemed just stuck on their scripts. I have the strong feeling that FNBO empowers their agents more than BoA.
 
I just received an Unsolicited "Upgrade" from the Regular AGR MC to the "World Card" with an Increase in the Credit Limit .

No mention of an Annual Fee, so I'm wondering if this is happening to everyone with FNBO AGR Cards since so many Banks are cutting back on the Number of Cards they offer???

As for Customer Service, I've never had such helpful and friendly service from CS Agents in my over 60 years of dealing with Credit Card Companies including Chase,BOA, American Express,Diners Club ( remember them?)etc etc.
 
Bob Dylan said:
I just received an Unsolicited "Upgrade" from the Regular AGR MC to the "World Card" with an Increase in the Credit Limit .

No mention of an Annual Fee, so I'm wondering if this is happening to everyone with FNBO AGR Cards since so many Banks are cutting back on the Number of Cards they offer???

As for Customer Service, I've never had such helpful and friendly service from CS Agents in my over 60 years of dealing with Credit Card Companies including Chase,BOA, American Express,Diners Club ( remember them?)etc etc.
Click to expand...
"World Card" is a Master Card designation; it has no impact on AGR benefits.

World Card allegedly has more benefits than a standard Master Card, but if you look at the Guide to Benefits on the FNBO website, there's nothing there to write home about.
 
About six months ago I got a new AGR car in the mail, I didn't ask for it and it had the same number and expiration date as the old one. I called FNBO and they said I had been upgraded by Mastercard, but that my wife would not get a new card until the expiration date in 2028. I am not sure what the new benefits are, but it really isn't making much of a difference to me. Last month I had a questionable charge on my card, the immediately called me, froze the card, issued both of us new ones so now my wife also has whatever this enhanced card is. All around good customer service.
 

Latest posts

Back
Top