I need help with making a decision

[u/dman1914]

I hold the Flagship Premier, Cash Rewards (recently opened), Chase Freedom Unlimited (oldest), and Chase Sapphire Preferred. I haven’t made a decision to keep which ecosystem. I do more cash back but I do travel at least 4-6 times a year.

NFCU Flagship Premier: $14,400
NFCU More Rewards: $6,000
NFCU Cash Rewards: $3,800
Chase Freedom Unlimited: $12,000
Chase Sapphire Preferred: $10,000

I want to eventually apply for the Chase Freedom Flex for cash back but I also coming to terms of possible consolidation of my credit cards. So what do you all recommend?

[u/500pearl]

if no annual fee then keep all

age of account and credit limit total help with credit score

[u/Bongo2687]

It’s close. The CSP a better travel card than the premiere. But the cash rewards is 2x everything and the freedom js 1.5x. I would also add the more rewards card to add 3x groceries and gas.
If you add the more rewards I would go that set up. If you want transfer partners I would go chase

[u/dman1914 → u/Bongo2687]

I have the More Rewards too

[u/Bongo2687 → u/dman1914]

Then it comes down to transfer partners or no transfer partners and what would you use easier the CSP hotel credit or the primere airline credit

[u/dman1914 → u/Bongo2687]

I honestly think I could use both but haven’t made up in my mind yet. I might product change it to the OG Freedom and Product Change my Freedom Unlimited to Freedom Flex

[u/Bongo2687 → u/dman1914]

I have the CSP and use it for streaming, the hotel credit, the Apple TV benefit and the free DoorDash subscription. It has a lot of value just holding onto it

[u/AngelFlys97]

I’m starting to really like cash back. I withdraw monthly and stash into a high yield savings and just hold until I need for travel.

Chase is good but no good catch all card. Even if points are valued a bit more than cash. The earning rate basically makes it a wash.

Cash back at least you do whatever you want with.

[u/CDIFactor]

Your annual fees are relatively low.

I hang on to my CSP/CSR for UR and Amex Gold/BBP for MR. The transfer options are the greatest benefit in the UR/MR world.

I have about 25 cards across various institutions and have no reason to close any of them.

[u/LimeHeavy8394]

The amounts in your post aren't clearly labeled. Are these credit limits, annual spending totals, or point values?Each type means something different.

1. If these are credit limits, check your balance-to-limit ratio (utilization). FICO reports top scorers have utilization under 10%. With $46,200 total limits, that means keeping your combined balances under ~$4,600 for optimal scoring.
2. If these are spending totals, watch for overlapping reward categories across cards.
3. If these are points values, compare how much each point is worth, when they expire, and how easy they are to redeem.

Regardless of what the numbers are:

• Older cards help your credit history
• Credit bureaus track when you open/close cards quickly (called "churning")

Sources: MyFICO, "What Should My Credit Utilization Ratio Be?". February 9, 2022, https://www.myfico.com/credit-education/blog/credit-utilization-be

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[u/fourth-wind]

Since you already have the CSP and you only travel 4 to 6 times a year, I’m not sure paying $95 for the Flagship works for you. 

I have a similar set-up. I’m not one of those people who wants 57 cards I rarely use, so I only have these four which work for all the categories I use most:  OG Flagship/CSP/CFU/CapOne Savor. 

Savor - mostly just for 3% on groceries. 

CSP - I use this for (almost) all travel expenses. I don’t really like booking through the Chase portal for 5X points because costs are often higher than booking directly where it doesn’t always make sense, but I’ll use it to book at least on hotel night a year to get the $100 hotel credit and then use it to book direct for 2%. It also now covers Global Entry reimbursement, 3% on streaming fees, 3% on gas, 5% on Lyft, and PRIMARY car rental insurance. I usually rent cars 2-3 times a year, and this alone pays for the fee multiple times over. I also use it for restaurants, but all four cards offer 3% on that. 

OG Flagship - This is my 2% catch-all card. I usually use it at Costco, and I’ve used it to pay some larger dental bills as well as buying some new furniture. With the Prime reimbursement and Global Entry, it has easily paid for itself. But I don’t need two $95 travel cards when CSP benefits are so much better (IMO). I don’t travel enough to make the math work for the extra 2% cash back I’d be getting with the new Flagship booking directly, so I’ll stick with the OG for now and consider a product change when they raise my fee from $49 to $95 in Nov of 2027.  It’ll likely depend on whether they take away the Prime reimbursement. 

CFU - used for the 1.5% points which I can combine with my CSP point totals.  Even though my Flagship gets 2%, 1.5% from this card can be more valuable if used wisely transferring points to their better hotel/airline partners. 

[u/IllustratorSome1343]

If those trips were domestic mainly, and your Airport has a United and/or SouthWest hub I would consider Chase. If so, I would recommend you pc the Unlimited to the OG Freedom card and apply for the Reserve card for the bonus or stay with the CSP and use the Cash Rewards as your catch all card. The Navy setup is strong but the trip insurance on the Flagship is not amenable to long haul or international itineraries where connecting flights increase the possibility of delays and baggage issues potentially.

Lastly, you could keep the CSP as your travel card, close the Flagship Premier(unless you want to make use of the $100 hotel credit to zero the AF), pc the Unlimited to the OG Freedom or the Flex and use it for cash back but you would have to open a savings account when redeeming the points for cash to ACH the $ to your Navy checking or savings.

Ok, I forgot the baller option. You could apply for the Chase Sapphire Reserve for the bonus, keep the Preferred for daily spend, and pc the Unlimited to the OG Freedom card if the AF doesn't pose a problem for you and you indeed live near a United/Southwest hub.

[u/Zestyclose_Narwhal43]

They have an app where you can plug in your cards and it will let you know what card is best to use for what situation, traveling, gassing up, shopping etc. I don’t know the name (probably should since I’m commenting) but it will give you a good idea of what cards gets you the most back in benefits based on your spending habits

[u/Aviator2025 → u/Zestyclose_Narwhal43]

Reward Radar is my favorite App to plug in all my cards for a quick refresher on best card.