| Balance Transfer Rating: | 2.9 / 5 |
| Introductory Offer: | 2.9 |
| Net Value: | 1.8 |
| Features: | 3.0 |
| Customer Experience | 1.0 |
In a Nutshell:
With a 15-month introductory period for balance transfers and a decent rewards rate, the SunTrust Travel Rewards card offers good value as a balance transfer card.
0% Introductory Period |  |
Transfer Fee |  |
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Customer Experience
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Other Notable Features: $100 statement credit every 5 years for global entry and TSA precheck fees, no foreign-transaction fee, car rental insurance, extended warranty, roadside assistance, trip cancellation/interruption insurance
| Cash Back Rating: | 2.3 / 5 |
| Rewards Value: | 0.3 |
| Annual Percentage Rate: | 3.4 |
| Rewards Flexibility: | 4.2 |
| Features: | 3.0 |
| Customer Experience | 1.0 |
In a Nutshell:
With a low APR and a triple point bonus on airfare, hotels and car rental purchases, this is a good card to use for travel; however, don’t count on using it for everyday purchases since you won’t get much value out of the card once you return home.
Rewards Rate
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Sign-up Bonus | |
Annual Bonus | |
Annual Fee | |
Average Yearly Rewards Value ($1,325 monthly spend) | |
APR | |
Rewards Redemption
Cons
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Customer Experience
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Other Notable Features: $100 statement credit every 5 years for global entry and TSA precheck fees, no foreign-transaction fee, car rental insurance, extended warranty, roadside assistance, trip cancellation/interruption insurance
| Low Interest Rating: | 1.9 / 5 |
| Rates, Fees, Penalties: | 1.7 |
| Rewards: | 1.5 |
| Features: | 3.0 |
| Customer Experience | 1.0 |
In a Nutshell:
The SunTrust travel card features a low APR and a long 15-month 0-percent introductory period for balance transfers, but unfortunately doesn’t include a 0-percent APR for new purchases and charges a high annual fee to boot.
Regular APR | |
Introductory Purchase APR | |
Introductory Balance Transfer APR | |
Fees
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Penalties
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Customer Experience
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Other Notable Features: $100 statement credit every 5 years for global entry and TSA precheck fees, no foreign-transaction fee, car rental insurance, extended warranty, roadside assistance, trip cancellation/interruption insurance
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Designed for cardholders who like to roam the globe, the SunTrust Travel Rewards card is nice to have if you spend a lot of money on travel. The card offers 3 percent cash back on travel purchases and 1 percent cash back on everything else.
It also has some pretty favorable terms for transferring a balance. The card gives you 15 months to pay off a balance with zero percent interest, which is better than average for an introductory period.
Long introductory period
The 15-month introductory period for balance transfers is on par with the best introductory offers, which last between 15 and 21 months.
Low APR
The APR, which ranges between 13.24 and 23.24 percent, is fairly low for a card that offers a rewards program and a zero percent balance transfer offer. The average APR of the balance transfer cards currently stands around 16 percent, while rewards cards average an even higher 17 percent.
Good rewards for frequent travelers
On the plus side, the Travel Rewards card offers a decent return on spending for frequent travelers. Cardholders are awarded 3 percent cash back on airfare, hotels and car rentals; 2 percent cash back on dining and 1 percent cash back on general purchases. There is also a substantial $250 bonus if you sign up for the card and manage to spend $3,000 in the first three months.
Unfortunately, the bonus rate is restricted to the travel category, which covers a narrow range of travel purchases. If purchases on hotels, airfare and car rentals constitute a large portion your budget, the SunTrust Travel Rewards card could be a good fit for you. However, if you spend more on other items (for instance, gas and groceries), or your budget is disbursed across a variety of spending categories, you will likely be better off searching for a cash-back card that more closely fits your spending patterns.
Large annual fee
The main drawback of the card is the annual fee. At $89, it is on the high side for a balance transfer card. Many premium rewards cards, which come with high annual fees, also come with colossal sign-up bonuses, high rewards rates and premium perks. SunTrust can’t quite compete with these cards.
The high fee probably makes it impractical for value-minded cardholders who are looking to cut costs on a revolving balance. The card may offer the greatest appeal to two types of cardholders: those who spend a large portion of their budget on travel, and those want to transfer a balance or finance a new purchase at zero percent, and are hoping to find a card that offers valuable rewards and benefits once the introductory period expires.
Some good travel perks
The SunTrust Travel Rewards card also comes with a respectable list of travel benefits. The card offers car rental insurance and trip cancellation and interruption insurance. It also offers no fee on foreign transactions, making it a solid card for travel purchases both domestically and abroad.
Why get the SunTrust Travel Rewards card?
- You spend a large portion of your income on travel.
- You want to transfer a large balance at 0 percent.
- You’re already a SunTrust Bank customer and want a card with the same bank.
How to use the SunTrust Travel Rewards card:
- Use the card when traveling abroad to take advantage of the 0 percent foreign-transaction fee.
- Calculate how much you need to spend each month to pay off your transferred balance in a year and then try to pay more than that until your balance is cleared.
- To avoid paying an above-average interest rate, pay off all your new purchases in full after the end of the card’s promotion.
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