It’s been a long time since I wrote a credit card.
I almost forgot that I was once a blogger who researched on credit cards. I guess you have also forgotten that Xiyoujun used to be pretty good at writing credit cards.
The main reason is that credit cards are really in decline.
If you think about it, it has been a long time since you took out a credit card to swipe something. Anyway, the last time I swiped a physical card was in Macau in September last year.
Ant Huabei and JD Baitiao have taken up a lot of space that originally belonged to credit cards. Not because of how good their functions are, but because they are convenient enough.
But no matter what, I will still take stock of the credit cards worth recommending at the beginning of every year.
Let’s first talk about the current status of several credit cards
1) The appearance of credit cards is becoming less and less important
At present, Alipay, WeChat Pay, UnionPay QuickPass, and Apple Pay are all very convenient, but behind these are actually credit cards. But physical cards are really becoming less and less important.
This is actually a big change. I used to really apply for a credit card because of Centurion’s appearance, but now you have no chance to use this card.
2) The number of credit cards on hand is decreasing
The China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission has released new credit card regulations. In 2022, major banks are bound to impose no-annual-fee cards. Make reductions. This is not only true for banks, but also for individuals, the number of credit cards on hand will be greatly reduced.
I think 3-5 credit cards are enough for one person.
Having too many cards will cause certain difficulties in managing the cards and lead to the risk of overdue cards. At the same time, some credit cards will require N transactions per year to waive the annual fee. It would be a tragedy if you forget.
Take Xiyoujun himself as an example. I currently have three (four) cards in my hand.
China Merchants Bank Diamond, Shanghai Pudong Development Bank Super White, and Bank of Communications World Elite Card (because it is a MasterCard single-label card, a UnionPay Kirin White card was issued as a package). That's why I said, I only have three (four) cards in my hand.
It can be seen that the main function of these cards is for hotels and airport VIP lounges. At the same time, the money swiped can be easily converted into airline miles.
It’s not about having too many cards, it’s about being precise.
Don’t blindly pursue annual fee exemption. My own card configuration is actually to spend money to buy benefits. This is often good.
3) The credit card market will become more and more segmented
For example, China Construction Bank’s Dragon Card car card allows you to wash your car once a week, and then redeem your points for Those with gas jams can also enjoy roadside assistance.
Everbright Xiaoxin Platinum provides 8 expert appointment registrations and full accompanying medical appointments throughout the year, as well as 2 free teeth cleanings, all for the sake of your health.
The Shangri-La Card offers 15% off on Shangri-la dining, 10% off on hotel stays, and can be exchanged for Shangri-La points, making it a perfect place to stay at Shangri-La.
......
4) Major banks are paying more and more attention to their own APPs
Major banks They all have their own credit card-specific apps. You can use these apps more often, which is a lot of tricks.
For example, on the China Merchants Bank Mobile Life APP, there is a 50% discount on meal tickets every Wednesday; when buying movie tickets on the Puda Xiben APP, they are often 1-2 yuan cheaper than Maoyan and Taopiaopiao; Bank of Communications pays the bill Ba APP can occasionally offer discounts when eating in shopping malls.
Next, let’s talk about credit cards
What is the essence of credit cards?
A credit card is a credit product, that is, a bank loan A credit fund is given to the cardholder, and the money spent must be paid back. However, credit cards have a certain interest-free period, which allows cardholders to use the funds in the credit card free of charge during the interest-free period.
So why do we use credit cards?
The core appeal is to save money. Spend your future money, after all, credit cards have interest-free periods.
In addition, many credit cards offer cash rebates when swiping cards overseas. For example, my ultra-white product has a 10% cashback overseas, and I got a 10% discount when shopping in Macau.
Secondly, for the sake of rights and interests
There are still many rights and interests of credit cards, including free CIP (CIP is an exclusive airport channel), hotels, delay insurance, Roadside assistance, driving services, appointment registration, airport pick-up and drop-off...
Used properly, it can improve your happiness.
How to find the right credit card for you?
It should match your own needs
For example, if you rarely go abroad, it is not a waste to get an overseas cashback card. If you don’t have many business travel needs, CIP and airport transfer may not be suitable for you.
If you love life, budget wisely. 10% off on gas and 55% off on supermarkets may be more suitable for you than free hotels and airline miles.
If you like to have dinner parties, CMB’s 50% off meal tickets every Wednesday may be a blessing for you.
There is also the Agricultural Bank of China’s Essence White, which is really good for hospital registration.
There is no good or bad credit card, only whether it is suitable for you.
Ant Huabei and JD Baitiao are not good substitutes for credit cards
They are really just convenient and can meet the basic functions of credit cards (credit products) ), but the difference from credit cards in terms of high-end benefits is still quite big.
I myself will use Huabei in specific scenarios (hoarding Fliggy house coupons, no repayment unless written off). But most of the time, although Alipay and WeChat are used to pay, the quick payment is still bound to a credit card.
There is really no need to apply for low-end cards
The more low-end the cards, such as game co-branded cards and shopping and supermarket co-branded cards, the later limit increases and Comprehensive financing is more difficult. Try to apply for mid- to high-end cards as soon as you apply.
Otherwise, you really might as well use Huabei and Baitiao.
In fact, it is not difficult to get mid-to-high-end cards. For example, in Hangzhou, with Alibaba’s work permit, it is basically not difficult to apply for China Merchants Bank Classic White.
In 2022, let’s talk about which credit cards I would recommend.
The focus is still on credit cards suitable for travel. This article is my own personal recommendation without any soft implants. You can read it with confidence.
No annual fee (or points can be used to offset the annual fee)
Ping An Good Car Owners Credit Card
12% off on designated gas purchases (the maximum monthly gas bonus is 100 yuan), you can also wash your car 48 times a year for 8.8 yuan, and drive for free twice a year
Credit card introduction:
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Bank of Communications Standard Platinum Card (Bai Qilin) ??
6 times at the Longteng VIP Lounge, 6 times at the Ward Airport VIP Lounge, 6 times as a drunk driver , Air ticket delay insurance. 18 to 1, exchange miles for the four major airlines
The annual fee is waived for swiping the card in the first year (3 transactions within 45 days and each transaction exceeds 168 yuan), and 250,000 points are exchanged for the annual fee in the following year.
Credit card introduction:
/creditcard/cards/20180710_1531211763.html
Shanghai Pudong Development Bank American Express Super Platinum Credit Card (Super White)
Unlimited airport VIP lounges, 10% cash back on overseas offline purchases, 4 free hotel nights per year, 8 airport transfers, delay insurance, and global emergency rescue.
Free hotel fitness, 6 free movie tickets every month.
600,000 points per year can be used to offset the annual fee.
Ultra White is much more difficult to download than the ones above.
Credit card introduction:
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Spend money to buy benefits
China Merchants Bank Diamond Credit Card (annual fee 3600)
4 free child air tickets per year, unlimited CIP (you can also bring one for free), 6 times 300 selected hotel privileges, 1 physical examination or 2 times Chinese medicine consultation, 1 dental cleaning, 12 golf driving range visits, travel delay insurance...
4 children's air tickets per year are worth the annual fee of 3,600. This card is simply the king of parent-child relationships.
Credit card introduction:
/ccard/vip/diamond/index.html
Bank of Communications World Elite Card (annual fee 4,800 yuan or 1.2 million points can be deducted. Generally, you choose to pay an annual fee because the value of 1.2 million points is higher than 4,800 yuan)
Airport VIP lounge, unlimited times throughout the year, can bring 3 people at a time; every year 4 free hotel nights; 12 drinking and driving trips per year; delay insurance; 24 free star hotel swimming/fitness, yoga, equestrian, and skating trips throughout the year.
Credit card introduction:
m.com/content/dam/pc/mkt/sjzj/index.html
Summary:
Be sure to match your needs and choose a credit card that suits you.
You must make subtractions. Credit cards should be refined rather than too many.
Keep high-end cards as much as possible, and get rid of some low-end and mid-range cards that are not so useful. Spending money to buy rights is actually quite good.
Finding a good job will help you apply for a variety of good credit cards.
Finally, here is a New Year’s photo of Jinshan Mountain, which I took at Hyatt Regency Lijiang.
In the new year, everyone should be prosperous.