Best Western Credit Cards Relaunch With New Benefits

Earn a bonus, ongoing rewards, automatic elite status and other perks.

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Published · 1 min read
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Written by Sara Rathner
Senior Writer/Spokesperson
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Edited by Kenley Young
Assigning Editor
Fact Checked

The Best Western credit cards — previously issued by the First National Bank of Omaha (FNBO), but closed to new applicants — are back with new benefits and a new issuer.

The Best Western Rewards® Visa Signature® Card and the Best Western Rewards® Premium Visa Signature® Card are now issued by First Bank & Trust and managed by financial technology company Mercury Financial.

Each card offers rewards on Best Western stays and other purchases. In addition, you'll get travel and cell phone protection, elite status and sign-up bonuses. However, the bonus offer amount you can qualify for may vary. You can check to see whether you’re preapproved for the cards without affecting your credit, and if so, you’ll see what bonus you’re eligible for.

How the cards compare
Best Western Rewards® Visa Signature® Card
Best Western Rewards® Visa Signature® Card
Best Western Rewards® Premium Visa Signature® Card
Best Western Rewards® Premium Visa Signature® Card
Annual fee
$0
$89
Sign-up bonus

Bonus points offer of 10,000 to 40,000 points with qualifying spend. You’ll see your bonus points offer before you apply.

Bonus points offer of 20,000 to 80,000 points with qualifying spend. You’ll see your bonus points offer before you apply.

Rewards
  • 14 points per $1 on Best Western stays and purchases: 10 points as a Best Western Rewards member, 4 points for using the card. (The Best Western Rewards program is free to join.)

  • 2 points per $1 on all other purchases.

  • 20 points per $1 on Best Western stays and purchases: 10 points as a Best Western Rewards member, 10 points for using the card.

  • 4 points per $1 at gas stations and grocery stores.

  • 2 points per $1 on all other purchases.

Elite status

Automatic Gold status, which includes:

  • 10% bonus points per stay.

  • Exclusive reservation line.

  • No blackout dates.

Automatic Platinum status, which includes:

  • 15% bonus points per stay.

  • Exclusive reservation line.

  • No blackout dates.

  • Early check-in and late check-out.

Other benefits
  • Earn 10,000 bonus points when you spend $5,000 in a year.

  • Cell phone protection.

  • Reimbursement for trip cancellations, interruptions and delays.

  • Earn up to two free night awards: one after your cardmember anniversary, and another after your cardmember anniversary when you spend $10,000 that year.

  • Cell phone protection.

  • Reimbursement for trip cancellations, interruptions and delays.

Still not sure?

NerdWallet values Best Western points at about 0.6 cent each. You can redeem Best Western points for hotel bookings, gift cards, airline miles and more. You must redeem at least 5,000 points, and point values can vary based on how you use them.

What changed?

In short, not much is different for the $0-annual-fee version of the Best Western credit card, beyond a slight bump in rewards for staying with Best Western. But it's a different story for the more expensive Best Western Rewards® Premium Visa Signature® Card, which did indeed get some notable and valuable improvements.

For one thing, that version of the card now earns extra rewards on gas and groceries, which previously earned only the card's base rate of 2x back. More importantly, the premium version also now offers a free anniversary night, as well as the chance to earn a second one — perks that can easily offset that card's annual fee.

Hotel Cards from Our Partners
IHG® One Rewards Premier Credit Card

on Chase's website

IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card
5.0
NerdWallet Rating
Rewards rate

1x-26x

Earn up to 26 total points per $1 spent when you stay at IHG Hotels & Resorts. Earn 5 points per $1 spent on purchases on travel, at gas stations, and restaurants. Earn 3 points per $1 spent on all other purchases.

Points

Intro offer

140,000

Earn 140,000 Bonus Points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

Points
World Of Hyatt Credit Card

on Chase's website

World of Hyatt Credit Card
5.0
NerdWallet Rating
Rewards rate

1x-9x

Earn up to 9 points total for Hyatt stays – 4 Bonus Points per $1 spent on qualified purchases at Hyatt hotels & up to 5 Base Points per $1 from Hyatt as a World of Hyatt member. Earn 2 Bonus Points per $1 spent at restaurants, on airlines tickets purchased directly from the airlines, on local transit and commuting and on fitness club and gym memberships.

Points

Intro offer

Up to 60,000 Points

Earn up to 60,000 Bonus Points. Earn 30,000 Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening. Plus, up to 30,000 More Bonus Points by earning 2 Bonus Points total per $1 spent in the first 6 months from account opening on purchases that normally earn 1 Bonus Point, on up to $15,000 spent.

Points
See more hotel cards

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