Discover cards are currently not available on CNBC Select and links have been redirected to our credit card marketplace where you can review offers from other issuers like American Express or Chase. You can also check out our list of best credit cards for alternative options.
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more
The best travel credit cards typically require a good to excellent credit score (670+), but the Credit One Bank® Wander® American Express® Card with Dining, Gas & Travel Rewards stands out for accepting applicants with fair or average credit (scores 580+).
The card offers market-leading rewards rates and valuable perks like return protection and travel accident insurance but lacks a welcome bonus. Below, CNBC Select takes a deeper look at the Credit One Bank Wander American Express Card and compares it to similar cards, so you can decide if it's right for you.
Credit One Bank® Wander® American Express® Card with Dining, Gas & Travel Rewards
Rewards
10% cash back rewards on eligible hotel and car rentals booked using the Credit One Bank travel partner, 5% cash back rewards on eligible dining, gas, & travel purchases. 1% cash back rewards on all other purchases, terms apply
Welcome bonus
No current offer
Annual fee
$95
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
29.74%* Variable
Balance transfer fee
N/A
Foreign transaction fee
None
Credit needed
Fair to Good credit
See rates and fees. Terms apply.
Pros
- Great return on travel purchases
- Available to those with average credit
Cons
- High APR
- No welcome bonus
Credit One Bank Wander American Express Card review
Compare credit repair options
Welcome bonus
Unlike many travel credit cards, the Credit One Bank Wander American Express Card does not have a welcome bonus.
Benefits and perks
The Credit One Bank Wander American Express Card is geared toward people who love to travel but may not have the highest credit scores.
In addition to building your credit history, you can enjoy several added benefits:
- Return protection: If you try to return an eligible item within 90 days of the purchase date and are rejected by a merchant's return policy, Amex will refund you the full purchase price, up to $300 per item, up to $1,000 annually.
- Extended warranty: Tacks on up to one additional year of coverage for eligible manufacturers' warranties of 12 months or less.
- Retail protection: If an eligible item is damaged or stolen within 90 days of purchase, you could be covered for up to $1,000 per loss and a total of $50,000 per cardholder account per 12-month period.
- Travel accident insurance: Provides up to $150,000 in accidental death or dismemberment insurance while traveling when the entire fare was charged to your card.
- Car rental loss and damage insurance: Up to $50,000 in secondary car rental coverage to protect against damage or theft.
- Exclusive rental car perks: You can receive up to 15% off rental car rates at SIXT, Hertz, and Avis.
- Automatic credit line increases: You may be eligible for credit line increases based on your overall credit performance.
- Free Experian IdentityWorks membership: Experian IdentityWorks can help you monitor and protect your credit score, and alert you of suspicious activity.
- Amex Offers: Receive discounts at participating merchants, such as restaurants, clothing stores and hotels, when you meet spending requirements and other terms. Offers vary by location and change frequently. Enrollment required.
Pro tip: Return protection is typically only available with premium credit cards with higher annual fees, so it's a great perk to have.
The free Experian IdentityWorks membership is valued at $120 annually, so this perk can go a long way in helping to offset the card's annual fee. In addition to credit monitoring, you'll get dark web internet surveillance alerts, social security number trace alerts, up to $500,000 in identity theft insurance and more.
Experian IdentityWorks℠
Cost
Basic: Free; Premium: 7-day trial, after $24.99 per month; Family: 7-day trial, after $34.99 per month
Credit bureaus monitored
1-bureau credit monitoring, alerts and reports: Experian, with Basic plan only and 3-bureau credit monitoring, alerts and reports: Experian, Equifax and TransUnion®, with Premium and Family plans only
Credit scoring model used
FICO® Score 8, with all plans
Dark web scan
Yes, with all plans
Identity theft insurance
Yes, up to $1 million with all plans
Terms apply.
*Identity Theft Insurance underwritten by insurance company subsidiaries or affiliates of American International Group, Inc. (AIG). The description herein is a summary and intended for informational purposes only and does not include all terms, conditions and exclusions of the policies described. Please refer to the actual policies for terms, conditions, and exclusions of coverage. Coverage may not be available in all jurisdictions.
Rewards
Earning
The Credit One Bank Wander American Express Card earns Wander Rewards at the following rates:
- 10% cash back rewards on eligible hotel and car rental purchases booked through the Credit One Bank travel partner
- 5% cash back rewards on eligible travel
- 5% cash back rewards on dining credits
- 5% cash back rewards on gas
- 1% cash back rewards on all other purchases
Terms apply.
While you need to book through the Credit One Bank travel partner site to earn the elevated return on hotels and car rentals, earning 5% cash back rewards on all other travel is incredible and outshines most other travel rewards cards. Plus, 5% cash back rewards is one of the highest returns you'll find for dining and gas purchases.
Redeeming
Wander Rewards can be redeemed for cash-back, travel, gift cards and merchandise.
Each Wander Rewards point is worth one cent when redeemed for statement credits. Redemptions for statement credits must be done in 1,000-point increments, which equals $10. So, at a minimum, you're essentially earning 1% to 10% cash back on your purchases with this card.
Other redemption values are less clear-cut and are calculated at the time of redemption. This can make it more difficult to plan certain redemptions in advance, but if you treat this as a cash-back card and always redeem for statement credits, this shouldn't affect you.
It's also worth noting that if you want to redeem for travel, you must do so through Credit One Bank's travel portal. For greater flexibility, you'll want to redeem your rewards for cashback and then use that cash to book your travel directly with the airlines or hotels.
Rates and fees
The Credit One Bank Wander American Express Card has a $95 annual fee and a 29.74%* variable APR on purchases. The card charges no foreign transaction fees, making it a good choice for traveling internationally, and late or returned payment fees of up to $39.
Alternatives to the Credit One Wander Card
The Credit One Bank Wander American Express Card is a great travel card for those building their credit score. The card has a strong rewards program and a modest annual fee, but no welcome bonus. We analyzed three other options to see how they compare.
Credit One Wander Card vs. Discover it® Secured Credit Card
Information about Discover cards has been collected independently by CNBC Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer prior to publication.
The Discover it® Secured Credit Card could be a good fit if you're looking for a credit card that can help you build credit while still earning rewards.
The card gets an edge for not having an annual fee, but unlike the Wander Card, the Discover it Secured Credit Card is a secured card, which means you'll need a security deposit to open the card. Starting with your seventh month of card membership, Discover will automatically review your account to see if you are eligible for an upgrade to an unsecured card.
It earns 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter and 1% cash back on all other purchases. Plus, as a welcome bonus for new cardmembers, Discover will match the cash back you earn during the first year with no minimum spending requirement or cap on the match.
As with the Wander Card, it has no foreign transaction fees.
Learn more: Discover it® Secured card
Credit One Wander Card vs. Capital One Savor Student Cash Rewards Credit Card
The Capital One Savor Student Cash Rewards Credit Card is a card designed for students with rewards rates that match many of the top cash-back credit cards.
- High cash-back rates for common student expenses, such as groceries, dining and entertainment
- No annual fee
- No foreign transaction fees
- High APR
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Earn unlimited 3% cash back at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), on dining, entertainment and popular streaming services, plus 1% on all other purchases
- Early Spend Bonus: For a limited-time, earn $100 when you spend $300 in the first three months
- Enjoy peace of mind with $0 Fraud Liability so that you won't be responsible for unauthorized charges
- Enjoy no annual fee, foreign transaction fees, or hidden fees
- Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- Earn up to $500 a year by referring friends and family when they're approved for a Capital One credit card
- Earn 8% cash back on entertainment purchases when you book through the Capital One Entertainment portal
- Build your credit with responsible card use
- Whether you're at a 4-year university, community college or other higher education institution, this card might be an option for you
- Top rated mobile app
Balance transfer fee
4% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer to you
If you're a student, you may want to consider the Capital One Savor Student Cash Rewards Credit Card for its lack of an annual fee, useful bonus spending categories and welcome bonus.
It earns a respectable 8% back on Capital One Entertainment purchases, 5% back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 3% back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart and Target) and 1% back on everything else.
As with the Wander Card, the Capital One Savor Student offers no foreign transaction fees, extended warranty and travel accident insurance.
Learn more: Capital One Savor Student Cash Rewards Credit Card
Self Credit Builder Account
Self Credit Builder Account
Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
15.51% to 15.92
Loan purpose
Building credit history
Loan amounts
Payment options ranging from 25$ to 150$ a month.
Terms
24 months
Credit needed
Poor or no credit
Origination fee
N/A
Early payoff penalty
Early withdrawal fee of less than $1, depending on the size of your Credit Builder Account, if your account closes early without being paid off in full
Late fee
Late fee of up to 5% of the monthly payment amount if you don't make the full monthly payment on your Credit Builder Account within 15 days of the payment due date
Terms apply.
If your goal is simply to improve your credit, the Self Credit Builder Account may be able to help. It isn't a credit card but rather a loan that's held in a certificate of deposit (CD). You make monthly payments toward this loan, which are reported to the three major credit bureaus, and once you've paid off the loan you get your money back minus any interest or fees. This is a great way for those with poor no credit at all to access tools that can help them build up their finances.
Learn more: Self Credit Builder Account
Is the Credit One Bank Wander American Express Card right for you?
The Credit One Bank Wander American Express Card is a great option for those who love to travel but might not qualify for some of the more popular rewards cards. While it doesn't have a welcome bonus, it offers top-notch reward rates on many common spending categories, including travel, dining and gas. Its $95 annual fee is in line with many popular travel credit cards, but there are less rewarding no-fee alternatives if you prefer to minimize your out-of-pocket costs.
- Generous earning rates: This card's earning rate for travel, dining and gas purchases rivals some of the top rewards cards.
- Available with average credit: The Credit One Bank Wander card is open to those with less-than-perfect credit scores.
- Return protection: It's unusual for a card with a low annual fee to offer this benefit, let alone to people with fair credit.
- Annual fee: The $95 annual fee could be a barrier to entry for some.
- Lack of welcome bonus: Many other travel cards offer new cardholders a welcome bonus.
- Restrictive travel portal: To spend your Wander rewards on travel, you must book through the Credit One Bank portal.
Compare savings accounts
FAQs
What is the starting credit limit for the Credit One Bank Wander card?
The minimum line of credit for the Wander card is $500 with future increases based on your overall credit performance.
What credit score do you need for the Credit One Bank Wander Card?
The Credit One Wander Card is designed for people with fair to average credit, which is typically a FICO score of at least 580.
Money matters — so make the most of it. Get expert tips, strategies, news and everything else you need to maximize your money, right to your inbox. Sign up here.
Why trust CNBC Select?
At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every credit card review is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of credit card products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics.
Catch up on CNBC Select's in-depth coverage of credit cards, banking and money, and follow us on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to stay up to date.
Read more
For the rates and fees for the Discover it® Secured Credit Card, click here
