Southwest Rapid Rewards® Debit Card review: Earn Southwest points with no credit check

The relatively short list of debit cards that earn travel rewards just got a little bit longer. With the new Southwest Rapid Rewards® Debit Card, you can earn Rapid Rewards points on both Southwest purchases and everyday spending, and those rewards can be redeemed for Southwest flights.

While the more expensive travel credit cards typically have high credit score requirements, the Southwest Debit Card doesn't require a credit check. Here's who this new travel debit card could be a good fit for.

The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Debit Card is offering a welcome bonus of 2,500 points after making two recurring direct deposits and spending $100 in the first 90 days.

While not a proper credit card, the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Debit Card still comes with a handful of useful perks, many of which are tied to Southwest services:

• Anniversary point bonus: Based on your overall spending, you can earn up to 7,500 bonus points each account anniversary. This is a tiered bonus, and to earn the full 7,500 points, you'll need to spend $15,000 on your card in a year.
• Annual statement credit: Receive an annual $35 statement credit for Southwest Airlines purchases
• Promotional code: Every January, you'll receive a 20% discount code for a non-Basic fare booking.
• Annual companion pass bonus: Receive 7,500 Companion Pass® qualifying points each calendar year.

You'll also be able to withdraw from any ATM within the Cirrus network without fees.

Earning

The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Debit Card earns rewards, but it's at a lower rate than you'll find with most rewards credit cards:

• 1X points per $1 spent on eligible Southwest Airlines® purchases
• 1X points per $1 spent on qualifying dining and subscription purchases
• 1X points per $2 spent on qualifying everyday purchases

While debit cards typically don't earn the strongest rewards, the fact that these Rapid Rewards can be spent on travel makes them intriguing. While only earning one point per $2 spent, your return on everyday purchases is a little lower, but eligible dining and streaming spending is earned at the full 1X points per $1.

All points you earn from spending with this card help you qualify for the Southwest Companion Pass. This includes the welcome bonus, the anniversary points bonus and the points you earn from purchases.

Redeeming

Redeeming your Southwest Rapid Rewards points is fairly simple, and you have several redemption options to choose from. You can use points for merchandise, hotel stays, gift cards, and more. However, redeeming for Southwest flights will typically generate the most value.

Southwest uses dynamic pricing for award flights, so the exact points price varies based on availability and other factors.

Since the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Debit Card isn't a credit card, it doesn't have a typical APR or annual fee. There is a $6.99 monthly maintenance fee, which is waived if you maintain an average monthly balance of $2,500. It has a 3% foreign transaction fee.

Wyndham Rewards Debit Card vs. Southwest Rapid Rewards® Debit Card

The Wyndham Rewards® Debit Card is another debit card offering travel rewards, but geared towards providing value via the thousands of Hotels by Wyndham. The card offers the same return of 1X points per $1 spent at Wyndham hotel or on gas and grocery purchases and 1X points per $2 spent on all other qualifying purchases. You can also earn up to 7,500 bonus points each anniversary year, depending on your net annual purchases.

You can redeem your Wyndham rewards for options like gift cards or merchandise, but also for free or discounted hotel stays. The card comes with a complimentary Wyndham Rewards gold status, which offers perks like preferred room selection, late checkout, and more.

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Debit Card vs. Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card

The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card is a good option for those looking for more in-depth Southwest rewards. While it requires a credit check, it has a reasonable $99 annual fee and offers additional Southwest perks like a first checked bag free and early boarding, both of which can be shared with up to eight travel companions.

You'll earn 2X points on Southwest purchases and on up to $5,000 in combined grocery store and gas station purchases per anniversary year. All other purchases earn a full 1X points, instead of the 1X points per $2 spent offered by the Southwest Debit Card. The Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus card will require a little more upfront work to qualify for, but it offers more value.

The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Debit Card could be a good fit if you're looking for a rewards debit card. While the card doesn't provide as much value via rewards and benefits as traditional credit cards, it's a more accessible way to earn points to spend on travel.

If you're looking for stronger rewards rates or better travel perks, chances are good you'd be more satisfied with a more robust travel credit card or a co-branded Southwest credit card.

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