What Are the Top Credit Cards and Checking Accounts Recommended by Points on the Dollar?

Updated

Points on the Dollar is a personal finance site for what it calls the "tactical consumer" — people who want to squeeze more value out of credit cards, checking accounts, and cash-back programs. Its recommendations lean toward cards with high cash-back or travel rewards and checking accounts with strong sign-up bonuses, and it often points out that local bank branches can beat what you find online. The site's own navigation lists "Top Credit Cards" and "Top Checking Accounts" as key sections, though the specific rankings behind those pages aren't detailed in the available page content.

What the Site Focuses On

The homepage and excerpt point to a few recurring themes:

  • Cash-back and travel rewards cards — the site highlights cards with bonus categories for everyday spending.
  • Sign-up bonuses — both for credit cards and checking accounts.
  • Branch vs. online offers — one headline notes that "Local Chase And Citi Branches Offering Better Sign-Up Bonuses Than The Entire Internet," suggesting the site favors checking in with a physical branch before opening online.
  • Transfer partners — the site maintains reference pages for AMEX, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Starwood, and hotel redemption charts (Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott, Starwood).

The One Card Named in the Available Content

The only specific card mentioned in the page evidence is the TD Easy Rewards Card, described as offering:

  • 5% cash back on dining, groceries, gas, and cable, phone, and utility bills for 6 months
  • Plus a $100 bonus

That's a limited-time bonus structure, so the value depends on whether your regular spending falls into those categories during the introductory window.

Checking Accounts

The site's navigation includes a "Top Checking Accounts" section and a headline about local Chase and Citi branches offering better sign-up bonuses than online. The available content doesn't list specific account names, bonus amounts, or requirements, so treat the branch-vs-online comparison as the site's general stance rather than a specific recommendation.

How to Use These Recommendations

  1. Check the date on any post. The Delivery.com article in the excerpt is from October 2014, and the site notes it's "no longer constrained by affiliate sponsors" — meaning older posts may reflect different priorities.
  2. Verify current offers directly. Bonus amounts, cash-back percentages, and promotional periods change; the TD Easy Rewards terms above are as stated in the source, not current.
  3. Compare against your own spending. A 5% category bonus only helps if you actually spend in those categories.
  4. Check both branch and online offers for checking accounts before deciding.

What Isn't Covered Here

The available page content doesn't include the full "Top Credit Cards" or "Top Checking Accounts" lists, specific account names beyond the TD card, or any pricing/login details. For the complete rankings, you'd need to visit those sections on the site directly.