8 lesser-known credit cards worth exploring

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While the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and American Express® Gold Card are highly regarded credit cards, there may be instances where a lesser-known card with distinctive rewards categories, elusive advantages, or effortless welcome bonuses could provide more worth.

CNBC Select assessed the advantages, perks, and costs of underappreciated cards to help you decide if they suit your needs. (For more details on our approach, please refer to our methodology.)

Best for return protection

The Credit One Bank® Wander® American Express® Card is suitable for individuals seeking additional security when purchasing non-refundable items. Additionally, the card is accessible to those with fair or average credit scores (580+).

This card provides return protection, allowing you to receive a full refund of the purchase price, up to $300 per item, within 90 days of the purchase date, even if the merchant's return policy rejects your request. This benefit is typically exclusive to premium credit cards.

Best for low or no credit

If you want to build credit and earn rewards, the Discover it® Secured Credit Card is worth considering.

Unlike many secured credit cards, this card offers cash back, a generous welcome bonus, and a clear path to upgrading to an unsecured card. It has no annual fee, no foreign transaction fees, and a low minimum deposit.

Best for easy airport lounge access

This card is ideal for those seeking premium travel perks without incurring an annual fee.

You'll receive four complimentary visits to Priority Pass airport lounges annually, including partner restaurants and non-lounge benefits, which many of the best credit cards for airport lounge access exclude. Additionally, you'll receive up to $100 in statement credits every four years for TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry® application fees.

Best for long intro-APR period

If you need extra time to pay off large purchases or want to consolidate existing debt, the Wells Fargo Reflect® Card is a great option.

The Wells Fargo Reflect Card provides a 21-month introductory 0% APR period on purchases and qualifying balance transfers, with a variable APR of 17.74%, 24.24%, or 29.49% after the intro period. Balance transfers made within 120 days from account opening are eligible for the intro rate, and the balance transfer fee is 5% with a $5 minimum.

Best for unique rewards categories

This cash-back credit card is particularly rewarding for niche categories and is suitable for the Wells Fargo Attune℠ World Elite Mastercard®.

The card offers 4% cash back on a variety of unique categories, including thrift stores, gym memberships, and pet stores, as well as additional perks such as cell phone insurance.

Best for welcome bonus

If you're looking for a credit card with an easy-to-earn welcome bonus, the AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard® is the one for you.

The welcome bonus for this card is easily attainable by making a single purchase and paying the annual fee in full within the first 90 days, which is much simpler than the requirements for the best travel credit cards, which often necessitate thousands of dollars in spending over the first few months to earn a welcome bonus.

Best for flat-rate cash back

Is the Alliant Cashback Visa® Signature Credit Card suitable for you if you are willing to fulfill the necessary qualifications to receive its excellent cash-back rate?

Earn 2.5% cash back on your first $10,000 in purchases each billing cycle, then 1.5% cash back if you qualify for Alliant's Tier One rewards. To qualify, you'll need an Alliant High-Rate Checking account and opt-in to electronic statements, have at least one electronic deposit each calendar month and maintain an average daily balance of $1,000+. As a new cardholder, you'll receive Tier One rewards for the first 100 days.

Best for Amazon purchases

If you're not a Prime member and are willing to join a credit union, the Affinity FCU Cash Rewards Visa can help maximize your return on Amazon purchases.

The Affinity FCU Cash Rewards card offers 5% cash back at Amazon on up to $1,000 in purchases every month, which is the same as the Amazon Prime Visa. However, unlike the Prime card, the Affinity FCU Cash Rewards card does not require a Prime membership.

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Credit One Bank® Wander® American Express® Card

The Wander American Express Card from Credit One Bank is a travel rewards card that does not require an annual fee and is suitable for individuals with fair or average credit.

Rewards

You can earn 10X points on eligible hotels and rental cars when you book through the Credit One Bank travel partner site.
5X points on eligible travel
5X points on dining
5X points on gas purchases
1X points on all other purchases

Welcome bonus

None

Annual fee

$95

Notable perks

This card offers built-in travel and shopping protections, including travel accident insurance, return protection, extended warranty, retail protection, and more, and does not charge foreign transaction fees when used abroad.

Discover it® Secured Credit Card

The Discover it® Secured Credit Card is a comprehensive secured card that provides benefits typically associated with unsecured cards.

Rewards

Automatically, you will receive 2% cash back on gas station and restaurant purchases of up to $1,000 combined per quarter.
1% cash back on all other purchases

Welcome bonus

At the end of your first year, you will receive all the cash back you've earned.

Annual fee

Notable perks

Discover offers a unique perk for new card members: they will automatically match all the cash back earned at the end of the first year.

The card distinguishes itself by offering a clear path to upgrading to an unsecured card and returning the deposit, which is a common requirement for secured credit cards.

No foreign transaction fees apply when using the card abroad, so you won't be charged.

U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card

The Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card offers unique benefits, making it a great standalone card for occasional travelers and a solid complement to a premium credit card for serious jet-setters.

Rewards

Booking prepaid hotels and car rentals directly in the Altitude Rewards Center earns you 5X points.
4X points on travel
You must spend $4,000 on gas stations and EV charging stations every quarter, excluding wholesale clubs, discount stores, and supercenters.
2X points on dining
2X points on streaming services
Grocery stores (excluding discount stores, supercenters and wholesale clubs) have 2X points.
1X points on all other eligible purchases

Welcome bonus

When you open an account and spend $1,000 on eligible purchases within the first 90 days, you will earn 20,000 bonus points.

Annual fee

Notable perks

Priority Pass offers four free visits to airport lounges annually, which are more valuable than they appear on the surface due to their versatility. These visits can be used not only in lounges but also at restaurants and non-lounge experiences that Priority Pass partners with, a benefit that many top airport lounge access cards have eliminated. Additionally, Priority Pass provides an up to $100 credit towards Global Entry or TSA PreCheck once every four years, which is a rare perk for a no annual fee card.

While traveling, you can enjoy two unique advantages: a free 5GB 15-day GigSky global mobile data plan on compatible devices (must redeem by Nov. 11, 2025) and complimentary lounge access for you and up to three companions when your flight is delayed by two hours or more with the SmartDelay benefit.

Wells Fargo Reflect® Card

The Wells Fargo Reflect® Card is a notable card due to its extended intro-APR offer for purchases and balance transfers, which is one of the longest available.

Rewards

None

Welcome bonus

None

Annual fee

Notable perks

This credit card offers a 0% APR introductory rate for the first 21 months on purchases and balance transfers, with a variable APR of 17.74%, 24.24%, or 29.49% after that period. To qualify for the intro APR, a balance transfer must be made within 120 days of account opening, and a 5% balance transfer fee applies ($5 minimum).

This card provides roadside dispatch and cell phone protection when you pay your monthly cell phone bill with it.

Wells Fargo Attune℠ World Elite Mastercard®

The Wells Fargo Attune℠ World Elite Mastercard® is a great cash-back card due to its unlimited 4% cash-back categories.

Rewards

4% cash rewards on fitness and wellness
Select sports, recreation, and entertainment, including live shows and sporting events, offer 4% cash rewards.
Rewritten: Gardening and floral stores, in addition to pet supplies, boarding, and grooming, offer 4% cash rewards.
4% cash rewards on public transit, EV charging stations
4% cash rewards at select thrift stores.
1% cash rewards on other purchases

Welcome bonus

Spend $500 in qualifying purchases within the first three months to earn $100 in cash rewards.

Annual fee

Notable perks

This card offers cash-back rates, intro-APR, cell phone protection, rental car collision coverage, and Mastercard ID Theft Protection, providing peace of mind for eligible purchases.

AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard®

The AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard® offers significant savings for frequent American Airlines flyers.

Rewards

2X miles on eligible American Airlines purchases
1X miles on all other purchases

Welcome bonus

After making your first purchase within the first 90 days and paying the annual fee in full, you will earn 60,000 miles.

Annual fee

$99

Notable perks

An intro 0% APR offer on balance transfers for the first 15 months is not typical of an airline credit card, but this card has a great offer. The variable APR after that is 20.74% to 29.99%, and the balance transfer fee is 5% of the amount of each transfer ($5 minimum).

The American Express Blue Cash Preferred card offers benefits such as 25% back on eligible inflight purchases, preferred boarding, and the first checked bag for free for you and up to four travel companions on the same reservation. Additionally, every card anniversary year, you can receive $25 back for inflight Wi-Fi purchases. After spending $20,000 or more on the card in an account anniversary year, you can receive a companion certificate valid on domestic economy flights, which costs $99 plus taxes and fees.

Alliant Cashback Visa® Signature Credit Card

While the Alliant Cashback Visa® Signature Credit Card offers higher cash back than many other cards, there are certain conditions to meet in order to maximize its rewards.

Rewards

If you qualify for Tier One rewards, you will receive 2.5% cash back on the first $10,000 in purchases each billing cycle, and 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.
1.5% cash back for all other purchases.

Welcome bonus

None

Annual fee

Notable perks

Your Alliant Cashback Visa offers a range of travel and purchase protections, including ID theft protection, purchase security, extended warranty protection, travel accident insurance, rental car collision coverage, and roadside dispatch.

Affinity FCU Cash Rewards Visa

The Affinity FCU Cash Rewards Visa offers a comprehensive list of 2% cash-back categories in addition to its impressive return on Amazon purchases.

Rewards

Up to $1,000 in monthly purchases at Amazon can earn you 5% cash back.
2% cash back at U.S. gas stations
2% cash back at U.S. grocery stores and supermarkets
2% cash back on streaming services
Taxi and limousine services, including Uber and Lyft, offer a 2% cash back reward.
2% cash back at restaurants
1% cash back on all other purchases

Welcome bonus

When you open an account, you'll receive $150 cash back after spending $3,000 within the first 90 days.

Annual fee

Notable perks

The card has no foreign transaction fees and offers a 10,000-point bonus (worth $100) for spending $25,000 in the first 12 months after account opening.

To obtain this card, you must become a member of Affinity Federal Credit Union by making a $5 donation to the Affinity Foundation and maintaining a $5 minimum balance in a qualifying account.

Other underrated cards with unique perks

Considering your shopping habits and credit card requirements, it may be beneficial to explore cards with highly specialized benefits. While these cards may not be suitable for all transactions, they offer clear value in specific situations.

Wholesale club credit cards: While many cards are great for grocery shopping, many exclude purchases made at superstores or wholesale clubs. If you're a member of a wholesale club and want to earn bonus rewards, you may need to open a store card such as the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi (see rates and fees), Sam's Club® Mastercard® or BJ's One+™ Mastercard®.
The TSC® Visa® Card offers a 3% cashback rate on veterinary bills, including groceries and gas, making it one of the best options for pet medical expenses. Additionally, you can earn 5% rewards at Tractor Supply, including pet supplies, and receive up to two free trailer rentals per quarter (where available). With over 2,200 locations in 49 states, Tractor Supply is likely to have a store near you.
The State Farm® Premier Cash Rewards Visa Signature® Card offers 3% cash back on insurance premium payments up to $4,000 annually, as well as 2% cash back at gas stations, electric vehicle charging stations, drugstores, grocery stores, and dining establishments.

Pros and cons of lesser-known credit cards

Why trust CNBC Select?

Our mission at CNBC Select is to deliver top-notch service journalism and in-depth consumer advice to our readers, enabling them to make well-informed decisions when it comes to their finances. Each credit card review we publish is the result of thorough reporting by our team of expert writers and editors, who possess extensive knowledge of credit card products. At CNBC Select, we are committed to maintaining our journalistic standards and ethics, even when it comes to earning a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links. Our methodology outlines the process we use to select the best underrated credit cards, and we take pride in our ability to provide our readers with unbiased and trustworthy information.

Our methodology

Over 250 major credit cards from FDIC-insured banks and NCUA-insured credit unions were analyzed by CNBC Select to determine which underrated cards provide the best value.

We evaluated each card based on various features, including rewards, annual fees, welcome bonuses, interest rates, balance transfer fees, and foreign transaction fees. Additionally, we examined any additional perks, cardholder protections, application processes, and ease of redeeming points. We also took into account CNBC Select audience data, such as demographics and engagement with our content and tools.

We utilized Esri's consumer spending data forecasts to determine where U.S. consumers spend the most money, such as on dining and travel, to help us determine the most valuable bonus categories for our rewards program. Additionally, we considered the transferability and cash-back redemption options when determining the value of points or miles.

We prioritized lesser-known credit cards from smaller issuers and credit unions, while also considering niche features that can be valuable but may require additional steps.

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To learn about the rates and fees for the Discover it® Secured Credit Card, please visit this link.