Fifth Third TRIO Preferred Credit Card

Who is the Fifth Third TRIO Preferred card for?

This card is especially useful for people living in specific states with Fifth Third banks within them. Some of these states include:

1. Florida
2. Georgia
3. Illinois
4. Indiana
5. Kentucky
6. Michigan
7. North Carolina
8. Ohio
9. Tennessee
10. West Virginia

If you live outside one of these states, you would need to pay a deposit fee greater than one dollar to become a member of the bank. Only after making this deposit fee is a person from outside the selected states allowed to apply for a TRIO Preferred card.

If you are looking for an easy cash back card with a great credit bonus, this could very well be the card you’ve been searching for. With no point expirations, no annual fee, and no international transaction fees, this could be the perfect card for anyone living in states with Fifth Third's banks.

Rewards Rate

If you’ve been looking for a cash back card to get rid of some of your debt, this could be the card for you. If you love to dine out, enjoy traveling on the road, or just want to reduce your overall expenses, this could absolutely be the card you’ve been looking for.

You will be able to get 3x cash back at restaurants, 2x cash back on groceries, gas, and drug stores, as well as an additional 1x cash back for all other purchases. With this card, it is hard to go wrong with all the additional cash back you would receive.

We would recommend using this card’s welcoming credit to potentially pay off some small purchases made within the first 90 days. This process could save some money and help alleviate scheduled payments. If you recently finished completing a degree, whether it be undergrad or graduate, everyone knows that school is very expensive. To pay off student debt quicker and more efficiently, most of your money should be going towards these debts. Truly, the benefits that come with this card are wonderful.

While it is easy to earn plenty of cash back points on this card, it is equally as easy to redeem that money in many different ways. Some of which include:

• Cash back.

If you have had too much debt on your card the last few months, it would be nice to spend the money you’ve earned on this card on yourself and get rid of a few payments. 

• Gift Cards.

If you’re trying to buy your friend or family member that perfect gift for the holidays, a birthday, or just to thank them, redeeming for a gift card is simple and easy. You can get cards for restaurants, electronics, retailers, and more.

• Loan and Mortgage Credit

Since you will need to be a member of this bank to qualify for this card, this may be the card’s most useful feature. With your rewards points, you can actually pay down your loan or mortgage using credit. For those that have taken out a big loan in the past, this feature would probably best suit you.

• Travel

You can redeem your cash for flight, hotel, or car rental. By booking through Fifth Thirds, you are also able to see the self-booking tool the company gives you as well as TripAdvisor^® ratings.

• Experiences

You really can redeem so many things with this card. You could treat yourself to sporting events, all kinds of entertainment, or any premium culinary. You really cannot go wrong.

Benefits and Credits

The introductory APR for balance transfers is 0% for the first 12 months of opening your account. This can be considered great if you want to move a lot of debt you have on one card to another. If you’re in a tight spot financially within the 12 months of opening this card (ex: coronavirus), this balance transfer benefit could be a big help to you or someone you know. Carrying a lot of debt on one card can be harmful when you need to start paying it off. Most people would take advantage of being able to split their debt into two cards and make separate payments at a lower cost.

Another benefit is the incoming credit bonus after spending $3,000 in the first 90 days of account opening. With a sum to spend of $350, it’s easy to pay off some credit debt you may have accumulated while spending the first $3,000. When you factor in the cash back rewards you receive from restaurants, groceries, gas, and others, you will have even more than the 35,000 bonus points awarded.

You are always eligible for ShopRunner benefit when you have this card. With this benefit, you are eligible for 2-day shipping and return shipping while shopping at over 140 stores online, by selecting ShopRunner at checkout and paying with your card. If you’re a discount shopper, this could be highly useful for something such as Cyber Monday. If something you order does not fit or you were expecting something different, you can return it with no problems.

With the Zero Liability benefit, you are protected from all unauthorized purchases on your account. If you saw some suspicious activity on your account, you could call Fifth Thirds immediately and report that your card or identity was stolen. They will immediately take care of all problems and find the easiest solution. 

If ever in need of help finding a hotel, you can use this card’s Onefinestay travel assistant to get a 10% discount at over 2,500 vacation homes with hotel-like amenities and concierge access. 

Finally, the travel plans that come with this card are phenomenal. There are tons of dedicated Mastercard personnel out there to assist with your travel plans, including the Mastercard Travel Services team. They will do their best to help make your travels the best they possibly can.

Welcome Bonus

After spending $3,000 in the first 90 days of opening your account, you will get a 35,000 bonus points reward. These points can be converted to a $350 credit or be used in any of the ways listed above under the Rewards Rate section.

Annual Fee

Even with all of these benefits, there is no annual fee on this card. As a member of the bank though, you would have to pay an annual $90 fee to be a member. This could be considered the annual fee. 

Conclusion

If you are already a member of the select locations, this card could be the perfect fit for you. If you live outside some of these areas, it may be a slight hassle to become a member of this bank. That being said, all the benefits far outweigh the price of being a member. If one can take advantage of the benefits responsibly while living in one of these select areas, there is a high chance this could be the card you’ve been searching for.