Travel Bans Take Shine Off Banks’ Premium Rewards Cards - WSJ

Ultra-premium rewards credit cards aren’t as rewarding these days.

I love reading articles about rewards credit cards. From the outside looking in, the manipulation of the consumer is blatantly obvious.

Even more entertaining is the defenders of credit cards as “gaming the system.” Rewards credit cards are based on a spending. I beat every one of those programs with a high yield checking account and my debit card from my local credit union which pays based on my balance.

Oh, and my credit union doesn’t charge me 14% interest.

Civilization V is a game, not your stupid 11-card credit card scheme.