Utua Credit Card Reviews 2023: A Comprehensive Guide

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Utua Credit Card Reviews

Utua Credit Card: Credit cards have become an essential part of everyday life for many people. With so many options out there, it can be challenging to determine which card is the best fit for your needs and lifestyle. One credit card that is growing in popularity is the Utua Visa card. Here is a comprehensive guide to Utua credit cards, including pros and cons, features, rewards, fees, and comparisons to other top cards on the market.

What is Utua?

Utua is a relatively new fintech company that offers innovative credit cards, banking, and financial services. The company was founded in 2019 to provide consumers access to premium financial products at affordable rates. Utua is headquartered in Miami, Florida.

The company’s flagship product is the Utua Visa Signature credit card. This premium travel rewards card competes directly with high-end offerings from issuers like Chase and American Express. Utua aims to disrupt the credit card market by offering luxury card benefits and rewards at lower annual fees than competitors.

Utua Visa Signature Card Benefits and Rewards

The Utua Visa Signature credit card offers a robust set of benefits and rewards, including:

  • Earn 5x points on airfare, hotels, car rentals, and dining
  • $100 annual airline incidental fee credit
  • Priority Pass Select airport lounge access– Access to over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide
  • Global Entry/TSA PreCheck application fee credit– Up to $100 credit every 4-5 years
  • Trip cancellation/interruption insurance– Up to $5,000 per trip
  • Rental car insurance– Coverage for physical damage and theft
  • Purchase protection– 120 days coverage for theft or damage, up to $10,000 per claim
  • Extended warranty protection– Extend original US manufacturer’s warranty up to one year
  • No foreign transaction fees

The Utua credit card earns 5x points on some of the most common travel purchases, making it easy to rack up rewards fast. The airport lounge access is a standout perk that offers cardholders a convenient, luxurious experience while traveling.

The reasonable $100 airline fee credit effectively offsets the annual fee, and the card comes with strong travel insurance protections. The lack of foreign transaction fees is also a major plus for international travelers.

Utua Credit Card Fees

The Utua Visa Signature card has a $395 annual fee. This is certainly not cheap, but it is lower than the $550+ fees charged by ultra-premium cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve and American Express Platinum.

There are no foreign transaction fees with the Utua credit card. Late payment fees are up to $40 and the balance transfer fee is 3% (minimum $5). The cash advance fee is 5% (minimum $10).

Compared to other luxury rewards cards, the Utua Visa Signature offers similar benefits and earnings rates while charging a lower annual fee. The lower fee makes the card more accessible for consumers who want premium card perks but don’t want to pay extreme annual fees.

How Does the Utua Credit Card Compare to Other Top Travel Cards?

Here is an overview of how the Utua Visa Signature card stacks up against some other top travel credit cards on the market:

Chase Sapphire Reserve

  • Annual fee: $550
  • Earn 3x on dining and travel
  • Airport lounge access
  • $300 annual travel credit

Amex Platinum

  • Annual fee: $695
  • Earn 5x on flights booked with the airline
  • Airport lounge access
  • $200 airline fee credit
  • $200 Uber credit

Capital One Venture X

  • Annual fee: $395
  • Earn 5x on flights and 10x hotels booked via Capital One
  • Airport lounge access
  • $300 annual travel credit

The Utua credit card earns rewards at the same accelerated rate as the Amex Platinum and Capital One Venture X on travel purchases. It offers similar credits and lounge access as the Sapphire Reserve and Venture X but at a lower annual fee. For consumers who want luxury card perks on a budget, the Utua credit card provides excellent value.

Pros of the Utua Visa Signature Card

There are many advantages to choosing the Utua Visa Signature card, including:

  • Lower annual fee than competing premium travel cards
  • Strong rewards on travel, dining, and select streaming services
  • Valuable statement credits and protection offset annual fee
  • Visa Signature benefits rental coverage, special offers, and more
  • No foreign transaction fees are ideal for international travel
  • Easy to redeem rewards as statement credit or for travel
  • Excellent welcome bonus worth up to $750 in travel
  • Premium luxury card perks for less than competitors

For the relatively moderate annual fee, the Utua credit card packs a punch with statement credits, travel protections, airport lounge access, and more. The rewards program is easy to maximize and redeem.

Cons of the Utua Visa Signature Card

While the Utua Visa Signature card offers great value overall, there are a few downsides to consider:

  • $395 annual fee– While lower than similar cards, still a high fee
  • No hotel rewards bonuses– Only earns 1x on hotel stays
  • New smaller company– Utua doesn’t have the brand recognition of Chase and Amex
  • High APR– Credit cards from Utua tend to have high variable APRs
  • Limited acceptance– Being part of the Visa network, acceptance should not be an issue, but less recognizable than Amex and Mastercard

For some consumers, the high annual fee and APR may be drawbacks. The card also lacks any enhanced earnings on hotel bookings. As a newer fintech, Utua lacks the widespread brand recognition of competitors.

Best Uses of the Utua Visa Signature Card

The Utua Visa Signature card is a great option for certain types of consumers and spending profiles:

Frequent Travelers

For those who travel often, the 5x rewards on airfare, hotels, rental cars, and dining can add up quickly. The card also offers solid travel protections and lounge access.

International Travelers

With no foreign transaction fees, the Utua credit card is an excellent choice for international trips. Visa Signature benefits are available worldwide.

Luxury Travelers

The Utua credit card offers premium benefits like airport lounge access and luxury hotel/airline status that appeal to those who indulge in high-end experiences.

Dining Spenders

At 3x points on dining, this card is a strong choice for those who dine out regularly and spend a lot on food.

Visa Loyalists

For consumers who prefer Visa over Mastercard or American Express, the Utua credit card allows them to earn rewards while still using their preferred payment network.

The Utua Visa Signature card is optimized for travel rewards, so it works best for frequent travelers who want luxury perks. The dining rewards make it appealing for foodies too.

How Does the Application and Approval Process Work?

Applying for the Utua Visa Signature card is a straightforward process:

  • Visit Utua’s website– You can apply directly at Utua.com
  • Fill out the application– Provide personal info, income, Social Security Number, etc.
  • Get instant decision– Many applicants receive instant approval or denial decisions.
  • Check for pre-approval– Utua also provides a pre-qualification tool to check your approval odds.
  • Receive card within 7-10 days– If approved, your new card will arrive within a week or two.
  • Activate and use– Call or go online to activate the card before using it to make purchases.

The application process is simple and applicants often receive instant decisions. Utua also has a pre-approval tool to help your chances.

What Credit Score is Needed for Approval?

As a premium travel rewards card, the Utua Visa Signature credit card requires good to excellent credit for approval:

  • Credit scores above 720 have the best approval odds. 750+ is ideal.
  • Scores from 670 – 719 may still be approved but have lower odds.
  • Scores under 670 usually will not be approved.
  • No history with Utuamay results in lower limits if approved.
  • Perfect payment history and low credit utilization help your case.

As with most premium cards, you will need at least a good credit score in the low 700s to have the best shot at approval. Excellent credit in the 750+ range gives you optimal approval chances.

How Hard Is It To Get Approved for the Utua Credit Card?

The Utua Visa Signature card has moderately selective approval requirements. Here’s an overview:

  • Requirements are similar to other $400+ annual fee cards like Sapphire Reserve and Amex Platinum.
  • You’ll need good to excellent credit– scores in the low 700s should be approved.
  • The best approval chances go to those with 750+ scores, high limits on other cards, perfect payment history, and low utilization.
  • Those new to credit cards or with a limited history may have lower odds. Income requirements also apply.
  • The card is more accessible than ultra-exclusive cards like the AmEx Centurion Black Card.
  • Not as easy to get as no annual fee cards, but requirements are lower than Extremely premium $500+ AF cards.

While not easy to get, the Utua Visa Signature approval requirements are comparable to other premium travel cards. Good credit and responsible use of credit boost your chances significantly.

Is There a Welcome Bonus Offer for New Cardholders?

Yes, the Utua Visa Signature card has a very lucrative welcome bonus offer for new cardholders:

  • Earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months
  • Bonus worth $750 in travel redeemed through Utua
  • One of the highest offers is a $400 fee premium cards
  • Must meet the minimum spend to earn the full 75k bonus
  • Bonus points will be posted to your account within 6-8 weeks after you qualify

The 75k point welcome offer is extremely valuable and can offset over a year’s worth of annual fees when used for travel redemptions. It provides tons of bonus value from the card.

How Hard Is It To Earn the Welcome Bonus?

For most cardholders, earning the Utua Visa Signature 75,000 point welcome bonus is very achievable:

  • Need to spend $4,000 total first 3 months to earn full bonus
  • $4k spent requires $1,333 per month on average
  • 3 months gives you the flexibility to meet bonus spending organically
  • Bonuses help offset higher annual fee cards
  • Big sign-up bonuses incentivize consumers to open premium card accounts
  • Put everyday purchases on the new card to work towards a bonus
  • Use the card for bills, groceries, gas, travel, etc. to hit the threshold

With the reasonable $4k spending requirement spread over 3 months, even moderate spenders should be able to earn the excellent welcome bonus fairly easily through normal purchases.

Does the Utua Card Offer 0% APR or Balance Transfers?

The Utua Visa Signature credit card does not offer an intro 0% APR on purchases or balance transfers. The standard variable purchase APR is 14.74% – 24.74%, which is on the higher end.

For consumers seeking a 0% intro APR card, there are better options such as:

  • Chase Freedom Unlimited – 0% for 15 months
  • Citi Simplicity – 0% for 21 months
  • Wells Fargo Reflect – 0% for 18 months

Cards like these make more sense for large purchases you want to pay off slowly over time without interest. The Utua credit card’s strengths are more in its rewards earnings and luxury travel perks.

Does the Card Offer Payment Flexibility or Deferment?

The Utua Visa Signature card offers standard payment flexibility and deferment options, including:

  • Minimum monthly payment– Typically the greater of $35 or 1% of the balance plus fees and interest
  • Variable payment option– Pay any amount over the minimum when desired
  • Defer a payment– Use the skip payment option once per year after making 12 on-time monthly payments (fee applies)
  • Low APR on select balances– May qualify for 7.99% APR on select balance transfers

While there are no special enhanced payment flexibility offerings, you can pay above the minimum or defer a payment once annually. Those seeking maximum long-term flexibility would likely find better options with deferment cards from issuers like American Express.

Does Utua Offer Any Other Credit Cards?

Currently, the Utua Visa Signature is the only credit card product offered directly from Utua. The company has hinted that additional credit card products may be coming soon.

Utua also offers other financial services such as:

  • High-yield savings accounts– Competitive interest rates with no monthly fees
  • Checking accounts– Fee-free checking accounts with early direct deposit
  • Personal loans– Loans ranging from $1,000 – $100,000
  • Mortgages– A wide variety of home loan and refinancing options

So while Utua only has one credit card option right now, they provide other banking services such as deposit accounts, lending, and mortgages. More credit cards are likely on the horizon.

Is There a Utua Mobile App? Features and Capabilities?

Yes, Utua offers a mobile banking app available for both iOS and Android devices. Features of the Utua app include:

  • Manage your credit card– Make payments, check balances, see recent transactions
  • View statements and documents– Access PDFs of statements, tax docs, agreements
  • Get alerts– Set up alerts for transactions, balance changes, due dates, etc
  • Display ID card– Access digital credit card ID on the phone
  • Pay bills– Pay bills and send money securely from the app
  • Deposit checks– Use a phone camera to deposit checks into Utua accounts
  • 24/7 support– Message support at any time through the mobile app
  • Apple Pay/Google Pay– Add Utua credit card to mobile wallets for contactless pay

The Utua mobile app enables you to manage your credit card completely from your smartphone. It includes all the key features one would expect for a digital banking experience.

How Does Utua’s Rewards Program Work?

Utua has a straightforward rewards program:

  • Earn Utua points– 1 point per $1 spent, plus bonus points on eligible purchases
  • Redeem points for statement credit– 100 points = $1 credit to card balance
  • Redeem points for travel– Points are worth 1.5 cents each towards airfare, hotels, rental cars, cruises, etc. booked via Utua’s travel portal
  • No expiration– Points don’t expire as long as your account remains open
  • No foreign transaction fees– Use card overseas without extra fees

The rewards are very flexible – cash back as a statement credit or boost value by 50% when redeemed for travel. And there’s no need to worry about points expiring.

What Are the Best Ways to Use Utua Rewards?

Here are some of the best options for using Utua rewards:

  • Airfare– Use Pay Yourself Back or book flights through Utua at 1.5x value
  • Hotels– Redeem at 1.5x value by booking hotel stays through Utua’s portal
  • Cruises– Cruise redemptions also get 50% more value versus cash back
  • Rental cars– Book car rentals with points at 1.5 cents per point value
  • Cash back– If short on points, get 1 cent per point as a statement credit
  • Gift cards– Popular brands offer gift cards for statement credit value
  • com– Order from Amazon at cash-back redemption value

For most cardholders, the best options are either cash back or redeeming for travel to maximize the value of your points at 1.5x.

How Does the Utua Travel Portal Work?

Cardholders can book travel via Utua’s online booking portal and redeem points at an enhanced 1.5 cents value. Here are details on how it works:

  • Log into your account– Access the portal through your Utua account dashboard
  • Enter trip details– Input airport, destination, travel dates, etc.
  • Select flight, hotel, car– Review available options and pricing in points
  • Points are worth 1.5x– 100k points = $1,500 in travel redemptions
  • Book travel with points– Pay for the entire trip or just a portion with points
  • Manage travel– Add frequent traveler details, seat assignments, etc
  • Earn 5x points– Get 5x on airfare and car rentals booked through the portal

The portal allows you to book airfare, hotels, rental cars, cruises, vacation packages, and more. The extra 50% value on travel redemptions provides a huge boost.

Should You Upgrade or Downgrade the Card?

For many cardholders, the Utua Visa Signature makes sense as a long-term card. Here are some key considerations for upgrading or downgrading:

Upgrading

Upgrading likely only makes sense if you are spending well above the $4k minimum for the welcome bonus. The card earns the same 5x rewards on airfare and travel purchases.

Downgrading

If the annual fee gets too high, you have the option to

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