Credit One Bank Wander Card review: A travel credit card for those with fair credit

Credit One Bank Wander® Card Overview

Card type: Travel, Fair credit

If you’ve got “fair” credit (defined by FICO as a credit score between 580 and 669), you’re not the prettiest girl at the dance in the eyes of credit issuers. You may have a great personality and a 4.1 GPA—but only a handful of pimple-faced credit cards are willing to court you. And they typically come with tremendously forgettable benefits.

The Credit One Bank Wander® Card bucks this trend (sort of). It’s a fair-credit-friendly card that earns between 5 and 10 points per dollar on common travel purchases like dining, gas, airfare, hotel stays, and more. The card is also a good companion for international travel, as it waives foreign transaction fees (a benefit that is frustratingly rare among credit cards designed for those with fair credit). These fees are often a 3% penalty for all purchases processed outside the U.S. That can really add up if you do any meaningful spending during your vacation.

Beyond that, the Credit One Bank Wander Card offers very little. Still, it’s enough to outclass most of its competitors.

Who is the Credit One Bank Wander® Card good for? 

The Credit One Bank Wander Card is good for travelers with less-than-perfect credit. You’ll earn lots of rewards for travel purchases, and you won’t be charged pesky foreign transaction fees when spending outside the U.S.

Who shouldn’t get the Credit One Bank Wander® Card? 

If your credit score is 670 or above (considered “good” by FICO), there are more lucrative travel rewards credit cards than the Credit One Bank Wander Card. The best travel credit cards come with hundreds of dollars in annual statement credits and earn points that can be converted into airline miles and hotel points.

Credit One Bank Wander® Card: How to earn rewards

The Credit One Bank Wander Card does one thing really, really well: It earns rewards at an incredible rate. Here’s what you’ll get:

• 10x points on eligible hotels and car rentals booked through the Credit One Bank travel partner site
• 5x points on eligible travel, dining, and gas (and hotel/rental car purchases not booked with Credit One)
• 1x points on all other purchases

Return rates this high are often reserved for credit cards with lofty annual fees, such as the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card or Chase Sapphire Reserve®. And while this card’s bread and butter is clearly travel-oriented expenses, its dining and gas categories make it a potential fit even if you don’t fancy yourself a hardcore globetrotter.

Just note that the card charges a $95 annual fee which will eat into your yearly earnings. In other words, you won’t begin to make a profit until you’ve earned $95 worth of rewards. Not a particularly difficult feat with such impressive bonus categories, but something to keep in mind while you weigh the card’s value.

The Credit One Bank Wander Card does not currently offer a welcome bonus (though we’ve seen one in the past).

How to redeem Credit One Bank Wander® Card rewards 

Credit One gives you several ways to trade your Wander Card’s points for a solid value.

Statement credits

This card makes it easy to cash out your points to offset your credit card balance. Points are worth 1 cent each and must be redeemed in 1,000-point ($10) increments.

Using your rewards this way means you’re effectively receiving a return rate of up to 10% on your spending. Not bad for a $95 annual fee credit card.

Other options

You can also redeem your points for travel, merchandise, and gift cards. However, you won’t receive a fixed value for your points as you will when redeeming for statement credits. You’ll have to check a specific redemption option to know how many points you’ll have to pay.

Unless you’re getting a value over 1 cent per point, it’s not a good idea to use rewards for anything other than statement credits. That’s because you won’t earn points for the transaction. It’s better to simply purchase the airfare, gift card, etc. — and then redeem points as a statement credit to offset that purchase. That way you’ll earn the most possible points.

Credit One Bank Wander® Card rates and fees

• Annual fee: $95
• Foreign transaction fee: None
• Purchase APR: 29.74% variable

Additional benefits

• Travel accident insurance: When you pay for your travel with the Credit One Bank Wander Card, you’ll be covered against disasters caused by the common carrier, such as accidental death or dismemberment.
• Experian IdentityWorks: After you register, you’ll receive Experian credit monitoring alerts, up to $500,000 in identity theft insurance, lost wallet assistance, and more. (an annual value of $120).
• Pick your payment due date: After your first billing period, you can choose a new due date that works better for your finances. You can change it from six days before to six days after your assigned due date.

Capital One Platinum vs. Credit One Bank Wander® Card

The Capital One Platinum Credit Card is a no-annual-fee alternative to the Credit One Bank Wander Card. Designed for those with fair credit, it doesn’t incur foreign transaction fees — making it an excellent credit card to use when traveling overseas.

Beyond this critical benefit, the card is yawn-worthy. In fact, the card doesn’t even earn rewards for spending. But because it doesn’t charge an annual fee, you may actually find this card to be a better deal than the $95 annual fee Credit One Bank Wander Card.

Citi Custom Cash® Card. Credit One Bank Wander® Card

The no-annual-fee Citi Custom Cash® Card is not a travel credit card. It doesn’t have travel-centric benefits, and it charges a 3% of each purchase transaction in U.S. dollars. Still, it’s one of the best rewards options for someone with fair credit. As long as you’re traveling domestically, the Citi Custom Cash is a terrific option.

The card has an excellent return rate of 5% cash back on purchases in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to the first $500 spent (then 1% cash back thereafter). You’ll also get 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months (then 19.24% – 29.24% Variable).

Is the Credit One Bank Wander® Card right for you?

The Credit One Bank Wander Card is the single best travel credit card for anyone with fair credit. Its rewards are extremely simple both to earn and redeem—and the fact that the card waives foreign transaction fees makes it one of the only viable payment methods during international travel for those with a credit score below 670.

However, the card’s $95 annual fee is a reason for pause. If you find yourself booking travel within the U.S. instead of internationally, you may do better with a no annual fee credit card like the Citi Custom Cash. It’s tolerant of applicants with fair credit, and it’s got a high return rate for eligible purchases. And though it charges foreign transaction fees, you won’t be charged as long as you stay within the country and its territories.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Credit One Bank Wander® Card worth it?

The Credit One Bank Card is worth it as long as you receive more value each year than you’re paying for its $95 annual fee. For example, if you earn hundreds of dollars per year from the card’s bonus categories, it’s likely worth it for you.

What is the minimum credit limit for the Credit One Bank Wander® Card

The minimum credit limit for the Credit One Wander Card is $500.

Does the Credit One Bank Wander® Card have foreign transaction fees?

The Credit One Wander Card does not charge foreign transaction fees.

---

Please note that card details are accurate as of the publish date, but are subject to change at any time at the discretion of the issuer. Please contact the card issuer to verify rates, fees, and benefits before applying.