The $0-annual-fee Aven Rewards Card is a cash-back card offered by financial technology company Aven and issued by Coastal Community Bank. It's made of metal and appears to feature reward rates that are on par with some of the best cash-back credit cards on the market.
However, the terms and conditions for the Aven Rewards Card might cause some confusion for applicants. The language describes some of the card's earnings as "promotions," so it's not clear whether those high rewards rates are temporary.
Additionally, Aven's cards are unavailable in certain states making the card inaccessible for some people.
Here are five things to know about the Aven Rewards Card.
» MORE: What is Coastal Community Bank?
1. It's different from the Aven Home Equity card
Aven is probably best known for the Aven Home Equity Credit Card, which acts as both a home equity line of credit (HELOC) and a traditional credit card. That card is secured by your home and requires that you have equity in that home to get it. It earns an unlimited 2% cash back on purchases.
The Aven Rewards Card is a different product with a different rewards structure. It does not require homeownership.
2. It earns generous rewards, but with curious terms
The Aven Rewards Card earns 3% cash back on all purchases on up to $10,000 in spending per year. After that, it earns an unlimited 2% back on all purchases with no yearly cap. Those are generous rates indeed for a $0-annual-fee card.
However, language in the card's terms and conditions describes those 2% and 3% rates as "promotions," which can be terminated at any time.
While credit cards can adjust their offerings at any time, a card's rewards structure is usually an ongoing feature, not a temporary "promotion." But new cards from startup financial technology companies are particularly prone to significant changes as they find their place in the market, so it's unclear how long the Aven Rewards Card will offer such high rates.
In any case, rewards are earned as points worth 1 cent each. Points don't expire and can be redeemed for cash back in the form of statement credit toward your balance and minimum payment due. You can also redeem points for flights and hotels through Aven’s travel portal.
3. You can earn additional points by enrolling in autopay
According to Aven’s terms, cardholders who enroll in autopay — which entails setting up automatic monthly payments with a linked bank account — can earn additional points per dollar spent on eligible purchases. The amount of points you earn depends on which autopay option you chose. Here’s how it works:
Statement balance, once per month: 1.5 points per dollar.
Current balance, once per month: 1.5 points per dollar.
Current balance, twice per month: 2 points per dollar.
Minimum amount due: 2 points per dollar.
Fixed custom amount: 1.5 points per dollar.
These points appear to be earned in addition to the card’s 3x and 2x rates. Attempts to reach Aven to clarify have been unsuccessful.
4. There’s no welcome offer
The best cash-back cards tend to feature welcome offers that can snag new applicants a large pile of rewards for hitting a spending threshold. But the the Aven Rewards Card features no such welcome bonus.
If you're seeking high ongoing rewards in addition to a generous bonus, consider a product like the $0-annual-fee Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card. It earns an unlimited 2% back on all eligible purchases, but new applicants are also eligible for the following: Earn a $100 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.
5. Cardholders can lower their interest rates
New account members who enroll in autopay before their first billing cycle can lower their interest rate by 0.25 percentage points. If you discontinue autopay, your APR will increase by 0.25 percentage points.
But if you don't carry a balance, your credit card's APR is irrelevant because you'll never be charged interest.
