Full Review

The TRIO Credit Card from Fifth Third is a fine choice for people with 700+ credit scores who spend around $500 per month at restaurants, gas stations, grocery stores and drug stores. The TRIO Card requires good credit or better for approval, you see, and we recommend setting your sights toward the top of the range to improve your odds of success. We also suggest using TRIO selectively, due to a trio of key limitations.

For starters, you'll only earn more than 1% back – which is average for a rewards card – on up to $1,500 in bonus-category purchases every three months. Furthermore, the TRIO Card doesn't actually offer cash back. You’ll earn points, which can be redeemed for a credit statement, among multiple other redemption options. Those points are currently worth a penny apiece, but points can devalue. Finally, and most importantly, you have to be a Fifth Third customer with an eligible checking or savings account to qualify for the TRIO Credit Card from Fifth Third.

There's more to the TRIO Card than that, though, including a couple of sign-up perks you should know about before making your decision. Keep reading if you'd like to learn more.

Highlights

10,000 Points Initial Bonus – Spending $1,000 within 90 days of account opening scores you 10,000 bonus points, worth $100. For context, the average for a cash rewards card is $197.33.

Up to 3% Back in Bonus Categories – You will earn 3 points per $1 spent at restaurants, plus 2 points per $1 on gas as well as purchases at grocery and drug stores. But those rates aren't unlimited. You'll only get them on the first $1,500 that you spend in all of those categories combined every quarter. All other purchases provide just 1 point per $1, which is about average for a rewards card.

$0 Annual Fee – This saves you $19.76 per year compared to the average credit card. It also means you won't have to spend a certain amount to get your money's worth, which makes it easier to justify getting the card solely for bonus-category purchases.

Average Balance Transfer Offer – TRIO gives you a 0% balance transfer APR for the first 12 billing cycles your account is open, which is nearly what the average balance transfer credit card gives you. But TRIO also charges a well-above-average balance transfer fee. And if you can qualify for the TRIO Mastercard, you can probably get one of the best balance transfer credit cards, too.