PenFed Power Cash Rewards Visa Signature Card vs Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority
Both are well-respected travel cards. The PenFed Power Cash Rewards Visa Signature Card comes from PenFed at $0/yr; the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority from Chase at $229/yr. Below: side-by-side specs, an opinionated verdict, and the FAQs people actually ask before applying.
For most people the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority is the stronger pick today, the sign-up bonus is meaningfully larger ($740 more in estimated value) than the PenFed Power Cash Rewards Visa Signature Card's. Get the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority first; revisit the PenFed Power Cash Rewards Visa Signature Card after you've earned that bonus.
| Feature | PenFed Power Cash Rewards Visa Signature Card | Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $0 | $229 |
| Sign-up bonus | $100 statement credit | 60,000 points |
| Bonus value (est.) | $100 | $840 |
| Min spend to unlock bonus | $1,500 in 3 mo | $2,000 in 3 mo |
| Issuer | PenFed | Chase |
| Card category | cashback | airline |
| Best earning category (All_purchases_honors_advantage) | 2x | 1x |
| Transfer partners | None | None |
| Headline benefits |
|
Editorial take: Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority
If Southwest is your airline, this is the card to have. The anniversary points and $75 travel credit help offset the annual fee, and the 4x earning on Southwest is class-leading among airline cards.
Common questions
- Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, PenFed Power Cash Rewards Visa Signature Card or Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority?
- The Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority has the bigger bonus, 60,000 points, worth roughly $840, versus $100 statement credit (~$100) on the PenFed Power Cash Rewards Visa Signature Card.
- Is the PenFed Power Cash Rewards Visa Signature Card's $0 annual fee worth it compared to the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority?
- The PenFed Power Cash Rewards Visa Signature Card has no annual fee, so the question is whether the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority's $229 fee is justified by its perks. If you'll use enough of the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority's benefits to clear $229 in value annually, it's worth it; otherwise stick with the PenFed Power Cash Rewards Visa Signature Card.
- Can I have both the PenFed Power Cash Rewards Visa Signature Card and Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority?
- Yes, since they're from different issuers (PenFed and Chase) the application rules don't conflict. Many points enthusiasts hold both, they pair well when one earns flexible bank points and the other earns a different currency.
- Should I get the PenFed Power Cash Rewards Visa Signature Card or the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority first?
- Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. PenFed Power Cash Rewards Visa Signature Card: $1,500 spend in 3 months. Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority: $2,000 in 3 months. Pick the easier minimum spend if you're new to points; pick the larger bonus if you have planned big purchases coming up.
Card details on this page reflect the most recent data we've verified against the issuer's own site. Sign-up bonuses and fees can change at any time, confirm the current offer on the issuer's page before applying.
