Best Green Credit Cards
At a Glance
In the modern day, more people are emphasizing concerns related to climate change, and for good reason. Strong evidence supports the fact that the planet is dying as a result of human action, which is why ensuring every single person starts taking active steps to reduce their carbon footprint is so important. One lesser thought of method to go about this is to invest in eco-friendly credit cards that contribute to a healthier environment. Learn the top sustainable credit cards to consider adding to your wallet next.
In this article, you’ll learn:
Comparing the top green credit cards
Knowing which green credit card is right for you will be challenging, especially if you’ve never looked into these types of cards before. However, the following table highlights some of the best eco-friendly credit cards and their most prominent benefits:
| Credit Card | Rewards Rate | Welcome Bonus |
|---|---|---|
| Green America Card | 1x Points on All Purchases | N/A |
| Varo Believe Card | 6% Cash Back with Purchases from Select Brands | N/A |
| Sunrise Banks Max Cash Preferred Card | 5% Cash Back on Two Categories of up to $2,000 per quarter, 2% Cash Back on One Everyday Category | $150 When You Spend $500 in 3 Months |
| U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa Signature | 5% Cash Back on Two Categories of Your Choice, 2% Cash Back on One Everyday Category | $200 Online Cash Reward After Spending $1,000 Within the First 120 Days of Account Opening |
| Amalgamated Bank Maximum Rewards World Mastercard | 1.5% Cash Back on All Everyday Purchases | $30 Back When You Spend $600 Within 3 Months of Account Opening |
| Verity Signature Rewards Visa | 1.5x per $1 on Eligible Purchases | N/A |
A closer look at the best green credit cards
The above summarization of the best green credit cards is helpful but only scratches the surface regarding what these credit cards have to offer. Read on to learn the additional reasons to add a green credit card to your wallet by looking at some of the finer details of the above best cards:
Green America Card
Rewards rate: 1x Points on All Purchases.
Annual fee: $0
Intro APR: 0% APR for 12 Billing Cycles.
Regular APR: 14.99%-24.99% Variable APR.
Signup bonus: N/A
Our verdict: When looking at the best environmental credit cards, the Green America card certainly needs to make the list. While the rewards earnings on this card aren’t anything to write home about, it is an extremely cheap card to own with no annual fee and an introductory APR period. Better yet, though, Green America is a notable company to harness economic power to create a socially just world.
Pros:
- No annual fee associated with the card.
- Introductory APR period.
- Unlimited reward points on all purchases.
- The card supports a clean environment, green business, fair housing, and more.
Cons:
- There is no sign-up bonus offered with the card.
Apply now: Green America Card
Varo Believe Card
Rewards rate: 6% Cash back with purchases from select brands.
Annual fee: $0
Intro APR: N/A
Regular APR: 0%
Signup bonus: N/A
Our verdict: When considering what is a green credit card, the Varo Believe Card should pop into your mind immediately. This credit card is a pure credit-builder card that tacks on no interest, no annual fee, and 6% in cash back from select brands. Those specific brands are chosen by Varo, but they all represent ethical climate change corporations to some degree, making this a must-add green card to your wallet.
Pros:
- This is a credit builder card and no interest is assigned.
- Varo is a neo bank with no physical location, meaning its carbon footprint is lower.
- The cash-back opportunities they offer are with select “green” brands.
Cons:
- If the brands the cash back is offered in don’t align with your shopping, you won’t make use of the rewards this card offers.
Apply now: Varo Believe Card
Sunrise Banks Max Cash Preferred Card
Rewards rate: 5% Cash Back on Two Categories of up to $2,000 per quarter, 2% Cash Back on One Everyday Category.
Annual fee: $0
Intro APR: 0% APR for 12 billing cycles.
Regular APR: 19.74%-29.74% Variable.
Signup bonus: $150 when you Spend $500 in 3 months.
Our verdict: The Max Cash Preferred card offered by Sunrise Banks is the best card on this list for cash rewards. With 5% cash back in two categories of your choice on up to $2,000 per quarter in addition to another 2% cash back on an everyday category, a cardholder can flip a profit quickly. There is no annual fee to hold this card and there is also an introductory APR period, meaning it is both a green card and can be used as a debt consolidation card as well.
Pros:
- Lengthy introductory APR period.
- No annual fee is assigned to the card.
- Multiple rewards earnings categories to redeem.
Cons:
- The welcome bonus offered for the card is relatively minimum compared to others.
Apply now: Sunrise Banks Max Cash Preferred Card
U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa Signature
Rewards rate: 5% cash back on two categories of your choice, 2% cash back on One Everyday category.
Annual fee: $0
Intro APR: N/A
Regular APR: 19.74%-29.74% Variable
Signup bonus: $200 Online cash reward after spending $1,000 within the first 120 days of account opening.
Our verdict: The Cash+ Visa Signature card issued by U.S. Bank has the advantage of a big name behind it, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t environmentally friendly. This no-annual-fee credit card takes advantage of the recent environmental initiatives employed by U.S. Bank such as having EV charging be a 5% cash back category and their overall company goal of being carbon neutral by 2050.
Pros:
- Green credit card issued by a major bank provides reputational security.
- A fair welcome bonus that is relatively easy to earn.
- No annual fee on the card.
- Multiple earnings categories to consider.
Cons:
- There is no introductory APR period on the card.
Apply now: U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa Signature
Amalgamated Bank Maximum Rewards World Mastercard
Rewards rate: 1.5% cash back on all everyday purchases.
Annual fee: $0
Intro APR: 0% APR for 12 billing cycles.
Regular APR: 23.74% – 29.74%
Signup bonus: $30 back when you spend $600 within 3 months of account ppening.
Our verdict: Amalgamated Bank is a lesser-known name but their Maximum Rewards World Mastercard is a great choice for someone in need of a green card. With no annual fee and an introductory APR period that lasts a year, a person can enjoy a stable 1.5% cash back on all their everyday purchases. The bank itself tackles a slew of issues including social, racial, and environmental justice, meaning cardholders are also backing a noble cause.
Pros:
- Stable 1.5% cash back in all spending categories.
- No annual fee on the card.
- Lengthy introductory APR period.
Cons:
- Extremely small sign-up bonus.
- High regular APR once the introductory APR goes away.
Apply now: Amalgamated bank maximum rewards world mastercard
Verity Signature Rewards Visa
Rewards Rate: 1.5x per $1 on eligible purchases.
Annual fee: $0
Intro APR: 0% APR for 12 billing cycles.
Regular APR: 15.49% – 22.00% Variable
Signup bonus: N/A
Our verdict: The Verity Signature Rewards Visa card is a simple conservation credit card that offers a stable 1.5x back per $1 on all purchases. With a low starting APR coming off of a long 1-year introductory APR period, this card is extremely affordable. Not to mention the fact that Verity Credit Union is a Global Alliance for Banking on Values member which requires demonstrating a commitment to delivering sustainable economic, social, and environmental development.
Pros:
- No annual fee associated with the card.
- Low introductory APR period.
- Low regular starting APR.
Cons:
- No sign-up bonus is offered with the card.
Apply now: Verity Signature Rewards Visa
What makes an eco-friendly credit card?
In truth, the term eco-friendly credit card is still relatively new which means the definition is in a constant state of change. Specifically, though, it refers to a credit card that either contributes positively to impacting climate change or rewards cardholders in such a way that it encourages them to make more mindful purchases or pushes them towards carbon neutrality. Some credit card companies simply donate a portion of rewards to climate change organizations which results in the title of “green card”.
How to choose an eco-friendly credit card?
Deciding on the right eco-friendly credit card for your wallet can be a challenge, but here are a few key tips to help you make the right choice:
1. Think about the climate change cause the card issuer is attempting to support and if it lines up with your personal goals.
2. Consider the benefits offered by the cards along with the rewards.
3. Think about the total cost of owning the card if you carry balances.
4. Compare the versatility of a card you are looking at to evaluate how it can bolster your current financial standpoint.
Methodology
The methodology used to determine the best environmentally friendly credit cards relied on several primary criteria. The most important of these include:
- Annual fee: The annual fee that a card may or may not have was weighed as one of the biggest factors for how a card compared to others on the list, as this factor directly impacts whether a person can afford a card or not.
- Rewards rate: The additional benefits offered by a green credit card were also taken into account, specifically whether or not those rewards balance out any costs of owning the card.
- The climate change cause: Naturally, the specific climate change cause that a card issuer supports was taken into account as one of the most important elements.
- The charitable element: Whether or not the card issuer contributed to any climate change-related charity was an additional factor considered when looking at the best credit card for the environment.
- The cost of owning the card: Finally, the APR rate for the credit card, as well as the introductory period if there was one, was examined to see what the true cost of owning the card is.
The product information provided here is based on research conducted up to a specific date and may have changed. For the latest and most accurate information, we recommend you to visit the respective card’s website before proceeding.
FAQs
At the end of the day, it is everyone’s responsibility to reduce their carbon footprint. Admittedly, however, picking up a green credit card is not the most effective way to accomplish this. While there are benefits, a green card with a massive annual fee shouldn’t immediately be applied for because of the environmental impacts if it isn’t something you can afford. Determine if the cause lines up with your visions and whether or not the rewards line up with your spending habits to determine whether a green card is right for you. Yes, many green credit card issuers often offer bonus perks to their cardholders due to the positive impacts they are having on the environment. While these perks rival those of standard credit cards, a person can feel better knowing they are helping the environment.
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