What changed in credit cards, week ending November 2, 2026
The week ending November 2, 2026: 3 issuer announcements and 4 new guides. Every figure comes from the issuers’ own pages, with the day it was checked.
Every week Julia’s Wallet checks the figures its videos state against the issuers’ own pages and follows what the issuers announce. Here is what moved in the week ending November 2, 2026.
What the issuers announced:
Amex cash back can now go straight into its savings or business checking accounts. U.S. cash back cardholders can move rewards into an Amex savings account, and Graphite business holders into Amex checking, at dollar-for-dollar value.
Two Citi AAdvantage cards go to $150 a year on January 24, 2027, with added perks. Both cards rise from $99 and gain bonus-mile categories, along with money back on in-flight purchases and on airport screening programs.
Bilt changes Bilt Cash expiry, hotel redemptions and annual card credits for 2027. Bilt Cash now lapses after 12 months, hotel use moves to twice a year, and Palladium and Obsidian credits convert to Bilt Cash.
New from Julia this week:
New guide: Bilt Obsidian earns more on rent and ties Chase Sapphire Preferred on dining. Both charge 95 dollars and pay 3 points on dining, so rent tips it to Bilt Obsidian; Chase Sapphire Preferred answers with gas, online groceries and travel.
New guide: Freedom Unlimited or Double Cash: which fits your everyday spending. Citi Double Cash earns 648 dollars on a 32,400 dollar budget against 540 for Chase Freedom Unlimited, but the two work well together.
New guide: Citi Strata Premier or Chase Sapphire Preferred: which $95 travel card fits your spending. Both cards charge $95. Citi Strata Premier scores 71 and Chase Sapphire Preferred 67 in Julia's tests, but your groceries, hotel plans and redemptions decide it.
New guide: Citi Strata Premier or Capital One Venture: which $95 travel card fits your spending? Both cards charge $95. Strata Premier suits food, gas and a planned hotel stay; Venture suits flat earning, and only pays off if you redeem well.
Julia’s Wallet tests credit cards on one household budget, with the arithmetic shown and no affiliate links.
In this week’s digest
- Amex cash back can now go straight into its savings or business checking accounts
- Two Citi AAdvantage cards go to $150 a year on January 24, 2027, with added perks
- Bilt changes Bilt Cash expiry, hotel redemptions and annual card credits for 2027
- Bilt Obsidian earns more on rent and ties Chase Sapphire Preferred on dining
- Freedom Unlimited or Double Cash: which fits your everyday spending
- Citi Strata Premier or Chase Sapphire Preferred: which $95 travel card fits your spending
- Citi Strata Premier or Capital One Venture: which $95 travel card fits your spending?