My husband and I didn’t get a credit card when we got married. We didn’t want to use money we didn’t have. However, in the late 1990s, we had to get one when we decided to get on the Internet at home. (We had managed so far with free email—Juno, anyone?)
Since we had no credit, we were declined by the major banks. However, a local bank had mercy on us and granted us a credit card—with a $500 limit.
We paid it off every month.
Fast-forward a few years and I was putting a lot of money on the credit card due to frequent business travel. I shopped around for a good rewards program and landed with US Bank. This card has been good to us. I’ve flown to Sweden at least twice on points and have also made several “free” domestic flights.
However, US Bank is a big bank. Not the biggest and baddest of them all, but still big.
So, as part of my Finance/Banking month, I was determined to find a socially responsible credit card.
I had a lead, CREDO credit card. However, I couldn’t find an application online, so I gave up.
Then I stumbled upon Beneficial State Bank and my faith in humanity was restored (okay, not quite, but it did make me feel like change is possible). Beneficial State Bank is a Certified B Corporation and its mission reads:
Our mission is to build prosperity in our communities through beneficial banking services delivered in an economically and environmentally sustainable manner.
It didn’t take me long to decide that this was the credit card for us! The application is in the mail, and I look forward to easing out of US Bank and easing into Beneficial State Bank for all our credit card needs!
Note: Benefical State Bank also has affinity cards, which may interest some of you.
Btw, I realize that the most responsible thing to do would be not to have a credit card at all. I just don’t think that’s very realistic for our family, so we’re taking this approach instead. I feel good about it!
Leave a Reply