First Tech Choice Rewards World Mastercard Review 2024

Your credit card interest rate affects how much you’re charged if you carry a balance. It can also influence how and when you use your card. The First Tech Choice Rewards World Mastercard®* doesn’t come with any 0% introductory APR offers, which are often used to finance purchases or pay down credit card debt. That doesn’t mean it’s not a good option for both scenarios. The credit union-issued card has an ongoing 13.50% - 18.00% variable APR based on your creditworthiness, which is lower than most rewards cards.

The First Tech Choice Rewards World Mastercard®* lacks many of the fees commonly associated with bank-issued credit cards. It has no annual fee, foreign transaction fees or balance transfer fees. If you have to carry a balance for a while, you’ll pay less with the First Tech Choice Rewards card than most other options.

If you’re transferring a balance, the added cost of a balance transfer fee can get expensive with other credit cards, depending on the amount transferred. With this card, there’s nothing extra to pay beyond ongoing interest charges, making up for much of the savings you might receive with extended 0% intro APR.

The card rewards everyday purchases and comes with a welcome bonus offer, but both may take a backseat to the APR benefits, depending what you value more.

First Tech Credit Union is geared toward individuals working in the technology industry. You must be a member to qualify for any of the credit union’s credit cards, including the First Tech Choice Rewards World Mastercard®*. First Tech offers several ways to qualify for membership, including cost-effective alternatives to where you live or work.

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Rates & Fees

Welcome Bonus

Earn $200 cash back

Annual Fee

$0

Credit Score

Excellent, Good, Fair

Regular APR

19.24% - 29.24% (Variable)

Credit Score ranges are based on FICO® credit scoring. This is just one scoring method and a credit card issuer may use another method when considering your application. These are provided as guidelines only and approval is not guaranteed.

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Welcome Bonus

Up to $300 cash back

Annual Fee

$0

Credit Score

Excellent, Good

Regular APR

20.49% - 29.24% Variable

Credit Score ranges are based on FICO® credit scoring. This is just one scoring method and a credit card issuer may use another method when considering your application. These are provided as guidelines only and approval is not guaranteed.

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Rates & Fees

Welcome Bonus

Cashback Match™

Annual Fee

$0

Credit Score

Excellent/Good

Regular APR

18.24% - 28.24% Variable APR

Credit Score ranges are based on FICO® credit scoring. This is just one scoring method and a credit card issuer may use another method when considering your application. These are provided as guidelines only and approval is not guaranteed.

INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. You could turn $150 cash back into $300.

• Earn 2 rewards points on gas, groceries, household goods and more everyday categories and 1 reward point on all other purchases
• Earn 20,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 in the first 60 days of account opening
• No annual fee
• No balance transfer fee
• No foreign transaction fees

Earning Rewards

The First Tech Choice Rewards World Mastercard®* rewards all eligible card spending. The card’s rewards structure has two bonus categories:

• 2 points per dollar spent on gas, groceries and household goods
• 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases

You can find other rewards cards that earn higher bonus rates in these categories, but the widespread earning potential of this card across multiple store types and retailers is a nice touch.

New cardholders can also earn a decent welcome bonus, too: Earn 20,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 in the first 60 days of account opening.

Redeeming Rewards

The First Tech Choice Rewards card offers multiple options for redeeming rewards earned with the card, including:

• Cash back
• Gift cards
• Travel
• Merchandise
• Experiences
• Events

Your account must be open and in good standing to redeem rewards, which is done through your online account or the credit union’s mobile app. Note that Apple users can only redeem rewards online, not through the mobile app, due to Apple’s security settings. Rewards points never expire, so you can use them any time or save them up for larger redemptions.

Rewards Potential

To determine the rewards potential of the First Tech Choice Rewards card, we consider what an American household might spend on a credit card each year. Forbes Advisor uses data from various government agencies to determine baseline income and spending averages across various categories. The 70th percentile of wage earners brings in $118,438 annually, and we base our sample household spending on that number.

Forbes Advisor estimates the household has $39,337 in expenses that can be reasonably charged to a credit card.

The card’s rewards potential may vary depending on how certain card purchases are coded by the merchant or card processor.

The rewards potential for the First Tech Choice Rewards World Mastercard is even higher in the first year if you earn the card’s 20,000-point welcome bonus, valued at $200.

• Mastercard ID Theft Protection. The Mastercard-specific benefit alerts cardholders of possible identity theft and offers resolution services if your identity is stolen.
• Mastercard purchase assurance. Eligible purchases made with your Choice Rewards World Mastercard are protected for up to 90 days against theft or damage.
• Travel protections. As a World Mastercard, this First Tech card comes with several travel protections including lost or damaged luggage insurance, trip cancellation insurance, baggage delay insurance, travel accident insurance, 24/7 Mastercard Global Service emergency assistance and secondary rental car insurance.
• Instacart benefits. The card comes with two free months of Instacart+ plus $10 off of your second order each month (ends 3/31/25).
• Peacock discount. Receive a $3 discount each month off Peacock Premium when you use your card to pay for your Peacock subscription (ends 3/31/25).
• ShopRunner membership. Cardholders can sign up for a free ShopRunner membership valued at $79 annually, which features benefits like free two-day shipping and free returns at popular retailers (Valid through 9/30/25).
• Portland Trail Blazers benefits. Oregon-based First Tech Credit Union offers exclusive Portland Trail Blazers-specific benefits including discounted tickets for games and events, discounted team gear and a special Blazers-branded card.

Interest Rates

• Regular APR: 13.50% - 18.00% variable APR
• Purchase intro APR: N/A
• Balance transfer intro APR: N/A

Fees

• Annual fee: $0
• Balance transfer fee: None
• Foreign purchase transaction fee: None

First Tech Choice Rewards World Mastercard®* vs. First Tech Platinum Rewards Mastercard®*

First Tech Credit Union has several credit cards available to qualified members. If you qualify for the First Tech Choice Rewards card, you can also consider the First Tech Platinum Rewards Mastercard®*. You won’t earn as many points through card spending or its welcome bonus, but like the Choice Rewards card, it has no annual fee or balance transfer fee. The Platinum Rewards Mastercard has a low APR range, making it another low-interest option for carrying or transferring a balance.

First Tech Choice Rewards World Mastercard®* vs. Wings Member Cash Rewards Visa Signature® Credit Card*

For fans of credit unions, there’s also the Wings Member Cash Rewards Visa Signature® Credit Card*. Instead of earning points, you’ll earn 1.5% cash-back rewards on every purchase. Like the First Tech Choice Rewards card, it has no annual fee or foreign transaction fees. Where Wings Member Cash Rewards stands out, though, is the addition of a 0% introductory APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers. After that, a 18.00% variable APR applies based on your creditworthiness. So, you can use the card to pay down existing credit card balances without interest charges for a year.

First Tech Choice Rewards World Mastercard®* vs. Wells Fargo Reflect® Card

For a rewards card with no membership requirements to apply, consider the Wells Fargo Reflect® Card. The no annual fee card doesn’t earn rewards but features one of the longest 0% intro APR offers on the market. Cardholders get a 0% intro APR for 21 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers. A 18.24%, 24.74%, or 29.99% variable APR applies thereafter. Balance transfers made within 120 days qualify for the intro APR and a balance transfer fee of 5%, min $5 applies.

Unlike the First Tech Choice Rewards card, the Wells Fargo Reflect comes with a balance transfer fee. However, the extended period with no interest could make up for it.

If you plan to carry a balance and want a low-interest credit card that earns rewards, the First Tech Choice Rewards World Mastercard®* is a good option. It’s ideal for individuals who want to finance purchases or transfer over existing card debt for an extended time beyond what’s typically offered with intro APR offers. With no balance transfer fees, you can save money using the card to pay down card debt.

As mentioned, you must become a member of First Tech Credit Union to apply for the First Tech Choice Rewards card. If you’re not interested in joining a credit union or opening a savings account to get a rewards credit card, consider other top rewards cards with no membership requirements to apply.

Forbes Advisor considers a variety of criteria when assigning credit cards a rating. Cards are graded based on numerous factors, including:

• Annual fees
• Welcome bonus offers
• Ongoing earning rates
• Value of individual points or miles
• Included travel or merchant credits
• Additional cardholder benefits

Card features we expect cardholders to use the most often are weighted more heavily in our ratings. Altogether, the factors came together to provide a star rating for each individual card.

Read more: How Forbes Advisor Rates Credit Cards