American Express Company

New York Stock Exchange
Back to all articles
Somewhat Bullish +40

Credit One Bank Wander American Express Card review: A travel rewards card for fair credit

📊 The Credit One Bank® Wander® American Express® Card targets applicants with fair or average credit scores (580+), unlike typical travel cards requiring 670+.

💳 This card offers a modest annual fee paired with market-leading rewards rates for eligible spending categories.

💸 Rewards structure includes 10% cash back on hotel and car rentals booked via Credit One Bank, 5% on dining/gas/travel purchases, and 1% on everything else.

🚫 Unlike many premium travel cards, there is no welcome bonus offered upon approval for this card.

🛡️ Return protection covers up to $300 per item or $1,000 annually if a merchant rejects a return within 90 days of purchase.

⏳ Extended warranty benefits add one year of coverage on eligible warranties lasting 12 months or less.

🔒 Retail protection provides coverage for damaged or stolen items worth up to $1,000 per loss and $50,000 annually per account.

✈️ Travel accident insurance offers up to $150,000 in accidental death or dismemberment benefits when the entire fare is charged to the card.

🚘 Car rental loss and damage insurance provides secondary coverage of up to $50,000 against theft or damage while traveling.

💰 Exclusive rental car perks include up to 15% off rates at SIXT, Hertz, and Avis.

📈 Automatic credit line increases may be available based on the cardholder's overall credit performance over time.

🛡️ Cardholders receive a free Experian IdentityWorks membership valued at $120 annually for credit monitoring and identity theft protection.

🔍 The membership includes dark web surveillance alerts, social security number trace alerts, and up to $500,000 in identity theft insurance.

🏬 Amex Offers allows members to receive discounts at participating merchants like restaurants and hotels after meeting spending requirements.

🔍 The rewards program is called Wander Rewards and specifically excludes travel purchases not booked through Credit One Bank partners.

Bullish Signals
  • The card offers market-leading rewards rates for fair credit applicants (scores 580+), including 10% cash back on eligible hotel and car rentals booked through the partner, 5% on dining, gas & travel, and 1% on all other purchases.
  • It provides valuable perks like return protection (up to $300 per item, $1,000 annually), extended warranty coverage, retail protection (up to $50,000 per account), and comprehensive travel accident insurance ($150,000).
  • Cardholders receive exclusive rental car perks, including up to 15% off rates at SIXT, Hertz, and Avis.
  • Automatic credit line increases may be eligible based on overall credit performance, supporting the ability to grow credit history.
  • The free Experian IdentityWorks membership ($120 annual value) includes dark web surveillance alerts, identity theft insurance up to $500,000, and helps offset the card's annual fee.
  • Users can access Amex Offers for discounts at participating merchants such as restaurants, clothing stores, and hotels when meeting spending requirements.
Risk Factors
  • Unlike many travel credit cards, this card lacks a welcome bonus.
  • It requires fair credit scores (580+) whereas typical top-tier travel cards need good to excellent credit scores (670+).
  • The Experian IdentityWorks membership requires enrollment and Amex offers vary by location and change frequently with enrollment required for discounts.
  • Car rental loss and damage insurance provides only $50,000 in secondary coverage.
  • Return protection is limited to up to $300 per item and capped at $1,000 annually.
Full Analysis
The CNBC Select review analyzes the Credit One Bank® Wander® American Express® Card with Dining, Gas & Travel Rewards as a top option for travelers with fair or average credit scores. Unlike standard travel credit cards that typically require good to excellent credit (670+), this card accepts applicants with FICO scores of 580 and above, making it accessible for those rebuilding or maintaining lower credit tiers. The primary drawback is the absence of a welcome bonus, but it compensates with an annual fee and market-leading rewards rates that range from 1% to 10% cash back depending on the purchase category. Specifically, cardholders earn 10% cash back on eligible hotel and car rentals booked through the Credit One Bank travel partner, 5% on dining, gas, and travel purchases, and 1% on all other spending. The card offers a suite of valuable benefits typically reserved for premium cards, including return protection covering up to $300 per item ($1,000 annually) if a merchant rejects a return within 90 days, extended warranty adding an extra year for warranties under 12 months, and retail protection covering damage or theft up to $50,000 per account. Additional perks include travel accident insurance with coverage up to $150,000 for accidental death or dismemberment when the full fare is charged to the card, car rental loss and damage insurance providing secondary coverage up to $50,000, and 15% discounts on rental cars from SIXT, Hertz, and Avis. Significantly offsetting the annual fee is a complimentary one-year membership to Experian IdentityWorks Basic. This service provides credit monitoring and identity theft insurance for $0, while Premium and Family plans start at $24.99 and $34.99 per month respectively after a 7-day trial. The review highlights that return protection is usually found on high-fee cards, making it particularly valuable here, alongside the free identity monitoring which includes dark web surveillance and social security number trace alerts. Amex offers are also included to provide discounts at participating merchants like restaurants and hotels, though enrollment is required and terms vary by location. CNBC Select concludes that while not a top-tier rewards card for high spenders with excellent credit, it is an exceptional choice for fair-credit travelers looking to build credit history while earning tangible benefits without upfront bonuses.