FNBO Evergreen Credit Card Review 2024

If the no annual fee Evergreen® Rewards Visa Signature® Card*’s 2% cash-back rate on all purchases sounds familiar it’s because there are several credit cards offering the same elevated rewards rate. Copycat or not, it’s still a good thing to earn the highest cash-back rate on your spending.

There are no restrictions on who can apply for the Evergreen Card and while it’s issued by a regional bank, you don’t have to have an FNBO account or live in a state where the bank has branches to apply.

But you may find that other cards better meet your needs. The no annual fee Citi Double Cash® Card, for example, offers redemption flexibility with its rewards and has a 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months. After that, the standard variable APR will be 19.24% - 29.24%, based on creditworthiness. An intro balance transfer fee of either $5 or 3%, whichever is greater, applies to transfers completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, the fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5). The point being, unless you are brand loyal to Evergreen, there are likely cards in this category that will net you better returns.

• $0 annual fee
• $200 cash bonus (20,000 points equivalent) after spending $1,000 within the first 3 billing cycles after account is opened
• 2% unlimited cash back on every purchase
• Comes with either Visa Platinum or Visa Signature benefits for those who qualify

Earning Rewards

Earn 2% unlimited cash back on every purchase. Rewards are unlimited and never expire.

Redeeming Rewards

Points earned on the card can be redeemed as follows:

• Cash back. In 2,500 point increments equaling $25, as a statement credit to an FNBO account, as an ACH deposit to any checking or savings account (ABA routing number required) or as a check sent by mail.
• Other options. Redeem for gift cards/certificates, merchandise or other goods and services starting at a minimum of 1,000 points.

You can also combine points and dollars to redeem for merchandise and most gift cards.

Rewards Potential

To determine the rewards potential of the FNBO Evergreen Card we consider what an average 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-earning households brings in $116,000 annually and we base spending on that number.

Forbes Advisor estimates that our average household has $36,177 in expenses that can be reasonably charged to a credit card. At 2% cash back, the Evergreen® Rewards Visa Signature® Card* would earn $723.54 in cash back per year.

As a Visa Platinum Card, the FNBO Evergreen comes with the following benefits:

• Roadside dispatch. A pay-per-use service available 24/7.
• Emergency cash disbursement and card replacement. Get an emergency card replacement or Visa can arrange for cash with your bank’s approval.
• Cardholder inquiry services. Customer phone support for general inquiries and provides product/service information for Visa cardholders.

In addition to the benefits mentioned above, Visa Signature benefits include:

• Visa Concierge. Access to a personal concierge to help with planning, tickets, reservations and other recommendations and needs.
• Special event access. Get access to food and wine events in Sonoma County and other exclusive events.
• Preferred Hotels and Resorts. Save 10% and complimentary daily breakfast for two when you book a stay at a participating Preferred Hotels & Resorts and pay with your Visa card.
• Identity theft protection. Enroll in ID Navigator and receive tools to keep you informed of potential identity theft.

Interest Rates

• Regular APR: 20.99% - 28.99% variable
• Purchase intro APR: N/A
• Balance transfer intro APR: N/A

Fees

• Annual fee: $0
• Balance transfer fee: Either $10 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
• Foreign purchase transaction fee: 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars

Evergreen® Rewards Visa Signature® Card* vs. Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card is one of the leaders among 2% cash-back credit cards. Cardholders earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases, and have flexible redemption options through the Wells Fargo Rewards program—including covering past charges, getting a credit to an eligible Wells Fargo account or receiving a paper check by mail.

Plus, there’s a welcome bonus of $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.

And finally, this card offers longer intro APR periods on both purchases and balance transfers than the Evergreen® Rewards Visa Signature® Card*. Enjoy a 0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers, then a 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% variable APR applies. Balance transfers made within 120 days qualify for the intro rate and fee of 3% then a fee of up to 5%, with a minimum of $5 applies.

Evergreen® Rewards Visa Signature® Card* vs. Citi Double Cash® Card

For consumers who need a long intro APR on transferred balances, followed by ongoing value in the form of flat-rate rewards, the Citi Double Cash® Card is an excellent choice.

This card offers a 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months. After that, the standard variable APR will be 19.24% - 29.24%, based on creditworthiness. An intro balance transfer fee of either $5 or 3%, whichever is greater, applies to transfers completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, the fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5)

As for rewards, you’ll earn 2% cash back on all purchases—1% when purchases are made and another 1% when they’re paid off.

Note there’s no introductory APR on purchases, meaning the regular purchase APR applies immediately on any new spending you put on the card. If you’re planning to finance a big purchase, the FNBO Evergreen or the Wells Fargo Active Cash would likely be a better fit.

Evergreen® Rewards Visa Signature® Card* vs. Chase Freedom Flex℠

If you’re seeking an all-purpose card with elevated rewards on spending across a broad swath of categories, you could do worse than the Chase Freedom Flex℠. The card has a $0 annual fee and earns 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in categories that rotate quarterly (requires activation), 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% cash back on dining and drugstores and 1% cash back on all other purchases.

Those earnings come as Chase Ultimate Rewards®, a highly flexible currency that can be redeemed for cash back, travel, gift cards, merchandise or combined with rewards earned from a Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or Chase Sapphire Reserve® card and transferred to one of Chase’s travel transfer partners.

Plus, you can earn a $200 bonus after spending $500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

If you’re seeking a simple 2% cash-back card without a lot of application or redemption restrictions, the Evergreen® Rewards Visa Signature® Card* is a solid choice. Earning 2% cash back on everything is a top rate and cash is the most flexible reward of all since you can use it to buy anything you like—including travel. But if you’re looking to squeeze more value out of your rewards, or you think you’d come out ahead owning a card with a varied earnings structure, consider another option.

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