RateHerald

Our illustration in the card’s colours, not its design

SchoolsFirst credit card

School Employee Mastercard

No annual fee. Purchase APR 10.25–17.90%, variable.

Checked Nov 1, 2026Updated

Annual fee
Purchase APR · variable
Foreign transactions

Select an underlined figure to see where it comes from.

In dollars

What it’s worth

Yearly value in dollars: rewards and credits minus the annual fee, for three ways of spending. First year includes any welcome bonus.

SpendingValue against the feeFirst yearAfter
Light spender$180$180
Typical spender$450$450
Heavy spender$990$990
The spending each assumes, and what isn’t counted
  • Light spender: groceries $300, dining $100, gas $100, everything else $500 a month
  • Typical spender: groceries $600, dining $300, gas $200, travel $150, everything else $1,250 a month
  • Heavy spender: groceries $900, dining $600, gas $300, travel $600, airfare $300, hotels $300, everything else $2,500 a month

$180a year

The same in the first year and after.

The spending this assumes

A month: groceries $300, dining $100, gas $100, everything else $500.

$450a year

The same in the first year and after.

The spending this assumes

A month: groceries $600, dining $300, gas $200, travel $150, everything else $1,250.

$990a year

The same in the first year and after.

The spending this assumes

A month: groceries $900, dining $600, gas $300, travel $600, airfare $300, hotels $300, everything else $2,500.

Use your own spending

Estimates from the published terms above, as checked Nov 1, 2026; not advice. How we value cards

Against the market

How it compares

Worth more to a typical spender than about 80% of the 732 cards we track.

  • No annual fee, like about 85% of the 711 cards we track.
  • Lower top APR than about 85% of the 651 cards we track.

Other cash back cards with no annual fee

Against this card, for our typical spender’s value (rewards and credits minus fees, after the first year).

Shares rounded to 5 points. Fees and APRs as stated; value for our typical spender. Method

Rewards

How you earn

1.5%
Everything else

Cash back, as a share of each purchase.

Benefits

  • 1.5% cash back on qualifying purchases is deposited monthly into a Summer Saver account; if the Summer Saver contribution limit has been reached or no Summer Saver share is open, the deposit goes to the Member's Primary Share 01 savings account.
  • Summer Saver account advertised at 6.00% APY, subject to stated contribution limits and eligibility requirements.
  • Interest-only payments may be available during June, July, and August; members must contact SchoolsFirst FCU to confirm eligibility and participate.
  • Qualified members may skip the December billing-cycle payment without affecting their credit score; finance charges continue to accrue.
  • The rate is reduced by 0.50% APR after 12 consecutive on-time payments, subject to restrictions and the lowest APR offered at funding.
All 12 benefits
  • Apple Pay, Google Wallet, and Samsung Pay support.
  • Access to Live Nation pre-sale and preferred ticketing for select festivals and venues.
  • Access to Mastercard Priceless experiences and adventures.
  • Free credit score and customized reports from SavvyMoney.
  • Mastercard ID Theft Protection, including identity-theft monitoring and alerts, emergency wallet replacement, and identity-theft resolution services.
  • Rental car
  • Other: Up to the maximum allowed by the contract; the document also states that loss-of-life protection provides 25% of the protected balance or $25,000, whichever is less, after the last day of the month the protected individual reaches age 75.

Every figure with its receipt

Rates and fees

Annual fee
Purchase APRvariable
Balance transfer APR
Balance transfer fee
Cash advance APR
Cash advance fee
Penalty APR
Late payment
Returned payment
Foreign transactions
Grace period
Minimum interest charge

Before you apply

  1. What the application asks: your name, address, date of birth, Social Security number (or ITIN), income and housing payment. By law the issuer must consider your ability to pay (Regulation Z, 1026.51).
  2. Your credit report: applying usually means a hard inquiry, which can lower your score slightly for a while. Some issuers let you check whether you’re pre-approved first without one. How credit reports work (CFPB)

Questions

What is the annual fee?
None · schoolsfirstfcu.org, since Sep 29, 2026
Does it charge a foreign transaction fee?
Yes: 2% of the transaction in U.S. dollars.. · schoolsfirstfcu.org, since Sep 29, 2026
What is the purchase APR?
10.25–17.90% APR · schoolsfirstfcu.org, since Sep 29, 2026
See it on schoolsfirstfcu.org

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