Cardhoders Review of the IN: Chicago® Card from American Express
Summary - The IN: Chicago® Card from American Express is designed specifically for residents of Chicago who would like to earn reward points that can be redeemed on dining, drinking and entertainment rewards. You can earn unlimited reward points, which can also be redeemed in New York and San Francisco. INSIDE reward points do not expire. Let us look at this card in greater detail. Reward Formula - The IN: CHICAGO® Card from American Express allows you to earn one INSIDE (SM) reward point for every dollar you spend. You earn double points when you spend on city essentials like dining, movie tickets, cell phone service, cable and internet service, gym memberships, and newspaper and magazine subscriptions. You can earn unlimited points, which do not expire. These reward points can also be redeemed for items in two other cities, New York and L.A. At present, the INSIDE Reward Program has 35 Dining (restaurant outlets) partners, 15 Drink partners and 10 Play (Theatres) partners. .
Annual Fee and APR - There is no annual fee for this card. The APR is as low as prime rate plus 3.99%. Like all American Express cards, the IN Chicago Card uses the average daily balance method (including new purchases) to calculate monthly balances. You get an introductory 0% APR on both purchases and balance transfers for 6 months. You do not pay any balance transfer fee for this offer.
Reward Program Partners - At present, INSIDE Rewards has 60 partners for the IN Chicago Card. The table below list them.
| BIN 36 Chicago | Fulton's on the River | Marche | Spiaggia |
| bin wine cafe | Gioco | Mia Francesca | Spring |
| Bistro 110 | Green Zebra | mk Restaurant | SUSHISAMBA rio |
| Blue Water Grill | Japonais | one sixtyblue | Tuscany on Taylor |
| Cafe Spagia | Kamehachi (Northbrook) | Opera | Tuscany Wrigleyville |
| Club Lucky | Kamehachi (Old Town) | Phil Stefani's 437 Rush | |
| Custom House | Kamehachi (Streeterville) | Red Light | |
| Francesca's Bryn Mawr | Keefer's Restaurant | Rise Sushi & Sake Lounge | |
| Francesca's Forno | Le Colonial | Riva | |
| Francesca's on Taylor | Le Lan | Salpicon |
| Bungalow Loungebar | Le Passage | Vision |
| Crobar | Sound-Bar | WHISKEY BLUE |
| Excalibur | The Apartment | WHISKEY SKY |
| Fulton Lounge | The Leg Room | Y Bar |
| Le Bar at Sofiel Water Tower | THE WHISKEY BAR & GRILL | Zentra Nightclub |
| Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt | MCA (Museum of Contemporary) |
| Beat Kitchen | Metro/Smart Bar |
| Broadway.com | Steppenwolf Theatre Company |
| Gen Art | Subterranean |
| Goodman Theatre | The Second City |
Conclusion - The IN: Chicago® Card from American Express® will appeal to those living in Chicago who hang out at trendy places. Scan through their reward partners above and if you find that you are visiting these places quite a lot, then the IN:CHICAGO® Card from American Express® may be the right reward credit card for you. Like all American Express reward programs, you can earn unlimited INSIDE rewards, whose points do not expire.
Update - This card has been discontinued and is no longer offered by American Express.
Positives
| IN: CHICAGO® Card from American Express | |
| Reward Benefits | |
| Point Accumulation | Earn 1 Award Dollar for every dollar you spend Earn 2 Award Dollars for every dollar you spend City Essentials. |
| Caps on Award Dollars | Earn unlimited INSIDE rewards points |
| Points Expiration | INSIDE Rewards do not expire |
| Cost/Fees/Interest rates | |
| Introductory rate | 0% APR for six months for both purchases and balance transfers |
| Annual Fee | No annual fee |
| Purchase APR | Prime Rate plus 3.99%, 5.99%, 8.99%, 10.99% or 11.99% |
| Balance Transfer APR | Prime Rate plus 3.99%, 5.99%, 8.99%, 10.99% or 11.99% |
| Cash Advance APR | Prime Rate plus 14.99% |
| Penalty/Default Rate APR | Prime Rate plus 12.99% or 21.99% |
| Min Finance Charge | $0.50 |
| Grace Period | 20 days |
| Balance Calculation Method | Average Daily Balance (including new purchases) |
| Balance Transfer Fee | No balance transfer fee during introductory offer |
| Cash Advance fee | 3%, min $5.00 |
| Over-the-credit-limit fee | $35.00 |
| Late Payment fee | $15.00 - less than $100 $29.00 - between $100.00 to $1000.00 $35.00 - greater than $1000.00 |
