The financial columnist at MSN Money quizzed five credit card industry experts and a frequent flyer expert to find the best cards when it comes to travel programs, cash back programs, and savings programs. She narrowed it down to a top six—two in each category—and a bunch of near misses.

Travel Programs

• First place: Starwood American Express
• Runner up: Diners Club MasterCard
• Other good ones: American Airlines AAdvantage MasterCard, United Mileage Plus Visa, Choice Privileges Visa, Citi PremierPass Elite MasterCard

Cash-Back Programs

• First place: American Express Blue Cash
• Runner up: Chase Freedom Visa
• Other good ones: Citi Professional Cash MasterCard, Discover Motiva

Savings Programs

• First place: Fidelity Investments 529 College Rewards American Express
• Runner up: Citi UPromise MasterCard
• Other good ones: Citi Home Rebate Platinum Select MasterCard, GM Flexible Earnings MasterCard, NestEggz Visa

One caveat about the top pick for travel, the Starwood card: “This is not the card to use for flying United. That airline requires you to give up two Starpoints for every frequent-flier mile, which makes the airline’s own co-branded card a better bet for dedicated United fliers.”

“The 15 most rewarding credit cards” [MSN Money]
(Photo: Getty)

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