Bad News for Suntrust Delta Debit Cardholders

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Thanks to Million Mile Secrets reader Brant for letting me know about changes to the Suntrust Delta Debit card.

This card hasn’t been open to new applicants for a while, but folks who have it will NOT be happy.

Starting July 25, 2015, there will be a limit to the number of Delta miles you can earn per month.  The annual fees are increasing, and some cardholders will earn fewer miles per $1 they spend.

I’ll explain the changes!

What’s the Deal?

Link:   My Review of the Suntrust Delta Debit Card

Until now, folks have used the Suntrust Delta Debit card to earn easy Delta miles for their everyday spending (like paying bills that can’t normally be paid with a credit card), purchasing money orders, and paying their taxes with minimal fees.

Here are the important changes.

1.   Monthly Miles Earning Limit

There hasn’t been a limit to the number of Delta miles folks could earn.  But that’s changing.

Starting July 25, 2015, you’ll be limited to earning:

• 4,000 Delta miles per 30 day period for Signature Advantage Account holders
• 2,000 Delta miles per 30 day period for non-Signature Advantage Account and business account holders

2.   Annual Fee

The annual fees are changing, too:

• $120 per year for Suntrust Delta Business cardholders
• $95 per year for non-Signature Advantage Account holders
• $75 per year for Signature Advantage Account holders ($25 per year if you have more than $100,000 in combined deposits and investments or if you are a Suntrust Premier Client)
• Free if you’re a Suntrust Private Wealth Management client

3.   Miles Earned per $1

Suntrust is also changing the number of miles you’ll earn per $1 you spend, depending on the type of account you have.

• Signature Advantage Account Holders – 1 Delta mile per $1 you spend for PIN point of sale and signature-based purchases (2 Delta miles per $1 you spend on Delta purchases)
• Non-Signature Advantage Account holders and business account holders – 1 Delta mile per $2 you spend you spend for PIN point of sale and signature-based purchases (1 Delta mile per $1 you spend on Delta purchases)

These are NOT good changes.  But it’s a good reminder that our hobby is constantly evolving, and we have to be ready to adapt.

There will always be new ways to earn miles and points (and I’ll share them with you!).

Bottom Line

The Suntrust Delta Debit card (no longer open to new applicants) is changing effective July 25, 2015.  And it’s not good news.

There will be limits to the number of Delta miles you can earn per month, depending on the type of account you have.  Annual fees are changing, and some folks will earn fewer Delta miles for their purchases.

While this isn’t positive, there are always new ways to earn miles and points in our hobby.  And I’ll tell you about them!

Will you keep your Suntrust Delta Debit card after the new terms take effect?