Review
Updated
Fact Checked
Nathan Alderman
Offer status
This offer is unavailable on The Ascent. All information was collected independently from the issuer. Some items may be out of date.
When you're a hockey fan, you show it. From hats and jerseys to car flags and -- credit cards? Yes, you can show off your favorite team every time you swipe with the NHL® Discover it® Credit Card. Plus, you'll earn unlimited cash back on your purchases and pay no annual fee. The bonus cash back system is a little complicated, but it can be lucrative for the right person. Check out our full NHL® Discover it® Credit Card review to see if it's the right card for you (and your team).
NHL® Discover it® Credit Card
Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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= Best
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= Excellent
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= Good
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= Fair
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Credit Score
Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: 0%, 15 months
Balance Transfers: 0%, 15 months
Regular APR
17.24% to 28.24%, variable
Rewards 5% cash back at different places each quarter up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. 1% unlimited cash back on all other purchases - automatically
1% - 5% Cashback
Annual Fee
$0
Welcome Offer Get an unlimited dollar-for-dollar match of all the cash back you earn at the end of your first year, automatically.
Unlimited cashback match
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Includes a great intro APR offer, plus Discover's regular suite of valuable perks that help you earn rewards while cutting fees.
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- Choose your team
- Purchase rewards
- Cashback match
- Intro APR
- No annual fee
- No NHL deals
- Balance transfer fee
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- Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, and gas stations, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate.
- Unlimited Cashback Match: There's no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a dollar-for-dollar match.
- 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers.
- Get 100% U.S. based customer service & get your free Credit Scorecard with your FICO® Credit Score, number of recent inquiries and more.
- Get an alert if Discover finds your Social Security number on any of thousands of Dark Web sites.* Activate for free.
- No Annual Fee
This offer is unavailable on The Ascent. All information was collected independently from the issuer. Some items may be out of date.
Full NHL Discover it review
This credit card is a good fit for: Hockey fans who also like to maximize credit card rewards.
Top perks
This card has a range of perks that can add a lot of value.
Choose a card design inspired by any NHL team
We've done a lot of credit card reviews, and few issuers let you express your interests quite like Discover®. The NHL® Discover it® Credit Card gives you access to cards inspired by every NHL team, from the Anaheim Ducks to the Washington Capitals -- and every team in between. You can even support the newest addition to the league with a Seattle Kraken card.
Your NHL® Discover it® Credit Card will sport a full-color logo for the team of your choice. The background will also have a subtle, watermark-style logo. Even the background color will match your team's colors. For example, the Philadelphia Flyers card sports a vivid orange background, while the Colorado Avalanche card has a rich maroon background.
Earn up to 5% cash back rewards
The NHL® Discover it® Credit Card shares the same rewards system as its sibling card, the Discover it® Cash Back. You'll earn unlimited 1% cash back on purchases, and up to a 5% Cashback Bonus® on purchases that fall into the rotating quarterly bonus categories. Just activate your bonus rewards each quarter and you're good to go. The 5% cash back rewards are capped at the first $1,500 in purchases each quarter.
Each quarter usually offers at least two bonus categories. For instance, one quarter may be grocery stores and gym memberships. Any purchases that fall into either of those categories would be eligible for 5% cash back that quarter as long as you activated your bonus rewards and are under the rewards cap.
Rotating 5% Cashback Bonus® categories for eligible Discover credit cards are announced on a quarterly basis. Once the announcement is made, you can go online to activate the categories and begin earning at the 5% rate as soon as the quarter begins. You can visit our Discover cash back calendar page to find the bonus categories for the current quarter.
Unlimited cashback match sign-up bonus
Credit card sign-up bonuses are pretty common these days, but once again, Discover puts its own unique spin on the idea. Instead of a typical bonus that requires you spend a set amount in the first three months, Discover has the Cashback Match.
With Cashback Match, Discover will match all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year. For example, if you earn $300 in cash back during your first year, Discover will give you an extra $300. The Cashback Match bonus is paid out after the end of your first year, and it only applies to rewards earned during your first year of card ownership for new cardholders.
Intro 0% APR
Even the best cash back cards can be taken down a notch by pricey interest fees. But the NHL® Discover it® Credit Card gives you a break: 15 months of introductory 0% APR. This gives you more than a year of zero interest on your purchases during the intro period, making it ideal for any big buys you may need a few months to pay off (like, say, a couple of tickets to the Stanley Cup).
What's more, the offer is for intro 0% APR on balance transfers, too. This makes the NHL® Discover it® Credit Card a solid option for transferring any high-interest card balances that could benefit from a lower interest rate. Watch out for the balance transfer fee, though (more on that below).
After the intro period expires, the purchase and balance transfer APRs will return to the go-to 17.24% to 28.24%, variable APR.
No annual card fee
Being a diehard fan comes with a lot of expenses -- those seats right behind the penalty box aren't cheap! But your NHL® Discover it® Credit Card doesn't have to add to the cost of showing your team pride because there's no annual card fee. Even in the offseason, you won't have to worry about how much your card is costing you to keep around. This applies to authorized users, too, making it easy to have the whole family share the team spirit.
No foreign transaction fees
Want to hit the road for an away game in Canada? You can take your NHL® Discover it® Credit Card with you without worry. The NHL® Discover it® Credit Card doesn't charge any foreign transaction fees. You can swipe at concessions, at the hotel, and anywhere else your trip takes you without paying extra fees on your foreign transactions.
That comfort applies at home, too; transactions that route through foreign banks can mean foreign transaction fees on other cards. The NHL® Discover it® Credit Card's 0% foreign transaction fees have you covered both home and away.
Alternatives to consider
- If you want rotating and static bonus categories: The Chase Freedom Flex℠ is the best of both worlds: you'll get up to 5% cash back in a quarterly rotating category (activation required; $1,500 quarterly purchase cap), plus earn 3% back on dining and drugstores all year long. You'll pay no annual fee and new cardholders can earn a competitive sign-up bonus.
- If you want to choose your own bonus categories: The U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card takes the guesswork out of rotating categories by letting you choose your own 5% cash back category each quarter from a list of options that includes a wide array of options. You can choose two 5% back categories and one 2% back category. Activation is required and there's a $2,000 cap on bonus purchases each quarter.
Read more: Best Rewards Credit Cards
As of Apr. 16, 2024
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| Chase Freedom Flex℠ |
U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card |
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Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor |
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor |
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Apply Now for Chase Freedom Flex℠
On Chase's Secure Website. |
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Credit Rating Requirement:
Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)
Good/Excellent (670-850) |
Credit Rating Requirement:
Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)
Good/Excellent (670-850) |
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Welcome Offer: Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening! $200 bonus |
Welcome Offer: Earn a $200 bonus after spending $1,000 in eligible purchases within the first 120 days of account opening. $200 |
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Rewards Program: 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate. Enjoy new 5% categories each quarter! Plus, earn 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3% on dining and drugstores, and 1% on all other purchases. 5% cash back offer |
Rewards Program: 5% cash back back on up to $2,000 of quarterly spending in two categories of choice and for travel booked directly in U.S. Bank's Rewards Travel Center, unlimited 2% back in one "everyday" category of choice, 1% back on other purchases 1% - 5% back |
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Intro APR: 0% Intro APR on Purchases Purchases: 0% Intro APR on Purchases, 15 months Balance Transfers: 0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers, 15 months |
Intro APR: 0% on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 billing cycles on purchases billing cycles, and after that 19.49% - 29.74% (Variable). Purchases: 0%, 15 billing cycles on purchases Balance Transfers: 0%, 15 billing cycles |
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Regular APR: 20.49%-29.24% Variable |
Regular APR: 19.49% - 29.74% (Variable) |
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Annual Fee: N/A $0 |
Annual Fee: $0 |
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Highlights:
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Apply Now for Chase Freedom Flex℠
On Chase's Secure Website. |
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U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card is unavailable on The Ascent. All information was collected independently and not reviewed for accuracy or provided by the credit card issuer. Some items may be out of date.
What could be improved
There are a few places where this card comes up short.
No NHL discounts or other perks
For a card that advertises as "The official credit card of the NHL," the hockey perks are limited. In fact, they're limited to the design itself. While it's great that you can share your team spirit every time you make a purchase, it'd be nice if the NHL® Discover it® Credit Card also came with some team discounts. Having some sort of deal or discount on hockey tickets would be fantastic. But even a modest discount on the NHL.com shop would be a nice perk. It seems like a missed opportunity to not offer any of these.
Balance transfer fee
One of the perks of the NHL® Discover it® Credit Card is the intro 0% APR on balance transfers. But, as mentioned above, that perk isn't entirely without its drawbacks. To get the 0% intro rate on balance transfers, you need to transfer eligible balances within the intro period. You'll also need to pay the 3% intro balance transfer fee, up to 5% fee on future balance transfers (see terms)*. While you get a reduced balance transfer fee of 3% during the intro period, that 3% can still add up on a large balance. For example, a $5,000 transfer would come with a $150 balance transfer fee. The fee increases to 5% after the intro period.
Suggested credit score
The NHL® Discover it® Credit Card is meant for applicants with good to excellent credit. That usually means a FICO® Score of 670 or higher. However, Discover will look at your entire credit report, not just your scores, when considering your application. Other factors, such as your income and your history with Discover, may also influence their decision.
The NHL Discover it is right for you if:
The NHL® Discover it® Credit Card is a solid pick for anyone who wants to show off team pride while still earning competitive cash back rewards. It's also a good option for hockey lovers who want to maximize their purchase rewards. However, the rotating categories, activation requirements, and caps on bonus purchases do make this card a little more work than some alternatives.
Read more: Best Credit Cards
Our credit card methodology
At The Motley Fool Ascent, we rate credit cards on a five-star scale (1 = poor, 5 = best). Our rating criteria includes rewards rates, welcome bonuses, fees, and perks like travel credits and 0% intro APR offers to evaluate our ratings.
We combine these factors with an evaluation of brand reputation and customer satisfaction to ensure you're getting the best card recommendations. Learn more about how The Ascent rates credit cards.
Our Credit Cards Experts
Brittney started her writing career in the world of science, putting her physics degree to good use. Her journey into finance started with building her personal credit, but soon grew into a borderline obsession with credit cards and travel rewards. For the last 7 years, she has enjoyed the ability to share her expertise with readers, as well as the opportunity to interview companies and individuals making an impact on our financial lives. She wholly believe most problems can be solved with the right research -- and a good spreadsheet -- and she specializes in translating complex financial topics into actionable advice to help educate and empower readers.
Fact Checked
Nathan Alderman
Nathan Alderman has worked with The Motley Fool since 2005, making errors his arch-enemies in a variety of roles including a six-year stint as the dedicated fact-checker for The Motley Fool's premium newsletter services. As The Ascent's Compliance Lead, he makes sure that all the site's information is accurate and up to date, which ensures we always steer readers right and keeps various financial partners happy. A graduate of Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism, Nathan spends his spare time volunteering for civic causes, writing and podcasting for fun, adoring his wife, and wrangling his two very large young children.
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We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.
John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Discover Financial Services is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. JPMorgan Chase is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. Brittney Myers has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amazon, Avalanche, JPMorgan Chase, PayPal, Target, U.S. Bancorp, and Visa. The Motley Fool recommends Discover Financial Services and recommends the following options: short March 2024 $67.50 calls on PayPal. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned.