3 best M&T credit cards with the juiciest rewards

There are hundreds of thousands of credit cards in circulation. But finding the right one for you can be like locating a needle in a haystack.

M&T Bank offers a wide range of credit cards that reward you in ways that support your unique lifestyle—whether it’s traveling, shopping, saving, or gifting.

One M&T flagship credit card is Visa Signature, which on day one lets you turn points into cash. But there are other “M&T” credit cards—each with its own unique perks.

Of course, no credit card, including M&T credit cards, are perfect. But chances are there’s a card that can give you much better perks than what you’re currently earning.

Could it be one from M&T Bank? Let’s see.

M&T Bank overview

Buffalo, New York-domiciled M&T Bank is a regional bank that rubs shoulders with some of the biggest financial institutions in the U.S.

With its hundreds of brick-and-mortar locations, M&T Bank has amassed over $200 billion in assets. Not too shabby.

If you happen to be banking with M&T Bank, you might decide it makes sense to streamline your financial life and take advantage of M&T’s credit cards.

Even if you bank elsewhere, M&T Bank may still have a credit card that piques your interest.

But not all “M&T” Bank credit cards are the same. You don’t want to be in a hurry and settle by choosing one that won’t bring you closer to your financial goals.

So let’s do some comparison shopping.

Following is a list of M&T Bank’s rewards-fueled credit cards to help you narrow your search and find the one that best suits your needs and lifestyle.

M&T Visa Signature Credit Card

The M&T Visa Signature Credit Card lets you earn unlimited 1.5% cash back every time you swipe. The cool thing about the points you earn with this card is that you can use them or hold onto them for a while.

And, they can be redeemed for just about anything: cash back, gift cards, or travel, including access to over 300 airlines. M&T Bank even has travel agents to help you plan your next vacation.

Take advantage of a 0% intro APR for the first 12 billing cycles from the time you open an account. After that grace period, receive a variable APR between 19.24% and 23.34%.

If you’re thinking of signing up, you could qualify for 10,000 bonus points, worth $100, if you spend $500 in the first three months of being a card member.

You can use the points for cold hard cash or toward a statement credit. The M&T Bank credit card is reserved for consumers with strong credit, including a score ranging from good to excellent.

Signature pros

• Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase.
• No earnings limits and all purchases qualify to earn the same rewards 365 days per year.
• No foreign transaction fees if you are traveling abroad. And no annual fee.
• 0% intro APR for the first 12 billing cycles from opening an account.

Signature cons

• While $100 in bonus points is better than nothing, it’s not all that competitive with other rewards cards, like Chase Freedom’s $150 sign-on bonus
• Use it or lose it. If you let your points sit idle for 48 months, they’ll expire.
• Pay a 4% balance transfer fee

M&T Business Rewards Credit Card

M&T Bank credit cards also let you capture rewards for your business.

The M&T Business Rewards Credit Card gives cardholders unlimited 2% cash back on every purchase in the first year of being a customer, and 1.5% after that.

For the first 365 days of having your account, earn two rewards points for every dollar you spend, points that can be redeemed for travel, gift cards you can give to loyal customers, shopping, entertainment events, or cash back.

After that period, earn 1.5 points for every dollar spent.

M&T Bank prides itself on simple rewards, with zero tiers, caps, or rotating categories.

On the tech side, M&T Bank credit cards contain chip tech for contactless payments and you gain access to a digital wallet to pay from your mobile device.

Here again there’s a 0% introductory APR for both balance transfers and purchases over the maiden 12 billing cycles.

But, be prepared to pay a balance transfer fee. And following the introductory period, the rate jumps to a variable APR of between 17.24% and 24.24%.

Business rewards card pros

• Zero annual fee.
• 0% introductory APR for 12 months
• Direct rewards toward business travel or to reward loyal customers or suppliers

Business rewards card cons

• Pay a fee of 4% of each balance transfer
• Foreign transaction fee of 3% of each transaction in USD.

M&T Visa Credit Card With Rewards

The M&T Visa Credit Card with Rewards is designed to lavish you with points every time you swipe or tap.

Earn one point for every dollar spent with this M&T credit card. The number of points you can earn is unlimited and commensurate with the number of dollars you spend.

Redeem your points for cash back or a statement credit to reduce your balance. Shop across categories such as electronics, exercise equipment, health and beauty items, home and garden, and more.

M&T Bank credit cards offer a zero percent introductory APR for your first 12 billing cycles.

Following that term, the APR will jump to between 19.24% and 23.24%, depending on the strength of your credit and the market rate.

M&T Bank credit cards have a habit of giving out bonus points, and this card is no different. Earn 10,000 bonus points, equivalent to $100, when you spend $500 in the first three months of holding this rewards credit card.

Visa card with rewards pros

• Enjoy a 0.00% introductory APR for your first 12 billing cycles
• Zero limits on the potential points you can earn.
• Direct points toward shopping at merchants across categories. Or simply take the cash via a deposit into your M&T Bank checking or savings account, a statement credit, or pay toward a transaction on your account.

Visa card with rewards cons

• While there are no maintenance costs, this card has other fees, including 4% of each balance transfer and a 3% foreign transaction fee.
• The $100 bonus isn’t as high as some other rewards cards, including the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card’s $200 cash rewards bonus for $500 in purchases over three months.

There is a lot to choose from with M&T so it shouldn’t be difficult to choose well.