I've looked at a lot of credit cards. Cashback cards, travel cards, category-bonus cards, cards with rotating 5% categories that require you to activate them every quarter like it's some kind of part-time job. And after going through all of them, I keep landing in the same place: the Fidelity Rewards Visa Signature card is the best credit card for the vast majority of people. Not the flashiest. Not the most complicated. The best.
Here's why I believe that — and why I think it's the right call for probably 90% of the people reading this.
The Core Case: Unlimited 2% on Everything
Let's start with the headline. The Fidelity Rewards Visa gives you unlimited 2% cash back on every single purchase. No categories. No caps. No quarterly activations. No sitting there at checkout trying to remember whether this grocery store counts as a "supermarket" under your card's terms.
You spend money. You get 2% back. That's the whole thing.
I can't overstate how valuable that simplicity is. The people who do the math on category cards and convince themselves they're getting 4% or 5% on a meaningful chunk of their spending are mostly fooling themselves. You have to actually spend in the right categories, hit the right thresholds, remember which card to use where, and never slip up. Most people don't do all of that consistently. A flat 2% that you never have to think about beats an optimized category strategy you only half-execute.
And 2% is genuinely a strong flat rate. There are a handful of flat-rate cards that match it, but almost none that beat it — and none of those come with the rest of what this card offers.
The Credit Limits Are Legitimately High
This one doesn't get talked about enough. Most rewards credit cards have limits that make sense for everyday spending — groceries, gas, restaurants. But what about when you need to put something big on a card? A home appliance, a car repair, a piece of equipment for a business, a flight and hotel for a family vacation?
The Fidelity Visa is known for approving high credit limits for qualified applicants. That matters because it means you can actually put large purchases on the card and earn rewards on them — instead of having to split payments, ask for a limit increase, or just put it on a debit card and get nothing back. If you're someone who occasionally has large one-time expenses, this card lets you capture rewards on those too. That adds up.
The Rewards Go Straight Into Your Fidelity Account
This is the feature that I think separates this card from everything else — and it's either a feature or a drawback depending on how you're wired.
Your cash back automatically deposits into a Fidelity account of your choice. It could be a brokerage account, a Roth IRA, a 529 for your kid, or just a cash management account. You don't have to remember to redeem anything. You don't have to log into a portal and convert points. The money just shows up and goes to work.
For me, that's perfect. My rewards go into an investment account and start compounding. I never think about it. Over time, that 2% isn't just sitting in a ledger waiting for me to spend it on gift cards — it's being invested.
Now, I'll be honest: if you want to use your rewards as statement credits, or you don't have a Fidelity account and don't want one, this card probably isn't for you. The automatic-deposit-to-Fidelity model is a feature for people who use Fidelity and a genuine inconvenience for those who don't. Know which category you fall into before you apply.
TSA PreCheck Credit
The Fidelity Rewards Visa includes a credit for TSA PreCheck enrollment. If you travel even a few times a year, PreCheck pays for itself on the first trip. Shorter security lines, no removing shoes or laptops, less overall stress. It's one of those things you can't believe you went without once you have it.
Getting that reimbursed through a no-annual-fee card is legitimately impressive. Most cards that offer travel perks like this charge $95 or more per year just to hold them. The Fidelity card charges nothing.
Worldwide Rental Car Insurance Coverage
Another perk that quietly punches above its weight: complimentary auto rental collision damage waiver coverage, valid worldwide. When you pay for a rental car with this card and decline the rental company's collision damage waiver, you're covered for damage or theft.
Rental car coverage from the desk costs anywhere from $15 to $35 per day. On a one-week rental, that's $100–$245 you're turning down because your card already has you covered. Over the course of a few trips, that benefit alone is worth real money.
No Foreign Transaction Fees
If you travel internationally at all, this matters. A lot of cards — including plenty of popular cashback cards — tack on a 2–3% foreign transaction fee on every purchase made outside the U.S. On a $3,000 international trip, that's $60–$90 quietly added to your bill. It essentially wipes out a chunk of the rewards you earned getting there.
The Fidelity Rewards Visa charges no foreign transaction fees. So that 2% cash back holds up whether you're buying lunch in Nashville or dinner in Naples. It's one less thing to think about when you travel, and it makes this card a legitimate everyday card for international trips rather than something you leave at home.
No Annual Fee
I've listed six meaningful benefits: flat 2% cash back, high limits, automatic investment redemption, TSA PreCheck credit, worldwide rental car coverage, and no foreign transaction fees. The annual fee for all of that is zero dollars.
That's the thing that makes me shake my head when I see people paying $95 or $550 a year for a premium rewards card. Are those cards valuable? Some of them, sure. But for the average person who wants maximum simplicity and solid rewards without doing any ongoing work, the Fidelity Visa delivers everything that actually matters — for free.
Who This Card Is For
Almost everyone. Specifically, it's a natural fit if you:
- Want a single card you can use for everything without category management
- Already use Fidelity for investing, retirement accounts, or cash management
- Travel occasionally and want basic travel perks without paying an annual fee
- Have large periodic expenses and want a card with limits that can handle them
- Prefer your rewards to go to work rather than sitting in a points balance
The only person I'd steer away from this card is someone who genuinely doesn't use Fidelity and has no interest in opening an account — the automatic redemption model requires it. For everyone else, I'd put this card at the top of the list without hesitation.
It doesn't try to be everything. It just quietly does the things that actually matter, better than almost anything else out there.
Disclosure: This article reflects the personal opinions of the author and is not financial advice. We may receive compensation if you apply for a card through links on our site. Always review the full terms and conditions of any credit card before applying.