Special Connections® Review: Benefits | MaxRewards

Special Connections®

This card is built for someone whose spending leans heavily toward quick meals, coffee runs, and ride-sharing, not for someone trying to cover every category with one card. With no annual fee, Special Connections® works best as a niche cash-back card you pull out for a few specific everyday purchases.

Annual Fee

Rec. Credit Score

Good

Good For

Coffee and takeout spenders

How to Apply

All information about Special Connections® has been collected independently by MaxRewards. Special Connections® is no longer available through MaxRewards.

Is the Special Connections® worth it?

This card is great for...

Fast food purchases

Ride-sharing trips

Coffee shop spending

Special Connections® is worth a look if your routine naturally includes a lot of fast food, Starbucks, and ride-sharing. Earning 3% back in those categories is solid for a $0 annual fee card, and the 2% back on dining and gas gives it a little more day-to-day usefulness beyond its headline categories.

That said, this is not a strong one-card setup for most readers. Outside of its narrower bonus categories, earnings fall to 1%, and there are no listed benefits to add extra value. If your spending does not clearly match the card's category mix, a broader flat-rate cash-back card or a card with more flexible bonus categories will usually be the better fit.

MaxRewards Verdict

This card makes the most sense for everyday spenders who frequently use ride-sharing, grab fast food, and stop at Starbucks. If that is not a big part of your budget, its limited bonus categories and lack of added perks make it easy to pass on.

Rewards

Special Connections® keeps things simple with cash back and a few very specific bonus categories. The value here depends less on how much you spend overall and more on whether your regular routine lines up with where the elevated earnings are concentrated.

CategoryEst. yearly spendRateRewards

Fast Food

Est. yearly spend

Rate3%

Rewards

Ride-Sharing

Est. yearly spend

Rate3%

Rewards

Starbucks

Est. yearly spend

Rate3%

Rewards

Dining

Est. yearly spend

Rate2%

Rewards

Gas

Est. yearly spend

Rate2%

Rewards

Everywhere

Est. yearly spend

Rate1%

Rewards

Est. Annual Rewards

Recommended Minimum Credit

Min: Good

Poor

Fair

Good

Excellent

Good credit or higher is recommended for this card.

Credit approval is not guaranteed. Meeting the recommended credit range does not ensure approval, and applicants with lower scores may still be considered.