The First Tech Odyssey Rewards™ World Elite Mastercard® is a good credit card for people with good credit who not only want to earn bonus rewards on travel and dining, but could also benefit from a relatively low regular APR. Cardholders earn 1 - 3 points per $1, plus an initial bonus of 30,000 points for spending $3,000 in the first 90 days (worth $300). In addition, the regular APR ranges from 12.24% to 18% (V), depending on your overall creditworthiness. That’s not the lowest rate out there, but it’s a lot better than most credit cards charge.

Whether the First Tech Odyssey Rewards Card is the absolute best credit card for eligible individuals is a bit less obvious, however. It’s certainly not perfect, charging an annual fee starting the second year your account is open and not offering quite as much rewards value as the most elite cards. You can learn more below.

What I Like About the First Tech Odyssey Rewards™ World Elite Mastercard®

30,000-point initial bonus

Spending $3,000 in the first 90 days your account is open gets you 30,000 points, worth $300.

This bonus offer is about average compared to the rest of the options on the market right now, according to our analysis of 1,500+ credit card offers. But if you’re planning to use your account for years and you really like the ongoing rewards, even the average bonus is plenty.

1 - 3 points per $1 on purchases

The First Tech Odyssey Rewards Card gives you 3 points per $1 spent on travel and hotels, 2 points per $1 spent on dining (including takeout and deliveries), and 1 point per $1 on other purchases. The bonus rewards rates put the card in the top half of rewards cards available right now, while the 1 point per $1 spent base rewards rate is standard. 

The travel category consists of purchases from airlines, transportation purchases such as car rentals and transit fares, and lodging. Purchases from discount travel sites may not count.

$0 annual fee the first year

The First Tech Odyssey Rewards Card is $26.75 cheaper than the average credit card offer the first year your account is open. All else being equal, not having to pay a first-year membership fee certainly beats the alternative.

Relatively low APR

The average credit card offer has an APR of 22.76%, and some cards charge over 30%. The First Tech Odyssey Rewards Card’s APR is therefore a bargain, at 12.24% - 18% (V), depending on your overall creditworthiness when you apply. This can help you save money if you happen to carry a balance from month to month at some point. But if you’re serious about saving money on financing, you should apply for a 0% intro APR card before making a big-ticket purchase.

No balance transfer fee

A 0% APR balance transfer credit card would likely save you more money, but the First Tech Odyssey Rewards Card’s low regular APR and lack of a transfer fee make for a pretty interesting combination. You can use WalletHub’s balance transfer calculator to price out your options.

Easy to join First Tech FCU

Pretty much anyone can join First Tech FCU, which isn’t the case with many other credit unions. To qualify for First Tech membership, you can work for one of First Tech’s 900+ partner companies or the Oregon state government, live or work in Lane County, Oregon, or join an eligible nonprofit. Your choices are the Computer History Museum and the Financial Fitness Association, which you can join by paying $15 per year and $8 per year, respectively.

What I Don’t Like About the First Tech Odyssey Rewards™ World Elite Mastercard®

No 0% introductory APR

The First Tech Odyssey Rewards Card’s low regular APR is nice, but it would be even better if it was preceded by a 0% intro APR period. People with good or excellent credit who want to avoid interest are likely to turn toward such cards instead of this one.

$75 annual fee starting the second year

After the no annual fee promotion the first year your account is open, the card’s membership fee jumps to $75. In other words, it becomes over three times more expensive than the average credit card offer after the first 12 months. You should therefore confirm the fee is worth paying, based on your spending and rewards earning, before you commit to another year.

700+ credit score recommended

The First Tech Odyssey Rewards Card requires good credit or better for approval. With that in mind, we recommend applying if your credit score is 700 or higher. Such a score will give you good approval odds, but many people won’t quite measure up. You can check your latest credit score for free right here on WalletHub to see if you qualify.