Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz has appointed members to a new state council tasked with documenting the impact of the federal immigration enforcement surge in the state.
Cahill was appointed to the bench by former Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty and presided over the murder trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin in 2021. Cahill served as a judge from 2007 until his retirement in 2024.
Judge Peter Cahill listens to statements during the sentencing hearing of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin on June 25, 2021.
MPR News via Court TV file
Other appointees include several professors and organizers, the head of the Minnesota Farmers Union, a police chief and a public school superintendent:
Ana Pottratz Acosta
Kate Beane
Jenna Chernega
Abdulahi Farah
Pakou Hang
Liliana Letran-Garcia
Kathleen Miller
Fionnuala Ni Aolain
Roger New
Jose Pablo Obregon
Zena Stenvik
Gary Wertish
“Documenting history requires trusted leaders who are committed to listening, preserving people’s experiences, and ensuring that Minnesota’s story is not forgotten,” Walz said in a news release. “These council members bring deep expertise, lived experience, and a shared commitment to the truth. Their work will help create a lasting public record of both the harm endured and the resilience Minnesotans demonstrated during this difficult chapter in our state’s history.”
The governor’s office said the panel will gather evidence and testimony about the effects of the Trump administration’s immigration policies and enforcement surge — “both the harm endured and the generosity and resilience demonstrated by Minnesotans.”
Members will also issue recommendations to help the state recover and prevent potential harm in the future.
As credit card annual fees continue to climb, it’s natural to start questioning how much value you’re getting from adding a new card to your wallet. This is especially true since multiple cards out there charge no annual fee.
However, there can be solid reasons to pay an annual fee. Many popular rewards cards come with an annual fee but provide outsize value in the form of statement credits, welcome bonuses and other quantifiable perks.
Let’s examine our top cards, which actually provide more than $1,500 in value in your first year of card membership.
Methodology
Here are the four factors we considered to arrive at these values:
Welcome offer: We assigned a dollar amount to a card’s welcome offer based on TPG’s May 2026 valuations.
Annual statement credits: We counted credits toward travel, dining, resort stays and other categories.
Quantifiable perks and benefits: We added benefits that can be assigned a specific dollar amount. This means we excluded factors that aren’t as quantifiable, such as lounge access and elite status. We also excluded anniversary benefits that only apply to the second year of card membership.
Annual fee: We subtracted the annual fee from the card’s overall value. Even after subtracting this amount, all the cards listed still provide more than $1,500 in first-year value.
Finally, note that just because a card didn’t make this list doesn’t mean it can’t provide this type of value. Cards not on this list can provide value on a case-by-case basis.
Cards that provide $1,500-plus in first-year value
Card
Welcome offer value*
Total potential first-year value
Annual fee
Net first-year value
Up to $6,000
Up to $9,509
Up to $8,614
Up to $3,500
Up to $6,604
Up to $5,709
$3,075
Up to $5,235
$795
Up to $4,440
$3,075
Up to $5,423
$795
Up to $4,628
Up to $4,000
Up to $4,845
Up to $4,470
Up to $2,775
Up to $2,995
$95
Up to $2,900
Up to $2,000
Up to $2,520
Up to $2,195
Up to $1,350
Up to $2,360
$350
Up to $2,010
$2,050
$2,050
$95
$1,955
$1,538
Up to $1,828
$95
Up to $1,733
$1,425
Up to $2,245
$595
Up to $1,650
$1,400
Up to $2,000
Up to $1,505
Up to $1,600
Up to $1,600
$95
Up to $1,505
*Welcome offer value is determined using TPG’s May 2026 valuations and is not provided by or reviewed by the issuer.
Now that we’ve introduced the 13 cards providing at least $1,500 in first-year value, let’s dive into the specifics to help you decide which is best for you.
Reward your inbox with the TPG Daily newsletter
Join over 700,000 readers for breaking news, in-depth guides and exclusive deals from TPG’s experts
Most benefits come as statement credits, many of which specifically connect to business-related expenses.
Quantifiable benefit
Perk details
Value
Find out your offer and see if you are eligible for as high as 300,000 bonus points after spending $20,000 on purchases in the first three months of card membership. Welcome offers vary, and you may not be eligible for an offer
Up to $6,000^
Up to $150 back in statement credits on U.S. purchases directly with Dell Technologies and an additional $1,000 statement credit after spending $5,000 on purchases with Dell each calendar year**
Up to $1,150
Up to $600
Up to $360 each calendar year (up to $90 in quarterly statement credits) on U.S. Indeed hiring and recruiting products and services to post open positions and find talent**
Up to $360
Up to $300 in statement credits per calendar year on U.S. purchases of ChatGPT Business subscriptions (subject to auto-renewal)**
Up to $300
$250 annual statement credit after spending $600 on U.S. purchases directly with Adobe each calendar year (subject to auto-renewal)**
$250
Up to $209 statement credit toward an annual Clear+ membership for expedited airport security (subject to auto-renewal)**
Up to $209
Airline fee credit on one selected airline
Up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year on incidentals, such as checked bags and inflight refreshments, on one selected airline
Up to $200
Up to $200 each calendar year (up to $50 in statement credits per quarter) for eligible purchases made in the Hilton portfolio; separate enrollment in Hilton for Business required**
Up to $200
Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit
$120 statement credit for Global Entry or up to $85 for TSA PreCheck every 4 years**
Up to $120
Up to $120 each calendar year (up to $10 in statement credits per month) for purchases made with U.S. wireless telephone services**
Up to $120
^Per TPG’s May 2026 valuations. **Enrollment is required. ^^Eligible charges vary by property.
The American Express Platinum Card is one of the best travel cards available for luxury travelers because of its extensive lineup of perks.
THE POINTS GUY
These quantifiable benefits are only part of the equation.
Quantifiable benefit
Perk details
Value
Find out your offer and see if you are eligible for as high as 175,000 bonus points after spending $12,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership. Welcome offers vary, and you may not be eligible for an offer
Up to $3,500^
Up to $600 each calendar year (up to $300 in biannual statement credits) on prepaid bookings with Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection^^ properties made through American Express Travel®; The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay
Up to $600
Up to $400 each calendar year (up to $100 in quarterly statement credits) for Resy purchases in the U.S.**
Up to $400
Digital entertainment credit
Up to $300 each calendar year (up to $25 in monthly statement credits) for select digital entertainment and streaming services**
Up to $300
Up to $300 each calendar year (up to $75 in quarterly statement credits) for Lululemon purchases online and in U.S. stores, excluding outlets**
Up to $300
Up to $300 in annual statement credits for select Equinox memberships, including the app (subject to auto-renewal)**
Up to $300
Up to $209 toward an annual Clear+ membership for expedited airport security (subject to auto-renewal)**
Up to $209
Up to $200 each calendar year (up to $15 per month, plus an additional up to $20 in December) toward U.S. Uber rides and Uber Eats orders#
Up to $200
Airline incidental credit on one selected airline
Up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year on incidentals, such as checked bags and inflight refreshments, on one selected airline**
Up to $200
Oura Ring hardware credit
Up to $200 in annual statement credits for hardware purchase with Oura Ring each calendar year**
Up to $200
Up to $155 each calendar year (up to $12.95 in monthly statement credits) for one recurring Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal; plus applicable taxes); Plus Up benefits are not eligible
Up to $155
Up to a $120 statement credit each calendar year that fully covers an auto-renewing $96 annual or $9.99 monthly membership**
Up to $120
Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credits
$120 credit for Global Entry or up to $85 for TSA PreCheck every four years**
Up to $120
^Per TPG’s valuations. **Enrollment is required. #Add your qualifying Amex card to your Uber account and pay with any Amex card. ^^Eligible charges vary by property.
Chase’s premium business card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business, is oriented toward high-spending business owners who could maximize the multiple credits offered by the product.
THE POINTS GUY
Many of the benefits are statement credits toward purchases that business owners may find themselves making.
Quantifiable benefit
Perk details
Value
Earn 150,000 bonus points after spending $20,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
$3,075^
Up to $500 each year (two credits of up to $250) on stays of at least two nights booked through The Edit
Up to $500
Up to $400 each year (up to $200 from January through June and up to $200 from July through December) for purchases made directly with ZipRecruiter through Dec. 31, 2027
Up to $400
Up to $300 in statement credits each account anniversary year for a broad suite of travel purchases
Up to $300
DoorDash non-restaurant credit
Two separate $10 monthly credits toward non-restaurant purchases on DoorDash when you activate your DashPass membership by Dec. 31, 2027
Up to $240
Up to $200 statement credit for purchases made directly with Google Workspace for AI tools for business through Dec. 31, 2027
Up to $200
Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or Nexus application fee credit
Up to $120 statement credit every four years
Up to $120
Up to $120 each year (up to $10 in monthly in-app credit) on Lyft rides through Sept. 30, 2027
Up to $120
DoorDash DashPass subscription
At least 12 months of complimentary DashPass when you activate by Dec. 31, 2027
Up to $120
Earn up to $100 in statement credits (up to $50 from January through June and up to $50 from July through December) on gift card purchases made through giftcards.com/reservebusiness through Oct. 31, 2028
Up to $100
DoorDash restaurant credit
A $5 monthly promo for restaurant orders on DoorDash through Dec. 31, 2027
The premium Chase Sapphire Reserve includes a long list of statement credits that help offset the card’s high $795 annual fee.
THE POINTS GUY
The Sapphire Reserve’s annual travel credit is one of the most flexible credits available, making it easy to maximize that part of its first-year value.
Quantifiable benefit
Perk details
Value
Earn 150,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
$3,075^
Up to $500 each year (two credits of up to $250) on stays of at least two nights booked through The Edit
Up to $500
Up to $300 each account anniversary year for a broad suite of travel purchases
Up to $300
StubHub and Viagogo credit
Up to $300 each year (up to $150 from January through June and up to $150 from July through December) for purchases with StubHub and Viagogo through Dec. 31, 2027. One-time activation is required
Up to $300
Up to $300 each year (up to $150 from January through June and up to $150 from July through December) for Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables
Up to $300
$288 Complimentary Apple TV and Apple Music subscriptions each year. One-time activation for each service is required. These subscriptions run through June 22, 2027
$288
DoorDash non-restaurant credit
Two separate $10 monthly credits toward non-restaurant purchases on DoorDash when you activate your DashPass membership by Dec. 31, 2027
Up to $240
Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or Nexus application fee credits
Up to $120 every four years
Up to $120
Up to $120 each year (up to $10 in monthly in-app credit) on Lyft rides through Sept. 30, 2027
Up to $120
DoorDash DashPass subscription
At least 12 months of complimentary DashPass when you activate by Dec. 31, 2027
Up to $120
DoorDash restaurant credit
A $5 monthly promo for restaurant orders on DoorDash through Dec. 31, 2027
Find out your offer and see if you are eligible for as high as 200,000 bonus points after spending $15,000 on purchases within the first three months of card membership. Welcome offers vary, and you may not be eligible for an offer
Up to $4,000^
Up to $300 in statement credits per calendar year on U.S. purchases of ChatGPT Business subscriptions (subject to auto-renewal)**
Up to $300
Flexible business credits
Up to $240 in flexible business statement credits per calendar year (up to $20 per month) for eligible U.S. purchases at FedEx (through Oct. 1), Grubhub and office supply stores**
Up to $240
Up to $155 each calendar year (up to $12.95 in monthly statement credits) for one recurring Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal; plus applicable taxes); Plus Up benefits are not eligible
Up to $155
Up to $150 each calendar year for U.S. subscription purchases with Squarespace (subject to auto-renewal)**
Up to $150
^Per TPG’s May 2026 valuations. **Enrollment is required.
Capital One’s premium business card, the Venture Business, provides a solid welcome offer that carries its first-year value over the top.
THE POINTS GUY
This is how the benefits of this card add up:
Quantifiable benefit
Perk details
Value
Earn up to 150,000 bonus miles: 75,000 bonus miles after spending $7,500 on purchases in the first three months from account opening, plus an additional 75,000 bonus miles after spending $30,000 on purchases in the first six months from account opening.
Up to $2,775^
Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credits
Up to $120 every four years
Up to $120
$50 per year for bookings made through Capital One Business Travel
$50
Advertising or software credit
Up to $50 in annual statement credits for purchases at qualifying advertising or software merchants
Find out your offer and see if you are eligible for as high as 100,000 bonus points after spending $8,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership. Welcome offers vary, and you may not be eligible for an offer
Up to $2,000^
Up to $120 each calendar year (up to $10 per month) in Uber Cash toward U.S. Uber rides and Uber Eats orders#
Up to $120
Up to $120 each calendar year (up to $10 per month) in dining statement credits at participating restaurants**
Up to $120
Up to $100 each calendar year (up to $50 in biannual statement credits) for purchases at U.S. Resy restaurants**
Up to $100
Uber One membership (limited-time anniversary benefit)
A one-time statement credit for up to $96 to cover an annual Uber One membership (through Oct. 30)**
Up to $96
Up to $84 each calendar year (up to $7 in monthly statement credits) for purchases with U.S. Dunkin’ locations**
Up to $84
^Per TPG’s May 2026 valuations. **Enrollment is required. #Add your qualifying Amex card to your Uber account and pay with any Amex card.
The United Quest Card offers multiple perks that send its first-year value over $1,500.
THE POINTS GUY
Here’s what to know about this airline credit card:
Quantifiable benefit
Perk details
Value
Earn up to 100,000 bonus miles and 3,000 PQPs: 90,000 bonus miles and 3,000 PQPs after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Plus, earn 10,000 bonus miles after adding an authorized user in the first three months from account opening.
Up to $1,350 (including the points from adding an authorized user; not including the value of the PQPs)^
Automatic $200 in United TravelBank cash earned each year, including upon account opening
Up to $200
One $10 and one $5 monthly Instacart credit, ending Dec. 31, 2027
Up to $180
Up to a $150 annual statement credit on prepaid reservations made through Renowned Hotels and Resorts for United cardmembers each account anniversary year
Up to $150
Up to $150 in annual statement credits on JSX flight purchases made each account anniversary year
Up to $150
Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or Nexus application fee credit
Up to $120 every four years
Up to $120
Up to $8 in monthly statement credits for ride-hailing services, plus a bonus of $4 (for a total of $12) in December (yearly opt-in required)
Up to $100
Up to $40 each for the first two Avis or Budget car rentals booked through United Cars each account anniversary year
Up to $80
Complimentary three-month membership to Instacart+, after which you’ll be automatically enrolled in the annual plan at 50% off the normal rate. This offer ends Dec. 31, 2027
Much of the value of the Sapphire Preferred comes from its welcome bonus. However, that’s not the only quantifiable benefit for its $95 annual fee.
Quantifiable benefit
Perk details
Value
Earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening
$1,538^
DoorDash non-restaurant credit
Up to $10 each month toward non-restaurant purchases on DoorDash when you activate your DashPass membership by Dec. 31, 2027
Up to $120
DoorDash DashPass subscription
At least 12 months of complimentary DashPass when you activate by Dec. 31, 2027
Up to $120
Up to $50 annual credit on hotel stays booked through Chase Travel℠
Up to $50
^Per TPG’s valuations.
Total potential first-year value: Up to $1,828
Annual fee: $95
Net first-yearvalue: Up to $1,733
You’ll also receive a 10% points bonus on your cardmember anniversary based on the total amount you spent in the previous year. However, since the value of this perk depends on your spending activity, it’s not included in the above calculation. Note that Chase has confirmed this benefit will be ending at a future date.
Citi’s premium travel card, the Citi Strata Elite Card comes with a solid list of quantifiable perks and statement credits.
THE POINTS GUY
Here’s what to know about the card:
Quantifiable benefit
Perk details
Value
Earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.
$1,425^
Up to $300 off a prepaid hotel stay (minimum two-night stay) when booked through Citi Travel each calendar year
Up to $300
Up to $200 in statement credits each calendar year on your choice of up to two brands: 1stDibs, American Airlines, Best Buy, Future Personal Training and Live Nation (exclusions apply).
Up to $200
Up to $200 each calendar year (up to $100 in biannual statement credits) for Blacklane chauffeur bookings
Up to $200
Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credits
The Bilt Palladium Card earns valuable Bilt Points and Bilt Cash (up to $100 of Bilt Cash earned rolls over to the next year), sending its first-year value up high.
THE POINTS GUY
Here’s what to know about Bilt’s premium card:
Quantifiable benefit
Perk details
Value
Earn 50,000 Bilt Points and Gold Status after spending $4,000 on everyday purchases in the first 90 days from account opening. Plus, receive $300 in Bilt Cash upon account opening. Up to $100 in Bilt Cash rolls over into the next year
$1,400^
Bilt Travel Portal hotel credit
Up to $200 biannually ($400 per calendar year) in Bilt Travel Portal hotel credits; must book a stay of at least two nights
Up to $400
$200 in Bilt Cash annually; up to $100 in Bilt Cash rolls over into the next year
This card provides a fantastic bonus for Marriott loyalists to enjoy.
Quantifiable benefit
Perk details
Value
Earn three free night awards*** after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Plus, earn an additional free night award*** after spending a total of $4,000 on purchases in the first four months from account opening. Additionally, earn up to $100 in statement credits (up to $50 biannually) after spending $500 on eligible airline purchases.
***Nights are valued at up to 50,000 points each. Certain hotels have resort fees.
Many popular travel cards can get you well over $1,500 in value in just the first year of card membership.
If you have a card where you spend a lot each year within its bonus categories, you can easily get more than $1,500 in value from it just based on spending alone.
But if you aren’t taking full advantage of the benefits offered by a card (such as lounge access, yearly statement credits or elite status), you could get less value from a specific card, as it isn’t suited to your needs.
Hopefully, this gives you a starting point to see which cards can offer your wallet the most value.
For rates and fees of the Amex Business Platinum, click here. For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum, click here. For rates and fees of the Amex Business Gold, click here. For rates and fees of the Amex Gold, click here.
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional
Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.