At a time when the competition is fierce among credit cards to be “top of wallet”, card companies are targeting the travel space to deliver value to customers. The new benefits reinforce the Platinum Card as a smart choice for travelers looking to get more value for their money and time, at home and abroad. Amex Platinum U.S. consumer and small business Card members can enroll and learn more about the following new benefits here:

• Priority Pass Select – Card members will now have access to more than 600 international airport lounges in more than 100 countries and more than 300 cities worldwide.
• $100 Global Entry Credit – Statement credit of $100 to offset the application fee for Global Entry, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) membership program that allows expedited clearance for pre-approved, low-risk travelers upon arrival in the United States.
• Elimination of Foreign Currency Transaction Fees – Effective immediately, Card members will not be charged the 2.7% foreign currency transaction fees on international purchases when they use their American Express Platinum Card.

This trio is in addition to the new travel benefits American Express Platinum launched at the end of last year, including an annual $200 airline fee credit, which can apply to baggage fees, flight change fees, in-flight food and airport lounge day passes.

The new PerkStreet Financial Visa® Debit Card even puts more cash back into customers’ hands than most “high interest” checking programs. Consumers no longer need to take on annual fees or grow their debt just to get great rewards.

PerkStreet will be announcing special opportunities to earn up to 5 percent throughout the year.

“With this offer we’re beating many credit card rewards programs in the market today, which is unheard of for a debit card. And when it comes to debit card rewards, it’s really not even a fair comparison,” said Dan O’Malley, CEO of PerkStreet Financial. “If you’ve been spending on credit cards just to get rewards, this is the alternative you’ve been looking for. Imagine, finally being rewarded for spending wisely.”

PerkStreet customers can earn 2 percent cash back on all non-PIN debit card purchases when they have a daily opening balance of at least $5,000 in their checking account. Customers will continue to earn PerkStreet’s standard 1 percent cash back on all non-PIN debit card purchases even when their account balance is less than $5,000 — still 25 times better than the average debit card rewards program. PerkStreet is offering a three month grace period before the balance requirement takes effect.

To sign up for PerkStreet Financial’s new 2 percent cash back offering, visit http://www.perkstreet.com.

Check the video out here.

In honor of the 100th anniversary of credit unions in U.S., one group in Georgia has put together a 5-minute online video featuring seniors who share financial and life advice from their experience over the generations, intermixed with children from the Boys & Girls Club who talk about the advice they receive from their elders about how to be smart with money and in life.

The video is here: http://www.georgiacreditunions.org/100/index.php.

We can all learn a thing or two from watching it, and each of these seniors has an interesting backstory as well if you are interested in finding out more about them on a Facebook page set up for the video.

Connected to the video, 1,000 Georgians were also polled on their current savings and spending habits, and financial advice. We thought these also might be good fodder for chat among your readers. Here are some of the poll highlights:

• 53% say that either their mother or father was the biggest influence in their lives about money; The breakdown of those who chose father vs. mother was almost even: 27% said father, 26% said mother.
• Regarding the best advice they received, 44% cited “Save a little each paycheck no matter how small”; 23% cited “Credit is good, but pay off cards in full each month”; while 12% cited “Never buy on credit.”
• Asked about a time in their life when they were not good savers, 68% listed their 20s; 50% listed their teens; 44% listed their 30s; and 21% listed their 40s. A stronger focus on savings started in their 50s, with only 8% saying they were not good savers in that decade of their lives and steadily dropping in following decades.
• 65% of those polled say that their personal spending habits will be changed forever because of the current recession.  While 61% think it will be difficult for our economy to come back as strong as it was before the recession, 27% optimistically think that the economy will come back stronger than ever.