Special Connections®
The Special Connections® from Commerce Bank earns up to 3% effective value on dining in Madeen's catalog snapshot. It has no annual fee. Madeen compares this card against the cards you already carry — no bank login required.
- Top category
- Dining
- Effective value
- 3%
- Annual fee
- $0
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Madeen compares public issuer terms with its card-rule catalog. Issuer pages control rewards, fees, benefits, exclusions, and eligibility; Madeen does not issue cards, make approval decisions, or provide financial advice.
What does the Special Connections earn in each category?
Dining is the strongest category at 3% effective value (3% back). That dining rate ranks higher than about 66% of the 1,547 cards we track in that category. Madeen summarizes catalog reward rules for comparison only; issuer pages control current fees, caps, exclusions, and eligibility.
Dining is the strongest category at 3% effective value (3% back). That dining rate ranks higher than about 66% of the 1,547 cards we track in that category.
| Category | Earn rate | Effective value |
|---|---|---|
| Dining Restaurants, cafes, takeout | 3% back | 3% Top category |
| Grocery Supermarkets and grocery stores | 2% back | 2% |
| Gas Gas stations and fuel | 2% back | 2% |
| Travel Flights, hotels, transit | 1% back | 1% |
| Other General everyday spend | 1% back | 1% |
Madeen values cash back at about 1 cents each. Madeen compares every card using this cash-equivalent estimate while still showing the raw earn rate for context.
What are the Special Connections reward caps and conditions?
The Special Connections has 3 notable cap or condition rule(s) in Madeen's catalog, including activation windows, spend limits, and category exclusions. Review each bullet below before assuming unlimited earn rates. Madeen summarizes catalog reward rules for comparison only; issuer pages control current fees, caps, exclusions, and eligibility.
- 3% Cash Back at Restaurants
- 2% Cash Back at Gas Stations
- 2% Cash Back at Grocery Stores
Who should get the Special Connections?
The Special Connections fits spenders who put meaningful volume in dining and can earn 3% back. Best for spenders who put meaningful volume in dining and can earn 3% back. Madeen summarizes catalog reward rules for comparison only; issuer pages control current fees, caps, exclusions, and eligibility.
Special Connections fits spenders who put meaningful volume in dining and can earn 3% back. Madeen ranks its dining effective rate higher than about 66% of the catalog in that category. Compare it against cards you already carry with Madeen — no bank login required.
Best for spenders who put meaningful volume in dining and can earn 3% back.
Foreign transaction fees make it weaker for international spend.
Best for dining-heavy spend when you want to avoid an annual fee; confirm issuer terms before applying. Madeen summarizes catalog reward rules for comparison only; issuer pages control current fees, caps, exclusions, and eligibility.
Pros
- Strongest Madeen category is dining at about 3% effective (3% back).
- No annual fee in our catalog snapshot.
Cons
- Charges $1 foreign transaction fees.
- Multiple caps, activations, or exclusions may limit headline earn rates.
Does the Special Connections have an annual fee, and what's the welcome bonus?
The Special Connections has an annual fee of $0 and a foreign transaction fee of $1. Issuer pages control fees and offers; Madeen labels this as catalog analysis, not issuer-confirmed terms. Madeen summarizes catalog reward rules for comparison only; issuer pages control current fees, caps, exclusions, and eligibility.
- Annual fee
- $0
- Foreign transaction fee
- $1
What benefits come with the Special Connections?
The Special Connections includes Booking.com, Cell Phone Protection Visa® Benefit, Dovly Uplift™ in our snapshot. Perks and benefits can change; verify coverage on the issuer site before you rely on them. Madeen summarizes catalog reward rules for comparison only; issuer pages control current fees, caps, exclusions, and eligibility.
- Booking.comIncluded with Visa Signature®
Purchase qualifying stays with your eligible Visa Credit or Debit card and get up to 8% in Travel Credits to use on future flights, stays, car rentals, attractions, car rentals, taxis and more.
- Cell Phone Protection Visa® Benefit
Have peace of mind with complimentary, built-in Cell Phone Protection - up to $200 per claim.
- Dovly Uplift™Included with Visa Signature®
Get free access to Dovly Uplift. Dovly helps you raise your credit score and get more for your money. While Dovly's platform is designed to remove inaccuracies from your credit report, every case is different, and not everyone will achieve the same results.
- Global Entry Statement CreditIncluded with Visa Signature®
Apply for Global Entry, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection program and use your Visa Signature card to pay the application fee (currently $120) to receive a $120 statement credit.
- Golf Benefits from Troon Rewards®Included with Visa Signature®
Enjoy automatic Silver Status when you sign up for Troon Rewards®, for 10% savings on golf fees, merchandise and lessons at over 150 golf courses across the United States and the world.
- OpenTableIncluded with Visa Signature®
Eligible Visa cardholders can enjoy special events access to the hottest dining events on OpenTable. Restrictions apply.
- Priority Pass airport lounge accessIncluded with Visa Signature®
Enjoy access to over 1,700 airport lounges and experiences around the globe.
- Roadside Dispatch®Included with Visa Signature®
This is a pay-per-use roadside assistance program available 24x7. Roadside Dispatch will ask for your location, find out what the problem is, and will remain on the phone with you while arranging a dispatch to a reliable tow operator or locksmith. You pay a set price per service call.
Common questions about the Special Connections
Does the Special Connections have an annual fee?
The Special Connections carries an annual fee of $0 in Madeen's catalog snapshot. Issuer terms can change, so confirm the current fee on the issuer's site before you apply. Madeen does not predict approval or prequalification. Madeen summarizes catalog reward rules for comparison only; issuer pages control current fees, caps, exclusions, and eligibility.
What category earns the most with the Special Connections?
Dining is the strongest Madeen category for the Special Connections at about 3% effective value, based on our catalog snapshot and standard point valuations. Other categories are listed in the effective-rate table on this page. Madeen summarizes catalog reward rules for comparison only; issuer pages control current fees, caps, exclusions, and eligibility.
Does the Special Connections charge foreign transaction fees?
The Special Connections charges a foreign transaction fee of $1 in our catalog snapshot. Check issuer terms before international spend because rates and fee waivers can change. Madeen summarizes catalog reward rules for comparison only; issuer pages control current fees, caps, exclusions, and eligibility.
What credit score do you need for the Special Connections?
Madeen's catalog lists a typical credit range of Good for the Special Connections. Issuers decide approval using their own criteria; Madeen does not predict approval odds or prequalification. Madeen summarizes catalog reward rules for comparison only; issuer pages control current fees, caps, exclusions, and eligibility.
How do you redeem rewards on the Special Connections?
Rewards on the Special Connections post as cash back. Redemption value depends on how you use cash back (statement credit, travel, transfers, or issuer portals). Madeen shows effective cash-equivalent rates using standard valuations. Madeen summarizes catalog reward rules for comparison only; issuer pages control current fees, caps, exclusions, and eligibility.
How do I maximize rewards on the Special Connections?
To maximize the Special Connections, route dining and other bonus categories through this card when they match your spend, then compare it against cards you already carry with Madeen at checkout—no bank login required. Madeen summarizes catalog reward rules for comparison only; issuer pages control current fees, caps, exclusions, and eligibility.
How does the Special Connections compare to similar cards?
Compare the Special Connections against Commerce Bank World Elite Mastercard (3% on Dining, $95 fee); Georgia Tech Rewards Mastercard (2% on Dining, $0 fee); Commerce Miles (1% on Dining, $0 fee). Madeen ranks effective value by category and annual fee using the same catalog snapshot dated 2026-05-01.
| Card | Top category | Effective value | Annual fee |
|---|---|---|---|
Special Connections This card | Dining | 3% | $0 |
Commerce Bank | Dining | 3% | $95 |
Commerce Bank | Dining | 2% | $0 |
Commerce Bank | Dining | 1% | $0 |
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