The Southwest Rapid Rewards Debit Card and the Wyndham Rewards Debit Card earn points on everyday spending without a credit line, and Southwest says its card needs no credit check. Southwest's card costs $6.99 a month and Wyndham's card site lists $6, and both fees are waived with a $2,500 average monthly balance.
Both are issued by Sunrise Banks, N.A. and run on Galileo Financial Technologies' platform. Southwest announced its card on October 28, 2025, and Wyndham launched its card on March 17, 2025, calling it an industry-first U.S. debit card. They fit readers who can't or won't carry a credit card, but they pay far less than the co-branded credit cards.
What the Southwest Card Earns
The Southwest card earns 1 point per $1 on Southwest purchases, qualifying dining, and subscription categories: cable, internet, phone, streaming, utilities and insurance premiums. Everything else earns 1 point per $2, and there's no cap on points. The welcome bonus is 2,500 points after two recurring deposits and $100 in spending within 90 days.
Southwest also lists up to 7,500 anniversary points based on annual spend (the full amount takes at least $15,000 in qualifying purchases), an annual 20% off promotion code and a $35 Southwest credit. ATM withdrawals on the Cirrus network carry no fees. The details live on the Southwest Rapid Rewards debit card page.
What the Wyndham Card Earns
Wyndham's card site lists 1 point per $1 at Hotels by Wyndham, gas stations and grocery stores, and 1 point per $2 on other purchases. The welcome bonus is 2,500 points after two recurring direct deposits and $100 in net purchases within 90 days. The anniversary bonus is 2,500 points at $5,000 to $9,999.99 in net purchases, 5,000 points at $10,000 to $14,999.99 and 7,500 points at $15,000 or more.
The card includes complimentary Wyndham Rewards Gold membership for eligible members and a booking discount at participating Hotels by Wyndham. Wyndham's free-night chart changed on September 15, 2026 to four tiers of 5,000, 15,000, 30,000 and 45,000 points per bedroom per night. Wyndham says other fees may apply, so read the account agreement before you open the account.
How They Compare With Credit Cards
Co-branded credit cards pay more on the same spending. Chase's Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus carries a $99 annual fee and offers 50,000 points after $1,000 in purchases within three months. The Premier ($149) earns 3 points per $1 on Southwest and offers 55,000 points after $1,500. The Priority ($229) earns 4 points per $1 on Southwest and offers 60,000 points after $2,000. The debit card's welcome bonus is 2,500 points.
Wyndham's credit card page lists a limited-time offer of up to 120,000 bonus points on its Earner cards. Our Wyndham Rewards Earner Card and Earner Plus pages cover the terms. If you can qualify for a credit card, the credit card wins on earning, welcome bonus and benefits. The debit cards compete on access.
What Changes for the Companion Pass in 2027
Southwest says all points earned with the debit card count toward the Companion Pass, plus 7,500 Companion Pass qualifying points each calendar year. Southwest retires Companion Pass qualifying points on December 31, 2026. From January 1, 2027, the pass comes through tier qualifying points or flights.
Southwest's 2027 credit card page describes tier qualifying points only for Rapid Rewards credit cards, at 1 per $1 spent. It doesn't say what the debit card earns toward status or the Companion Pass next year. Check the debit card page before you count on it for 2027.
Who These Cards Are For
Two readers get the most from them. The first can't qualify for a credit card or is deliberately avoiding one. These cards earn 1 point per $2 on most purchases without a credit line. The second pays bills where Southwest's card still earns 1 point per $1. If a utility or insurance biller adds a fee for credit cards, the Southwest debit card earns that rate on utilities, phone, internet, streaming and insurance premiums without one.
Outside those two cases, a credit card earns more per dollar. Keep the $2,500 average balance in mind too, because the monthly fee takes back much of what a small points balance is worth.
The Bottom Line
Pick a debit card here only if a credit card isn't an option or you keep a $2,500 balance anyway. Otherwise a co-branded credit card is the better tool, and the debit card works as a complement to one. Before you open either account, read the issuer's current terms for the fee and the balance waiver.
Updated October 17, 2026: fees and Companion Pass.
