Show Your Geek Pride with a Linux Credit Card

Ever feel snazzy flashing your Barclays Visa or your Gap Card? Kind of like, “Look at me, I shop here or there and I am an expert in Mac computers or fine whale corduroy.”

If you have felt such an inspirational feeling based on the plastic you carry – and you are a huge geek – then I may have the credit card for you.

The Linux Foundation has teamed up with UMB Bank and Card Partner Inc. to bring nerds everywhere what they’ve always desired (no, no – not a robotic woman!); a Linux-branded credit card.

And in addition to being able to show everyone everywhere that you are a firm supporter of alternative systems – you’re actually supporting Linux as you shop.

For every card that gets activated, Linux gets $50 and percentage of every transaction made on it, which goes straight into their innovation program. That means doing things such as providing travel grants for open source community members and funding Linux’ technical events.

The Linux credit card features a penguin on the front – and he’s a bit smug looking for my tastes. But the card also has a few, additional, non penguin-related benefits to consider.

The card is pretty impressive for a piece of plastic.

For one, there are no annual fees and there’s a low introductory APR. Specifically, it is 0 percent or the first six month introductory period on purchases and balance transfers. After the six month introductory period, the interest rate will be the federal prime rate +8.74 percent.

Card holders have zero liability protection in place for unauthorized purchases as well as emergency cash and card replacement.

The Linux credit card rounds out the offered benefits with a lost and stolen card reporting service, 24-hour roadside assistance, warranty manager service and lost luggage replacement.

According to the Linux Foundation, “It’s important to point out that there is no financial relationship between card applicants and The Linux Foundation. The financial relationship card holders have is with Kansas City-based UMB. Approved applicants will receive a credit card from UMB, not The Linux Foundation. The Linux Foundation does not receive financial or personal information about any card applicants; this information is collected by UMB and is not passed to the Linux Foundation.”