Cash It Back With Credit Cards
What is a cash back credit card?
A cash back credit card gives annual rebates or gives back money
to the card holder based on how much have been purchased with
it. This type of credit card is suitable for those who rarely
use cash in their transactions. The rebate is computed as a
percentage of the total amount charged to the credit card in a
year. Usually, rebates are between 1-2%. Some can even go as
high as 3%.
Are rebates always in the form of cash?
Strictly speaking, cash rebates should be in the form of cash.
But now that card companies are diversifying, rebates may now
come in the form of gift certificates and discount coupons. This
somehow blurs the line between and among the different types of
credit cards mentioned in the first paragraph of this article.
Some cash back credit cards offer upgrading of membership status
which allow their members to more discounts and gifts during
anniversaries and holidays like Christmas and birthdays.
Moreover, some credit card companies also have partnerships with
other consumer products that entitle their members to added
product discounts in future purchases.
What banks offer cash back credit cards?
There are many banks that offer cash back credit cards in kind.
They usually have a rewards program for members wherein card
holders receive gifts and discounts courtesy of partner product
companies; discount coupons to hotels, restaurants, specialty
stores; and travel miles for non-travel purchases. Below are
some banks that offer cash back benefits.
1. Citibank 2. Chevy Chase Bank 3. HSBC 4. Royal Bank Avion
(Canada) 5. Standard Chartered Bank
Are cash back credit cards offered only by banks?
No. Since business establishments are innovating their services
and benefits for their customers, some of them offer cash back
to their loyal customers e.g. Discover Card (Discover Magazine).
Aside from giving book and magazine discounts, airline miles are
also offered by Discover Card. Big grocery stores such as
Krogers, Wal Mart, and Bi-Lo offer cash back but in the form of
cash certificates and discount coupons.
How does one get a cash back credit card?
Since almost all credit card companies (e.g. banks, stores,
airlines) offer cash (or in kind) back benefits, all that has to
be done is to file an application in any of their office or
stores, or signup online by visiting their web sites. Just be a
word of caution for online applications, make sure that the
transaction is made through a secure internet connection since
identity theft has become rampant with the advent of credit card
use.