Debit Cards With Cash Back Rewards
The days of widespread cash back, debit card rewards are pretty much behind us. As a result of the 2008 financial crisis and new laws that limit how much banks can charge for debit card transactions, the money just isn’t there anymore. Several debit cards still offer cash back, but they’re much less generous than before. In some cases, you can use rewards to get gift cards, which might be the next best thing to cash. As of July 2019, these terms apply:
Discover Bank
Their Cashback Checking account pays 1% on most debit card purchases. You can earn up to $360 cash back per year (up to $30 per month), with no monthly fees or minimum balance requirements.
Cash Back Checking
Available at Axos Bank, it provides the opportunity to earn a generous $2,000 per month in an online checking account. But you need to keep at least $1,500 in your account, and some transactions (like online transfers or purchases from grocery stores or superstores) don’t earn cashback rewards. The standard reward is 1%, and you’ll earn half of that if your balance falls below $1,500. Discuss your spending habits with a customer service representative to find out what you can realistically expect.
American Express Serve Cash-Back®
This American Express card is a prepaid debit card. You can earn 1% on purchases, but the cash-back feature comes with a $7.95 monthly fee—so you need to spend enough to offset the fee. (No fee applies if you live in New York, Texas, or Vermont.) Being a prepaid debit card, it’s not part of a standard checking account. Instead, you “load” funds onto the card and spend from your loaded balance.
PayPal’s Debit Business MasterCard
This debit card provides 1% cash back on signature-based purchases (if you don’t use your PIN at checkout). However, the card is only available for PayPal business accounts. PayPal offers several cards to businesses and consumers, but your debit card won’t earn rewards. Credit cards are your best bet for getting cashback. But those cards may be hard to qualify for and are typically more expensive.
Points and Perks
The good old days of earning cash are over, for the most part. Debit card reward programs typically fall into one of two categories:
Points-based Rewards
Accumulate “points” when you use your debit card. You might earn one point for every dollar you spend, or the formula might be less generous (such as one point for every $5, for example). Points are not the same as cash—so you can’t expect to spend one point for one dollar’s worth of value. However, you can redeem points for things you’d otherwise spend money on, so you have the opportunity to save cash.
Relationship Rewards
Get perks with specific companies. For example, your debit card’s rewards program might consist of discounts when you shop at selected stores and websites. Again, you save money, but you don’t have as much choice about where you spend your money if you want to earn rewards. That said, if you know where you spend significant amounts (and therefore where you’ll get the most mileage from discounts), these reward programs can save you a lot of money.
Points-Based Debit Card Reward Programs
Numerous banks offer points-based rewards, including:
KeyBank
KeyBank allows you to earn points whether you sign for debit card purchases or use your PIN. You can also earn points when you pay bills online and complete other transactions with the bank. Rewards include gift cards, cash back, travel, merchandise, and charitable giving.
SunTrust Bank
This bank has a Delta SkyMiles World Debit Card that gives you one “mile” for every dollar you spend (or two miles per dollar if you’re buying flights directly from Delta). Unlike some cards, SunTrust lets you earn miles whether you sign for transactions, shop online, or use your PIN. You also earn miles for paying bills online. You can, of course, redeem miles for travel on Delta Airlines.
UFB Direct
This bank provides American Airlines miles. However, you only earn one mile for every $3 you spend—and some transactions don’t count—so you need to understand your spending to decide if you’ll earn much from the account.
Relationship Rewards
Instead of earning points that you’ll use in the future, you can also use your debit card rewards program to get discounts and perks right away.
Local Banks and Credit Unions
Often these institutions have rewards programs, so you might already have access to rewards in your account. Ask a banker about how to get discounts when you shop with your debit card. Relationship rewards require a bit more legwork than points-based rewards. They’re only useful if you find a rewards program that fits your spending pattern and your life. Don’t just pick a bank based on a vague mention of “rewards”—verify that those rewards actually help you. For example, if you spend a lot on gas, find a debit card with gas-related rewards.
Fine Print
There are always restrictions and limitations that make these rewards less rewarding. Read the fine print to find out if you’ll get what you expect. Take a close look at how you use your card and compare carefully with the terms and conditions of your bank’s rewards program. Features to look for:
Accumulating Points
How quickly do rewards add up? You might earn one point per dollar spent, or it might take five or six dollars to earn a point. Sometimes you’ll earn more by spending within specific categories (buying gas or groceries, for example). Think about how you use your card. Will you ever accumulate enough rewards to benefit? Will accumulating points change your behavior and spending in a way that hurts your finances?
Expiration
Find out when your rewards expire. Use that information, along with your understanding of how you accumulate points, to estimate whether or not you’ll be able to get rewarded. Points might expire in just a few years—just when you’re almost able to get something of value.
Caps on Points
Is there a limit to the number of points you can earn in a certain period (per month or year, for example). You might spend a lot each month or have a significant expense coming up, but you might not be able to take full advantage of that spending.
Maximum Cash Back
If you earn cashback, find out if there’s a maximum you can receive. This maximum might be a limit every year or every quarter, so you’ll have to time your purchases if you’re approaching the limit. A card with these limits can make other (non-cash-back) rewards programs look more attractive.
Fees
Rewards cards are more likely to come with fees (annual fees, fees to use your rewards, fees to make purchases, and more). The rewards you get obviously have to outweigh the fees.
