invisible

Looking for a fee-free cashback card that pays >2.5% on any 'standard' purchases (obviously excluding money transfer, gambling, etc) regardless of the mode of payment - with the physical card, online, via app, etc.

Separately, looking for a debit cashback card/account option for supermarket purchases. The primary supermarket I go - WinCo Foods - accepts only debit cards.

Thanks

G2244

Your criteria are going to limit you quite a bit. On the credit card side, the only one I am aware of is the FIGFCU Crystal Visa but would only meet your criteria for the first 12 months. This assumes you would get the $100 statement credit, after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months to wash the annual fee. After that, there is a continued annual fee and then the cash back is dropped from 3% to 2.5%.

The other one that comes to mind is the Alliant Credit Union Cash Back Visa Signature Card which is *at* 2.5% (not greater) and has some deposit requirements ($1000 in checking, 1 direct deposit per month). I have this card and the credit union has been easy to work with.

Off and on there can be others, but right now aside from these (that I am aware of) it is rare to find anything above the seemingly now more common standard of 2% cash back.

EDIT: I also should add in one other with LOTS of additional hoops but could work depending on your situation. If you are able/ willing to park $100K in investments (can be tax sheltered accounts like IRA, etc.) the Bank of America Preferred Rewards Program adds another reasonable option. At the Platinum level, it gives a 75% bonus to BoA Cash Back cards. So the usual 1.5% cash back goes up to 2.625% cash back. The card generally paired in this case is the BoA Unlimited Cash Rewards Visa but there are others as well.

And, if you are really swimming in retirement funds, you could consider Fidelity Wealth Management. Parking $2MM with them AND allowing them to manage it, gives you access to their Fidelity Rewards Visa Signature Card where the WM relationship allows 3% cash back. However the fees for WM relationship should be factored in as well. For many this is a laughable option at best, but may technically be "the best" option out there depending on how you choose to define that.

invisible

Thanks. Seems not many options.

cjw2001

There are lots of options, just not in a single card. Get a flat rate 2% cashback card as a base (Wells Fargo Active Cash, Citi Double Cash, etc.) then add other cards that offer 3% in specific categories (e.g. Wells Fargo Autograph for 3% on travel, ransit, phone service, streaming, gas, and restaurants and Amex Blue Cash for 3% on groceries and online shopping). Sprinkle in a few 5% rotating category cards for seasoning (Citi Custom Cash, Discover, Chase Freedom). Use each card only for the appropriate high payout category and put the remainder on the 2% card.

Spread the above card acquisition strategy out over a reasonable amount of time (based on your credit score, number of recently acquired cards, and spending habits) and enjoy the sign up bonuses along the way.

guv1976

What percentage of your spend is on travel, and what percentage of other spending goes -- or could go -- on mobile wallet?

The US Bank Altitude Reserve card has an annual fee of $400, but its net annual cost can be $0, or less: the first $325 spent on any combination of travel or dining gets automatically rebated as a statement credit; and I have found US Bank to be very generous with annual retention bonuses.

All "travel" purchases earn three points per $1; each point can be redeemed for 1.5¢ on travel, so effectively a 4.5% rebate on travel purchases. In addition, all mobile-wallet purchases also earn three points per $1, so again, an effective 4.5% rebate if you apply the points to travel purchases. Many supermarkets, pharmacies, fast-food and casual restaurants, and retail stores (excluding Walmart) now accept mobile-wallet payments.

All other purchases only earn one point per $1, so those would best be put on a card with a better rebate.

EAJuggalo

I'll take a stab at the second question. The only Debit card I'm aware of is American Express. They offer debit card purchases at 1 MR point for each $2 spent.

invisible

I already have USB Altitude that I use everywhere where apple pay is accepted as well as for travel - airfare/car rentals or hotel, so this side is covered.

In terms of recurring monthly expenses supermarket purchases amount to about $300/mo and the supermarket only takes physical debit cards or cash. No apps, no Apple/Samsung pay.

Also, about $600/mo is spent on insurance with USAA which only takes payment online, does not have an app so no apple pay.

hurnik

Or get a flash 2% cash back card, and the free (no AF) 5% cashback rotating categories/quarter like Discover or Chase Freedom (or whatever it's called now). Both Chase and Discover have 5% back on grocery stores this quarter which is nice especially given inflation where a bag of groceries runs close to $100 now.

rasheed

Winco offers a gift card with reload via credit cards online. The online charge might be at least 3% with BofA Customized Cash or Amex ED Blue Cash.

jags86

You can sign up for Discover IT Miles for 3% for 1 year. As long as the offer sticks around you could sign up for a new one every year. The offer has been around for many years.

toofast

Even better, combine that with Curve card, and you have an unlimited 4% cashback card.

G2244

If OP is willing to play the game with combo of multiple cards, yes lots of options. One of the best to consider for their case may be the Citi Custom Cash Credit Card. It is 5% cash back in highest ELIGIBLE spend category each billing cycle (up tp $500 spent). If the goal is to get bonus on the $600/ month insurance spend, this could be worth considering - would bonus at 5% on $500, then 1%, but still cover a category that few cards cover (insurance) - pun intended.

EDIT as noted in a post below, insurance is not an eligible category on this card.

xooz

It might be feasible to get a Chase Ink Business Cash card and use it like manufactured spend folks. Buy Vanilla cards at office supply place for 5 points per dollar and use the card for online purchases like insurance or groceries. A lot of negatives with that of course.

ptatohed

Alliant 2.5% as has been mentioned.

I think there are a few cards that become 3% at the right spend. Like the Ford card (3.33% with $200 credit at $6,000/yr spend) and the Evergreen business (2% CB card plus $100 bonus with $10,000/yr spend).

There is the Greenlight card 3% CB but you have to spend over $4k/mo and have a Greenlight account.

The Y-12 FCU states up to 3% CB but I don't know much about it. I think they are geo restricted and I can't get an answer as to what Relationship Rewards membership means (needed to get 3%).

If you can take it down a little, there is the Upgrade 2.2%. And a citi Double Cash will be 2.22% if you combine it with your Rewards+ for up to an extra $100 per year.

There is also the SYW MC that while always offering 5%/3%/1% back (for gift cards) they send out a seemingly never ending amount of offers such as spend $1,000 in this month, get $40 statement credit (4% true CB at $1,000 spend, not even including the regular % back earned spending).

US Alliance used to be 3% for a few years. Starting this year, it is 2% but 6% groceries!

If you are ok with mobile wallet pay, the kroger line of MCs offer 5% on everything (first $3k spend per year).

There are credit unions that offer 3, 4, and 5% on a good range of popular categories. But then 1 - 1.5% on all else. Golden1 and Redstone come to mind. Similarly, the new AAA cards have a great rewards structure.

Of course there are the dearly lamented cards that used to do 3% but no more (AOD FCU, FL Tropical Financial CU, etc).

Good luck!

cjw2001

The Citi Custom Cash pays 5% on the highest eligible category - insurance is not one of the eligible categories.