JAMIE THOMPSON, Retired Accountant
@ExTaxMan
The best flat-rate cash back credit cards are the Citi® Double Cash Card (a total of 2% cash back on all purchases), the PayPal CashBack Credit Card (2% cash back on all purchases), and the Alliant Cashback Visa® Signature Credit Card (2.5% cash back on all purchases). These credit cards all offer above-average cash back on every purchase with no limits, and none have spending categories that earn more or less rewards. Only the Alliant Cashback Visa® Signature Credit Card has an annual fee, which is $0 1st yr, $99 after that.
The Citi® Double Cash Card is unique in that it offers cardholders cash back on the same purchases at 2 separate times: you’ll get 1% back at the time of purchase, and another 1% back when you pay Citi for the purchase. It can also double as a balance transfer credit card with its intro APR period of 0% for 18 months on balance transfers. Good credit is required for approval.
In a way, the PayPal CashBack Credit Card is the least fussy of the 3 cards, because it doesn’t split up the cash back and has a $0 annual fee. You’ll simply earn 2% cash back on every purchase. But redeeming the cash back has an extra step, as you can’t redeem it as a statement credit. You’ll have to transfer your earned cash back to your PayPal account, and then to a linked bank account before you can use it without restrictions. If you plan to carry a balance, it’s worth noting that the regular APR for this credit card is from 19.99% to 26.99% (V), which is on the high end. Good or excellent credit is required for approval.
The Alliant Cashback Visa® Signature Credit Card has the highest flat-rate cash back of these 3 cards. All purchases earn 2.5% cash back. But the card isn’t without its downsides. For starters, you have to be a member of Alliant Credit Union before you can be eligible for this credit card. You’ll either have to meet certain requirements to join or make a $5 donation to the Foster Care to Success organization. You’ll also need excellent credit to be approved for this card. The card’s annual fee is waived in the first year, which is a plus. But even with the annual fee, this card’s high cash back rate would still be worth it.
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