Cash Back

In today’s economy, when “debt crisis” and “economic turmoil” are in every newspaper headline and special news report, do the words “cash back” sound a little more like something you’d like to hear?

Yes, the question was rhetorical. We already know the answer is yes. “Cash back” and “special rewards” are welcome words in the credit card world, where words like “minimum payments” and “late-fees” are the norm. Lucky for you, there are three different types of cash back credit cards to choose from; each one offers something a little bit different to satiate your unique taste and spending habits.

Fixed rate cash back credit cards are the simplest kind of cash back credit cards. They offer a fixed rate of return on all purchases, no matter the category of the purchase. One cent per dollar spent is the usual rate of return, and is the minimum any reward card holder should expect.

The second type, the tiered rate cash back type of credit card, offers similar rates of return for all items, with a little more offered for certain items. For example, the American Express Blue Cash Everyday card offers one percent cash back on most purchases, with two percent being returned at gas stations and department stores, and three percent returned at supermarkets.

Five percent cash back credit cards with rotating five percent categories is another type of cash back credit card. These cards offer five percent cash back on purchases within certain categories, and these categories change every three months. These categories are usually gas stations, restaurants, travel, and department stores.

So, whether you’re looking for a fixed rate of cash back on all purchases, or prefer to switch up the reward categories every few months, one of these cash back credit cards will work for you.

Chase Freedom® Visa

This offer is for people with a good to excellent credit history which means, among other things, that your credit history is clear of bankruptcy and seriously delinquent accounts
Earn $100 Bonus Cash Back after you make $500 in purchases in your first 3 months
0% Intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers
5% Cash Back on up to $1,500 spent at grocery stores and movie theaters from 4/1/12 - 6/30/12
You'll enjoy new 5% categories every 3 months like gas stations, restaurants and even airlines. It's free and easy to activate your bonus each quarter!
Unlimited 1% Cash Back on all other purchases
Up to an additional 10% Cash Back when you shop online at select merchants through Chase
No annual fee and rewards never expire

Intro APR	Intro APR Period	Regular APR	Annual Fee	Balance Transfers	Credit Needed
0%*	15 months on purchases and balance transfers*	12.99%-22.99%(Variable	$0*	Yes*	Good - Excellent Credit*

Blue Cash Everyday℠ Card from American Express

Earn $100 cash back after spending $1,000 in eligible purchases in the first 3 months of Cardmembership
Get 3% cash back at supermarkets, 2% cash back at gas stations and department stores, and 1% cash back on all other purchases
NO spend minimum, NO enrollment, and NO rotating rewards categories
Get a $25 Referral Bonus for each friend or family member who is approved for the Card

Intro APR	Intro APR Period	Regular APR	Annual Fee	Balance Transfers	Credit Needed
0% on Purchases*	12 months*	0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months, flexibility to pay over time*	No annual fee, flexibility to pay over time*	17.24-22.24% Variable*	Excellent*

True Earnings® Card from Costco and American Express

American Express® Card and Costco Membership Card in one - with no annual fee for Costco members
Cash back on the things you buy: 3% for the first $3,000 in annual gasoline purchases (1% thereafter), 2% for restaurants, 2% for travel, and 1% everywhere else, including Costco
Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars in overall satisfaction by current TrueEarnings® Cardmembers from Costco and American Express

Intro APR	Intro APR Period	Regular APR	Annual Fee	Balance Transfers	Credit Needed
0% on Purchases*	6 months*	15.24% Variable*	No annual fee*	15.24%*	Excellent*

Discover® More Card

5% Cashback Bonus® in categories that change like gas, groceries, restaurants, home improvement stores and more. Limitations apply*
Up to 20% Cashback Bonus at popular retailers when you shop online through Discover.com
*Click apply to view rates, fees, rewards, limitations and other important information

Intro APR	Intro APR Period	Regular APR	Annual Fee	Balance Transfers	Credit Needed
0%*	15 months*	10.99-20.99% (V)**	$0*	Intro: 0% 15 months*	Good - Excellent Credit*

Discover® More Card – 18 Month Promotional Balance Transfer

0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months, then the variable standard purchase APR of 10.99% - 20.99%*
5% Cashback Bonus® in categories that change like gas, groceries, restaurants, home improvement stores and more. Limitations apply*
*Click apply to view rates, fees, rewards, limitations and other important information

Intro APR	Intro APR Period	Regular APR	Annual Fee	Balance Transfers	Credit Needed
0%*	6 months*	10.99-20.99% (V)**	$0*	Intro: 0% 18 months*	Good - Excellent Credit*

Discover® Motiva℠ Card

0% into APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months, then the variable purchase APR of 10.99% - 20.99%
Up to 20% Cashback Bonus at popular online retailers when you shop through Discover.com
*Click apply to view rates, fees, rewards, limitations and other important information

Intro APR	Intro APR Period	Regular APR	Annual Fee	Balance Transfers	Credit Needed
0%*	15 months*	10.99-20.99% (V)**	$0*	Intro: 0% 15 months*	Excellent - Good*

Discover® Open Road Card

0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months, then the variable standard purchase APR of 10.99% - 20.99%*
2% automatically at gas stations and restaurants all year long*
Plus, up to 20% Cashback Bonus at popular online retailers when you shop through Discover.com
*Click apply to view rates, fees, rewards, limitations and other important information

Intro APR	Intro APR Period	Regular APR	Annual Fee	Balance Transfers	Credit Needed
0%*	15 months*	10.99-20.99% (V)**	$0*	Intro: 0% 15 months*	Excellent - Good*

The Plum Card® from American Express OPEN

The Everything, Everywhere Trade Terms Card (SM) from American Express OPEN
Pay in full within ten days, get a 1.5% discount
OR pay as little as 10% and take up to 2 months to pay off the balance, interest free
$0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $185
A powerful cash flow management tool

Intro APR	Intro APR Period	Regular APR	Annual Fee	Balance Transfers	Credit Needed
N/A*	N/A*	N/A*	$0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $185*	N/A*	Excellent*

Ink Cash℠ Business Card

$250 cash back bonus after you spend $5,000 within 3 months!
5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent annually on office supply store purchases, cellular/landline phone service, and cable services
2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent annually on gas and dining
1% cash back on all other purchases with no limit on the amount of cash back you can earn

Intro APR	Intro APR Period	Regular APR	Annual Fee	Balance Transfers	Credit Needed
0%*	N/A*	13.24%*	$0*	Intro: 0% 6 months*	Excellent*

Citi ThankYou® Preferred Card

$250 in gift cards - When you redeem the 25,000 bonus ThankYou® Points received after $2,000 in purchases within 4 months of account opening
Earn 1 point for every $1 you spend on all purchases
Receive an anniversary bonus every year you're a cardmember
No expiration and no limit on the points you can earn
Redeem ThankYou Points for merchandise, travel rewards, gift cards, cash and more

Intro APR	Intro APR Period	Regular APR	Annual Fee	Balance Transfers	Credit Needed
N/A*	N/A*	12.99%-22.99%* (Variable)*	$0*	N/A*	Excellent*

Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card

0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers and Purchases for 18 months. After that, the APR will be 11.99%-21.99% based upon your creditworthiness.
24/7 access to personalized concierge service providing assistance in booking hotel, flights, concert tickets and much more
Exciting deals and savings for great brands through Citi Specials
No Annual Fee*

Intro APR	Intro APR Period	Regular APR	Annual Fee	Balance Transfers	Credit Needed
0%*	18 months on balance transfers and purchases*	11.99%-21.99%* (Variable)*	$0*	Yes*	Excellent*

Citi® Dividend Platinum Select® Visa® Card

$100 cash back after $500 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening
0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers and Purchases for 12 months. After that, the APR will be 12.99%-22.99% variable based on your creditworthiness*
Earn 5% cash back at The Home Depot and on Home Furnishing and Home & Garden purchases from 4/1/12 to 6/30/12 when you enroll.
Each quarter, you can enroll to earn additional cash back in popular categories.
Full 1% cash back on all other purchases and eligible cash advances.

Intro APR	Intro APR Period	Regular APR	Annual Fee	Balance Transfers	Credit Needed
0%*	12 months on balance transfers and purchases*	12.99%-22.99%* (Variable)*	$0*	Yes*	Excellent*