Edited by Michelle TipswordHow Can I Get Cash Back From My Credit Card?
Edited by Michelle Tipsword
Quick Answer
You can redeem cash back rewards from a credit card with a statement credit, direct deposit to a bank account or check, or by using cash back rewards to book travel, buy gift cards or make purchases if your issuer has a linked rewards portal.
You can get cash back from your credit card by making eligible purchases and then requesting your rewards as a statement credit, check or transfer to an eligible bank account. Some issuers also let you use cash back to book travel or buy gift cards in their rewards portals.
Depending on the card, you may need to earn a certain amount of rewards before cashing out, or there may be a limit to the amount of cash back you can earn within a certain period.
Here's what to know about redeeming cash back from your credit card.
How Do Cash Back Credit Cards Work?
Cash back credit cards are a type of rewards card that refund a portion of your purchases. Rewards will build up in your account, and you can redeem them in several ways, including by transferring the cash you've earned to a bank account or applying it to your credit card balance.
Purchases made with a cash back credit card will typically qualify for rewards, but some types of transactions and charges may be excluded. These can include interest charges, cash advances and balance transfers from another card.
Some credit cards offer a flat rate of cash back, such as 1.5% cash back on all eligible purchases. Other cards have tiered rewards with, for example, 6% cash back at supermarkets, 3% back at gas stations and 1% back on everything else. Still others have rotating bonus categories that change quarterly and that you must activate in order to earn higher rates of cash back.
Learn more: How Do Cash Back Credit Cards Work?
Best cash back cards of 2026
Compare cards from our partners that offer cash back on everyday spending, often with no annual fee.
Offers from our partners
Citi Double Cash® Card
Intro APR:0% for 18 months on Balance Transfers
Ongoing APR:17.49% - 27.49% (Variable)
Rewards:2% (cash back)
Annual Fee:$0
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
Intro bonus:As High As $200 Cash Back. Find Out Your Offer.
Intro APR:0% on Purchases and Balance Transfers for 15 months
Ongoing APR:19.49%-28.49% Variable
Rewards:1% - 3% (cash back)
Annual Fee:$0
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
Intro bonus:$200
Intro APR:0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers
Ongoing APR:18.49%, 24.49%, or 28.49% Variable APR
Rewards:2% (Cash Rewards)
Annual Fee:$0
Avant® Cashback Rewards Mastercard®
Ongoing APR:29.99%*
Rewards:2% (cash back)
Annual Fee:$0*
The opensky® Secured Visa® Credit Card
Ongoing APR:23.89% Variable
Rewards:10% (cash back)
Annual Fee:$35
Credit One Bank® American Express® for Rebuilding Credit
Ongoing APR:29.74% Variable
Rewards:1% (cash back)
Annual Fee:$75 First year. $99 thereafter, billed monthly at $8.25
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
Intro bonus:As High As $300 Cash Back. Find Out Your Offer.
Intro APR:0% on Purchases and Balance Transfers for 12 months
Ongoing APR:19.49%-28.49% Variable
Rewards:1% - 6% (cash back)
Annual Fee:$0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.
Credit One Bank® Secured Card
Ongoing APR:29.74% Variable
Rewards:1% (cash back)
Annual Fee:$0
Avant® Cashback Rewards Mastercard®
Ongoing APR:35.99%*
Rewards:1% (cash back)
Annual Fee:$0*
Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi
Ongoing APR:18.74% - 26.74% (Variable)
Rewards:1% - 5% (cash back)
Annual Fee:$0
First Latitude Secured Mastercard® Cash Back Rewards
Ongoing APR:27.49% Variable
Rewards:1% - 10% (cash back)
Annual Fee:$0
Avant® Cashback Rewards Mastercard®
Ongoing APR:35.99%*
Rewards:1% (cash back)
Annual Fee:$75*
Avant® Cashback Rewards Mastercard®
Ongoing APR:35.99%*
Rewards:1% (cash back)
Annual Fee:$75 first year; then $99/year
Avant® Cashback Rewards Mastercard®
Ongoing APR:35.99%*
Rewards:1% (cash back)
Annual Fee:$39*
Credit One Bank® Platinum X5 Visa Signature® Metal Card
Ongoing APR:29.74% Variable
Rewards:1% - 5% (cash back)
Annual Fee:$95
First Progress Prestige Secured Mastercard® Cash Back Rewards
Ongoing APR:13.49% Variable
Rewards:1% - 10% (cash back)
Annual Fee:$49
First Progress Select Secured Mastercard® Cash Back Rewards
Ongoing APR:17.49% Variable
Rewards:1% - 10% (cash back)
Annual Fee:$39
Credit One Bank® Platinum Rewards Visa® Card
Ongoing APR:29.74% Variable
Rewards:1% (cash back)
Annual Fee:$39
Credit One Bank ® Wander® American Express® Card with Dining, Gas & Travel Rewards
Ongoing APR:29.74% Variable
Rewards:1% - 10% (cash back)
Annual Fee:$95
Credit One Bank® Premier American Express® Unlimited Rewards Card
Ongoing APR:29.74% Variable
Rewards:1% (cash back)
Annual Fee:$0
Avant® Cashback Rewards Mastercard® - $500 Credit Limit
Ongoing APR:35.99%*
Rewards:1% (cash back)
Annual Fee:$125 first year; then $125.04/year ($10.42/mo)
Avant® Cashback Rewards Mastercard®
Ongoing APR:35.99%*
Rewards:1% (cash back)
Annual Fee:$0*
Avant® Cashback Rewards Mastercard®
Ongoing APR:35.99%*
Rewards:1% (cash back)
Annual Fee:$75*
See all our best cash back credit cards for 2026.
How to Redeem Cash Back Rewards
Depending on your cash back card and the program, you may have several options to redeem your cash back rewards.
Statement Credit
One of the most powerful redemption options is applying cash back to your credit card's balance, which means you'll have a lower amount to pay off. Cash back generally can't be used to make the minimum payment on a credit card—you can only use a statement credit to cover whatever is left after paying the minimum.
Learn more: What Happens if You Only Pay the Minimum on Your Credit Card?
Direct Deposit or Check
It's also possible to receive cash back in the form of a direct deposit to a bank account or a check mailed to your home. Credit card issuers may allow cash rewards to be deposited into a checking or savings account.
Check your card's details to see if there's a minimum threshold for redeeming your rewards. This could vary depending on the redemption option. For example, you may be able to request a check once you have $25 in rewards, or make a transfer to a bank account if you have $20 or more in rewards. Some issuers have no minimum redemption amount at all.
Rewards Points
Some cash back cards are linked to their issuer's rewards program, allowing you to use them like rewards points to book travel, buy gift cards or pay for merchandise at partner retailers. But the value of cash back is often lower when you make purchases with rewards compared with getting a statement credit, bank transfer or check.
Confirm whether there's a deadline by which you must use your rewards or lose them. The card's terms and conditions will state when you can start redeeming cash back; it may be possible anytime, once you've hit a certain minimum cash back amount, or at certain periods only, such as annually.
How to Get a Cash Back Credit Card
Many credit card issuers offer cash back credit cards, and there are options available to those with poor credit and those who are new to credit. Here are the steps to get a cash back credit card:
- Check your credit score. Since your credit score is a major determining factor in the types of credit cards you'll qualify for, check your score to narrow down which cards to apply for. You'll qualify for the most generous cash back rewards programs with a good or excellent credit score. But if you have poor credit, you may still be eligible for a secured credit card with cash back—you'll just receive a lower cash back rewards rate.
- Get prequalified for multiple cards. You can go directly to a card issuer's website or use a marketplace like Experian's card comparison tool to get prequalified and see multiple offers at once. Prequalification doesn't result in a final approval, but it can give you an overview of cash back cards you may be eligible for, plus their interest rates and fees.
- Compare rewards programs. Consider how you plan to use the card, and choose the one with a rewards program that most closely aligns with your lifestyle. For example, if you spend a lot on groceries each month, go for a card with a high, fixed cash back rate on groceries. If you don't want to consider whether your purchases fit into bonus categories, pick a flat-rate rewards card instead.
- Apply for the card. Once you've picked a cash back card you're happy with, submit an application to the card issuer. The company will conduct a hard credit inquiry to evaluate your creditworthiness, and either approve or reject your application. After approval, you'll typically receive the card in the mail within 10 days, though you may be given a virtual card number you can use to begin making online purchases right away.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Bottom Line
Earning cash back rewards on a credit card is one of the easiest ways to save money on everyday purchases. Redeeming rewards with a statement credit, bank transfer or check can result in either a lower credit card balance or cash in your bank account, all without much extra effort. Make sure you understand your issuer's rules regarding cash back redemption, and aim for the methods that have the highest value for you.
If you're considering a cash back card, or you want to track how your use of a cash back rewards card is impacting your credit, sign up for free credit monitoring from Experian. You'll get real-time alerts to changes to your credit profile so you can stay on top of your credit health.
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About the author
Brianna McGurran
Brianna McGurran is a freelance journalist and writing teacher based in Brooklyn, New York. Most recently, she was a staff writer and spokesperson at the personal finance website NerdWallet, where she wrote "Ask Brianna," a financial advice column syndicated by the Associated Press.
Read more from Brianna