The future of cashback is here: credit cards

If you’ve shopped online at all in the last few years, you’ve probably heard of (or even come across) ‘cashback rewards’, where you are given a cash reward for making a purchase through a particular site. 

Well, now, American Express has launched the first proper Cashback Credit Card in the Australian market, which gives its customers a percentage cashback on their purchases, as well as a number of other rewards. 

And if you’re savvy, the American Express Cashback™ Credit Card can save you pretty decent amounts of money. Below, we take a look below at Australia’s first Cashback Credit Card, how it works, and how it could benefit you. 

What are Cashback Credit Cards? 

The simple answer to this question is in the name: You are given cash back for purchases made on a credit card. Similarly to the way cashback websites work, banks and credit card companies can be prepared to share some of their merchant fees with consumers in order to incentivise spending. These Cashback Credit Cards are popular in the United States, but haven’t really been utilised so much Down Under. The launch of the American Express Cashback™ Credit Card looks as if it may change this. 

Inside the American Express Cashback™  Credit Card

Amex launched its Cashback Credit Card on April 21, 2021. Not only does it offer cashback on purchases, but it comes with a number of other benefits outlined below! You can read more about the card on Amex’s website here. 

Cashback details

The American Express Cashback™ Credit Card allows you to earn 1% per $1 spent on purchases, with no limit on the amount of cashback you can earn. 

New users of the card also earn an additional 5% on purchases in the first three months, with a $200 cap. You can also earn 0.5% cashback per $1 spent at Australian Government bodies, such as Australia Post, the ATO and more, including State bodies such as Service NSW, as well as 1.5% cashback at participating “Shop Small Businesses” (with a $200 cap). 

All this means that if you spend $1,000 with the Amex Cashback™ Credit Card in your first three months (at the 1% + 5% rates), you’ll get $60 of that back. 

Other benefits

Alongside the cold hard cash rewards that come with the Amex Cashback™ Credit Card, there are a number of other benefits that can potentially save you piles of money. 

 BINGE is a new Australian streaming service that features some of the world’s best TV shows and films including the hit HBO series Game of Thrones and the blockbuster hit Zack Snyder’s Justice League. 

Join our favourite local heartthrob Chris Hemsworth to achieve your fitness goals in this all-in-one fitness app, which normally costs $119.99 per year. The app lets you plan your training and eating, as well as monitor your workouts. (Offer ends 14 February 2022)

If you use your Amex Cashback™ Credit Card to purchase your phone or pay your monthly phone bills, you are able to get up to $500 cover for smartphone screen repairs (with 10% excess). 

Amex’s Plan It™ Instalments means you can pay off your credit card balance in monthly instalments with 0% p.a. Interest for a fixed monthly fee. 

There are a huge number of special Amex offers for shopping, dining, travel, entertainment and more. Just using the Amex Cashback™ Credit Card could see you rewarded in many ways.

Amex offers 90-day purchase protection with its Cashback Credit Card, meaning you will be covered for up to $2,500 if an eligible item you purchase is stolen or damaged within three months. It also offers refund protection, which means you will be reimbursed up to $2,000 if you are unable to return an eligible item to the retailer within 90 days. Terms and conditions apply, you can read more here. 

Final verdict? Is there value in the Amex Cashback™ Credit Card?

If you are savvy, the short answer is: yes. 

Cashback works to incentivise you to use your credit card (as opposed to cash or debit). So if you would be using a credit card anyway, cashback can almost amount to free money. When you throw in the myriad benefits that come with the card, you’ve got yourself some great value. If you’re smart about it, the cashback and benefits easily offset the $10 monthly card fee. 

The Amex Cashback™ Credit Card gives you 55 days interest-free, which is a pretty good interest-free period. 

The Amex CashbackTM Credit Card gives you 55 days interest-free, which is a pretty good interest-free period compared with many other cards. Otherwise, the interest rate is a mid-range 20.74% p.a. Users of the card also have the option to pay off their balance in instalments with 0% p.a. Interest for a fixed monthly fee. Find out more on the Amex website here.

Details T&Cs

• Earn 1% Cashback per $1 spend on purchases

• Earn 0.5% Cashback per $1 spent at government bodies in Australia

• Earn an additional 5% in the first three months, up to $200 Cashback (new card members only)

• No limit on the amount of Cashback you can earn with your Card

• $10 Monthly Fee

• Shop Small Cashback Offer – Earn a bonus 1.5% Cashback, up to $200, at participating businesses by 31/03/2022.

•  A BINGE Basic subscription on us valued at $10 per month (must sign up to BINGE using Card) 

• 12 months complimentary access to the Centre fitness app – valued at $119.99 

• Complimentary Smartphone Screen Insurance

• Refund Protection & Purchase Protection

• Pay different with Plan It Instalments

• American Express Entertainment Lounge Access

• Amex Offers

• Add up to 4 Additional Card Members for no additional fee

• 20.74% p.a interest rate on purchases

• Up to 55 days interest-free

• Add up to 4 Card Members at no additional cost

The card is only available to you if: 

• You are 18 years of age or older

• You’re an Australian citizen or permanent resident 

• You have an annual income of $40,000 or more

• You have no history of bad debt

You can find out more about the card or apply for one on the American Express Website here.