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RBC Cash Back Mastercard Review

RBC Cash Back Mastercard review

Jordann Brown

Dec 16, 2024

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Overall rating

First year value

$307

Get this card if you:

  • want to earn cash back, without an annual fee
  • value extended warranty and purchase protection
  • want fuel discounts at Petro Canada

Scores by category

Cash Back 3.3

Student 3.3

Groceries 2.8

Rewards 2.3

Gas 1.7

Highlights

$307

First year value

Interest Rates

20.99%

Purchase APR

22.99%

Balance transfer APR

21.99% if you reside in Quebec

22.99%

Cash advance APR

21.99% if you reside in Quebec

Eligibility

Good

Recommended credit score

Quick overview

Quick Overview of the RBC Cash Back Mastercard

Heading out to Loblaws again? Make sure to pick up some cash back. If you’re thinking about adding a cash back credit card to your financial arsenal, the RBC Cash Back Mastercard’s 2% cash back on groceries², and up to 1% cash back on everything else² might be worth considering.

Who can benefit most?

Who can benefit from the RBC Cash Back Mastercard?

This credit card is ideal for individuals who frequently shop for groceries and want to earn cash back on their purchases. Additionally, it is a great option for those who prefer a No annual fee credit card with accessible qualification requirements. With its competitive cash back rates, the RBC Cash Back Mastercard offers a valuable opportunity to earn rewards on everyday spending.

Pros and cons

Pros and cons of the RBC Cash Back Mastercard

Pros

Pros

  • No annual fee, no fee for additional cardholders

  • Up to 2% cash back on groceries², up to 1% cash back on everything else²

  • No limit on cash back earned¹

  • Save money on gas at Petro-Canada⁵

  • Easy approval requirements

Cons

Cons

  • Cash back rewards on groceries drop to 1% after you accumulate $6,000 in grocery charges

  • No travel insurance or other perks

  • No welcome bonus

  • 0.5% applies to the cash back on everything else up to $6,000 but what is impressive is that for all non-grocery spend the cash back rate actually goes up from the 0.5% to 1% on spend over $6,000, rewarding as your spend more instead of diminishing

  • No travel insurance or other perks

  • No welcome bonus

Welcome bonus

RBC Cash Back credit card welcome bonus

This card does not currently offer a welcome bonus.

How to earn rewards

How to earn cash back with the RBC Cash Back Mastercard

When you use the RBC Cash Back Mastercard, you’ll earn up to 2% cash back on grocery spending². Qualifying retailers include Atlantic Wholesalers, Foodland, Fortino’s, IGA, Loblaw’s, No Frills, Sobeys, Superstore and dozens of others. For all other purchases, you’ll earn up to 1% cash back². There is no limit on the amount of cash back you can make per calendar year¹ so no worries about having your earnings curbed.

How to redeem

How to redeem cash back

You don’t have to lift a finger to redeem your cash back. Your cash back is credited to your account and is applied on your January statement. You can also request cash back to be redeemed any time during the year if your cash back balance has reached $25.00 or more. You can choose to spend the cash back, or if you are carrying a credit card balance, use them to pay down your credit card balance.

Key benefits

Key benefits of the Cash Back Mastercard credit card from RBC

While RBC offers several cash back credit cards with more significant earning potential, they all come with annual fees. The RBC Cash Back Mastercard lets you earn a solid cash back rate with no annual fee. If you have family members, you can request additional cards with no yearly fee to help maximize your cash back rewards.

Even better, there are no caps to the total amount of cash back you can earn. That benefit is especially great considering it also applies to the 2% back you'll earn at grocery stores, making the card a great option to consider if you frequently use your credit card when buying groceries - or anything else for that matter!

Insurance coverage

RBC Cash Back Mastercard insurance coverage

While the Cash Back Mastercard from RBC charges no annual fee, that doesn't mean you can't expect a range of a insurance and security benefits. The card offers essential insurance coverage and protections, including the following:

  • Purchase security and extended warranty: All purchases that you make with the RBC Cash Back Mastercard are automatically protected from theft or loss for the first 90 days after purchase. Also, purchases will have their eligible warranty doubled, up to a maximum of one year³.
  • Security features: Shopping with the RBC Cash Back Mastercard is incredibly secure, as your credit card comes with both chip and PIN technology to ensure the security of your account. If you misplace your credit card or think it may have been stolen, you can lock your credit card instantly from the RBC mobile app. Locking your credit card is a temporary measure, so if you find your credit card later, you can always unlock it.
  • Zero Liability: Unfortunately, credit card theft is a fact of life. Hopefully, it’ll never happen to you. Still, if it does, your RBC Cash Back Mastercard has zero liability coverage⁶, meaning you won’t be liable for any fraudulent purchases made by a third party.

Optional coverage

Cardholders also have the option to add additional coverage to protect their identity, family, and credit card balances. These include:

  • Add-on travel insurance
  • RBC Road Assist
  • BalanceProtector max insurance
  • Identity theft and credit protection
Extra benefits

Extra benefits of the RBC Cash Back credit card

Other noteworthy benefits of the RBC Cash Back Mastercard include:

  • Fuel discounts at Petro-Canada: Link your card and instantly save 3¢/L on fuel3 and always earn 20% more Petro-Points at Petro-Canada.⁵.
  • Earn more Be Well points at Rexall: Link the card with your Be Well card account at Rexall and earn 50 Be Well points on eligible products at Rexall.
  • DoorDash savings: Add the RBC Cash back Mastercard to your DoorDash account and receive a 3-month complimentary DashPass subscription (a value of almost $30), good for unlimited deliveries with $0 delivery fees on orders of $15 or more when you pay with your eligible RBC credit card.

Other security features of the card include:

  • Chip and pin technology for an added layer of security
  • Mobile wallet compatibility with Apple Pay, Google Pay, and more
  • Access to the RBC mobile app
Rates and fees

Rates and fees

Since the RBC Cash Back Mastercard is a credit card, any purchases you made will be subject to interest. This credit card charges 20.99% interest on purchases and 22.99% (21.99% if you reside in Quebec) interest on cash advances, there is also a $3.50 fee for cash advances from an ATM. You can transfer a balance to this credit card, but you’ll pay a and be charged % (21.99% if you reside in Quebec).

What users say

What people have to say about the RBC Cash Back Mastercard

Here's what existing cardholders have to say about the card:

  • "This is a good card if you do groceries as it gives 2% and 1% on recurring payments, for a no yearly fee card, it's good for someone who wants a little something back." Yves
  • "Replaced my Scotiabank Momentum (not the Infinite the mid-tier card) with this card (cashback is lower but no annuals fees), made more sense to have this card with similar rewards and pay $0 annually. Mastercard is the only credit card accepted at certain places I shop which made this an even easier choice"
How it compares

How does the RBC Cash Back card compare?

The RBC Cash Back Mastercard isn’t the only annual fee-free Mastercard available in Canada. Here’s how this credit card compares to some of the top competitors in the field.

RBC Cash Back Mastercard vs. Tangerine Money-Back Card

$484

First Year Value

$384

Annual Value

Welcome Bonus: Get a bonus 10% cash back for the first 2 months – up to $100. Plus, a 1.95% promotional balance transfer interest rate for the first 6 months.

Learn More

Although the Tangerine Money-Back card offers a higher, 2% earn rate, you’re limited to 2 spending categories (well, 3 if you also open a savings account with Tangerine).

You can change your categories every three months so that you won’t be stuck with your choices, but you’ll only earn 0.5% back on all other purchases, so unless the majority of your spending is within the categories you’ve chosen, you may end up earning less than with the RBC Cash Back Mastercard.

The Tangerine Money Back card, however, currently has some hefty welcome offers:

  • Get a bonus 10% cash back – up to $100. Applies to purchases in your first 2 months. Plus, a 1.95% promotional balance transfer interest rate for the first 6 months.

    The Tangerine 10% Limited-time Promotional Offer (the “Offer”) is only available to new Tangerine Credit Card Account holders who (i) apply for a Tangerine World Credit Card (the “Account”) by January 31, 2025, (ii) activate their Account within 45 days of approval, and (iii) have up to a maximum of $1,000 in total Net Purchases posted to their Account within the 60-day period beginning on the date the Tangerine World Credit Card is activated. Limit of one Offer per eligible Client. This Offer is non-transferable. Offer may be changed, cancelled or extended at any time. All other Account terms, including the Tangerine Money-Back Rewards program terms, remain unchanged and continue to apply. See the Tangerine Credit Card Cardholder Agreement for more details, including definitions of any capitalized terms.

*Terms and Conditions apply

RBC Cash Back Mastercard vs. BMO Cash Back Mastercard

5% cash back

Welcome Bonus

$526

First Year Value

$401

Annual Value

Welcome Bonus: Get 5% cash back in your first 3 months*

Learn More Apply Now On BMO's Secure Site

RBC Cash Back Mastercard vs. Simplii Financial™ Cash Back Visa* Card

10% cash back†

Welcome Bonus

$0

First Year Value

$0

Annual Value

Welcome Bonus: Earn up to 10% cash back† for your first 3 months up to $1,000 eligible spend.

Learn More Apply Now On CIBC's Secure Site
Is it worth it?

Is the RBC Cash Back Mastercard worth it?

If you’re an avid grocery shopper looking for a no-fee cash back credit card with accessible qualification requirements, the RBC Cash Back Mastercard is an excellent starting point. This credit card is widely accepted and lets you earn 2% cash back on groceries² and up to 1% cash back on everything else². For a no-fee credit card, this is an excellent cash back rate.

Eligibility requirements

Eligibility requirements for the RBC Cash Back Mastercard

This credit card is very accessible for most Canadians. There is no minimum personal or household income to qualify, and you’ll need a Good credit score, which, as long as you haven’t had any credit problems, shouldn’t be hard to attain.

How to apply

You can apply for the RBC Cash Back Mastercard online, by phone, or at your local branch. The online application process takes about 15 minutes with a response in 60 seconds. You’ll need some essential documentation, including:

  • Your name, address, email address, phone number, and SIN number
  • Details about your expenses, including rent or mortgage payments
  • Employment information, including where you work, how much you earn, and your length of employment

During the application process, you’ll have the opportunity to sign up for credit card extras like balance protection, which will cover your minimum payments if you become ill or can’t work. Once your application is submitted, RBC will have information about your approval in minutes. After you’ve been approved, your credit card will be sent to you in the mail and you can activate it online or over the phone, and start spending.

*This post contains affiliate links. Please read disclaimer for more info.

Refer to RBC page for up to date offer terms and conditions

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Jordann Brown Author

Jordann Brown is a freelance personal finance writer whose areas of expertise include debt management, homeownership and budgeting. She is based in Halifax and has written for publications including The Globe and Mail, Toronto Star, and CBC.

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