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RBC Cash Back Mastercard Review

RBC Cash Back Mastercard review

Name: Jordann Brown
Item: RBC Cash Back Mastercard
Rating: 4.1
Author: Jordann Brown

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4.1

2% Up to 2% unlimited cash back on groceries

1% Up to 1% unlimited cash back on everything else

$0.03 Link your card and instantly save 3¢/L on fuel and 20% more Petro-Points at Petro Canada

50 Get 50 Be Well points for every $1 spent on eligible products at Rexall

$0 Annual Fee No annual fee

20.99% Purchase APR

22.99% Cash Advance APR $3.50 fee

22.99% Balance Transfer Rate

3.50% Balance Transfer Fee

Good Recommended Credit Score

4.1

RBC Cash Back Mastercard review

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By Jordann Brown

Fact Checked: Cory Santos

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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 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-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 of the RBC Cash Back Mastercard

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

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

RBC Cash Back credit card welcome bonus

This card does not currently offer a welcome bonus.

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 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 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!

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 of the RBC Cash Back credit card

Other noteworthy benefits of the RBC Cash Back Mastercard include:

Fuel discounts at Petro-Canada: All RBC credit cards, including the RBC Cash Back Mastercard, save their users 3₵ per litre at Petro-Canada, when you connect your RBC credit card to your Petro-Points account, you’ll earn 20% more Petro-Points⁵.
Earn more Be Well points at Rexall: Link the card with your Be Well card account at Rexall and earn 50 Be Well points for every $1 spent 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, 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

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 $3.50 fee and be charged 22.99% (21.99% if you reside in Quebec).

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 does the RBC Cash Back card compare?

Feature

RBC Cash Back Mastercard

Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card

Annual fee

Cash back rewards

Up to 2% on groceries², up to 1% on everything else²

2% in 3 categories of your choice, 0.5% on everything else

Other benefits

Zero liability⁶, 3₵ per litre discount at Petro-Canada⁵, extended warranty and purchase security³

Balance transfer offer

Redeem rewards as

Statement credit

Statement credit or savings account deposit

Income requirement

None stated

$12,000

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.

Although the Tangerine Money-Back card offers a higher earn rate, you’re limited to 2-3 spending categories. 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% cash 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.

It is worth noting, however, that the Tangerine Money Back card currently has some hefty welcome offers: Special 10% extra cash back rate on the first $1,000 spent with the card on everyday purchases (max. $100 cash back) in the first two months if you're approved. The card also has a balance transfer promo, which is great for those who have outstanding debts they would like to consolidate and pay off at a low rate. If you do a balance transfer within the first 30 days of being a new Tangerine Money-Back cardholder, your interest rate on the transferred balance will be 1.95% for the first six months (it will go back to 19.95% after this promotional period). A 1% transfer fee applies.*

*Terms and Conditions apply

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 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.

Refer to RBC Page for up to date offer terms and conditions.

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.