Best Cash Back Cards and How to Earn up to 20% Back on Everything

Key takeaways

Consider the US Bank Smartly card for its potential to earn up to 4% cash back based on deposited amounts.
Robinhood’s Gold Card offers 3% cashback but is contingent on being a member of their premium service.
Maximize your rewards by strategically using signup bonuses, which can lead to effective cashback rates much higher than traditional cashback cards.
Evaluate Bank of America cards, especially with their preferred rewards program, which can enhance cashback returns.
Understand the pros and cons of each card, including missing features like travel perks in favor of higher cashback rates.

Summary

Introduction to Cashback Cards

Chris delves into the world of cashback credit cards, emphasizing the benefits of having a single card that maximizes cash back across various spending categories. In 2025, several new cards are competing for attention, offering impressive returns beyond the traditional 2% cashback.

Highlighting the Best Cards

The podcast outlines the best options for cashback credit cards, specifically those that offer more than 2% return. Key players include the US Bank Smartly Visa Signature Card, which can offer up to 4% cashback, and the Robinhood Gold Card at 3%. The US Bank Smartly card's unique structure allows higher cashback based on account balances, making it stand out.

Analyzing Potential Drawbacks and Competitors

Chris also discusses the limitations found in various cards, such as missing benefits commonly available in premium travel cards. The US Bank Altitude Reserve is briefly mentioned for its high rewards in mobile wallet spending but is also critiqued due to its current unavailability for new applications.

Deep Dive into Bank of America Cards

The podcast shifts focus to Bank of America’s cashback offerings. Their rewards program boosts earnings on cards based on account balances, making it appealing for those who maintain larger amounts in their accounts. It compares several Bank of America cards, highlighting their cashback potential but also the competition from US Bank.

Maximizing Returns with Signup Bonuses

A significant portion of the episode emphasizes leveraging signup bonuses from credit cards. Chris identifies multiple cards offering substantial first-year bonuses that can lead to effective cashback rates exceeding 20%, suggesting that strategic planning around these bonuses can outweigh the benefits of sticking solely with cashback cards.

Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Chris concludes by encouraging listeners to evaluate their spending habits and consider the potential of opening new credit cards to maximize rewards. He stresses the importance of assessing one's willingness to engage in a more complex credit card strategy to capitalize on significant cashback offers.

Show notes

#214: Chris reveals the top cash back credit cards in 2025 to maximize your rewards. He also goes deep on leveraging signup bonuses to earn up to 20% back on all your spending.
Link to Full Show Notes: https://chrishutchins.com/cash-back-credit-cards-2025

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Resources Mentioned
Credit Cards: Best Cards Page | Chris’ Credit Card Optimizer Tool

U.S. Bank Smartly Visa Signature Credit Card

Robinhood Gold Card

Discover it® Miles card

Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card

Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card

Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Credit Card

Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite Credit Card

Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Mastercard® Credit Card

Business Advantage Travel Rewards World Mastercard® credit card

Alliant Credit Union Visa Signature Card

Bank of America® Customized Cash Back Rewards Credit Card

Citi Custom Cash Credit Card

U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card

Verizon Visa® Card

Wells Fargo Autograph Journey Visa® Card

Capital One Spark Cash Plus

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

Hawaiian Airlines ® World Elite Mastercard

Bank of America Preferred Rewards
U.S. Bank Real-Time Rewards
How to Get Approved for Business Cards
All the Hacks Podcast

Ep #170: Cash Back vs. Points: Are We Doing It All Wrong?

Ep #136: Current State of Credit Cards Points and Predictions for 2024 with Sebastian Fung

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Full Show Notes
(00:00) Introduction
(02:00) Quick Overview
(04:12) The 4% Cash Back Card From U.S. Bank
(08:01) Update on the U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® Card
(10:57) Robinhood Gold Card for 3% Cash Back
(15:54) The Discover Card for Miles
(17:57) Rewards on Bank of America Cards
(20:33) Perks and Cons of Bank of America Cards
(28:04) Alliant Credit Union’s Cash Back Card
(32:19) Quick Comparison of the Cash Back Cards
(33:26) Chris' Card Optimizer Tool
(37:38) How to Value Points
(39:07) Leveraging Credit Card Welcome Offers
(41:15) All the Hacks Membership Perks
(43:15) Chris' Analysis of Welcome Offers
(46:35) The Big Final Takeaway

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Editor’s Note: The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of our partner offers may have expired. Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
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