| Cash back credit cards provide fantastic | | | | more or less than the actual reward benefits |
| opportunities for those that carry them. For | | | | earned. If the finance charges will cost the |
| every purchase a cardholder makes with one of | | | | consumer more than the rewards he or she will |
| these cards, a cash rebate is earned. This | | | | earn, then the card is not worth keeping. But |
| makes cash back credit cards potentially very | | | | cardholders that pay their balance off in full each |
| profitable for those that take the time to choose | | | | month do not need to be overly concerned with |
| the best card available and then, of course, use it | | | | the APR. |
| effectively. When looking for the best cash | | | | Just as the APR must be considered when looking |
| back credit cards, it is important to take several | | | | for the best cash back credit card, it is also |
| things under consideration. | | | | important to look at the annual associated with |
| One of the most important features to consider | | | | the card. A rebate card with an annual fee may |
| when searching for the best card is the actual | | | | not be worthwhile in the long run. Therefore, the |
| rebate percentage provided. Most cash rebate | | | | cardholder needs to be sure that he or she will |
| cards provide cardholders a percentage of the | | | | earn enough cash back during the year to make |
| amount charged to the card. Obviously, the | | | | the annual fee worth paying for. |
| higher the rebate percentage, the greater amount | | | | Not all cash back credit cards are created equal. |
| of money that can be earned so the consumer | | | | Some send money to the cardholder once per |
| should look for the greatest rebate percentage | | | | year while others will credit the rebate back to |
| available. | | | | the cardholder account. Still other cash back |
| Most cash back credit cards are partnered with | | | | credit cards place the money in interest earning |
| certain businesses that derive mutual benefit from | | | | accounts or in special college savings accounts. |
| cardholder purchases. For example, a cardholder | | | | With some cards, the points toward cash back |
| may receive a 1% rate of return on general | | | | earnings are calculated and sent to the cardholder |
| purchases, but a 5% rate if purchases are made | | | | automatically. Still others require the cardholder |
| at a certain gas station. Therefore, it is | | | | to request the refund once he or she has |
| important for consumers to choose a cash back | | | | accumulated enough points. All of these need to |
| credit card that provides special incentives with | | | | be taken into consideration when determining |
| businesses or services the consumer uses | | | | which card is best. |
| frequently. It certainly would not make much | | | | Some cash back credit cards have limitations to |
| sense for a consumer to use a cash back credit | | | | how many rebates can be earned per year. For |
| card providing a special 5% rate for purchases | | | | some cardholders, this is not an issue because the |
| made at a restaurant if the consumer never dines | | | | limit is much higher than they will ever spend. |
| out! | | | | For others, this cap can be a concern. In |
| The Annual Percentage Rate (APR) of the cash | | | | addition, some cash back credit cards place an |
| back credit card also needs to be taken under | | | | expiration date on how long the rebates are |
| consideration. Many cash back credit cards tend | | | | good. Therefore, those that think they may not |
| to have a higher APR than those without special | | | | cash in on their rebates on a frequent basis need |
| rewards programs. The consumer must be | | | | to consider whether or not they will be able to |
| aware of the APR of the card in order to | | | | use the rebates before they expire. |
| determine if the ultimate finance charges will be | | | | |