Cashback debit cards can be a rewarding option if you’re looking to earn money while you shop without relying on credit cards. These cards offer cash rewards when you make everyday purchases on your debit card.
Also known as rewards checking accounts, they’re a great personal finance tool, allowing you to earn cashback without the fees typically associated with cashback credit cards.
We’ve reviewed the best cash back debit card options based on their reward rates, account features, fees, and minimums.
6 Best Cash Back Debit Cards
Here are the best cashback debit cards you can get today:
- 🏆 Discover Cashback Debit Card
- Axos Bank Cashback Checking Debit Card
- Empower Debit Card
- Serve American Express Prepaid Debit Card
- Extra Rewards + Credit Building Debit Card
- Bank of America Visa Debit
Compare the Best Back Debit Cards
| Card Name | Rewards Rate | Monthly Maintenance Fees | Other Notable Features |
| Discover Cashback Debit Card | 1% | $0 |
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| Axos Bank Cashback Checking Debit Card | 1% | $0 |
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| Empower Debit Card | Up to 10% | $8 |
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| Serve American Express Prepaid Debit Card | 1% | $9.95 |
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| Extra Rewards + Credit Building Debit Card | Up to 1% | $25/month or $199/year |
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| Bank of America Visa Debit Card | Up to 15% | $4.95 – $25 |
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1. Discover Cashback Debit Card 
- Rewards: 1%
- Monthly fee: $0
- Minimum deposit: $0
- Minimum balance: $0
Discover’s Cashback Debit card makes our list for offering a cashback rate of 1% on purchases up to $3,000 each month (see website for details).
The account has virtually no fees, including monthly maintenance fees, NSFs, or fees for account closures, check reorders, or official bank checks.
You also get free access to several convenient checking account features, including Zelle, online bill pay, mobile and internet banking, and early pay with direct deposits. You can open an account online, and it includes 24/7 customer support.
Discover’s ATM network has over 415,000 fee-free ATMs, giving you easy access to your funds.
2. Axos Bank Cashback Checking Debit Card 
- Rewards: 1%
- Monthly fee: $0
- Minimum deposit: $50
- Minimum balance: $0
Axos CashBack Checking account offers up to 1% on transactions that require a signature.
To get the 1% cashback, you must maintain an average daily account balance of $1,500. If you drop below this threshold, the cashback will drop down to 0.50% for the month.
You can earn up to $2,000 monthly in cash back, which is deposited directly to your checking account every month.
The account also includes perks like unlimited domestic ATM reimbursements, peer-to-peer payments, and bill pay.
You can supplement your cashback earnings by inviting friends to join Axos Bank. When a friend joins with your link, you’ll earn $50.
Learn More:
3. Empower Debit Card 
- Rewards: up to 10% cashback
- Monthly fee: $8
- Minimum deposit: $0
- Minimum balance: $0
Empower is a personal finance app that allows you to link your existing bank accounts to it using Plaid. The app allows features such as budgeting, automatic savings, and credit score monitoring.
Empower is most well-known for its cash advance of up to $250 with no credit check. There are no interest or late fees. However, you automatically pay back the advance on your next payday.
Empower determines if and when you’re eligible for a cash advance of $10 – $250. When you need it, you simply accept it in the app, and they will transfer the money to your bank account.
The Empower debit card has a daily withdrawal limit of $500 and a debit card purchase limit of $2,000. The daily transfer limit is $2,500 but increases to $5,000 31 days after you make your first transaction.
Through the Empower app, you can activate “perks” prior to a purchase to earn up to 10% cash back on certain purchases.
Learn More:
4. Serve American Express Prepaid Debit Card 
- Rewards: 1%
- Monthly fee: $0
- Minimum deposit: $20
- Minimum balance: $0
The Serve American Express Prepaid debit card works differently than the others on the list. It’s a prepaid card, meaning you preload funds before spending.
Serve offers competitive cashback, letting you earn unlimited 1% cashback on purchases.
Amex will credit the cashback to your account with every verified purchase, but you must register your card online before spending it. Your cashback is immediately available to use as soon as the purchase is processed.
Other card benefits include FDIC insurance and Amex benefits like purchase protection, emergency assistance, and roadside assistance. You’ll also get 24/7 access to American Express’s highly-rated customer support team.
Learn More:
5. Extra Rewards + Credit Building Debit Card 
- Rewards: Up to 1%
- Monthly fee: $25 or $199/yr
- Minimum deposit: $0
- Minimum balance: $0
The Extra Rewards + Credit Building Debit Card is unique from the other cards in our review. It’s our top pick for individuals looking to build credit while earning cashback without a credit check.
Here’s how it works—when you open an Extra card, you connect it to your bank account with Plaid and receive a spending limit based on your average account balance.
Every time you make a purchase with the card, Extra pays for it and then pays itself back the next business day. Each month, Extra reports all of your transactions to credit bureaus to boost your score.
In terms of cashback, Extra offers up to 1% on all purchases, which you can redeem for Apple AirPods and other popular products in the Extra app.
While there are more rewarding cashback cards if your main agenda is earning unlimited cash on your purchases, Extra is worth considering if you need to build your credit securely.
Learn More:
6. Bank of America Advantage Debit Card 
- Rewards: Up to 15%
- Monthly fee: $4.95-$25.00
- Minimum deposit: $25-$100
- Minimum balance: $0
Bank of America offers cashback deals through its AmeriDeals program, which you can access when you open an Advantage Checking account.
Monthly fees range between $4.95 and $25.00, depending on the account you opt for and whether you meet the criteria to waive fees.
To set up cashback rewards and start earning when you spend, you need to access AmeriDeals through your online or mobile account. From there, you can select the cashback deals you want to opt into from Bank of America’s partnering stores, brands, and restaurants.
There are no spending limits on rewards, and cashback rates can vary from one company to the next. Deals are updated regularly, so it’s important to check back often to find cashback offers and discounts that interest you.
The account includes several additional features, such as a $0 Liability Guarantee, which guarantees a refund of fraudulent transactions if your card is lost or stolen.
Learn More:
Summary of the Best Cash Back Debit Cards
| Company | Monthly Maintenance Fee | Minimum Deposit Requirement | Rewards |
| Discover Cashback Debit Card | $0 | $0 | 1% of most purchases |
| Axos Bank Cashback Checking Debit Card | $0 | $50 | 1% of most purchases |
| Empower Debit Card | $8 | $0 | Up to 10% |
| Serve American Express Prepaid Debit Card | $9.95 | $20 | 1% of most purchases |
| Extra Rewards + Credit Building Debit Card | $25/month or $199/year | $0 | Up to 1% |
| Bank of America Advantage Debit Card | $4.95 – $25 | $25 – $100 | Up to 15% |
What are Cashback Debit Cards?
Cashback debit cards are debit cards that offer cashback on eligible purchases. Unlike cashback credit cards, debit cards are usually tied to a debit account such as your checking account, so money needs to be available in your account before you can spend it.
There are also prepaid debit cards offering cashback and some credit-building cards. These cards aren’t tied to a checking account, but you’ll need to load the money into the card or link to an external account to use them.
Cashback rewards can also vary from one card to the next. While rewards are typically cashback, financial institutions have started to innovate by offering discounts, stock back, miles, and other perks.
How to Choose the Best Cashback Debit Card
Making an informed decision when choosing a cashback debit card that aligns with your spending habits and provides the maximum benefit is important.
Here are a few key factors to consider when choosing the right cashback debit card:
- Cashback percentage: Look for a debit card that offers a competitive cashback rate on your everyday purchases. A higher cashback percentage means you can earn more money on your spending.
- Limitations/caps: Be aware of limitations on cashback rewards. Some cards may have a maximum limit on the cashback you can earn, or they might only offer higher rewards for a limited period. Read the terms and conditions to ensure the card’s limitations align with your spending.
- Redemption options: Some cards offer direct deposit into your bank account, while others provide statement credits or gift cards. Choose a card that offers convenient redemption options that suit your preferences.
- Fees: Look into account fees for each cashback debit card. Some cards charge an annual fee or transaction fees that could offset the value of the cashback rewards.
How to Get a Cashback Debit Card
Here’s a quick overview of how to open a cashback debit card account and start earning rewards:
- Research options: Compare banks and financial institutions to choose the one that’s best equipped to meet your preferences.
- Apply: How you get a cashback debit card can vary from one card to the next. You may need to open a checking account first, which you should be able to do completely online.
- Provide your info: In most cases, you’ll need to provide your SSN (Social Security Number), driver’s license, and personal information such as your name, date of birth, and address.
- Activate your card: Once your debit card arrives, you must follow the steps required to activate it before making purchases.
- Start spending:Once activated, you can use your card to earn cashback. Ensure you understand your bank’s requirements to get the most cashback on your purchases.
- Keep track: Some cashback offers change over time. Check your bank’s website or app routinely to tap into new offers. You should also take stock of your spending and rewards to ensure they’re accurately recorded.
- Redeem your rewards: Most banks automatically deposit your cashback into your account, while others give you multiple redemption options, like products or miles.
Pros & Cons
Cashback debit cards have some serious pros that can help you improve your financial standing but also have potential drawbacks.
Let’s cover some of the advantages and disadvantages of cash-back debit cards:
Pros
- No credit limit: You don’t have to deal with a credit limit as a rewards debit cardholder. While you have to make sure you have the cash available, you don’t have to worry about fees, interest, or payments.
- No credit score: Since no debt is involved, many financial institutions don’t look at your credit history. It’s important to note that the bank or financial institution might check your credit history if the account comes with overdraft protection.
- Interest rates: Several cashback debit cards are tied to high-interest checking accounts that offer APY, helping you earn even more cashback on your account.
- Other features: Since most cashback debit cards are linked to deposit accounts, you’ll also get access to features such as mobile check deposit, online bill pay, and free ATM withdrawals.
Cons
- Overdraft fees: Some cards might include an overdraft policy that can leave you liable for overdraft fees if your purchases exceed your account balance.
- No credit score improvement:While cashback debit cards won’t harm your credit score, most won’t improve it since traditional debit card purchases aren’t reported to credit bureaus.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which banks give rewards points on debit cards?
Several banks offer reward points on debit cards, including Discover, Axos, Serve, Extra, Bank of America, and Empower.
Different banks have unique offers on their debit cards. Some promote cashback and other perks, such as discounts, while others offer lower fees. While cashback is an attractive debit card feature, there’s more to consider if you want to get the best offer on a debit card.
Are cashback debit cards worth it?
A cash back debit card can be a worthwhile addition to your wallet, offering lucrative rewards on your everyday spending. Just make sure that high account fees, caps, or spending requirements don’t offset the cashback rewards.
What types of debit card rewards are there?
There are a few different types of debit card rewards. Some banks offer cashback rewards, while others provide travel miles or points to put toward products and gift cards.
How do you earn points on your debit card?
Some banks let you earn a set amount of points for all purchases, while others prioritize certain types of purchases, like swipes at grocery stores, gas stations, or restaurants, offering higher cashback amounts for select transactions.
Bottom Line
Cashback debit cards have become increasingly popular among individuals looking to maximize their savings and earn rewards on their everyday spending.
With several options to choose from, it’s important to compare the features, fees, and cashback rates offered by different cards to find the best fit for your financial needs.
By utilizing a cashback debit card wisely, you can effortlessly earn money back on your purchases and make the most out of your spending.
Our Methodology
To determine our best list of cashback debit cards, the BankBonus team thoroughly evaluated rewards debit cards from traditional banks, online banks, fintechs, and credit unions.
We used the metrics below to assess each card and compile our recommendations:
- Cashback rewards: First and foremost, we compared each card’s cashback rate, rewards program features, and limits.
- Fees: We also zeroed in on account fees, favoring accounts with low or no maintenance fees or ongoing account fees.
- Minimum requirements: We factored in each account’s minimum balance and initial deposit requirements.
- Account features: We evaluated each account’s additional features, such as ATM access, early pay, and mobile deposits.
- User experience: We also paid close attention to each institution’s user experience, evaluating their online resources and app availability.
- Reputation: Likewise, we feature cards and accounts from FDIC-insured institutions with a positive reputation in the banking industry.
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