- 2% cash back. Specifically 1% cash back when you buy + 1% cash back when you pay.
- No annual fee.
Bank of America Travel Rewards Card
- Up to 2.625% cash back when redeemed towards travel. This requires Platinum Honors status in the Bank of America Preferred Rewards program, i.e. $100,000 in assets held at Merrill Edge. If you are not a Preferred Rewards member, 1.5% cash back when redeemed towards travel.
- No annual fee.
- Earns 2 miles per dollar spent. You can redeem 1 miles for $0.01 towards travel, and you also get a 5% rebate back in the points spent. This ends up being an effective 2.1% cash back towards travel.
- $89 annual fee. This annual fee means that you must spend $80,000 first to recoup the $89 annual fee vs. a 2% cash back card with no annual fee.
- However, the special factor of this card is the large upfront sign-up bonus which most cash back cards do not have. You can use 8,900 miles to pay for the annual fee.
- 2% cash back. Rewards must be deposited into an eligible Fidelity account.
- No annual fee.
Alliant Credit Union Cashback Visa
- 2.5% cash back.
- $59 annual fee. This annual fee means that you must spend $11,800 first to recoup the $59 annual fee vs. a 2% cash back card with no annual fee.
Chase Freedom Unlimited (w/ Chase Sapphire Reserve)
- 1.5 Ultimate Rewards points per dollar spent. If you have the Chase Sapphire Reserve card, you can get 1.5 cents towards travel per 1 Ultimate Rewards points. If you earn via the Freedom Unlimited and redeem on the Sapphire Preferred, that results is 2.25 cents cash back towards travel.
- No annual fee. However, the Chase Sapphire Reserve does have a hefty annual fee, but I think this is a nice pairing worth mentioning if you already have the Sapphire Reserve.