Last Updated: 11/17/07 Citi Cash Returns MC added (5% on everything,unlimited for 3 months)
Below you will find a comprehensive list of credit cards which earn at least 5% rewards in specific purchase categories. If you are shopping for a great rewards card, this is a list for you.
None of the cards have an annual fee unless specified. Please reply with links to additional cards or better signing offers. I will try to keep the OP up to date.
Reward cards generally don't come with desirable APR's, so you won't want to carry a balance on any of these cards. I do not consider APR's when rating.
•Bonus: Bonus for new applicants.
•Reward Limit: Rewards cap (in the form of cash or gift cards)
•Redeem For: Reward options which won't devalue points*. "GC"= Store specific gift cards.
•Increment: The min. cash/GC increment you can redeem at full point value.
Earn 5% rewards in the following purchase categories (and generally 1% elsewhere) with the linked card ......
GAS, SUPERMARKET, DRUG STORES (Everyday Purchases)
Associated Bank Cash Rebate Card 
(Thanks ChiefRocka)
•Bonus: None •Reward Limit: $300/yr •Redeem For: Cash •Increment: $50
(PLEASE reconfirm T&C over the phone. Info comes from ChiefRocka's post in this thread. I cannot verify it's accuracy.) This card is not publicized and is only available over the phone. The bank's website is linked for information only. The card is co-branded with Citi. In addition to the 5% area you'll earn 1% on everything else, and 5 reward dollars for every individual transaction greater than $1,500. ChiefRocka gives a phone number in his post, however, since I cannot verify that the number is legit, I suggest calling the number on the banks website linked above. Please double check the T&C when applying and let us know what you think!
GAS, SUPERMARKET, DRUG STORES (Everyday Purchases) DRY CLEANING
Washington Mutual Platinum MC (Thanks lhendricks92, lemec!)
•Bonus: Add'l 5% on gas for 1 year •Reward Limit: ??? •Redeem For: Cash •Increment: $20
With this card, you'll earn the 5% on everyday purchases & dry cleaning after your first $4,000 in total purchases each year. Plus, for the first 6 months you'll earn an additional 5% on gas. This card is tiered which is a negative, however, in my experience tiered 5% cards stick around longer than the non-tiered. Tiers encourage customer spending. It's a lot like the AMEX Blue Cash (listed below) however the 5% rewards kick in $2,500 sooner with WAMU, but, you earn 1% on general purchases rather than AMEX's 1.5%. Find out more on this FW thread This card is probably best for people who use credit quite often, and only want cash rewards.
GAS, SUPERMARKET, DRUG STORES (Everyday Purchases)
AmEx Blue Cash (Thanks e1Superman, billrubin, DaveHanson)
•Bonus: None •Reward Limit: None! •Redeem For: Cash •Increment: ???
The catch is that you only earn 5% after your first $6,500 in total spending per year. If you don't use credit a ton, this isn't a good choice. If you already use AMEX a bunch, and/or if you'll find yourself maxing out the rewards on the other cards in this list quickly, this would be an excellent pick. After your initial $6,500 in spending per year, you'll earn 5% on Everyday Purchases and an excellent 1.5% elsewhere up to $50,000 in total spending. Now three smiley's because this card will probably the least likely 5% reward cards to disappear since it encourages consumer spending in all purchase categories. More info is in this excellent thread. This card is probably best for those of you who use credit a lot, don't want to carry a different card for every purchase, and don't want to fool with points.
GAS, SUPERMARKET, DRUG STORES (Everyday Purchases), US POST OFFICE, RESTAURANT, CELL BILL, HILTON FAMILY HOTELS
Hilton HHonors Platinum AmEx (Thanks zhubaobao & Joe1690)
•Bonus: 10-20,000 pts. •Reward Limit: ??? •Redeem For: Hotel Stays •Increment: Varies
The rewards of this card are only valuable toward Hilton-family hotel stays, but the broad earning capability makes up for that shortcoming. You'll earn 5 points per $1 spent in the listed categories, and 3 points everywhere else. The value of a point is somewhere between .5 to 1.4 cents depending on how you redeem your rewards. It is may not your best everyday purchase card, but the 5 points at on USPS, Restaurant, Cell, & Hilton purchases are excellent. Sign up now for 10,000 bonus point with your first purchase, and up to an additional 10,000 bonus points by staying at Hilton. This card is best for people who travel quite a bit and can use hotel rewards. Looking for a hotel card? Look at the Starwood card as well.
GAS, AUTO REPAIR
Discover Open Road
•Bonus: None •Annual Limit: See Summary •Redeem For: Cash, GC** •Increment: $20
5%** Cash Back on gas and car repair services for the first $1,200 in gas purchases per year. The low limit and limited reward area hurts, but a benefit is that you can more than 5% back by redeeming points for gift cards rather than cash. You'll get 6.25% back if you redeem points for gift cards to everyday type retailers (Gap, Borders, ACE) and 10% to more exclusive places (Sharper Image, Cruises, Hyatt)
GAS
Pen Fed Visa Platinum rewards Thanks telflonmail
•Bonus: None •Annual Limit: ? •Redeem For: ? •Increment: ?
This card is under review. According to telflonmail there is no annual fee, rewards are credited each month, and you earn a good 1.25% on non-gas purchases. More information on this FW thread.
GET MORE PURCHASES
Discover Platinum
•Bonus: None •Annual Limit: See Summary •Redeem For: Cash, GC** •Increment: $20
"Get More Purchases" are are rotating promotions which give you 5%** back on purchases in the area the promotion covers. Past promotions have ranged from getting 5% back on hotel stays, restaurants, gas, airplane tickets and much more. The promotions change quarterly and you must sign up for each promotion (it's easiest via the web.) Promotions can be very valuable and often cover areas outside of any other card's 5% area. If you have a decent memory and can keep track of the current promotion when you're out and about, it is a pretty good deal. If not, it may be more hassle than it's worth. Visit discovercard.com to view the latest Get More Promotion.
RESTAURANTS, BOOKSTORES, RECORD STORES, MOVIE THEATRE, MOVIE RENTAL STORES
MtvU Visa from Citi (For College Students Only) (Thanks poo & czarandy!)
•Bonus: None •Reward Limit: $750/yr •Redeem For: GC, Travel, Merch •Increment: $50?
Okay, admit it.... you thought about enrolling in community college just to get this card. Its great because of the broad 5% earning capability. You will not get the full value of the rewards if you redeem as cash (<5%). Part of Thank You.
GAS, OFFICE SUPPLIES, UTILITIES, COMPUTER EQUIPMENT, CELL PHONES, INTERNET
Advanta Platinum BusinessCard MC (For Businesses Only) (Thanks bluechalk, Morty & ScootyPuffSr)
•Bonus: None •Reward Limit: $60/Year •Redeem For: Cash? •Increment: ???
The great thing about this card is its broad 5% earning potential. Too bad that it is just for businesses and the limit is low.... otherwise it might receive a higher rating. More about the card is on this FW thread.
OFFICE SUPPLIES
Discover Business Card For Businesses Only Thanks SlimCustomer
•Bonus: None •Reward Limit: None •Redeem For: Cash, GC •Increment: $20
While this card has a limited reward area, the non-existant reward limit is a nice feature. You will also earn 2% back on Gas, and up to 1% on all other purchases. If you are going to max out your Avanta business card (above) this might be a good one to suppliment.
GAS, OFFICE SUPPLIES, WIRELESS SERVICES
American Express Simplycash Business Card For Businesses Only Thanks g10ny & Clocks!
•Bonus: None •Reward Limit: None •Redeem For: Statement Credit •Increment: Any
This is a pretty new card. It sounds like your rewards are automatically credited to your account with no maximum per year.
LIMITED TIME Reward Offers.
These cards give 5% or more in purchase rewards for a limited number of months.
EVERYTHING
Citi CashReturns MC (thanks lhendricks92, mountainview)
•Bonus: See description •Annual Limit: none•Redeem For: Cash •Increment: 50
At 5% on every puchase with no limit, this is a great card. Too bad this offer is only for 3 months. Afterwhich it is a pretty standard 1% card. If you have some big purchases coming up (think Christmas), it may be worth the limited rewards time frame.
GAS, SUPERMARKET, DRUG STORES (Everyday Purchases)
Citi Platinum American Express (thanks coolbargains)
•Bonus: 15,000 points after $300 •Annual Limit: 150,000 pts •Redeem For: GC, Travel, Merchandise •Increment: ??
WARNING: this is the only card on the list with an annual fee (a whopping $99 waived the first year) BUT read on and check it out... many of us will find it well worth it. This card is quite different from the rest, so in order to fully realize it's value, you'll have to think of it in a different context. The card is geared for travelers who want a premium benefit & rewards card. Most of the other cards on this list have good rewards, but poor benefits. This has both. Rewards-You earn 5% on everyday purchases and an excellent 3% on everything else for 2 years. Benefits include complimentary airline lounge access (an excellent benefit but read the fine print), airline companion tickets (ask for more info), price protection (too bad you didn't buy your iPhone with this!) and other premium card benefits. Think of it this way... The first year the annual fee is free, the second year's $99 will more than be offset by the 15,000 bonus points you already earned, and that's not to mention all of the other benefits & rewards of this card. Card reportedly requires good credit and income >50K.
GAS, SUPERMARKET, DRUG STORES (Everyday Purchases)
Citi Driver's Edge Platinum Select MC (thanks MichaelBradford, fotomaniak, scripta, & scootypuffsr)
•Bonus: None •Reward Limit: $1,000/yr •Redeem For: Statement Cred, GC, Travel, Merch•Increment: $25 (anything >
Thanks to scripta for this description... Earn 6% for 12 months, and 3% thereafter (aka "purchase rebates"). You will also earn 1 cent for every mile you drive (aka "drive rebates"). This is potentially a good card (some would say the best) assuming you drive enough miles in one vehicle (you can only register one for drive rebates). You can't redeem drive rebates unless you have as many (or more) purchase rebates. If you drive as many miles as you earn purchase rebates (i.e. drive at least 3 miles for every $1.00 spent on everyday purchases), you could effectively double your total rebate (12% for 12 months and 6% thereafter). Read T&C for details. More info in this thread.
INTERNET, TELECOM, CABLE, SATTELITE TV & RADIO, UTILITIES
Citi Home Rebate MC (thanks MichaelBradford & fotomaniak)
•Bonus: None •Annual Limit: None •Redeem For: Mortgage Payment •Increment: N/A
This card offers 6% rewards for one year, redeemable toward any mortgage and no earning cap. The broad and unique earning potential, plus the extra 1% really make this card a great value. Too bad the mortgage doesn’t go away in 12 months like the benefits of this card.
GAS, SUPERMARKET, DRUG STORES (Everyday Purchases)
Citi Diamond Preferred MasterCard OR 20) American Express
•Bonus: $100 •Reward Limit: $750/yr •Redeem For: GC, Merchandise, Travel •Increment: $50?
For the MC, look for active bonus codes in the last pages of this FW thread. For the AMEX, the bonus is automatic. 5% is limited to 1 year.
GAS, SUPERMARKET, DRUG STORES (Everyday Purchases), CONVENIENCE STORES, UTILITIES
Citi Dividend MasterCard (Thanks g10ny)
•Bonus: none •Reward Limit: $300/yr •Redeem For: GC, Merchandise, Travel •Increment: ??
The added value of 5% on convenience stores & utilities are nice. As long as you are protective of your credit, however, I generally don't recommend something with a decent reward which lasts only 6 months.
STORE SPECIFIC CARDS (Thanks to those who submitted these cards!)
- Shell Gas MasterCard- 5% rebates @ Shell and Jiffy Lube,
Marathon Gas MC- 10% @ Marathon for 60 days 2% elsewhere, then 5% @ Marathon. 1% elsewhere.
Hess Gas Visa- 10% @ Hess for 90 days, then 5%. 1% elsewhere.
Banana Republic Card 5% at Banana, Gap, & Old Navy. Can't be used anywhere else.
Hooters Mastercard- 5 points w/ Hooters, 1 point elsewhere.
Continental Airlines MC 5% off CO fares for 1 year, $65 annual fee.
AAA Rewards Visa Look on your region's site for current offer (generally 5% on gas)
Choice Hotels Visa Earn 15 points per $ at Sleep, Comfort, Quality, Clarion, & Mainstay. 2 points elsewhere.
Marriott Rewards Visa Signature 5 points at Marriott, 2 for travel, 1 elsewhere.
REI Visa Up to 10% back on REI, 1% elsewhere.
BP Rewards Visa double rebates for 2 months, then 5% @ BP, 2% Dining, Airline, Car Rental, and lodging, 1% elsewhere.
Mercedes Benz Visa 5 pt/$ spent @ M.B. dealerships and on merchandise.
Sinclair MC by Juniper For 60 days you'll earn 7% at Sinclair, 2% elsewhere and then 5%/1%. Not bad!
Gymboree Visa by US Bank Save 5% at Gymboree (Kid's Clothing) and 1% elsewhere. $10 sign up bonus
AT&T Universal MC 10% on AT&T/Cingular Purchases for 12 months then 5%
DEFUNCT CARDS Cards which were at one time listed in this post but either no longer available or no longer offering 5% rewards.
Discover Platinum Restaurant
Discover Platinum Home Improvement
Citi AT&T Cash Rewards Card
AT&T Universal Rewards (turned into a store specific card)
Citi Simplicity Cash
Chase Rewards Plus
Chase Cash Plus
Chase Flexible Rewards
Chase Perfect Card
HSBC Direct Rewards Platinum
GM Card
* Some cards offer cash as a reward option but at a lackluster point/dollar ratio. In other words, you'd be earning less than 5%. Therefore, I do not list cash as a reward option for these types of cards. For the card to be truly valuable, we want $1 spent to equal 5¢ in rewards (5%).
** A benefit of Discover is that you can maximize your reward and feasibly double it by redeeming your reward as a gift certificate to certain specialty retailers, or get 6.25% back by getting gift certificates to more everyday type retailers. (click here for more info) Discover does not limit the total Cash Back bonus you can earn, only the amount in the 5% bracket.
