I’ve written before about the benefits of cash-back cards over most of the other sorts of credit cards rewards (here ) and little has changed regarding them since that note was written over two years ago. Cash is still king – you can spend it anywhere, there are no blackout dates, and it doesn’t expire.

At the time that was written, Chase still had a pretty good deal, and Schwab had a great deal (2%). The Chase card is still pretty good but Schwab no longer issues their card.

One of the best deal at the time remains probably the best bet out there – Fidelity’s “Investment Rewards Visa Signature” card and Fidelity’s “Fidelity Rewards American Express” card. The former gives you 1.5% cash back on the first $15,000 you spend and then, 2% cash back on anything above that. The American Express card, though not taken in quite as many places as the Visa card, gives you 2% cash back from the first dollar. The only catch with these deals is that the cash has to be deposited into a Fidelity account (and you can move it right out again if you like). The account into which you have the deposits placed may be a taxable brokerage account, an IRA or Roth IRA, or a 529 account. (Do be aware of limits, though – if you contribute directly to your IRA or Roth IRA, you probably don’t want automatic cash back deposits there if they’d put you over the annual limits).

http://personal.fidelity.com/products/checking/content/investment_rewards_card.shtml

http://personal.fidelity.com/products/checking/content/amex_rewards_card.shtml

note – I get no referral fee or kickback or any other sort of reward or compensation for listing these here. If anyone knows of any other deals as good as these for credit card rewards, I’d really love to hear about it so I can check it out and share it with people. Thanks.