Review
Updated
Bread Financial and American Express have teamed up to offer a no-nonsense cash back credit card -- the Bread Cashback™ American Express® Credit Card. The Card has no annual fee and earns unlimited 2% cash back on purchases when you use your Card. Its straightforward rewards program makes it perfect for first-time credit card users, as well as those who want only one credit card in their wallet. Learn more for details.
Bread Cashback™ American Express® Credit Card
Great for: First-time card users
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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= Best
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= Excellent
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= Good
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= Fair
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= Poor
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor
Credit Score
Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Good (670-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
Regular APR
20.74%-35.24% (Variable)
Rewards
2% unlimited cash back on purchases
Annual Fee
$0
Welcome Offer N/A
N/A
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If you're new to credit cards and don't want to juggle a complicated rewards program, you’ll want to give this Amex a look. It gives you 2% cash back across all purchases (terms apply), and has no foreign transaction fee or annual fee (see rates and fees). Without an intro 0% APR offer or welcome bonus, this card might fall flat for some. But you will get access to special perks through Amex partners.
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- Unlimited 2% cash back on purchases when you use your Card¹
- No annual fee²
- Purchase protection
- Access to American Express benefits³
- No welcome bonus
- No 0% APR
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- Earn unlimited 2% cash back on purchases when you use the Card¹
- No rewards caps
- No categories to manage
- No annual fee and no foreign transaction fees²
- Amex Offers, travel and dining benefits, and premium protection benefits³
- Learn more for details
Credit card comparison
We recommend comparing options to ensure the card you're selecting is the best fit for you. To make your search easier, here's a short list of standout credit cards.
| Offer | Our Rating | Welcome Offer | Rewards Program | APR | Learn More |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor |
Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year. N/A | 1% - 5% Cashback Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases—automatically. |
Intro: Purchases: 0%, 15 months Balance Transfers: 0%, 15 months Regular: 17.24% - 28.24% Variable APR |
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Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor |
Up to $300 cash back Earn an extra 1.5% on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) — worth up to $300 cash back. That's 6.5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 4.5% on dining and drugstores, and 3% on all other purchases. | 1.5% - 5% cash back Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 1.5% on all other purchases |
Intro: 0% Intro APR on Purchases and Balance Transfers for 15 months Purchases: 0% Intro APR on Purchases, 15 months Balance Transfers: 0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers, 15 months Regular: 20.49% - 29.24% Variable |
Apply Now for Chase Freedom Unlimited®
On Chase's Secure Website. |
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Apply Now for Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
On Chase's Secure Website. |
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor |
60,000 bonus points Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠. | 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining and 2x on all other travel purchases Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more. |
Intro: N/A Purchases: N/A Balance Transfers: N/A Regular: 21.49%-28.49% Variable |
Apply Now for Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
On Chase's Secure Website. |
Full Bread Cashback™ Card review
This credit card is a good fit for: First-time credit card users who want an uncomplicated, entry-level cash back card. This Card is also well suited for those who want one credit card and don't want to deal with points or travel rewards programs.
Pros:
- Unlimited 2% cash back on purchases when you use your Card¹
- No annual fee²
- Purchase protection
- Travel and restaurant perks from American Express³
Cons:
- No welcome bonus
- No 0% APR
Top perks
Unlimited 2% cash back¹
You'll earn 2% cash back on purchases you make with your Card, with no limit on how much you can earn. For a household that spends $25,000 per year on non-housing expenses, you could earn about $500 on this Card.
No annual fee²
That cash back comes to you with no annual fee attached. (See rates and fees.) This makes the Bread Cashback™ Card perfect for building credit or as a backup cash back card when others would earn less than 2% back on a purchase.
No foreign transaction fees²
You won't be charged a foreign transaction fee when you use the Bread Cashback™ Card outside of the U.S.
Access to American Express benefits³
Cardholders will get discounts on travel purchases made with American Express's partners, like Hertz, Avis, and Bookings.com. You'll also get 20% off dining bills -- or a free appetizer -- with participating restaurants. (Terms apply; enrollment may be required.)
READ MORE: Best American Express Cards
Powerful insurance
Damaged and stolen items are covered under the Card's built-in price protection. You'll also get ID theft insurance, which reimburses you if your identity or credit card is stolen. (Terms apply.)
What could be improved
No welcome offer
One of the Card's biggest shortcomings is that it doesn't give new cardholders a welcome offer. Plenty of other no-annual-fee cash back cards offer generous sign-up bonuses that reward users with a slew of points or cash just by spending a certain amount.
No intro 0% APR
The Card starts with an APR of 20.74%-35.24% (Variable), depending on your credit score. Other cash back cards will give you an introductory "no interest period," usually the first six to 21 months, during which you won't pay interest on credit card balances.
Suggested credit score
The Bread Cashback™ Card is aimed at consumers with a good to excellent credit score, or a FICO® Score of 670 to 850. That said, applicants with a score in this range are not always accepted, nor are applicants outside of that range necessarily excluded. The issuer will look at numerous factors in the underwriting process, such as how many credit cards you've applied for recently, to decide if you're a good fit.
The Bread Cashback™ Card is right for you if:
The Bread Cashback™ Card is about as simple as a cash back card can get: no annual fee, unlimited 2% back on purchases when you use your Card, and no complicated earning tiers or points systems. The Card may be a fit for you if you identify with one or more of the following:
- You don't want to pay an annual fee.
- You're a first-time cash back credit card user and would like to start with a straightforward rewards program.
- You don't want to worry about which card you should use for which purchase; rather, you want a "jack-of-all-trades" card that earns the same no matter where you shop.
Our credit card methodology
At The Motley Fool Ascent, we rate credit cards on a five-star scale (1 = poor, 5 = best). Our rating criteria includes rewards rates, welcome bonuses, fees, and perks like travel credits and 0% intro APR offers to evaluate our ratings.
We combine these factors with an evaluation of brand reputation and customer satisfaction to ensure you're getting the best card recommendations. Learn more about how The Ascent rates credit cards.
Our Credit Cards Expert
Steven is a personal finance writer covering topics from mortgages to credit cards to market news. He has written for The Motley Fool Canada, Ramsey Solutions, Nerdwallet, Clever Real Estate, and other major outlets. Steven launched his writing career at the age of four with his first book, "Revenge of the Bad Guys." He currently lives in Portland, Oregon.
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We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent, a Motley Fool service, does not cover all offers on the market. The Ascent has a dedicated team of editors and analysts focused on personal finance, and they follow the same set of publishing standards and editorial integrity while maintaining professional separation from the analysts and editors on other Motley Fool brands.
John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Discover Financial Services is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. JPMorgan Chase is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. American Express is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amazon, JPMorgan Chase, and Target. The Motley Fool recommends Discover Financial Services. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The Motley Fool recommends Amex.