What Are Some Examples of Common Credit Card Reward Program Benefits?

What Are Credit Card Reward Programs?

There are almost as many different rewards programs are there are credit cards. Rewards programs may offer cash back on purchases, tangible services like airline miles, no interest as an introductory period or low interest, or discounts and special rates on travel and travel amenities. Some credit card reward programs combine these and other benefits.

When shopping for rewards programs, consider your own purchasing habits—if you don't travel much, a reward program that offers airline miles probably won't be too useful. If you do a lot of online shopping, a card that offers deep retail discounts may be more useful than one that offers discounted gasoline.

Keep in mind that deciding between credit card offers should rarely be based on rewards programs alone—consider the card's annual percentage yield (APY), fees, and other terms and conditions carefully before signing up for any card.

Understanding Credit Card Rewards Programs

Air Travel Miles

Many credit cards partner with specific airlines and offer more generous air travel miles if you fly with them. There are many airline cards to choose from, such as the American Express Gold Delta SkyMiles card or the Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Mastercard. Some credit cards, such as Chase Sapphire Preferred, allow consumers to earn points that can be applied against travel-related purchases, such as lodging or car rentals.

Cash Back on Purchases and Payments

Different cards offer different amounts of cash back for purchases or payments. The Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express offers 6% back on groceries up to $6,000 dollars each year and an unlimited 3% cash back on gas. The Citi Double Cash Card offers 1% cash back when purchases are charged to the card and an additional 1% cash back when those purchases are paid off.

Introductory Rate Period: Purchases and Transfers

Many credit cards offer a low introductory interest rate, often 0%. Cards vary as to whether they charge a different rate on balance transfers and whether balance transfers are covered by introductory rates. The Discover it card has a 14-month introductory rate of 0% on balance transfers and purchases.

Discounts or Gift Cards

The Amazon.com Visa Card from Chase offers a promotion that gives a $50 Amazon gift card upon being accepted to the program; 3% cash back on Amazon.com purchases; 2% on purchases at gas stations, restaurants, and drugstores; and 1% on other purchases. The My Best Buy credit card offers 5% back on Best Buy purchases and 10% back on the first day of purchases within 14 days of opening the account.

Insurance on Rental Cars and Card Balances

Many, but not all, credit cards offer insurance on rented cars if that card is used to book the rental. It is also necessary to waive the insurance offered by the rental car company. There are some cards, even offered in the same network, that offer varying levels of insurance. It is always advisable to call an individual company and make sure that the card offers insurance before renting a car.

Many credit cards offer other insurance that makes payments on behalf of the cardholder in the event they are unable to make payments because of loss of income. There have been judicial actions by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFBP) for unethical practices in the sales and distribution of these insurance policies, including multimillion-dollar fines levied against Discover and Capital One.

The Bottom Line

Credit cards with rewards programs can be a good way to save on expenses—but only if the cards are used wisely. Find a card with a rewards program that best matches your spending habits and avoid carrying a balance so you don't erase your savings with expensive interest charges. For example, if you have a card that offers 3% cash back on purchases at grocery stores, using that card allows you to effectively save 3% on grocery expenses as long as you pay the balance each month. Other common types of rewards cards provide cash back, points, or miles for spending on travel, dining out, fuel, and more.