Santander Ultimate Cash Back Card Review 2024 – Forbes Advisor – Technologist

Santander® Ultimate Cash Back® Card* vs. Citi Double Cash® Card

If you’re looking for a streamlined rewards card, the flat-rate Citi Double Cash® Card could be ideal. This card will reward you 2% cash back on all purchases—1% when purchases are made and another 1% when they’re paid off. You can also earn a welcome bonus of $200 cash back after spending $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening, fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points.

Most cardholders who receive the welcome bonus will earn more using the Double Cash than the Santander® Ultimate Cash Back® Card*’s 3% introductory cash back offer. And the Citi card continues to earn 2% on purchases after the first year. The introductory APR on the Double Cash is also longer at 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months. After that, the standard variable APR will be 19.24% – 29.24%, based on creditworthiness. An intro balance transfer fee of either $5 or 3%, whichever is greater, applies to transfers completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, the fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5). The Citi Double Cash® Card isn’t the best option if you travel internationally since it charges foreign transaction fees.

Santander® Ultimate Cash Back® Card* vs. UMB Simply Rewards Visa*

If you’re looking to earn 3% on everyday purchase, the UMB Simply Rewards Visa* is worth considering. You’ll earn 3 points per dollar spent at gas stations, grocery stores, discount stores, restaurants and fast food locations and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases. New cardholders can earn a welcome bonus of 15,000 points after spending $1,500 in the first 90 days of account opening.

However, this card doesn’t earn higher rewards on travel, so depending on your spending, this card will likely earn less than the Santander® Ultimate Cash Back® Card* the first year, even with the welcome bonus. But it will have a much better earning potential in subsequent years. UMB also offers an introductory APR like the Santander® Ultimate Cash Back® Card*, with a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months for balances transferred within 60 days of account opening, then a standard APR of 17.24% – 25.24% variable on purchases and balance transfers applies. Balance transfer fees of 3% of the amount of the balance transfer, with a $15 minimum applies. But the UMB Simply Rewards Card falls short for international travelers, since it has a foreign transaction fee.

Santander® Ultimate Cash Back® Card* vs. Bread Cashback™ American Express® Credit Card*

If you’re looking for a card with no annual fee and no foreign transactions fees that earns 2% unlimited cash back on everyday purchases, the Bread Cashback™ American Express® Credit Card* is a solid choice. With uncapped earning potential, you could earn $786.74 in cash back each year.

This card also offers purchase protection if items are lost or stolen and dining discounts of up to 20% off or a free appetizer at participating restaurants. Note there is no introductory 0% APR and the regular APR on this card could be much higher than the other cards in this review. American Express is also not as widely accepted internationally as Visa or Mastercard, so it may be wise to carry a card from those payment networks that also charges no annual fee.