Which Cash-Back Credit Cards Offer a Good Welcome Bonus?

Cash-back credit cards aren’t known for the kind of huge bonus offers for new cardholders that you see on travel credit cards. But these promotions — sometimes called sign-up bonuses or welcome offers — can still be valuable. Bonus offers in the range of $150 to $100 have become common on cash-back cards. For cards with annual fee, the bonus offers can be even richer.

In the long run, a good rewards rate is more important than a one-time welcome offer. But if you’re looking for a new cash-back credit card with potential for a cash freebie, here are some highly rated cash-back cards with sizable new-cardholder promotions.

» MORE: NerdWallet’s best cash-back credit cards

» MORE: How to choose a cash-back credit card

Cash bonuses on cards with no annual fee

Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

• Welcome offer: Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.

• Cash-back rewards: Unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases.

• Annual fee: $0.

» MORE: Credit cards that earn 2% cash back or more on purchases

Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card

• Welcome offer: $200 online cash rewards bonus after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening..

• Cash-back rewards: 3% back on a category of your choice (chosen from a list), 2% back on grocery stores and wholesale clubs for the first $2,500 of combined bonus category/ grocery store/wholesale club spending per quarter; then 1% back on these purchases. 1% back on all other purchases.

• Annual fee: $0.

Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express

• Welcome offer: Earn a $200 statement credit after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months. Terms Apply.

• Cash-back rewards: 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 in spending per year, 3% cash back on U.S. online retail purchases on up to $6,000 in spending per year, 3% cash back on U.S. gas stations on up to $6,000 in spending per year, and 1% cash back on everything else. Terms apply (see rates and fees).

• Annual fee: $0.

Chase Freedom Flex®

• Welcome offer: Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening.

• Cash-back rewards: 5% cash back in quarterly bonus categories on up to $1,500 in combined spending each quarter (activation of bonus categories is required), 5% back on travel booked through Chase, 3% back on dining, 3% back on drugstore purchases, 1% on all other purchases. For all cardholders, through March 31, 2025, 5% back on qualifying Lyft services purchased through the Lyft app.

• Annual fee: $0.

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

• Welcome offer: Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!

• Cash-back rewards: 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase, 3% back at restaurants and drugstores, and 1.5% on all other non-bonus-category purchases.

• Annual fee: $0.

» MORE: When a 1.5% cash back credit card beats 2% cash back

Citi Custom Cash® Card

• Welcome offer: Earn $200 in cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.

• Cash-back rewards: 5% on up to $500 spent per billing cycle in your highest spend category out of 10 categories, including grocery stores, restaurants, streaming services and more. 1% cash back thereafter, and on all other purchases. Cash back is earned in the form of ThankYou® Points which can be redeemed as a direct deposit, check or a statement credit, or for gift cards, travel and Shop with Points at Amazon.com.

• Annual fee: $0.

Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card

• Welcome offer: Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus once you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening.

• Cash-back rewards: 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart and Target), plus 1% on other purchases.

• Annual fee: $0 (see rates and fees).

Cash bonuses on cards with an annual fee

Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

• Welcome offer: Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months. Terms Apply.

• Cash-back rewards: 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 in spending per year, 6% back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions, 3% back on transit including U.S. gas stations, plus 1% cash back on everything else. Terms apply (see rates and fees).

• Annual fee: $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.

» MORE: How to choose a cash-back credit card

Bonuses that vary with spending

These bonuses depend on how much you spend on the card, and some are paid out at the end of your first year. They can be among the most valuable welcome offers.

Discover it® Cash Back

• Welcome offer: INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. You could turn $150 cash back into $300.

• Cash-back rewards: 5% cash back in rotating categories that you activate (on up to $1,500 in purchases per quarter) and 1% cash back on all other purchases. Previous bonus categories have included things like restaurants, grocery stores, gas stations and more.

• Annual fee: $0.

» MORE: Best 5% cash back credit cards

Discover it® Chrome

• Welcome offer: INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a dollar-for-dollar match.

• Cash-back rewards: Earn 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter and 1% cash back on all other purchases.

• Annual fee: $0.

Small business card bonuses

Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card

• Welcome offer: Earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

• Cash-back rewards: Earn 1.5% cash back on every purchase made for your business.

• Annual fee: $0.

Ink Business Cash® Credit Card

• Welcome offer: Earn $350 when you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months and an additional $400 when you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first six months after account opening.

• Cash-back rewards: Earn 5% cash back on up to $25,000 a year in spending at office supply stores and on cable, internet and phone service, 2% cash back on up to $25,000 a year in spending at gas stations and restaurants, and 1% cash back on all other spending.

• Annual fee: $0.

» MORE: How do cash back credit cards work?