Credit cards come with many perks. Not only do they give access to a credit line you can use to securely pay for goods; but they also earn rewards—be they in the form of store points, discounts, gift cards, vouchers, air miles, or payment cashback.
The focus of this guide is, of course, the latter—specifically, finding the best cashback credit card in the Philippines that matches your shopping habits. We’ll cover all the essentials, such as how to choose the right card for you and how to maximize your chosen card.
Get started by learning the basics of how a cashback credit card works.
A cashback credit card offers the features and functionalities of a regular credit card—but with the added benefit of earning back a percentage of the amount you spend on every eligible purchase you make using your card.
Unlike rewards credit cards, which allow you to earn points you can use to redeem prizes, cashback credit cards let you save on specific purchases. Typically, you can access your cashback rewards at the end of the billing cycle.
This type of credit card is perfect if you’re a budget-savvy cardholder looking to save money on big purchases.[1]
You might have seen banks use both the terms “cashback” and “rebate.” They practically mean the same thing. Cashback and rebate just have different mechanics for getting the money back.
Cashback is more straightforward. You earn back a portion of the amount you spend on eligible purchases. For example, if you make a purchase worth ₱5,000 and your credit card has a cashback rate of 5%, your bank will deduct ₱250 from your balance in the next billing cycle. The more you spend on any eligible category, the more you save with your cashback credit card.
Rebate is a bit more complicated. Instead of deducting the amount from your total balance in the next cycle, the rebated amount will be stored on your credit card account. This means you can collect rebates and request one before your next billing cycle. However, take note that some banks impose a limit on how much rebate can be redeemed in a given cycle.
Essentially, cashback and rebate have the same purpose: to give back a portion of what you spend, ultimately saving money with every purchase.
Find out which is the best cashback credit card that fits your shopping needs:
If you’re in the market for the best cashback credit card in the Philippines, the best place to start is with UnionBank Cash Back Visa Platinum.
Use this credit card for your next grocery run to earn up to 6% cashback on supermarket spend. Plus, if you manage your bills with a smartphone, you can earn up to 2% cashback when you pay your Meralco bills online.
The cherry on top? You get full access to UnionBank credit card promos all year round![2]
No, you don’t have to own a Toyota car to enjoy the perks of the Metrobank Toyota Mastercard®. Still, you can fully maximize this cashback credit card if you do.
Using this card, any car owner can get a 3% rebate on all fuel spend at participating Petron stations. Toyota car owners have a leg up, as they also get to enjoy discounts of up to 10% off on any eligible spend at Toyota dealerships nationwide.[3]
If you already have a credit card and are looking for a second one, go for the HSBC Gold Visa Cash Back, arguably one of the best credit cards for cashback out there.
Love eating out? This credit card will earn you 5% cashback for every dining spend.
You also earn 3% cashback on your fuel spend at any participating Caltex station. Moreover, for every other spend, you get 0.50% cashback, which can save you a small fortune when paying for big-ticket items.[4]
Want more credit card cashback with your Security Bank card? Then step it up a notch with the Security Bank Complete Cashback Platinum Mastercard.
This credit card comes with so much cashback for all essential spend categories, so if you have a higher income, consider getting this credit card and enjoy more cashback with every swipe![7]
Another contender for the best cashback credit card in the Philippines is the BPI Amore Cashback Card. For every minimum spend of ₱1,000, you get 4% cashback on your supermarket purchases, 1% cashback on every spend related to health and wellness, and 0.30% cashback on every other local spend.
Also, if you love hanging out at Ayala malls, this credit card provides access to the customer and family lounges of participating malls![8]
Did you know that there’s an upgraded version of the BPI Amore Cashback Card for cardholders with higher income? If you can afford it, you should definitely consider the BPI Amore Platinum Cashback Card. It comes with a 4% cashback on dining and online food delivery spend.
It also comes with special perks you can redeem at Ayala malls nationwide. Aside from free access to customer lounges, you can get 5% off on movie tickets and complimentary parking tickets.[9]
Looking for the best cashback credit cards before your next grocery run? Consider getting the Metrobank Cashback Visa.
Not only does it have a low income requirement for carded applicants—it also comes with a sizable rebate rate of 5% when paying for groceries, phone bills, school items, and bookstore purchases. Plus, you can get access to Metrobank credit card promos to earn more discounts on dining, shopping, and all other spend categories.[10]
Still trying to figure out what the best cashback credit card in the Philippines is for your needs? Follow these tips to make an informed decision:
Redeeming the cashback rewards you’ve earned by using your cashback credit card will vary on your bank’s cashback redemption process. Here’s how you can redeem yours per provider:
For any cashback earned through your UnionBank credit card, you can redeem a minimum of ₱1 worth of cashback in ₱1 increments through the UnionBank online app. Once redeemed, the cashback rewards will be credited to your account in the next billing cycle.
However, take note that you can only earn a maximum of ₱1,250 per billing cycle. Any cashback you earn beyond that amount will be credited in the next cycle.
For Metrobank credit cardholders, you can only redeem cashback rewards of up to ₱1,000 per billing cycle and in increments of ₱1,000. The only way to redeem cashback is to call the Metrobank Customer Service Hotline at 8870-0700.
Upon redemption, your cashback rewards will be credited to the succeeding statement account.
Any cashback earned by your HSBC credit card will be credited to your account by the fourth week of the succeeding calendar month. For instance, if you earned some cashback from March 1 to 31, the money will be credited to your account by the fourth week of April.
No need to do anything to redeem your cashback. Just note you can only earn ₱1,200 worth of cashback per calendar month.
There’s no need to do anything to redeem the cashback earned through your Security Bank credit card. It will be credited automatically to your credit account in your current billing cycle. Here are the limits for Security Bank’s cashback credit cards:
BPI Amore Cashback has an annual cashback limit of ₱15,000. Any cashback earned beyond the limit will be credited to the next calendar year. You can only redeem cashback rewards in increments of ₱500. Here’s how to redeem your cashback:
Found the best cashback credit card in the Philippines that perfectly suits your needs? If yes, here’s how you can maximize the use of that card:
Hopefully, this guide helped you find the best cashback credit card in the Philippines that will yield the most rewards. With the amount of options you have, there’s surely at least one that will fit your budget and spending needs.
Do your research and compare all possible credit card options so that you can make an informed decision that will benefit you in the long run.
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