A journalist for nearly 20 years, Brooklyn has published work on a broad range of topics including personal finance and business as well as travel and human interest pieces. As a finance expert, she has provided commentary on credit cards, card rewards and personal finance for outlets including Forbes, Fox Business and many others. Her own wanderlust and travel experiences led to her interest in maximizing credit card rewards and benefits and motivate her to provide easy-to-understand advice and resources designed to help everyday people best match their credit cards to their lifestyle, finances and goals.
Jennifer Doss is a credit card analyst and the executive editor of CardRatings.com. She has worked as both a print and online journalist and has over a decade of experience in the media industry. Her published work has covered a broad range of topics, from finance and technology to travel and dining. Through extensive travel experiences and her personal interest in food, she has come to appreciate the unique rewards and benefits of responsible credit card use, and enjoys helping people understand the ins and outs of the industry. As a finance expert, she strives to provide user-friendly online resources that help everyday people get the most out of their credit cards.
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Why you should trust CardRatings
Terms apply; see the online credit card application for full terms and conditions of offers and rewards.
If you’re new to the world of credit card rewards programs, it can all be a bit overwhelming. We understand and we’re here to help.
Cash back is the simplest type of rewards program available. Simply put, you earn a rebate, or cash back, on each eligible purchase you make. You can earn as little as 1% back or much, much more on each purchase, depending on the card you use. This cash back is often applied as a statement credit on your account. But in some cases, it can be deposited into your bank account, redeemed in the form of a gift card or to pay for merchandise, or even converted into travel rewards.
So, what is the best cash back credit card for beginners? Beyond the actual cash back rate, there are several factors to consider. That’s why our editors have researched the cards on the market and compiled a list of cash back credit card options for beginners. Keep in mind, some of these cards are designed for people who are brand new to credit and have a limited or non-existant credit history, while others will work for people who have an excellent credit history, but just not one that involves a rewards credit card. Make sure you know where your credit score falls before applying.
A journalist for nearly 20 years, Brooklyn has published work on a broad range of topics including personal finance and business as well as travel and human interest pieces. As a finance expert, she has provided commentary on credit cards, card rewards and personal finance...Read more
The information in this article is believed to be accurate as of the date it was written. Please keep in mind that credit card offers change frequently. Therefore, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information in this article. Reasonable efforts are made to maintain accurate information. See the online credit card application for full terms and conditions on offers and rewards. Please verify all terms and conditions of any credit card prior to applying.
This content is not provided by any company mentioned in this article. Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed here are those of the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any such company. CardRatings.com does not review every company or every offer available on the market.
About Our Ratings
Our editors rate credit cards objectively based on the features the credit card offers consumers, the fees and interest rates, and how a credit card compares with other cards in its category. Ratings vary by category, and the same card may receive a certain number of stars in one category and a higher or lower number in another.
The ratings are the expert opinion of our editors, and not influenced by any remuneration this site may receive from card issuers.
Advertisers in our database are highlighted, and advertisements include an option to apply using links on our site. CardRatings.com may be compensated by companies mentioned on the site when a user's application is accepted or approved by such companies.
Why you should trust CardRatings.com
At CardRatings.com we provide the most up-to-date news and trends within the credit card space. Since we first pioneered the concept of online credit card reviews in 1998, our team of financial experts has provided comprehensive and unbiased credit card reviews for more than 175 cards to help everyday cardholders feel more confident about their card choices. All our content is written and reviewed by industry experts. Though our content may occasionally contain references to products from our partners, we maintain strict editorial integrity and advertiser relationships and compensation never influences ratings, reviews or featured products. The difference between editorial content and advertising must always be clearly stated. Learn more.
