5 Things to Know About the RBC Cash Back Mastercard
Nerdy Verdict
People looking for a first credit card, especially newcomers to Canada. Students and those with limited credit history may also benefit.
Not ideal for:
Those looking to maximize cash back earn rates on their purchases, especially if they don’t buy a lot of groceries.
Why we like it:
It’s a good first-time credit card with a low barrier to entry and decent rewards. If paired with the RBC Newcomer Advantage bundle, it’s an excellent starter card for those new to Canada.
The RBC Cash Back Mastercard is an accessible cash back credit card with no annual fee. While its earn rates can be a little bit confusing and a bit lower than what some other cards can promise, it’s a strong first credit card option, especially for newcomers to Canada.
It can also be rewarding for those who spend a long time at the pump with 3¢ per litre discount at Petro Canada.
However, if you research some of the benefits of this card, you will inevitably find some places where other no-fee cards can come out ahead. You may also find that there are ways to get even more value out of the welcome bonus as well.
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Cash back on grocery store purchases¹.
Cash back on all your other everyday purchases¹.
This straightforward cash-back card keeps it simple with 2% back on groceries and a flat 1% back on everything else. As long as you aren’t seeking boosted rates across multiple spending categories, this no-fee card could fit the bill. Best for: Budget-conscious Canadians who want no-fuss cash-back rewards on groceries.
Pros
- No annual fee.
- Get 3 cents off per litre of Petro-Canada fuel.
Cons
- No travel insurance.
- 2% cash-back category only applies to the first $6,000 spent per year.
- Earn Unlimited Cash Back on Your Purchases² – Earn up to 2% cash back on grocery store purchases¹ and up to 1% cash back on all your other everyday purchases¹.
- Unlock Exclusive Deals and Benefits – Access offers from over 2,000 top brands, plus get even more points and savings from our partners such as Petro-Canada, Rexall, Metro and DoorDash.
- No Annual Fee.
- Link your RBC card with a Petro-Points membership and instantly save on fuel at Petro-Canada stations and earn 20% more Petro-Points.³
- Add your credit card to your DoorDash account and get a 6-month complimentary DashPass subscription⁵
- Enjoy unlimited deliveries with $0 delivery fees on orders of $15 or more when you pay with your eligible RBC credit card.
- Corresponding legal references and product terms are available on the RBC website, which will be available and agreed upon in the customer onboarding process.
1. The earn rates change on October 1, 2026
Purchase category | Through September 30 | Starting October 1 |
|---|---|---|
Groceries | 2% on the first $6,000 annually, then 1% | 2% with no spending threshold |
Gas, EV charging, transit and rideshare | 0.5% on the first $6,000 in non-grocery purchases, then 1% | 1% with no spending threshold |
Everything else | 0.5% on the first $6,000 in non-grocery purchases, then 1% | 0.5% with no spending threshold |
Currently, the cash back rates on this card are a bit tricky to explain because of the $6,000 annual spending thresholds. In some cases, you’ll earn less cash back if you exceed the cap, and in others, you’ll actually earn more.
The starting rate of 2% cash back on groceries drops to 1% after exceeding $6,000 in spending per year.
Conversely, the normal rate of 0.5% cash back on everything else rises to 1% once you cross the $6,000 threshold on non-grocery spending.
Heads up: I’ve seen enough people pull this card out of their wallet at the Costco checkout, but Costco does not count as a grocery store and will only earn 0.5% back.
Changes coming: On October 1, 2026, the spending cap will be eliminated and a new 1% bonus category for gas, EV charging, transit and ridesharing will be added. This will make the card better as a whole, except for those who would spend enough to exceed $6,000 in annual spend on non-bonus categories.
2. You can link up your Petro-Canada and Rexall accounts for a nice bonus
All personal RBC cards can be linked to your Petro-Points account for savings at the pump and a nice bonus for your rewards points.
Save 3¢ per litre whenever you fill up at Petro Canada.
Earn 20% more Petro-Points on eligible Petro Canada purchases.
If you shop at Rexall and have a Be Well account, you can also earn 50 Be Well points per $1 spent. That means you’ll get 2¢ back in value per dollar spent based on Rexall’s redemption guidelines.
3. The card is within reach of most people with no credit history requirements
The low barriers to entry make this a good card for newcomers to Canada, chiefly because:
No credit history required for newcomers to Canada
It does not have published income requirements.
It has no annual fee.
This also is a strong option for a first student credit card for the same reason.
4. Different welcome bonuses depending on where you sign up
This card has a welcome offer that offers an additional 5% cash back in the first 3 months on your first $1,000 in eligible purchases. Because it’s in addition to your regular earn rate, you can earn 5.5% to 7% back in total.
Helpful tip for those who want to save money on gas: because RBC is partnered with Petro Canada, those who sign up through their shared link can get an additional 25,000 Petro-Points. This is worth $25.
The biggest bonus comes for newcomers to Canada, who can take advantage of the RBC Newcomer Advantage bundle. This offer includes:
A chequing account with free eTransfers
Boosted interest rates for 3 months when opening an RBC High Interest Savings Account
No RBC fees to use other banks’ ATMs in Canada
An RBC Cash Back Mastercard with an additional 10% in cash back for the first 3 months and up to a $15,000 credit limit
Three important caveats on eligibility:
Permanent residents or international students that arrived in Canada in the last 12 months are eligible.
Temporary workers who arrived within the last 48 months are also eligible.
You must apply in a physical RBC Branch.
For newcomers, getting an increased welcome bonus is a major green flag here, and that isn’t even counting all of the other banking benefits.
5. Cash-back redemptions become much more flexible in December
Redemptions will get even more flexible starting on December 2, 2026. Cash back can be redeemed at any time so long as you have $1 in rewards. Automatic redemptions will also no longer be offered. You’ll also be able to redeem your cash back online.
Here’s a comparison with some other popular no fee cash back cards so you can find the option that fits you best:
Card | Minimum | How you get it |
|---|---|---|
Tangerine Money-Back Mastercard | N/A — automatic | Deposited automatically with each statement to your savings account or as a statement credit |
BMO Cash Back Mastercard | $1 | Deposited to your bank account or as a statement credit |
CIBC Dividend Visa | $10 | Statement credit |
RBC Cash Back Mastercard (through December 1, 2026) | $25 | Statement credit |
RBC Cash Back Mastercard (starting December 2, 2026) | $1 | Statement credit |
Home Trust Preferred Visa | N/A — automatic | Paid annually in January as a statement credit |
Cash back can easily be redeemed by calling the number on the back of the card. With a minimum of $25 ($1 starting on December 2), you can redeem your cash back balance as a statement credit, which will be paid out within 5 business days.
When another card may fit better
The RBC Cash Back Mastercard is your typical no-fee cash back card. If you want something a little more jazzy, here are a few more options:
Choose the RBC Cash Back Preferred World Elite Mastercard if you want a higher cash back rate and some other perks like insurance protection. Note that there is a $99 annual fee that will jump to $120 on October 1, 2026.
Choose the RBC ION Visa if you want to earn more on Petro Canada gas while still avoiding the annual fee. With this card you’ll earn 20% more Avion points at the pump. Combined with everything else, this comes to a total savings of around 7¢ per litre.
Choose the Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card if you want more flexible cash back. You can earn 2% in up to 3 categories of your choice, meaning if you don’t buy much at the grocery store or the gas pump, you can get even better value.
Conclusion
The RBC Cash Back Mastercard isn’t really a superstar card that will earn you a ton of rewards or give you blanket insurance coverage on your trips. Rather, it’s a card that costs nothing, doesn’t judge you on your credit history, and doesn’t have any hard income requirements listed.
With responsible spending that’s paid off in full at the end of each statement period, it makes for an excellent first card to build your credit score.
Speaking of which, newcomers with no credit history can be approved with a higher credit limit of $15,000, which makes it a practical starting point for those who recently arrived or are just getting their first card.
Of course, it’s best to check the offers before applying as there are three versions of the welcome offer on separate pages. It’s the same card each time, but it’s always good snagging a little extra value if you’re eligible.
Nerdy Verdict
Best for:
People looking for a first credit card, especially newcomers to Canada. Students and those with limited credit history may also benefit.
Not ideal for:
Those looking to maximize cash back earn rates on their purchases, especially if they don’t buy a lot of groceries.
Why we like it:
It’s a good first-time credit card with a low barrier to entry and decent rewards. If paired with the RBC Newcomer Advantage bundle, it’s an excellent starter card for those new to Canada.
DIVE EVEN DEEPER
Barry Choi
Athena Cocoves