The RBC Cash Back Mastercard is a no-annual-fee cash back card focused on everyday spending, especially groceries. It offers 2% cash back on eligible grocery purchases up to a yearly cap before dropping to 1% for additional grocery spend, while all other eligible purchases earn between 0.5% and 1% depending on how much you charge during the year. Cash back accumulates automatically and can be redeemed once you reach $25 or allowed to credit automatically each January. Standard interest rates of 19.99% on purchases and 22.99% on cash advances apply, and the card includes purchase security, extended warranty and partner perks, such as fuel savings and bonus points at Petro-Canada and Rexall. For Canadians seeking a clean, low-maintenance way to earn cash back without fees, it offers a compelling mix of simplicity and value.
Main Advantages
- No annual fee: You pay $0 per year for both the primary and additional cards, so every dollar of cash back you earn is net gain.
- Strong grocery earn rate: Earning 2% cash back on grocery purchases up to the annual cap is competitive among no-fee Canadian cash back cards and suits most households.
- Tiered rewards on other purchases: The 0.5%–1% structure on all other eligible purchases ensures that even non-grocery spending contributes to your yearly cash back total.
- Flexible, automatic cash back redemption: Rewards accumulate automatically and can be redeemed once you hit $25 or left to credit once a year, making the program easy to manage.
- Useful partner and protection benefits: Fuel savings and extra points at partner merchants, plus purchase and extended warranty protection, add practical value beyond the raw earn rate.
Main Disadvantages
- Category caps and tier thresholds: The higher 2% and 0.5% rates are subject to annual spending caps; after those thresholds, your earnings shift, which can be confusing if you don’t track them.
- Modest earn rate outside groceries: Even with the step-up to 1%, the earn rate on non-grocery spending is relatively modest compared with some fee-based or category-focused cash back cards.
- Standard interest rates and foreign transaction fee: With purchase and cash advance rates typical of many Canadian cards and a standard foreign transaction fee, this product is not ideal for carrying balances or heavy foreign-currency spending.
- Limited insurance suite: While purchase security and extended warranty coverage are useful, you do not get broader travel insurance benefits, so frequent travellers may want a separate travel card.
- Value depends on disciplined use: The card works best for people who pay their statement in full each month; if you regularly carry a balance, interest charges can quickly outweigh any cash back you earn.
Step-by-Step Application Guide
- Confirm that the card fits your spending: Review your recent statements and estimate your annual grocery and everyday spending. Make sure the earn structure aligns with how you use your card.
- Check basic eligibility and credit profile: Ensure you meet RBC’s general credit approval standards, including residency, age of majority in your province or territory and a solid credit history with manageable existing debt.
- Review the current welcome offer and terms: Visit RBC’s RBC Cash Back Mastercard page and read the latest promotional details, including any temporary boosted cash back rates, as well as the standard cardholder agreement, interest rates and fee schedule.
- Gather your personal and financial information: Prepare your contact information, address history, employment details, gross annual income and housing costs. Decide whether you wish to add authorized users at the time of application.
- Submit your application online or in branch: Complete the online form carefully, or apply by phone or in person at an RBC branch. You will need to consent to a credit check as part of the approval process.
- Activate your card and set up digital access: If approved, your card will arrive by mail. Activate it via online banking, the RBC mobile app or by phone. Then set up online access, mobile alerts and any spending controls you find helpful.
- Link partner programs and start using the card: Connect your card with Petro-Canada and relevant loyalty programs (such as Be Well at Rexall) to unlock extra rewards and savings, then start directing your grocery and everyday spending through the card to build cash back.
The RBC Cash Back Mastercard is not a flashy premium product, but that’s precisely its appeal. It delivers what many Canadians genuinely need: a dependable, no-annual-fee card that rewards the purchases you make most often, with simple mechanics and useful extras. If your budget is dominated by groceries, recurring bills and everyday in-store or online purchases—and you’re committed to paying your balance in full each month—this card can quietly generate a meaningful annual rebate without requiring you to overhaul your spending habits.
Take a moment to run the numbers. Estimate your yearly grocery spend, layer in your typical non-grocery credit card spending and apply the card’s earn rates to see what your potential cash back could look like. Consider how that yearly rebate might support your financial goals, whether it’s offsetting a spike in grocery prices, helping with back-to-school expenses or simply easing the strain of a heavier month.
If the calculation makes sense and you like the idea of pairing a $0 annual fee with ongoing rewards and partner perks, the next step is straightforward: apply for the RBC Cash Back Mastercard and integrate it into your day-to-day financial routine. Used responsibly, it can become a reliable backbone of your wallet, converting the spending you already do into a steady stream of cash back that works for your Canadian lifestyle.
