Editorial Review
In an exciting move, Ally Bank has introduced its very first credit card: the Ally CashBack Credit Card. This new rewards-earner offers a simple cash rewards structure with no annual fee. But how does it stack up against other cash back credit cards? We put it to the test in this Ally CashBack credit card review.
Before establishing their inaugural credit card, Ally Bank conducted a series of surveys to find out exactly what the market sought. Their findings?
Of credit card-users surveyed, 58% said they preferred a cash back option over travel rewards, gift cards, or even introductory interest rates. On top of that, 80% of respondents said that if rewards were earned, they would prefer to hold various financial products — such as loans, checking/savings accounts, and credit cards — with the same bank, rather than spread them out.
Ally took this information and created the Ally CashBack, which I expect to hold its own among other cash back offers out there. Here is a bit more about the card:
The Ally Cash Back Card Rewards
In an attempt to be beneficial to all cardholders, Ally eliminated rotating categories and gave its highest cash back rate (2%) to the categories that apply to pretty much everyone: gas and groceries.
While there are cards that offer higher percentages for either category, they are often rotating (such as 5% back with Discover it and Chase Freedom Flex during those promotional quarters). The exception would be my personal favorite, the American Express Blue Cash Preferred — which offers up to 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets and 3% at U.S. gas stations — though that card also includes an annual fee.
For all purchases not involving gas or groceries, the Ally CashBack card gives 1% back. There is no limit on rewards, and they do not expire as long as your account is in good standing.
Bonus — If you’re a customer with the bank, you’ll receive an additional 10% cash back when you deposit your rewards into an Ally non-IRA Online Savings, Interest Checking, or Money Market account. This convenience factor is similar to Fidelity’s Rewards Visa Signature® cash back card, though that one does not offer a bonus for redeeming into existing accounts, as you’ll get from Ally.
You can visit the Ally CashBack site to explore their cash back calculator. Enter your monthly spending on gas, groceries, and everything else, and it will tell you not only your annual rewards, but the potential bonus cash back for depositing in an Ally account.
APR, Annual Fee, and Sign-up Bonus
In the quest to be as competitive as possible, Ally is also offering introductory APR for balance transfers: 0% for 12 months. There is no introductory rate for purchases and the standard APR is 13.24-23.24%, depending on creditworthiness.
The card comes with no annual fee, making its competitive edge just a bit sharper. Also, for a limited time, you will receive an initial spending bonus of $100 when you make $500 in purchases over the first 3 months of holding the card.
The Drawbacks
No card is perfect, and the Ally CashBack is no different. While it offers a 0% balance transfer APR for 12 months, it does not have a 0% purchase APR.
Its 2% cash back on groceries and gas is a solid offering, though other cards may offer more at times. For example, Chase Freedom Flex and Discover it® with CashBack Match™ both offer 5% back on both gas and groceries — the caveat being that those are rotating, quarterly categories (so, you don’t get that rate year round). For some, the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express may be the best option, with 3% back all year at U.S. supermarkets and 2% all year at U.S. gas stations (all other categories get 1% back).
Whether the Ally CashBack is the card for you depends on where you spend your money, but it’s certainly worthy of consideration.
In Summary
There are cards out there that offer a higher percentage of cash back, though only a few of them have no annual fee. While this is Ally’s first foray into the credit card realm, they are off to a strong start with the Ally CashBack, offering:
- 2% cash back on gas and groceries
- 1% cash back on all other purchases
- 10% cash back bonus for redeeming into certain Ally accounts
- Introductory 0% APR for 12 months on balance transfers
- $100 initial bonus for making $500 in purchases in your first 3 months
- No annual fee
- Benefits such as 24/7 customer service and online/mobile account access
It will be interesting to see how the new Ally card competes in the cash back arena, but my gut tells me it will be a strong contender right out of the gate.