Best Credit Cards for Ringing in the New Year

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New Year’s Eve spells the end of the modern holiday season, but that doesn’t mean the fun has to stop. Entertaining and dining are critical aspects of ringing in the new year, so make sure your wallet (either physical or mobile wallet) is holding one of these top credit cards for entertaining and ringing in the New Year:

At a Glance


Citi Custom Cash℠ Card
Earn 5% cash back on purchases in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to the first $500 spent, 1% cash back thereafter.

The Platinum Card® from American Express
Earn 5X Membership Rewards points on flights booked directly with airlines of Amex Travel, 5X on prepaid hotels booked thorugh AmexTravel.com, and 1X on all other purchases Learn More

Savor Cash Rewards Card
Earn unlimited 4% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and at grocery stores. Learn More

U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card
Earn 5% cash back on your first $2,000 in combined eligible purchases each quarter on two categories you choose Learn More

Citi Custom Cash℠ Card

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Earn 5% Back On Your Top Spending Category
  • Earn 5% cash back on purchases in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to the first $500 spent, 1% cash back thereafter
  • Earn $200 in cash back after you spend $750 on purchases in the first 3 months of account opening
☆ 5% Categories Include Gas, Streaming, Groceries, Travel, & More!
☆ 0% Intro APR for 15 Months
☆ No Annual Fee

The Citi Custom Cash℠ Card is a generous, no annual fee cash back credit card that offers up to 5% back on eligible purchases. Unlike other 5% rotating cards (like the Discover It and Chase Freedom Flex), the Custom Cash earns 5% back on your highest spending category each billing period.

The 5% back in rewards applies to the first $500 spent every billing period. Any eligible purchases after that threshold will earn 1% back. Here are the 5% back categories:

Dining Fitness clubs Grocery stores
Drugstores Gas stations Home improvement stores
Travel & transit (select) Live entertainment Streaming service (select)

Other noteworthy features of the Custom Cash credit card from Citi include 15 months of 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers and a $200 cash back welcome bonus after making $750 in purchases within the first three months.

If you are looking for a cash back credit card to power you through this New Year, look no further than Custom Cash. 

The Platinum Card® from American Express

the platinum card from american express 224x141
Get Over $1,500 in Value
  • 1X Points on all other purchases
  • 4X Points at U.S. supermarkets
☆ $200 Uber Cash
☆ $1,500 in statement credits
☆ Global Lounge access
☆ $695 Annual Fee

The Platinum Card from American Express might not be the first name that comes to mind for entertaining, but it should rank high on the list. While the card is primarily a luxury travel card thanks to lounge access, impressive points on flights and hotels, and more, it is also an excellent entertainment card thanks to a huge selection of statement credits added this year.

Those credits run the gamut from travel to entertainment and include:

  • Streaming and Digital Entertainment Credit: Up to $20 back each month as a credit when using the Platinum Card to pay the subscription fee for Audible, New York Times, Peacock, or SiriusXM subscription costs.
  • Equinox Credit: Platinum Cardholders receive a $25 credit each month towards Equinox membership and services. Equinox is an upscale private gym with locations in major cities across the U.S.
  • Hotel Credit: Up to $200 per year for select prepaid hotel bookings made through Amex Travel.
  • Airline Incidentals Credit: Up to $200 per year for incidental purchases with a preselected carrier.
  • Walmart+: A $12.95 statement credit each month when using the Platinum Card to purchase a Walmart+ subscription.
  • SoulCycle: Up to $300 in statement credits when purchasing a SoulCycle bike with the Platinum Card (up to 15 bikes per year).
  • Uber: Up to $200 in credits when using the Platinum Card for Uber/ UberEATS purchases. Applies to the primary account holder only.

Keep in mind that the Platinum Card from Amex features a new $695 annual fee. That fee is by far the largest of any card by a major issuer, trailing only invite-only cards or ultra-luxury credit cards like the Mastercard® Gold Card™ from Luxury Card.

Capital One® Savor® Cash Rewards Card

savor 224x141
Cash Back On Dining & Entertainment
  • 4% cash back on dining, entertainment, and popular streaming service
  • 3% cash back at grocery stores
☆ New Cardmember Bonus Cash
☆ Capital One Dining Access
☆ No Foreign Transaction Fee
☆ $95 Annual Fee

The Capital One® Savor® Cash Rewards Card is consistently one of the best entertainment credit cards on the market today. The $95 annual fee card earns an impressive 4% cash back on dining and entertainment, 2% back at grocery stores, and 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases.

The Savor also comes with complementary Postmates food delivery. This entertainment benefit offers $99 in value, effectively recouping the $95 annual fee – and earning 4% back on each order!

Other features of the Savor Cash Rewards Card include:

  • $300 cash back sign-up bonus after making $3,000 in eligible purchases within the first three months of account opening
  • Rewards never expire if the account is open and in good standing
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • World Mastercard benefits and protections

U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card

U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa Signature
Earn Up to 5% Cash Back
  • 5% cash back on your first $2,000 in combined eligible purchases each quarter on two categories you choose
  • 2% cash back on one everyday category, like Gas Stations/EV Charging Stations, Grocery Stores or Restaurants
☆ Pay over time with U.S. Bank ExtendPay
☆Visa protections
☆ No annual fee

The U.S. Bank Cash+™ Visa Signature® Card gives cardholders the power to decide how they earn their cash back.

The card is similar to the Citi Custom Cash in that it offers cardholders up to 5% back on the first $2,000 in combined eligible purchases in the following categories:

TV, internet, and streaming services Cell phone providers Electronics stores
Fast food Home utilities Furniture stores
Department stores Clothing stores Movie theaters
Ground transportation Fitness centers Sporting goods stores

Other noteworthy features of the Cash+ Card from U.S. Bank include:

  • No annual fee
  • 0% intro APR for 15 billing cycles on purchases and balance transfers
  • $200 cash back sign-up bonus after spending $1,000 in eligible purchases within the first 120 days of account opening

Other Options to Consider

Featured photo by Afishera/ PixaBay

About: Cory
Cory Santos

Cory is BestCards.com's "Jack of all trades" and resident credit expert, covering all facets of the credit card space. Cory holds academic degrees in both the U.S. and U.K. In addition to credit cards, Cory finds that jogging, cats, and memes are essential parts of a balanced day.

Advertiser Disclosure

BestCards is an independent, Florida-based credit card comparison platform. Many of the card offers that appear on this site are from companies from which BestCards receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). BestCards does not include all card companies or all card offers available in the marketplace.

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