Last updated on August 28th, 2023
We all like being a little niche, whether it be fashion, vehicles, or music. After all, choosing something unique helps define you and your style – and can even help you snag a bargain if you know what you are doing. The same can be said about your credit cards. Instead of considering the usual suspects, you may be better off with a lesser-known card that will actually suit you better. Below are our picks for the top often overlooked cash back credit cards.
At a Glance
 Alliant Cashback Visa Signature |
 Upgrade Triple Cash Rewards Visa® |
 Mission Lane Cash Back Visa® |
 GM Business Card™ |
What Are the Most Overlooked Cash Back Credit Cards?
Cash back credit cards are some of the most popular out there – and it’s pretty easy to see why. However, which ones do you see most often? Chase, American Express, Capital One, Discover; it’s no surprise, as these and other banks take the lion’s share of the credit card space.
Don’t get us wrong, they all offer very good cards, but maybe they’re not the best for you. Below we’ll cover equally good cash back cards from names you may not have heard before – but trust us, they’re worth your time.
Alliant Cashback Visa Signature Credit Card
Alliant Cashback Visa Signature Credit Card
Alliant Cashback Visa Signature Credit Card
- 17.24% to 27.24% variable based on creditworthiness and the Prime Rate Regular Purchase APR
- 17.24% to 27.24% variable based on creditworthiness and the Prime Rate Balance Transfer APR
- 25.24% to 29.24% variable based on the Prime Rate Cash Advance APR
At a Glance
The Alliant Cashback Visa Signature Credit Card offers exceptional cash back rewards, premium travel perks, and no foreign transaction fees. The card also features no annual fee.
- Best Benefits
- Rates & Fees
- Why Should You Apply?
- Earn up to 2.5% cash back with no categories to keep track of
- Earn up to $250 in cash back per billing cycle
- Use this card with Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay
- No foreign transaction fees
- Regular Purchase APR: 17.24% to 27.24% variable based on creditworthiness and the Prime Rate
- Balance Transfer APR: 17.24% to 27.24% variable based on creditworthiness and the Prime Rate
- Balance Transfer Transaction Fee: 3% of the amount of each transfer
- Cash Advance APR: 25.24% to 29.24% variable based on the Prime Rate
- Cash Advance Transaction Fee: Either $10 or 3% of the amount of each cash advance, whichever is greater
- Penalty APR: 29.99% variable based on the Prime Rate
- Late Payment Penalty Fee: Up to $27
- Return Payment Penalty Fee: Up to $27
- You have excellent credit
- You plan to spend frequently with a credit card
- You travel frequently
- You qualify for an Alliant Credit Union membership
The Alliant Cashback Visa Signature might not ring many bells, but it’s one of the most lucrative cash back credit cards on the market today. How lucrative? Try up to 2.5% cash back on your first $10,000 of qualifying eligible purchases and 1.5% back on all purchases once you pass that $10,000 threshold.
The card is issued by Alliant Credit Union, a Chicago-based financial institution serving over 350,000 members across the United States. To add this card to your wallet, you’ll need an Alliant High-Rate Checking account and maintain an average daily balance of $1,000 for the quarter prior to the billing statement in which the rewards are earned to get that appealing 2.5% cash back.
Fortunately, becoming a member of Alliant Credit Union is a breeze – and Alliant’s High-Rate Checking has no servicing fees. Membership in Alliant was formerly restricted to United Airlines employees and their immediate families. Now, however, membership is open to anyone who lives or works in one of the Illinois counties Alliant serves, or who is family of current Alliant Credit Union members. And if you don’t fit into that distinct category, you can join by becoming a member of the Foster Care to Success (FC2S) organization.
FC2S serves thousands of foster teens across the United States, focusing on those who are aging out of the foster care system. FC2S awards grants and scholarships for higher education and provides care packages, mentoring, and internships (Alliant will also pay the one-time $5 membership fee to FC2S on your behalf).
Upgrade Triple Cash Rewards Visa®
Upgrade Triple Cash Rewards Visa®
Upgrade Triple Cash Rewards Visa®
- 14.99% to 29.99% variable based on creditworthiness and the Prime Rate Regular Purchase APR
- 14.99% to 29.99% Balance Transfer APR
At a Glance
The Upgrade Triple Cash Rewards Visa® offers no fees, low rates, cash back, and credit lines up to $25,000 in one unique package. The card provides the flexibility and predictability consumers need to pay down balances and get debt-free quickly.
- Best Benefits
- Rates & Fees
- Why Should You Apply?
- $200 bonus after opening a Rewards Checking Plus account and making 3 debit card transactions*
- Unlimited cash back on payments: 3% on Home, Auto, and Health categories and 1% on everything else after you make payments on your purchases
- No annual fee
- Combine the flexibility of a credit card with the predictability of a personal loan
- No touch payments with contactless technology built in
- See if you qualify in minutes without hurting your credit score
- Great for large purchases with predictable payments you can budget for
- Mobile app to access your account anytime, anywhere
- Enjoy peace of mind with $0 Fraud liability
- *To qualify for the welcome bonus, you must open and fund a new Rewards Checking account and make 3 qualifying debit card transactions from your Rewards Checking account within 60 days of the date the Upgrade Card account is opened. To qualify, debit card transactions must have settled and exclude ATM transactions. Please refer to the applicable Upgrade VISA® Debit Card Agreement and Disclosures for more information. Your Upgrade Card and Rewards Checking account must be open and in good standing to receive a bonus. If you have previously opened a Rewards Checking account or do not open one as part of this application process, you are not eligible for this welcome bonus offer. Welcome bonus offers cannot be combined, substituted, or applied retroactively. The bonus will be applied to your Rewards Checking account as a one-time payout credit within 60 days after the 3rd qualifying card purchase.
- Regular Purchase APR: 14.99% to 29.99% variable based on creditworthiness and the Prime Rate
- Balance Transfer APR: 14.99% to 29.99%
- Balance Transfer Transaction Fee: Up to 5%
- Foreign Transaction Fee: Up to 3%
- You struggle to pay off your credit card balances
- You want to earn up to 3% cash back on purchases
- You can reliably pay off your statement balances to earn cash back for your purchases
- You have a desire to get debt-free quickly
- You don’t want to pay an annual fee
The Upgrade Triple Cash Rewards Visa® is another often overlooked cash back credit card. As one of several options from Upgrade, the Triple Cash Rewards card offers no fees, low rates, cash back, and credit lines of up to $25,000 in one unique package.
The biggest headline is the 3% cash back on all purchases that fit under the “Home,” “Auto,” and “Health” categories. Fortunately, Upgrade keeps these categories broad, meaning you can quickly rack up rewards by using the Upgrade Triple Cash Visa as your everyday credit card.
But the Upgrade Card is far more than just a cash back rewards vehicle. The card works and behaves just like other Upgrade Card products – a huge plus for those who want a great low rate and the predictability of an installment loan. Upgrade lumps all bank transfers and purchases into one balance, which the account holder pays down based on their installment terms. With Upgrade, these repayment terms vary from 12 to 60 months, depending upon creditworthiness when applying.
According to research from Upgrade, paying off a $10,000 balance takes just a few years with the Upgrade Triple Rewards Visa, compared to other traditional credit cards that can take up to 20 years – or more.
TD Cash Credit Card
TD Cash Credit Card
TD Cash Credit Card
- 19.74%, 24.74% or 29.74% variable based on creditworthiness and the Prime Rate Regular Purchase APR
- 19.74%, 24.74% or 29.74% variable based on creditworthiness and the Prime Rate Balance Transfer APR
- 30.24% variable based on the Prime Rate Cash Advance APR
At a Glance
With the ability to earn 3% cash back at restaurants and 2% at grocery stores and 1% on all other eligible purchases, the TD Cash Credit Card makes getting good eats a tasty and profitable experience.
- Best Benefits
- Rates & Fees
- Why Should You Apply?
- Earn $150 Cash Back when you spend $500 within 90 days after account opening
- Earn 3% Cash Back on dining – including takeout and delivery
- Earn 2% Cash Back at grocery stores
- Earn 1% Cash Back on all other eligible purchases
- No caps, no limits as long as your account is in good standing
- Balance Transfer Offer: 0% introductory APR for first 12 billing cycles after account opening. After that, 14.99%, 19.99% or 24.99% variable APR based on your creditworthiness
- $0 Annual Fee
- *Read terms and conditions about APRs, fees, eligible purchases, balance transfers and program details
- Regular Purchase APR: 19.74%, 24.74% or 29.74% variable based on creditworthiness and the Prime Rate
- Intro Balance Transfer APR: 0% for 12 months from account opening date
- Balance Transfer APR: 19.74%, 24.74% or 29.74% variable based on creditworthiness and the Prime Rate
- Balance Transfer Transaction Fee: Either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
- Cash Advance APR: 30.24% variable based on the Prime Rate
- Cash Advance Transaction Fee: Either $10 or 5% of the amount of each cash advance, whichever is greater
- Foreign Transaction Fee: 3% of the transaction amount in U.S. dollars
- Late Payment Penalty Fee: Up to $40
- Return Payment Penalty Fee: Up to $40
- You want to earn 3% cash back on dining (including takeout and delivery), 2% at grocery stores, and 1% everywhere else
- You’re likely to spend $500 within 3 months to earn an extra $150 sign-up bonus
- You enjoy the diversity of having 400+ rewards redemption options
- You bank with TD Bank
TD Bank is another issuer that often gets overlooked regarding rewards credit cards – but it’s tough to ignore the TD Cash Credit Card. This pick typically hides behind its more popular sibling, the TD Double Up Card, but the Cash Card has plenty to offer in its own right.
The highlight of the TD Cash Card is its ability to earn the most rewards in your chosen categories. Cardholders select their top two Spend Categories to earn unlimited 3% and 2% back, with eligible categories including dining, gas, entertainment, groceries, and travel. All other purchases earn 1% back, with no cap on total earnable rewards.
That lack of a limit is what makes the Cash Card so lucrative. Unlike similar products, like the Discover It Cash Back or Chase Freedom Flex, the top categories aren’t capped, with rewards as plentiful as you want them to be. Add in an introductory 12 months of 0% APR on purchases and no annual fee, and you have an exceptional cash rewards credit card.
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Mission Lane’s Cash Back Visa isn’t so much underrated as it is brand new. The Mission Lane Cash Back Visa® earns either 1% or 1.5% cash back on all net qualifying purchases made during each calendar month, with no limit on the total rewards you can earn.
Cash back cards for those with average credit aren’t too common – popular options include Mercury and Credit One. But the Mission Lane cash back rewards card trumps these offers by providing cash back with no annual fee. That combination of rewards and credit access makes the Mission Lane card not only overlooked but quite possibly one of the best pound-for-pound credit cards available.
Another great feature of the Mission Lane rewards credit card is that you may qualify for a credit limit increase in as few as seven months from opening an account. Like other credit builder cards, the Mission Lane Cash Back Visa may provide a credit limit increase should you demonstrate responsible usage and make all your payments on time each month.
GM Business Card™
GM Business Card™
GM Business Card™
- 19.24% to 29.24% variable purchase APR based on creditworthiness. Rates as of 8/1/2023 Regular Purchase APR
- 29.99% Cash Advance APR
- 0% for 12 months Intro Purchase APR
At a Glance
The GM Business Card is an auto credit card from Marcus from Goldman Sachs whose earnings can only be applied towards the purchase or lease of a GM vehicle from a dealership. Earn up to 5% with bonus categories for GM purchases, gas, dining, and office supplies.
- Best Benefits
- Rates & Fees
- Why Should You Apply?
- Get the business card that rewards small business owners with special benefits. Redeem Earnings toward an eligible, new Chevrolet, Buick, GMC or Cadillac
- Get $750 in Bonus Earnings towards the purchase or lease of an eligible, new GM vehicle after you spend $5,000 on purchases in your first 5 months
- 5% in Earnings on eligible GM dealership parts, accessories or service purchases
- 3% in Earnings on purchases at gas stations, restaurants and office supply stores, and 1% on all other purchases
- No annual fee, no foreign transaction fees or cash advance fees. Late fees may apply
- 0% Intro APR on purchases for the first 12 months, variable of 19.24% to 29.24% APR after
- See if you’re approved with no impact to your credit score. Accepting a card after your application is approved will result in a hard inquiry, which may impact your credit score
- Terms & Limitations Apply. Subject to credit approval
- Intro Purchase APR: 0% for 12 months
- Regular Purchase APR: 19.24% to 29.24% variable purchase APR based on creditworthiness. Rates as of 8/1/2023
- Cash Advance APR: 29.99%
- Cash Advance Transaction Fee: $0
- Annual Fee: $0
- Foreign Transaction Fee: $0
- Late Payment Penalty Fee: Up to $40
- You’re looking to expand your current business fleet
- You have a business association membership to ABC, AGC, or NAHB of America
- You will need company cards for your employees
- You’re already enrolled in My GM Rewards
- You will spend $5,000 within the first 5 months of being a cardmember
There are plenty of rewards credit cards for small businesses, but relatively few that can help companies save towards new fleet vehicles. The GM Business Card™ works to save towards purchasing or leasing a GM vehicle from an authorized GM dealership. In addition, cardholders can earn the following rewards:
- $750 in Bonus Earnings towards the purchase or lease of an eligible, new GM vehicle after you spend $5,000 on purchases in your first five months
- 5% in Earnings on eligible GM dealership parts, accessories, or service purchases
- 3% in Earnings on purchases at gas stations, restaurants, and office supply stores
- 1% on all other purchases
Beyond exceptional rewards (and complimentary employee cards), account managers will love the GM Business Mastercard thanks to no annual fee, no foreign transaction fees, and no fees on cash advances. Even better, the card offers an introductory 0% interest rate on purchases for the first 12 months, with a highly competitive, variable APR afterward.
