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What is the Discover it® Cash Back Card?

Last Updated: December 4, 2024
4 min read
Credit card rewards

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Key points about: Discover it® Cash Back Card

  1. The Discover it® Cash Back Card offers cash back rewards on eligible everyday purchases, plus a match at the end of your first year.

  2. A Discover account includes extra security features to help protect you from identity theft and fraud.

  3. Keeping credit utilization low and paying bills on time could help you build credit history and maximize rewards.

The Discover it® Cash Back Card is a rewards credit card. Each time you make an eligible purchase using a rewards credit card, you receive a percentage back in some form. Some credit cards offer rewards only in specific categories. You could earn the most by choosing a credit card that rewards the purchases you already make. With the Discover it® Cash Back Card, you can earn cash back on various everyday expenses, like groceries or gas. Understanding the Discover it® Card’s features could help you maximize your rewards.

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What rewards does the Discover it® Cash Back Card offer?

When you use your Discover it® Cash Back Card on everyday purchases, you earn a percentage of the cost as a cash back reward. You can redeem your rewards for cash in several ways:

  • Depositing your cash back into your checking or savings accounts.
  • Applying your cash back to your Discover credit card balance as a statement credit.
  • Paying with your rewards at select retailers or get gift cards starting at only $5.

Some cash back rewards credit cards offer one flat rate across every purchase. However, with Discover, you earn more in certain popular categories each quarter.

As you compare cash back credit cards, consider the purchases you make most often—maybe groceries, food, gas, clothes, or even household items. The right credit card should help you earn bonus cash on those purchases. With the Discover it® Cash Back Card, you can earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter, like grocery stores, restaurants, and gas stations, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate.

Every quarter, you can earn even more cash back in a new bonus category. A little planning could help you maximize your rewards.

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Cashback Match after your first year

Discover takes your rewards even further after your first year of using the Discover it® Card with Cashback Match. Get an unlimited dollar-for-dollar match of all the cash back you earn at the end of your first year, automatically. There is no limit to how much we’ll match.2

Discover cash back rewards never expire

Rewards from some credit card issuers may expire if you don’t use them within a specific period. However, with Discover, your cash back never expires.3

Security features on the Discover it® Cash Back Card

Protecting your account and personal data is vital. That’s why Discover offers security features to monitor your account for theft and fraud. The following security features come with your Discover it® Cash Back Card:

If someone accesses and uses your card, don’t panic. You’re never held responsible for unauthorized purchases on your Discover Card.3

We’ll monitor thousands of Dark Web sites and alert you if we find your Social Security number.5 Activate for free.

Discover gives you more control over your personal information online by regularly helping you to remove it from select people-search sites. It’s free, activate with the mobile app.6

Misplacing your credit card is nerve-wracking. Fortunately, if you lose your Discover Card, you can freeze your account in seconds with an on/off switch either on the mobile app or website to prevent new purchases, cash advances, and balance transfers.7

Use your card responsibly to build credit

Over time, responsible credit card use could help you improve your credit score and build your credit history. Your spending habits determine part of your credit score. Try to use your credit card mostly for purchases you know you can afford to pay off quickly. This strategy may help you avoid credit card debt. Ideally, you don’t want to use the majority of your available credit. This is called your credit utilization rate.

Credit utilization plays a significant role in your financial well-being. Your credit utilization ratio shows the portion of your overall available credit that’s currently in use. A high credit utilization ratio could hurt your score.

Did you know?

Experts recommend keeping your credit utilization ratio below 30%. To do this, it’s a good idea to repay your balance in full each month. Plus, if you carry a high balance, interest charges may offset your rewards.

A consistent, positive payment history is key to building your credit. To avoid hurting your credit score, make payments by your credit card bill’s due date each month. Tools like autopay and payment alerts make it easier to stay on top of your credit card bills.

The Discover it® Cash Back Card offers a competitive rewards program, plus security features. By using your credit card responsibly, you could improve your credit and enjoy all the rewards your card earns.

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  1. There is no hard inquiry to your credit report to check if you’re pre-approved. If you’re pre-approved, and you move forward with submitting an application for the credit card, it will result in a hard inquiry which may impact your credit score. Receiving a pre-approval offer does not guarantee approval. Applicants applying without a social security number are not eligible to receive pre-approval offers. Card applicants cannot be pre-approved for the NHL Discover Card.

  2. Cashback Match: We’ll match all the cash back you’ve earned on your credit card from the day your new account is approved through your first 12 consecutive billing periods or 365 days, whichever is longer, and add it to your rewards account within two billing periods. You earn cash back only when they’re processed, which may be after the transaction date. We will not match: rewards that are processed after your match period ends; statement credits; rewards transfers from Discover checking or other deposit accounts; or rewards for accounts that are closed. This offer may not be available in the future and is exclusively for new cardmembers. No purchase minimums.

  3. Rewards Redemption: Rewards never expire. We reserve the right to determine the method to disburse your rewards balance. We will credit your Account or send you a check with your rewards balance if your Account is closed or if you have not used it within 18 months. You may be unable to redeem rewards in some limited situations such as when you choose to use an electronic funds transfer to redeem rewards to a new (unverified) deposit account. Any gift card must have a minimum value of at least $5.00 to be redeemed.

  4. $0 Fraud Liability: An “unauthorized purchase” is a purchase where you have not given access to your card information to another person or a merchant for one-time or repeated charges. Please use reasonable care to protect your card and do not share it with employees, relatives, or friends. Learn more at Discover.com/fraudFAQ.

  5. Discover® Identity Alerts (Alerts) are offered by Discover Bank at no cost, are available only online, and do not impact your credit score. The Alerts currently provide: (a) daily monitoring of your Experian® credit report and an alert when a new inquiry or account is listed on your report; (b) daily monitoring of thousands of Dark Web sites known for revealing personal information and an alert if your Social Security Number is found on such a website. Alerts are only provided to Primary cardmembers who agree to receive them online and whose accounts are open, in good standing, have a Social Security Number, and an email address on file. This benefit may change or end in the future. Discover Bank is not a credit repair organization as defined under federal or state law, including the Credit Repair Organizations Act. To see a list of Frequently Asked Questions, visit discover.com/freealerts.

  6. Online Privacy Protection: Online Privacy Protection is offered by Discover Bank at no cost and only available in the mobile app. About every 90 days we will scan at least 10 people-search sites for your online personal information and help you submit opt-out requests. Types of personal information found on these sites will vary.

  7. Freeze it®: When you freeze your account, Discover will not authorize new purchases, cash advances or balance transfers (including checks). However, some activity will continue including charges from merchants where your card is stored or billed regularly, as well as returns, credits, dispute adjustments, delayed authorizations (such as some transit purchases), payments, Discover protection product fees, other account fees, interest, rewards redemptions and certain other exempted transactions.

  • Legal Disclaimer: This site is for educational purposes and is not a substitute for professional advice. The material on this site is not intended to provide legal, investment, or financial advice and does not indicate the availability of any Discover product or service. It does not guarantee that Discover offers or endorses a product or service. For specific advice about your unique circumstances, you may wish to consult a qualified professional.