A cashback card for families that spend on groceries and gas.
30-second take
- Get this card if you spend a lot on groceries and gas.
- Pick something else if you’re looking for a travel rewards card.
- Apply with a good to excellent credit score of 680 or higher.
| Product Name | Blue Cash Preferred® Card |
|---|---|
| Intro APR for Balance Transfer | 0% Intro APR for 12 months (with whichever is greater, $5 or 3% balance transfer fee) |
| Balance Transfer Rate (not intro) | 14.74% to 25.74% variable |
| APR for Purchases ( Purchase Rate ) | 14.74% to 25.74% variable |
| Annual fee | $95 |
| Cash Advance Rate | 26.99% variable |
| Card Type | American Express |
| Interest Free Period The interest-free period on purchases is the period or number of days you do not have to pay interest on your card purchases. You will be charged interest either from the day you make a purchase or from the statement date, unless you pay the closing balance in full by the due date (or within the interest-free period) on your statement. | Up to 25 days |
| Returned Payment Fee | $38 |
| Foreign Currency Conversion Fee (AMEX) Foreign currency conversion fees are charged when you make a transaction that is converted by a credit card network, such as MasterCard, Visa or American Express, from Australian dollars to a foreign currency. You’ll also incur a currency conversion fee if you make a purchase or obtain a cash advance in Australian dollars while overseas or shopping online with a foreign merchant or financial institution. | 2.7% of transaction value |
| Minimum Credit Score | Fair (660-699) |
|---|---|
| Minimum Age | 18 years of age |
| Annual fee | $95 |
|---|---|
| Returned Payment Fee | $38 |
| Late Payment Fee | $38 |
| Cash Advance Fee | $5 or 3% of the amount of each cash advance, whichever is greater |
The basics
The Blue Cash Preferred® Card is a busy family’s best friend. It offers 6% cash back at US supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases and 1% after that. You can also earn 3% cash back at US gas stations and select US department stores and 1% on all other purchases.
Great cash back isn’t the only reward you can get with the Blue Cash Preferred® Card. You’re also eligible for a welcome offer of $250 in statement credit after you spend $1,000 in purchases within the first three months your account is open and a low introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers.
If you find the bulk of your budget goes toward groceries and fuel, the Blue Cash Preferred® Card may be for you.
The perks
Intro APR on purchases and balance transfers.
Get a valuable 0% intro APR on purchases for the first 12 months your account is open and 0% intro APR in that same 12 months on balance transfers you make within 60 days of opening your account. A 14.74% to 25.74% variable APR applies after the promotional period ends. If you’re planning to make a large purchase or transfer a balance from another card, the intro period could help you avoid paying unnecessary interest.
Welcome offer.
Spend $1,000 on purchases in the first three months your account is open to get $200 in statement credit. Relatively easy to obtain, the welcome offer can offset your annual fee for two years.
Cashback rewards.
Get 6% cash back at US supermarkets on up to $6,000 in purchases each year, with your rate reverting to 1% after. You’ll also earn 3% cash back at US gas stations and select US department stores and 1% on all other purchases. Earn cashback rewards faster by adding authorized users for your family to your account.
Which supermarkets give 6% cash back?
You can earn 6% cash back at US grocery stores that include:
- Gristedes
- Foodtown
- Meijer
- ShopRite
- Stop & Shop
- Vons
- Whole Foods
- Winn-Dixie
- Online supermarkets such as FreshDirect
Unfortunately, you’re excluded from earning cash back at:
- Fish markets, cheese shops, wine shops and similar specialty food stores.
- Superstores like Amazon, Target and Walmart.
- Warehouse clubs like BJ’s Wholesale Club.
You’ll also like …
Purchase benefits.
Get free two-day shipping on purchases from more than 100 online retailers with a complimentary ShopRunner membership. You can also extend warranties on covered purchases, and if you damage your phone or another eligible item, it’s covered for up to $1,000 per item.
Fraud protection.
If you notice fraudulent activity on your card, call the number on the back of your American Express immediately and you won’t be held responsible for the unauthorized charges.
Car rental insurance.
You may not have to worry if something happens to your rental car while driving on vacation. You’re covered from theft and damage when you pay for a car rental with your card.
Roadside and global assistance.
When stranded on the road, call the roadside assistance hotline for help with towing your vehicle, changing a tire or charging your battery. When traveling more than 100 miles from home, you’ll have 24/7 access to medical, legal, financial and other emergency services you may need. However, you’ll have to pay for any third-party services.
Travel insurance.
Keep your mind at ease knowing you’re covered for up to $100,000 in accidental death and dismemberment when traveling with a common airline.
What to watch out for
Annual fee.
The Blue Cash Preferred® Card comes with a $95 annual fee.
International transaction fees.
When traveling abroad, you might want to keep this card at home: It has a 2.7% foreign transaction fee.
Limit on 6% cashback tier.
You get 6% at US supermarkets — but on up to $6,000 in purchases only. After that, you’ll earn 1% cash back. Also, not every market qualifies for the 6% cash back. Ask American Express customer service or your favorite market to find out whether the place you shop at most often qualifies for the 6% cash back.
Not widely accepted overseas.
Because this card is backed by American Express, you may find it difficult to use internationally, where Visa and Mastercard are more widely accepted.
Don’t pay late.
Late or returned payments could saddle you with a penalty APR of up to 29.99% variable. Not to mention that each late and returned payment fee can cost up to $38.
How to make the $95 annual fee worth it
The Blue Cash Preferred® Card offers 6% cash back at US grocery stores. To break even with the annual fee, you’ll need to spend some $1,600 a year on groceries — or about $30 a week, which is an easy bar to clear for almost anyone looking for a rewards credit card.
You’ll need gas to get to work and take the kids to soccer practice. If you’re like the average American family that spends around $2,500 a year on gas, you can expect about $75 cash back from the Blue Cash Preferred® Card. Add the 1% cash back you’ll get from all other purchases, and the card’s annual fee will likely pay for itself a few times over when used regularly.
Consider other cards if …
You don’t spend much on gas and groceries.
To cut out the categories, you may want to consider a general cashback card like the Citi® Double Cash Card. For all purchases, it offers 1% cash back when you buy, and 1% when you pay it off.
You’re a frequent flyer.
If you often travel with Delta, the Gold Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card could be a better choice. United or American Airlines flyers may want to consider the United℠ Explorer Card or the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite™ Mastercard®.
You’re loyal to a brand of hotels.
Consider either the Starwood Preferred Guest® Credit Card or the Hilton Honors Card if you often stay at these hotels. You’ll earn room upgrades, free nights and complimentary Wi-Fi, among other benefits.
Compare cash back credit cards
What should I know before I apply?
To apply for the Blue Cash Preferred® Card, you must be at least 18 years old and a resident of the United States.
When you apply, you’ll have to provide such information as your:
- Full name and contact information.
- Email and phone number.
- Date of birth and Social Security number.
- Annual income and income source.
What credit score do I need?
You can apply with a fair credit score of 570. But to get the lowest APR on purchases and balance transfers and a high credit limit, apply with a good to excellent credit score of 680 or higher.
What’s my likelihood of being approved?
To increase your chances of approval, apply with a good to excellent credit score of 680 or higher.
Always consider your options and your financial situation before you apply for a credit card.
What do customers say about the Blue Cash Preferred® Card?
Negative customer reviewers generally complain of the low credit line they received and the 6% cash back not available at all supermarkets. Positive customer reviews praise the overall cash back potential and solid customer service.
American Express is accredited by the Better Business Bureau with a rating of A+ and a composite score of 3.78 out of 5 stars. Trustpilot, on the other hand, scores the credit company a 3 out of 10.
How to apply for the Blue Cash Preferred® Card?
- Go to the American Express website.
- Select the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from the list of cards. Click Apply now.
- Complete the application form with all required information.
- Review your application and submit it.
How long will it take to be approved?
American Express can get you a decision on your application within minutes if the information you provide is accurate. Applications that need additional review may take several business days to process.
How long will it take to get my Blue Cash Preferred® Card?
Once approved, your card will arrive by mail in seven to 10 business days.
I got the card. Now what?
- Set up autopay. Never miss a payment with autopay. Sign up through your online account or download the Amex mobile app to set up automatic payments.
- Enroll in ShopRunner. Enroll to get free two-day shipping and returns at more than 100 online retailers with ShopRunner.
- Avoiding paying interest. At the end of each statement cycle, you have a grace period of 25 days to pay your balance without interest. After that, you’ll pay a variable APR on purchases and balance transfers of 14.74% to 25.74% variable.
- Avoid paying fees. Late and returned payments will cost you a penalty APR as high as 29.99% with fees of up to $38. You’ll also pay fees on balance transfers, cash advances and foreign transactions.
- Customer service. Call American Express customer service 24/7 at 1-800-528-4800. You can also reach them through online chat.
Bottom line
The Blue Cash Preferred® Card is strong in two categories: gas and groceries. If you spend up to $6,000 a year at eligible US supermarkets and at least $3,000 on US gas, you’ll benefit from the card’s excellent cashback features.
These two categories may not what you’re looking for, however. To find a card that better matches your needs, compare other American Express cards and learn about other card providers.
Frequently asked questions
Images: AmericanExpress.com
