American Express True Cashback Card

This is my first credit card and I was pleased with the process as the application was absolutely stress free and smooth with customer care service at top notch. I actually felt taken care of and it appeared I could rely on customer care service for virtually any issue. Plus they have a simple tracking system of cashback rewards, with a good App and web UI/UX.

As is the case with most unlimited cashback cards, the Amex True Cashback Card is a great cashback card for people who are making hugely expensive life transitions. For example paying for a 5-star hotel wedding banquet or moving into a new home type of purchases would fit perfectly with this card.

Before we get all excited, let’s first try to put the record straight, and that is that you cannot use your credit card to repay your home loan. I find this to be very unfortunately but irrespective, it pays to sign up for a credit card with very relaxed terms & conditions when you’re about to move in to your new home. That is because, apart from home loan repayments, you’re going to be paying for a lot of assorted items like furniture, appliances, renovations, an interior designer, etc. Many of these won’t fall into bonus cashback categories like online shopping, dining or groceries.

It is worthy to note that you can benefit even more from the True Cashback Card when you travel overseas. You get to enjoy an additional 1% cashback on all foreign currency spending with no minimum spending requirements, even through your Welcome Bonus period. In order to enjoy the additional 1% cashback, existing and new card members must register online at amex.co/tcbfcs.

Generally this is a cashback card as you get to enjoy 3% cashback on everything you spend on in the first 6 months up to $5,000. Subsequently, you get 1.5% cashback. At first glance, the cashback rate of 1.5% may not be impressive especially when other cards are offering cashback rates as high as 6% to 9%. But upon closer inspection, cards that offer very high cashback rates usually only do so subject to two conditions; spending in certain categories, and that you satisfy their minimum spending requirements.

While certain cards might limit their generous cashback rate to specific categories for e.g. online purchases only, and/or require you to spend at least $600 a month to qualify for the cashback. In that respect therein lies the American Express True Cashback Card’s real strength, which is their 1.5% cashback rate is offered with no strings attached.