BMO Cash Back Credit Card

• You spend money on streaming services, cable or satellite and want bonus rewards for that category.
• You also spend a fair amount on gas and groceries and value a 0% introductory APR window for purchases or balance transfers.
• You want a no-annual-fee card (there’s no yearly cost to keep this card in your wallet, per my review).
• You do not frequently travel internationally, because this card charges foreign transaction fees.

How you earn cash back

The cash back structure is simple and focused on a few categories:

• 5% cash back on eligible streaming, cable and satellite services.
• 3% cash back on eligible gas and grocery purchases — up to $2,500 per quarter.
• 1% cash back on everything else.

That makes the BMO Cash Back card attractive if you put a lot of everyday streaming, grocery and gas spend on the card. But outside those categories you’re only earning 1%, which is noticeably lower than flat-rate 2% cards on the market.

Welcome (spend) bonus

One of the most compelling parts of the card is the spend bonus. There’s a standard offer: a cardholder can spend $2,000 within the first 3 months and earn a $200 bonus. However, the issuer sometimes sends targeted offers by mail or email that reduce the spend requirement. The reviewer notes that they personally received an offer to earn the same $200 bonus for only $1,000 in spending within 3 months, an offer which they accepted.

A couple of practical notes from the reviewer’s experience:

• Even after the spending target is met, the bonus can take a while to appear. With the reviewer’s account, they hit the spend requirement in October but didn’t actually see the bonus credited to their account until January — roughly three months after meeting the threshold.
• In some cases, the cardholder will need to wait for a statement cycle for the bonus to become redeemable. One should plan accordingly if timing the bonus for a specific purchase or payoff.

Other card benefits

Beyond cash back, there are a few nice perks worth highlighting:

• Cell phone protection — up to $400 in coverage when you charge your monthly wireless bill to the card.
• Identity protections — Mastercard ID Theft Protection, identity monitoring and resolution services, Mastercard Zero Liability, and Mastercard Identity Check.
• Extended warranty — doubles the original manufacturer’s or store brand warranty for up to an additional 12 months on most new purchases.

These are helpful consumer protections that add value beyond the pure cash-back math.

Pros

• $200 spend bonus — a straightforward, valuable welcome bonus if you can meet the spend target in the required timeframe.
• Strong bonus categories for many households — 5% on streaming and 3% on gas and groceries is solid if you use the card for those recurring expenses.
• 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months — gives flexibility for planned purchases and debt consolidation.
• No annual fee — keeps the card low-risk to carry long-term for the benefits and protections.
• Helpful protections like cell phone coverage and extended warranties add real value beyond rewards.

Final verdict

Overall, the reviewer thinks the BMO Cash Back Credit Card is a solid, no-annual-fee option for many consumers. It’s not a one-size-fits-all solution, but if a consumer spends meaningfully on streaming services, gas, and groceries, the 5% and 3% rates plus a potentially easy $200 welcome bonus make it compelling.

However, because the card only returns 1% on other purchases, the reviewer would recommend pairing it with a 2% flat-rate card or using it strategically for the bonus categories only. Cardholders should also be mindful of the foreign transaction fee and the timing of the welcome bonus posting. If someone plans to use the 0% APR introductory window, they should create a disciplined payoff schedule so they don’t get hit with the higher ongoing APR after the promotional period ends.

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