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Bread Cashback™ Card Review: Unlimited 2% Back, but No Welcome Bonus

Review Updated
Steven Porrello
Author: Steven Porrello
Steven Porrello
Steven Porrello
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Steven is a personal finance writer covering topics from mortgages to credit cards to market news. He has written for The Motley Fool Canada, Ramsey Solutions, Nerdwallet, Clever Real Estate, and other major outlets. Steven launched his writing career at the age of four with his first book, "Revenge of the Bad Guys." He currently lives in Portland, Oregon.

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Nathan Alderman
Fact Checked: Nathan Alderman
Nathan Alderman
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OFFER STATUS

Bread Cashback™ American Express® Card is unavailable on Motley Fool Money. All information was collected independently and not reviewed for accuracy or provided by the credit card issuer. Some items may be out of date.

The Bread Cashback™ American Express® Card is good for general spending, especially purchases that don't fit neatly into the bonus categories of other cards. The card has no annual fee and earns unlimited 2% cash back on purchases. Its straightforward rewards program makes it perfect for first-time credit card users, as well as those who want only one credit card in their wallet. Click to learn more.

Below, we'll dig deeper into the Bread Cashback™ American Express® Card to see if you should apply.

Ratings Methodology

Bread Cashback™ American Express® Card

Great for: First-time card users

Bread Cashback™ American Express® Card
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Credit Score: Circle with letter I in it. Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good (670-850)
Credit Score Circle with letter I in it. Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.

Good (670-850)

Intro APR

Purchases: N/A

Balance Transfers: N/A

Regular APR

20.74%-35.24% (Variable)

Rewards

2% unlimited cash back on purchases

Annual Fee

$0

Welcome Offer Circle with letter I in it. N/A

N/A

  • The Bread Cashback™ American Express® Credit Card is a good choice for an entry-level cash back card. You won't have to juggle rotating categories or manage complicated points or miles valuations. Instead, you'll earn a flat 2% back on general spending.

    • Unlimited 2% cash back on purchases when you use your Card¹
    • No annual fee²
    • Purchase protection
    • Access to American Express benefits³
    • No welcome bonus
    • No 0% APR
    • Lacks bonus categories
    • Earn unlimited 2% cash back on purchases when you use the Card¹
    • No rewards caps
    • No categories to manage
    • No annual fee and no foreign transaction fees²
    • Amex Offers, travel and dining benefits, and premium protection benefits³
    • Learn more for details

Credit card comparison

We recommend comparing options to ensure the card you're selecting is the best fit for you. To make your search easier, here's a short list of standout credit cards.

Offer Our Rating Welcome Offer Rewards Program APR Learn More
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Best for cash back on rotating categories 		Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year. 1% - 5% Cashback Circle with letter I in it. Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.

Intro:

Purchases: 0%, 15 months

Balance Transfers: 0%, 15 months

Regular: 18.49% - 27.49% Variable APR *Rates as of December 12, 2024.

Apply Now for Discover it® Cash Back

On Discover's Secure Website.

Rates & Fees External Link Icon

Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Best for cash rewards on everyday spending 		$200 cash rewards Circle with letter I in it. Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months. 2% cash rewards Circle with letter I in it. Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases.

Intro: Circle with letter I in it. 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers

Purchases: 0% intro APR, 12 months from account opening

Balance Transfers: 0% intro APR, 12 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers

Regular: 19.24%, 24.24%, or 29.24% Variable APR

Apply Now for Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

On Wells Fargo's Secure Website.

Rates & Fees External Link Icon

Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Best for unlimited rewards on purchases 		25,000 points Circle with letter I in it. 25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases 1.5 points per dollar Circle with letter I in it. Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees, and your points don't expire as long as your account remains open.

Intro: Circle with letter I in it. 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases. 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the intro APR offer ends, 18.49% - 28.49% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers will apply. A 3% fee for 60 days from account opening, then 4% fee applies to all balance transfers.

Purchases: 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases

Balance Transfers: 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days

Regular: 18.49% - 28.49% (Variable)

Apply Now for Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

On Bank of America's Secure Website.

Bread Cashback™ Card review

Is the Bread Cashback™ Card worth it?

You can rarely go wrong with 2% back on all spending -- that's usually the highest base rate for a cash back credit card. However, this card is severely weakened by its lack of a welcome bonus. Other cards that earn an unlimited 2% back typically offer new cardholders a $200 bonus for spending a certain amount within a bonus period. Since $200 in cash back equals $10,000 in spending, this card's lack of a bonus is a huge miss.

Author's note
Image of reviewer

A 2% cash back card is invaluable to a multi-card strategy. Whenever I'm buying something that doesn't fit neatly into popular spending categories -- say, a band shirt at a concert -- my 2% card beats the base rate on my other credit cards (typically 1%). The fact that you can earn 2% back makes this a great starter credit card, helping you dip your toes before you load up on multiple cards.

What everyone else is saying

Now that you've heard what we think, let's hear what other users are saying about the Bread Cashback™ American Express® Card.

What other review sites say

Average review site rating: 3.6 / 5.0 stars

We read reviews from three other review sites. Everyone liked the card's headliner perk -- an unlimited 2% back -- and its absence of a foreign transaction fee. Some sites called out the simplicity of the card's redemption process and the fact that rewards never expire.

However, as we called out in our review, other sites were disappointed in the card's lack of both a welcome bonus and intro 0% APR period. Some reviewers also mentioned that the card, while useful for earning cash back, doesn't have many perks that separate it from other cash back cards.

Online consensus

Most people online are pleased with the card. Most of the complaints are in line with what we've called out here, namely, that it doesn't have a welcome offer, nor an intro 0% APR period.

However, interestingly enough, social media feedback suggests that the card has relatively lenient approval criteria. Some cardholders claimed that they were approved for the card even after opening several credit cards recently. On a myFICO forum, one user even said that they were approved with a credit score in the low 600s.

Bread Cashback™ Card features and benefits

Unlimited 2% cash back

You'll earn 2% cash back on purchases you make with your card, with no limit on how much you can earn. If you spend $25,000 per year on non-housing expenses, you could earn about $500 on this card.

No annual fee

That cash back comes to you with no annual fee attached. (See rates and fees.) This makes the Bread Cashback™ American Express® Card perfect for building credit or as a backup cash back card when others would earn less than 2% back on a purchase.

No foreign transaction fees

You won't be charged a foreign transaction fee when you use the Bread Cashback™ American Express® Card outside of the U.S.

Access to American Express benefits

Cardholders will get discounts on travel purchases made with American Express's partners, like Hertz, Avis, and Bookings.com. You'll also get 20% off dining bills -- or a free appetizer -- with participating restaurants. (Terms apply; enrollment may be required.)

READ MORE: Best American Express Cards

Powerful insurance

Damaged and stolen items are covered under the card's built-in price protection. You'll also get ID theft insurance, which reimburses you if your identity or credit card is stolen. (Terms apply.)

What could be improved

No welcome offer

One of the card's biggest shortcomings is that it doesn't give new cardholders a welcome offer. Plenty of other no annual fee cash back cards offer generous welcome bonuses that reward users with a slew of points or cash just by spending a certain amount.

No intro 0% APR

The card starts with an APR of 20.74%-35.24% (Variable), depending on your credit score. Other cash back cards will give you an introductory "no interest period," usually the first six to 21 months, during which you won't pay interest on credit card balances.

What to know before applying

Bread Cashback™ Card credit score

The Bread Cashback™ American Express® Card is aimed at consumers with a good to excellent credit score, or a FICO® Score of 670 to 850. That said, applicants with a score in this range are not always accepted, nor are applicants outside of that range necessarily excluded.

The issuer might look at numerous factors in the underwriting process, such as how many credit cards you've applied for recently, to decide if you're a good fit.

Pre-approval process

The Bread Cashback™ American Express® Card doesn't have a pre-approval portal per se. However, it may send certain people pre-approval letters. This letter will have an activation code which you'll use to start your credit card application on Bread's website.

Regular APR

The Bread Cashback™ American Express® Card has a regular APR of 20.74%-35.24% (Variable). The lower end of this range is standard for a credit card, while the higher end (28% and above) is far above what's normal or average.

Fees

  • Annual fee: $0
  • Balance transfer fee: Either $10 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
  • Foreign transaction fee: None
  • See rates and fees

Credit limit

Like other credit cards, the credit limit on your Bread Cashback™ American Express® Card will depend on your creditworthiness. Online users, for their part, have reported credit limits between $3,000 and $8,000.

Once you have the Bread Cashback™ American Express® Card, you can always call its customer care team to request a credit limit increase. You can reach customer service at 1-888-282-5154.

Should you apply for the Bread Cashback™ Card?

The Bread Cashback™ American Express® Card is about as simple as a cash back card can get: no annual fee, unlimited 2% back on purchases when you use your card, and no complicated earning tiers or points systems.

However, since it lacks a welcome bonus and an intro 0% APR, it's not as competitive as other 2% cash back credit cards. If your credit history is good, you might be better served by other credit cards.

Our credit card methodology

At Motley Fool Money, we rate credit cards on a five-star scale (1 = poor, 5 = best). Our rating criteria includes rewards rates, welcome bonuses, fees, and perks like travel credits and 0% intro APR offers to evaluate our ratings.

We combine these factors with an evaluation of brand reputation and customer satisfaction to ensure you're getting the best card recommendations. Learn more about how Motley Fool Money rates credit cards.

FAQs

  • Yes, it's a good cash back credit card. The card earns an unlimited 2% back on purchases and doesn't charge a foreign transaction fee. You'll also have access to Amex offers, which can mean more rewards.

  • Yes, you can download the Bread Financial app on iOS or Android devices. You can use this app to make payments, check balances, and redeem cash back.

  • In the past, the Bread Cashback™ American Express® Card has had welcome offers for a brief period. So it's certainly possible that the card could have a bonus in the future, though there's no guarantee that it will.