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The Discover it card is a popular credit card known for its cashback rewards and no annual fee. It's a great option for those who want to earn rewards without paying extra.
One of the standout features of the Discover it card is its cashback rewards program, which offers 5% cashback on various categories throughout the year. This can add up quickly, especially if you use the card for your daily purchases.
The Discover it card also offers a sign-up bonus of $150 or 5% of your first year's purchases, whichever is higher. This is a great incentive for new cardholders to start using the card right away.
If you're looking for a credit card with no annual fee and a cashback rewards program, the Discover it card is definitely worth considering.
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Features and Benefits
The Discover it Cash Back card offers a range of features and benefits that make it a popular choice among cardholders. One of the standout benefits is the high cash back rate, which earns 5% cash back at different places each quarter up to the quarterly maximum when you activate.
Related reading: Discover It Credit Card Benefits
You can earn up to $300 in bonus cash back each quarter by maximizing the 5% category, and the cash back is automatically matched at the end of your first year. This means that if you earn $150 in cash back in the first year, Discover will match it, giving you a total of $300.
The cash back is also simple to redeem, with options to deposit it directly into your bank account, apply it as a statement credit, or redeem it via PayPal or Amazon.com. Additionally, the card offers a 0% Intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, followed by a 18.24% - 27.24% Variable APR.
The Discover it Cash Back card is also known for its fraud protection features, including social security number inquiry and new account alerts, Freeze It, and Discover Card monitoring. You can also enjoy free FICO score checking, a recurring charge dashboard, and a spending analyzer.
Here are some of the key benefits of the Discover it Cash Back card:
- Earns cash back at a high rate
- Matches your cash back in the first year
- Cash back is simple to redeem
- Finance a balance transfer or a new purchase
- $0 annual fee
- Foreign transaction fee: none
Perks
Perks of the Discover it Cash Back card include earning cash back at a high rate, with 5% cash back on quarterly rotating categories and 1% unlimited cash back on all other purchases. This means you'll earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in spending each quarter, with the ability to earn $300 in bonus cash back.
You can also redeem your cash back rewards in a variety of ways, including depositing it directly into your bank account, applying it as a statement credit, or redeeming it via PayPal or Amazon.com. This makes it easy to get the cash back you've earned.
One of the unique features of the Discover it Cash Back card is its ability to match your cash back rewards in the first year. This means that if you earn $150 in cash back, Discover will match it, giving you a total of $300 in cash back. This is a great perk for new cardholders who want to maximize their rewards.
Check this out: Discover Credit Card Cashback Match
The Discover it Cash Back card also offers a 0% Intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, making it a solid choice if you need to pay down high-interest debt from another card. However, keep in mind that there's a 3% intro balance transfer fee, up to 5% fee on future balance transfers.
Some of the other benefits of the Discover it Cash Back card include:
- Fraud protection, including social security number inquiry and new account alerts
- Free FICO Score checking
- Recurring charge dashboard and spending analyzer
- Tap to pay with a contactless card
- Pay using rewards at Amazon and PayPal
- Ability to add your card to digital wallets
These features make the Discover it Cash Back card a great choice for anyone looking for a card with a high cash back rate and a variety of benefits.
0% APR Purchases & Balance Transfers
Discover credit cards offer a 0% APR period on purchases and balance transfers, which can save you hundreds of dollars in interest charges.
The length of the 0% APR period varies depending on the card, with some offering 0% APR for 14 months, 6 months, or 12 months on purchases, and 14 months, 18 months, or no introductory offer for balance transfers.
A different take: Discover It Card 0 Apr
Here's a breakdown of the 0% APR periods offered by Discover credit cards:
Keep in mind that a 3% balance transfer fee applies to some of the 0% APR offers, so be sure to review the terms and conditions before making a decision.
How It Works
Discover It card holders earn cash back rewards on their purchases, with some cards offering a flat rate and others offering higher levels in select categories.
The Discover It card's business model is unique in that it issues credit cards directly, unlike Visa, which licenses its brand name to issuing banks. This allows Discover Financial to earn interest income from its credit card customers.
As a result, Discover It card holders may be offered incentives to borrow more, such as increased credit limits or waived annual account fees, to boost the company's profitability.
How It Works
Here's how Discover cards work:
Discover issues credit cards directly to consumers, which means they determine the acceptable credit risk and are responsible for marketing card products and providing customer assistance.
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You can make payments directly to Discover, and they offer various ways to do so, including calling the number on the back of your card, mailing in your payment, or setting up automatic payments.
Discover earns interest income from its credit card customers, in addition to charging payment processing fees to merchants, which is different from Visa's business model.
Here's a simplified overview of how a Discover card transaction works:
- Cardmember makes a purchase with their Discover card at a merchant.
- Merchant sends the transaction amount to the Discover Network.
- Discover reimburses the merchant for the amount, minus any fees.
If the merchant doesn't have a relationship with Discover, a bank acquirer or processor acts as a middleman between Discover and the merchant.
Discover's business model is more similar to American Express, as they both issue credit cards directly to consumers and earn interest income from their credit card customers.
To encourage customers to borrow more, Discover may offer incentives such as increasing credit limits or waiving annual account fees.
Check Pre-Approval/Qualification
To get a head start on finding the right Discover It credit card, check your pre-approval or pre-qualification status. This risk-free process doesn't initiate a hard inquiry on your credit report.
Discover more: Discover It Secured Card Pre Approval
You can fill out a pre-approval form with basic personal and financial info, and review any pre-approved offers. Pre-qualification involves completing a form and selecting the cards you want to apply for.
Neither pre-approval nor pre-qualification guarantees approval, but it can increase your chances by showing which cards to apply for.
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Acceptance and Availability
Discover cards are accepted at 99% of U.S. businesses, making them widely accepted in most countries in North America, South America, Europe, and Australia.
Internationally, Discover cards are accepted at 61 million businesses, according to the Nilson Report. This is significantly less than Visa and Mastercard, but still a substantial number.
Some merchants might not display a Discover logo, but if they display a Diners Club logo, they will likely accept a Discover card. So, it's always a good idea to ask a merchant if you're unsure about their acceptance of Discover cards.
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Where Is It Accepted?
Discover cards are accepted at 99% of U.S. businesses, making them a widely accepted form of payment in the United States.
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In fact, Discover cards are accepted at 61 million businesses globally, although this is significantly less than Visa and Mastercard, each accepted at 80 million businesses.
The Discover Global Network is active in many countries, including those in North America, South America, Europe, and Australia, where Discover cards are widely accepted.
However, in some countries in Africa and Asia, Discover cards may not be accepted. So, it's always a good idea to ask a merchant if you're unsure.
You can also look for the Diners Club logo, as Diners Club International is accepted at 45 million businesses worldwide and is often a partner of Discover Network.
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Difficulty of Obtaining
Discover will determine whether to issue you a credit card based on your overall financial profile, which might include your income, credit score, and history.
If you don't qualify for the Discover it Cash Back, you might want to look at Discover's other credit cards.
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Like most credit card companies, the approval process for Discover it Cash Back is based on individual financial profiles.
The decision to issue a credit card is made on a case-by-case basis, taking into account various factors.
The Discover it Cash Back credit card is not the only option from Discover, and you may be eligible for other cards.
Rewards and Earnings
You can earn cash back on every purchase with Discover credit cards, with some cards offering bonus rewards on eligible purchases like gas or groceries. Discover cash back credit cards let you earn cash back on every purchase, with certain cards giving bonus rewards on eligible purchases.
Some Discover cards offer 5% cash back on up to $1,500 for purchases in select categories that change each quarter. You'll earn 5% cash back on rotating categories such as department stores, gas stations, wholesale clubs, Amazon, restaurants, and more.
The Discover It Cash Back card is one example of a card that offers 5% quarterly bonus categories. It also earns 1.5% on every purchase, and adds extra cash to your bottom line with the CashBack Match at your first card anniversary.
On a similar theme: Rewards for Discover Card
You can earn 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter, automatically. This is a great option if your spending happens to fall in these categories.
To maximize your cash back earnings, focus on using your card on everyday purchases. This way, you can earn higher levels of cash back rewards on your card in rotating categories when you activate the program up to the quarterly maximum.
Here are some Discover cards that offer bonus rewards on eligible purchases:
- Discover It Cash Back
- Discover It Cash Back for Students
- NHL Discover It Card
- Discover It Transfer Balance
- Discover It Gas and Restaurants
Note that the Discover It Gas and Restaurants card earns 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants, and unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
Additional reading: Discover Gas Card
Fees and Charges
The Discover it Cash Back card is a great choice for those who want to earn cash back rewards without breaking the bank. It does not charge an annual fee.
One fee to be aware of is the foreign transaction fee, but the good news is that the Discover it Cash Back does not charge one, making it a useful card to use when traveling abroad. Just be sure to check if Discover is accepted at your destination.
You can use the Discover it Cash Back card without worrying about extra fees adding up, but be aware of the potential for late fees if you miss a payment.
Additional reading: How to Avoid Credit Card Fees
No Annual Fees
One of the most frustrating things about credit cards is the annual fee, but fortunately, some issuers are bucking the trend. Discover credit cards never charge an annual fee.
You can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that you won't have to worry about paying an annual fee with Discover credit cards.
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Foreign Transaction Fees
Foreign transaction fees can be a significant concern for travelers. The Discover it Cash Back does not charge a foreign transaction fee, making it a useful card to use when traveling abroad.
If you're planning a trip, know that Discover is accepted in many places, so you can feel confident using your card.
On a similar theme: Discover It Card Foreign Transaction Fee
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the cons of having Discover It card?
The Discover It card has some limitations, including capped bonus cash back, limited rewards value, and restricted benefits. Additionally, its acceptance is limited outside the US, and categories may require quarterly activation.
Is Discover it a Visa or MasterCard?
Discover it is not a Visa or Mastercard, but a separate card processing system accepted globally in many of the same places. Learn more about Discover's unique features and benefits.
What is the Discover It card limit?
The Discover It card limit starts at $500, with an average range of $500 to $2,000. Your actual limit may vary based on your creditworthiness and application approval.
Sources
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