Banking Checking Accounts

Best Cash Back Debit Cards [2026]: Earn up to 6%

You don't need a credit card to earn cash back — cash back debit cards are a great way to earn rewards on spending directly from your checking account. Check out the best cash back debit cards today.

Updated Feb. 13, 2026
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While most checking account spending doesn't offer rewards, some accounts earn cash back on eligible debit card purchases. These cards are known as cash back or rewards debit cards. We've analyzed cash back debit cards from many top institutions to help find the best, most worthwhile ones. Some offer straightforward cash back on a wide range of transactions, while others offer more unique rewards like fractional shares of stocks instead of cash back.

As you look for a cash back debit card, keep fees, rewards earning structures, qualifying debit card purchases, and checking account features in mind. This list includes the best rewards debit cards we've found in our research, and who each option is best for. 

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  • Earn a $50 or $300 bonus with eligible direct deposit1and up to 4.00% APY2 on your money
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Editor's note
All of the accounts on our list are online-only, but some brick-and-mortar institutions, especially small, regional, or local banks, might offer cash back debit cards.

Compare the best cash back debit cards

Card name Great for… Rewards rate
Stash
Stash Stock-Back Card6
Beginning investors Up to 1% back in stocks or ETFs on eligible purchases
Upgrade Rewards Checking Plus
Upgrade Rewards Checking Plus
78
Recurring expenses 2% on everyday expenses up to $500 in rewards per year, then 1% plus
Axos Bank
Axos Cash Back Checking Debit Card
In-person shoppers Up to 1% cash back on purchases requiring a signature, up to $2,000 cash back each month
LendingClub LevelUp Checking
LendingClub LevelUp Checking
Unlimited cash back (on select categories) Unlimited 1% cash back on qualified debit card purchases when you meet direct deposit requirements
Varo
Varo Online Bank Account
High cash back at select retailers Up to 6% cash back on purchases at 10,000+ merchants

Editor's note
The Discover® Cashback Debit account used to offer one of the best cash back debit cards, but it was closed to new applicants in January 2026 following Discover's merger with Capital One.

Stash Stock-Back Card

Great for: Earning stocks instead of cash

Account details:

  • Rewards: Up to 3% in stock-back
  • Monthly fees: $3 to $9 per month
  • ATM network: 55,000+ Allpoint ATMs

If you're looking for different ways to earn rewards, check out the Stash Stock-Back Card9. Rather than traditional cash back, this card pays you in fractional shares of popular stocks when you swipe your card. The typical reward is 1%, but there are opportunities to earn more.

This option is great for beginning investors who don't know where to start or who may not have much capital to invest. It's like earning free stock for doing your normal spending.

Tip
Keep in mind that some transactions don't qualify for stock back, such as cash withdrawals, money orders, prepaid debit cards, and P2P payments.

When you shop with your Stock-Back card, you earn stock from the company you made a purchase from. For example, imagine buying something at Amazon only to earn fractional shares of AMZN stock, or filling up your gas tank at BP and earning BP stock. It certainly makes shopping more fun knowing that you're building a portfolio, regardless of how small it may be.

Don't worry, if you shop at small, local businesses, you'll get a default investment in a stock.

The amount you earn depends on the plan you choose (each has a monthly fee):

  • Stash Growth: $3 per month and earn up to 1% stock-back (up to 2% with certain bonuses)
  • Stash+: $9 per month and earn 1% stock-back (up to 3% with certain bonuses)

Note that Stash Banking services are provided by Stride Bank, N.A., Member FDIC. Stock rewards are held in a Stock Invest account, however, and are not FDIC insured.

Pros
  • You can automatically invest just by making regular purchases
  • You can invest in the companies you believe in
  • Easy access to your cash if needed
Cons
  • Not all debit card purchases qualify for cashback rewards
  • Has a monthly account fee that's either $3 or $9, depending on your subscription

Visit Stash | Learn more in our Stash review.

Upgrade Rewards Checking Plus

Great for: Earning cash back on recurring expenses

Account details:

  • Rewards: 2% back on everyday purchases; 1% on everything else
  • Monthly fees: $0
  • ATM network: 55,000+ Allpoint ATMs

The Upgrade Rewards Checking Plus account stands out for offering cash back on recurring transactions, a category not usually included in cash back earning opportunities for credit or debit cards. This can prove to be pretty lucrative, even if you only use it to pay a few bills.

While this account doesn't earn interest, if you pair it with a Performance Savings account, you may earn an APY of up to 4.69% APY with a $1,000 monthly direct deposit.10 Upgrade Rewards Checking Plus is FDIC insured through Cross River Bank.

Pros
  • No monthly fees
  • Many opportunities to earn cash back
  • Option to increase your interest earnings
Cons
  • Charges a $2.50 non-network ATM fee
  • Requires a minimum $1,000 monthly direct deposit to qualify for rewards

Learn more in our Upgrade Rewards Checking Plus review.

Axos Cash Back Checking Debit Card

Great for: Earning cash back when shopping in-person

Account details:

  • Rewards: Up to 1% cash back
  • Monthly fees: $0
  • ATM network: Includes unlimited ATM reimbursements

If you do a lot of in-person shopping and prefer to do signature-based transactions versus using your PIN, you can earn 1% back on your purchases with the Axos Cash Back Checking Debit Card.

I like that the limit is high, up to $2,000, so you can earn $200 a month or $2,400 annually just for making your regular purchases. However, there's a catch; you must maintain an average daily balance of $1,500 otherwise your cash back percentage decreases to 0.5%. If you don't regularly keep a higher balance, I'd suggest one of the other cash back debit cards on this list.

In addition to the rewarding cash back options, Axos also offers unlimited reimbursements on non-network ATMs. If you travel often or live in a rural area with only a few ATMS, this can be a great feature. Member FDIC.

Pros
  • Easily pay others via its mobile app
  • Access to free online bill pay
  • Free access to your credit scores
Cons
  • High minimum account balance to get 1% cash back
  • Cashback rewards only apply to purchases that require a signature

Learn more in our Axos Bank review.

LendingClub LevelUp Checking

Great for: Unlimited cash back (on select categories)

Account details:

  • Rewards: Unlimited 1% cash back on qualified debit card purchases at gas stations, grocery stores, and pharmacies when you meet direct deposit requirements
  • Monthly fees: $0
  • ATM network: 40,000+ (and unlimited fee rebates for out-of-network machines)

LendingClub LevelUp Checking made our list because it earns up to 1% cash back on qualifying debit card purchases at gas stations, grocery stores, and pharmacies, with no limits. If you have a LendingClub loan, you can also earn up to 2% cash back on on-time payments you make toward your loan with this account.

This is a great cash back debit card, if the earning categories work for you, but we'd be inclined to recommend it to more people if it weren't for its requirements to qualify. You must receive at least one direct deposit into your checking account each month to be eligible for cash back. Otherwise, you won't earn any. This account is also members-only, which means you must have or have had a LendingClub account (either a loan or another banking account) to be eligible to apply. This is unusual and not ideal, especially if you don't want another account right now.

The account also earns an APY of up to 1.00% (as of 01/07/26), which is not the best you can find by any means but certainly nice to have in a cash back checking account.

Pros
  • No limits on cash back earning (and online purchases qualify)
  • Unlimited ATM fee reimbursements
  • Early direct deposit
Cons
  • No physical branches
  • Direct deposit activity requirements to qualify for cash back and APY
  • Must be a LendingClub member to open

Learn more in our LendingClub LevelUp Checking review.

Varo Online Bank Account

Great for: High cash back at select retailers

Account details:

  • Rewards: Up to 6% cash back on purchases at 10,000+ merchants
  • Monthly fees: $0
  • ATM network: 40,000+ (and unlimited fee rebates for out-of-network machines)

Varo Online Bank Accounts let you earn up to 6% cash back on eligible online and in-person purchases, which is one of the highest rates you'll find on a cash back debit card. It's better than some similar accounts, such as the Chime checking account, because you don't have to activate offers to qualify for them. You'll just earn cash back automatically at eligible retailers. That said, there's a pretty serious caveat for online spending, and it's part of the reason we didn't rank Varo higher: For online purchases, you have to visit the retailer's website through the Varo mobile app.

Varo Bank Accounts might also fall a little flat in terms of earning potential relative to the other checking accounts on this list, but it depends on how you spend. It offers cash back on spending at over 10,000 merchants, including a ton of really well-known brands. To name a few:

  • Costco
  • Lyft
  • CVS
  • Old Navy
  • Levi's

But that might not be as good as earning flat-rate cash back on all your spending, and you have to remember that offers can change. So a retailer you see in the offers page might not be there the next time you look, and you might earn considerably more or less some months. And no matter how you spend, cash back is capped at $200 per month (which is on the low side).

Pros
  • In-person and online purchases qualify for cash back
  • You don't have to activate any offers
Cons
  • Earning limit of $200 every month
  • Must visit merchant sites through Varo app to qualify for cash back on online spending

Learn more in our Varo Bank Review.

How to choose the best cash back debit card

While there are credit cards that offer 5% cash back on certain spending categories, debit cards don't typically offer similar rewards rates, but there are still factors you should consider, including:

  • Cashback rate: Look for a debit card that offers a higher cash back rate on most of your everyday purchases, since you'll use your card for these purchases most often. Some cards offer a flat cashback rate, while others may have tiered rates depending on your balance, account type, or purchase.
  • Fees and limitations: Consider any fees associated with the rewards debit card. Is there a monthly fee for the checking account? Do you have to maintain a minimum balance to earn the highest rewards? Are you limited to how much cash back you can earn? Look at the whole picture and calculate whether additional fees outweigh the potential rewards you could earn.
  • Compatibility with existing accounts: If you already have a checking account or other financial products with a specific bank, consider choosing a cash back debit card from the same institution. This can provide convenience in managing your accounts.

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Bank of America Advantage Banking
Up to $500 cash offer. Click ‘Learn More' for more details. Bank of America, N.A. Member FDIC.
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Use Cash App As Your All-in-One Financial Services Platform
Bank11 without all the fees—save, send, and spend your money the way you want.12 Get paid up to 2 days early – up to 2 days earlier than most banks13
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Enjoy $400 as a new Chase checking customer
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FAQs

Is it better to use a credit card or debit card?

It's not inherently better to use a credit card versus a debit card. It simply depends on your spending habits and your financial preferences. One of the main differences between credit cards and debit cards is that credit cards allow you to make purchases using credit that you pay back later. Debit cards typically allow you to spend only the amount of money that you have.

While there are some reasons to stop using your debit card and switch to one of the best rewards credit cards or best cash back credit cards, every financial situation is different. You might prefer to work on your credit score, build credit history, or simply prefer using debit cards. If that's the case, make sure to select one that helps you earn rewards for your daily purchases.

Are cash back debit cards worth it?

Cash back debit cards are worth using, especially if you don't use a cash back credit card that has a higher rewards rate. Cash back debit cards can also offer various features attached to their checking accounts. Some cash back debit cards can help you earn 1% or more on qualifying purchases.

Can someone access my bank account with my debit card?

A person may be able to access your bank account with your debit card, especially if they also have your PIN. Your debit card includes your card number, first and last name, CVV code, and card expiration date, among other information.

This information can be used online, over the phone, or in person to access funds in your bank account. To improve your security, make sure to activate measures that your financial institution may offer, including warnings against suspicious activities, two-factor authentication, and more.

Bottom line

Cash back debit cards can help you make the most of your everyday spending. When selecting a cash back debit card, always consider what you're looking for in a debit card as well as in the checking account attached to it. Make sure the offers are something you can benefit from and the rewards will outweigh any monthly fees. If you're ready to get your cash back debit card, check out our list of the best checking accounts to see which offer cashback rewards.

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