The American Express Cashback Credit Card: It keeps things simple — instead of juggling conversion rates or redemption rules, you get actual cashback credited to your account once a year. It’s a card designed for people who want tangible value with minimal fuss.
How It Works
Every eligible purchase earns you cashback, and the process is automatic. In the first three months, new cardholders can take advantage of a 5% cashback rate on spending up to £2,500. That’s worth up to £125 back — a useful boost if you have big-ticket purchases planned or simply spend more during that period.
Once the introductory window closes, the ongoing structure is:
- 1% cashback on annual spending up to £10,000
- 1.25% cashback on annual spending above £10,000
There’s no need to track or redeem points — the cashback is credited directly to your account once a year. The only requirement is meeting the £3,000 annual spend threshold to qualify.
Key Benefits
- Earn up to £125 cashback in the first three months
- Enjoy a higher 1.25% cashback rate after £10,000 annual spend
- Accepted at over 30 million locations worldwide
- Access Amex Offers with tailored discounts from major UK and online retailers
- Includes purchase protection and refund protection
- Representative APR of 31.0% variable (as of 2025)
Fees & Costs
- Annual fee: £25
- Representative APR: 31.0% variable (includes the fee)
- Minimum annual spend to earn cashback: £3,000
- Up to 56 days interest-free on purchases when the balance is cleared in full
While there is a £25 yearly fee, regular users who put most of their spending on the card can easily earn back more than they pay — particularly those whose purchases fit well with Amex’s acceptance network.
Side-by-Side with UK Competitors
Feature / Card | Amex Cashback Credit Card | Barclaycard Rewards Visa | Halifax Cashback Mastercard |
Intro Cashback | 5% (3 months) | None | £20 bonus after £1,000 spend |
Standard Cashback | 1%–1.25% | 0.25% | 0.5% |
Annual Fee | £25 | £0 | £0 |
Purchase Protection | Yes | Limited | Limited |
Foreign Fees | 2.99% | 0% | 2.95% |
Who It’s Best For
- Families with high supermarket bills – Many leading grocery chains accept Amex, so regular food shopping can generate consistent cashback.
- Frequent online buyers – The card is widely accepted by UK e-commerce sites, and Amex Offers can add extra savings.
- Shoppers making large purchases – Items like furniture, electronics, or holidays during the intro period can maximise returns.
Real-World Value
Take a household spending roughly £1,000 a month:
- First 3 months: £125 from the introductory rate
- Remaining 9 months: Around £112.50 at 1% cashback
- Total in year one: About £237.50. After the £25 fee, that’s £212.50 net gain.
It’s a solid option for consistent spenders who value automatic, no-nonsense rewards and don’t want to worry about points systems or complex redemptions.