Desjardins Cash Back Mastercard Review

3.00

★★★★★

$0.00

Annual Fee

$294.00

Annual Rewards

N/A

Intro Offer

$0.00

Annual fee

$294.00

Annual rewards

N/A

Intro offer


Pros


  • No annual fee
  • 1% cash back on all purchases
  • 2% cash back on groceries
  • Flexible cash back redemption
  • Purchase protection and extended warranty
  • Mobile device insurance coverage

Cons


  • Limited travel insurance benefits
  • Lower cash back rate compared to premium credit cards
  • 2% cash back on groceries capped at $400 per month
  • No bonus cash back categories or rewards partners

How you earn rewards

Each card earns rewards differently. Part of choosing your card is deciding what type of rewards you want to get. With Desjardins Cash Back Mastercard, here’s how you earn rewards:

Bills2%
Restaurants / Delivery2%
All Other Spend1%

How much your rewards are worth

The dollar value of your rewards depends on the specific Desjardins Group rewards program and what you choose to redeem your points for.

For Desjardins Cash Back Mastercard in particular, if you spend $2,000.00 per month, here’s our estimated rewards earned depending on which reward you choose:

Redemption methodAnnual rewards
Apply to statement credit$2.47

Calculating your annual rewards

$24,000.00 annual spending x $1.23% return on spending = $294.00 annual rewards

$294.00 annual rewards – $0.00 annual fee = $$294.00 net annual rewards

Details and eligibility

Do I qualify?
Estimated Credit Score760 – 900
Interest Rates
Purchase19.9%
Cash Advance19.9%
Balance Transfer19.9%
Fees
Extra Card Fee$0
Card typeMasterCard

Insurance coverage

Extended Warranty1 year
Purchase Protection90 days
Travel Accident10000
Emergency Medical Term3 days
Emergency Medical over 653 days
Trip Cancellation500
Trip Interruption1000
Baggage Delay500
Lost or Stolen Baggage500
Mobile Phone Insurance1000

Desjardins Cash Back Mastercard Review

The Desjardins Cash Back Mastercard is a popular options for Canadians seeking a straightforward credit card with a focus on cash back rewards. Here, we’ll dive into the card’s earning potential, benefits, drawbacks, and other relevant information to help you decide if it’s the right choice for you.

Earning Potential:

The Desjardins Cash Back Mastercard earns cash back on every purchase, with no categories to keep track of – making it a perfect option for those who prefer simplicity. Cardholders earn 1% cash back per dollar spent on all purchases, regardless of the spending category. This means that whether you’re shopping for groceries, dining out, or booking travel, you’ll accumulate cash back effortlessly.

Benefits:

Benefit 1: The first major advantage of this card is its simplicity. With a flat 1% cash back rate for all purchase categories, you won’t have to worry about complicated reward systems or constantly monitoring your spending habits to maximize your rewards.

Benefit 2: Another advantage of the Desjardins Cash Back Mastercard is the absence of an annual fee. This allows cardholders to enjoy the benefits of cash back rewards without having to spend a certain amount each year to offset the cost of an annual fee.

Benefit 3: This credit card also offers a purchase protection and extended warranty on eligible items purchased with the card. This means you’ll have peace of mind knowing that you’re covered in case of theft, loss, or damage within a specified time period and receive extended warranty coverage on your purchases.

Benefit 4: The Desjardins Cash Back Mastercard provides access to exclusive Mastercard experiences and offers through the Priceless Cities program. This program could provide you with exciting experiences, dining deals, and shopping offers in select cities around the world.

Drawbacks:

Drawback 1: A significant drawback of the Desjardins Cash Back Mastercard is its relatively low cash back rate. While the 1% cash back is easy to understand and can accumulate over time, there are other credit cards on the market that offer higher cash back rates or bonus points in key spending categories.

Drawback 2: The second drawback is the card’s limited travel benefits. The card doesn’t provide any travel insurance coverage, airport lounge access, or special travel-related rewards, making it less appealing for frequent travelers. If travel features are a priority, you may want to consider other credit card options.

Additional Information:

Overall, the Desjardins Cash Back Mastercard can be a solid choice for those who want a simple cash back rewards card without an annual fee. It offers basic rewards on all purchases and comes with Mastercard-backed benefits, while not being as feature-rich as some competitor’s offerings. Assess your spending habits and priorities when comparing this card to others on the market to ensure you pick the perfect credit card for your unique financial situation.

Interested in other credit cards? If the Desjardins Cash Back Mastercard credit card isn’t perfect for you, you might want to consider the Desjardins Bonus Visa. Plus, many Canadian’s that like the Desjardins Cash Back Mastercard like the Desjardins Cash Back Visa, and the Desjardins Cash Back World Elite Mastercard.

FAQ

The Desjardins Cash Back Mastercard allows cardholders to redeem their accumulated cash back rewards in several convenient ways. Here are the detailed redemption options:

  • Statement credit: You can choose to apply your cash back directly to your account balance as a statement credit. This will help reduce your overall credit card balance and save on interest charges.
  • Deposit into a Desjardins Financial account: Cardholders can opt to deposit their cash back rewards into a Desjardins chequing account or savings account. This allows you to use the rewards towards everyday expenses or savings goals.
  • Contribution to a Desjardins investment product: Another option is to invest your cash back into a Desjardins investment product, such as a term savings product, RRSP, RESP, or TFSA. This can be an excellent way to grow your wealth or save for a future goal.
  • Donation to a charitable organization: You can choose to donate your cash back rewards directly to a pre-approved charitable organization. This way, you can support a cause that is important to you while enjoying the convenience of a cash back rewards program.

The Desjardins Cash Back Mastercard credit card charges a foreign transaction fee of 2.5%. This fee applies when you make a purchase in a foreign currency or when the purchase is processed by a foreign merchant, which means you will incur this fee when using the card for international traveling and shopping online from retailers located outside of Canada.

The Desjardins Cash Back Mastercard credit card does not have a specific minimum income requirement. This makes it an accessible option for applicants with various income levels.

Key benefits

  • Interest rate: 19.9%
  • Cash advances: 22.9%
  • Balance transfer: 22.9%
  • Grace period: 21 days
  • Minimum payment: Greater of $10 or 3% of total balance
  • No foreign transaction fees besides exchange rate markup
  • Credit limit: Subject to credit approval and income verification
  • Eligibility requirements: Canadian resident, good credit history
  • Additional benefits: Auto rental collision and loss damage insurance
  • Online account access: Monitor transactions, update information, pay bills, manage cash back rewards

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