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How Does Discover Cashback Match Work?

3 min read
Last Updated: October 29, 2024
Credit card rewards

Key Takeaways

  1. With Discover Cashback Match, we’ll automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year. There is no limit to how much we’ll match.1

  2. Discover automatically matches the Miles you’ve earned on your credit card at the end of your first year.2

  3. To maximize your rewards, earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate.

Do you know about Discover’s Cashback program? This reward for all Discover cardmembers allows you to earn cash back by making purchases with your Discover credit card and then redeeming your rewards in a variety of ways. Only Discover automatically gives unlimited Cashback Match to all new cardmembers: we'll match all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year.1

How does Discover Cashback Match give you unlimited cash back?

With the Discover Cashback Match program, get an unlimited dollar-for-dollar match of all the cash back you earn at the end of your first year, automatically. There is no limit to how much we’ll match.1

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Once you get approval for a new account, you're automatically enrolled in Cashback Match. Cashback Match is only available for new cardmembers.

How long does Cashback Match last?

Discover Cashback Match starts the day you open your new account and goes through your first 365 days or 12 consecutive billing cycles, whichever is longer.

When do I get my Discover Cashback Match?

Within two billing periods of your Cashback Match ending, the Discover will add the final amount to your Cashback Bonus® account.

Maximize your Discover cash back rewards

There are ways you can earn even more Discover rewards with the Discover it® Cash Back card. 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 1% cash back on all other purchases - automatically.

How much Cashback Match can I earn?

Get an unlimited dollar-for-dollar match of all the cash back you earn at the end of your first year, automatically. There is no limit to how much we’ll match.1 You could turn $150 cash back to $300.1

How can I find out how much Discover cash back I've earned so far?

While you're in Cashback Match, you can track how much you've earned by visiting the Cashback Summary page.

Redeem your Discover cash back rewards for…

  • Cash: Redeem your Cashback Bonus®—any amount, any time.3
  • Pay With Cashback Bonus®: Use any amount of your rewards to help pay for your next Amazon.com purchase.4
  • Gift Cards: Discover cash back credit cards also let you redeem for gift cards to popular brands. Get gift cards with at least 5% added value on every card.
  • Charity: Make a difference and donate to a charitable cause.

What happens if I redeem Cashback Bonus® before receiving my Cashback Match award?

You can redeem your Cashback Bonus®—any amount, any time.3 This won’t impact your Match award. So Discover will still match any Cashback Bonus® that you redeem prior to Cashback Match ending.

What Cashback Bonus® qualifies for Cashback Match?

Discover will match all Cashback Bonus® you earn while your account is enrolled in Cashback Match. Cashback Bonus® is earned when it's processed, which may be after the transaction date.

What Cashback Bonus® doesn't qualify for Cashback Match?

Rewards that are processed after your Cashback Match ends are not matched. This also applies to Cashback Bonus® earned from promotional offers you may receive from Discover outside of your standard rewards program. Additionally, statement credits and transfers from Discover checking are not matched.

Did you know?

New travel cardmembers also get this benefit with the Discover it® Miles card. Earn unlimited 1.5x Miles on travel purchases and all your everyday purchases.5 Turn Miles into cash. Or redeem as a statement credit for your travel purchases like airfare, hotels, rideshares, gas stations, restaurants and more.5

Why didn’t I receive my Discover Cashback Match award?

If your account is closed, revoked, bankrupt, or charged-off before we calculate your Cashback Match award at the end of your Match earning period, your rewards will not be matched.

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  1. Cashback Match: We’ll match all the cash back you’ve earned on your credit card from the day your new account is approved through your first 12 consecutive billing periods or 365 days, whichever is longer, and add it to your rewards account within two billing periods. You earn cash back only when they’re processed, which may be after the transaction date. We will not match: rewards that are processed after your match period ends; statement credits; rewards transfers from Discover checking or other deposit accounts; or rewards for accounts that are closed. This offer may not be available in the future and is exclusively for new cardmembers. No purchase minimums.

  2. Miles Match®: We’ll match all the Miles you’ve earned on your credit card from the day your new account is approved through your first 12 consecutive billing periods or 365 days, whichever is longer, and add it to your rewards account within two billing periods. You earn Miles only when they’re processed, which may be after the transaction date. We will not match: rewards that are processed after your match period ends; statement credits; rewards transfers from Discover checking or other deposit accounts; or rewards for accounts that are closed. This offer may not be available in the future and is exclusively for new cardmembers. No purchase minimums.

  3. Rewards Redemption: Rewards never expire. We reserve the right to determine the method to disburse your rewards balance. We will credit your Account or send you a check with your rewards balance if your Account is closed. You may be unable to redeem rewards in some limited situations such as when you choose to use an electronic funds transfer to redeem rewards to a new (unverified) deposit account.

  4. Use Rewards at Amazon.com: For complete details on how to Pay with Rewards at Amazon.com see Amazon.com/DiscoverRewards. Amazon is not a sponsor of this promotion. Amazon, the Amazon.com logo, the smile logo and all related marks are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. To redeem your rewards at checkout, you must select the Discover Card from which you want to redeem rewards. If you do not pay for your full purchase with rewards, you may use the Discover Card from which the rewards were applied or an Amazon.com Gift Card to pay for the remainder of your purchase. You may not use a credit card from an issuer other than Discover or another Discover credit card enrolled in Shop with Points in conjunction with the rewards transaction.

  5. Redeem Miles: Starting at 1 Mile, you can redeem your Miles as a credit to your account to pay for all or part of your bill, for cash as an electronic deposit to your bank account, or for a credit for Travel Purchases made on your statement within the last 180 days. Each Mile is equal to $0.01. Miles cannot be redeemed directly with a specific airline carrier. Travel Purchases include airline tickets, hotel rooms, car rentals, travel agents, online travel sites, commuter transportation, restaurants and gas stations. Restaurant purchases include those made at merchants classified as full-service restaurants, cafes, cafeterias, fast-food locations, and restaurant delivery services. Gas Station purchases include those made at merchants classified as places that sell automotive gasoline that can be bought at the pump or inside the station. Gas Stations affiliated with supermarkets, supercenters, and wholesale clubs may not be eligible. Even if a travel purchase on your statement appears to fit in a Travel Purchase category, the merchant may not have a merchant category code (MCC) in a Travel Purchase category. Merchants and payment processors are assigned an MCC based on their typical products and services. Discover Card does not assign MCCs to merchants. Certain third-party payment accounts and digital wallet transactions may not be eligible for credit redemption if the technology does not provide sufficient transaction details or a qualifying MCC. See Terms and Conditions for more information.

  • Legal Disclaimer: This site is for educational purposes and is not a substitute for professional advice. The material on this site is not intended to provide legal, investment, or financial advice and does not indicate the availability of any Discover product or service. It does not guarantee that Discover offers or endorses a product or service. For specific advice about your unique circumstances, you may wish to consult a qualified professional.

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