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Matt is a Certified Financial Planner™ and investment advisor based in Columbia, South Carolina. He writes personal finance and investment advice for The Ascent and its parent company The Motley Fool, with more than 4,500 published articles and a 2017 SABEW Best in Business award. Matt writes a weekly investment column ("Ask a Fool") that is syndicated in USA Today, and his work has been regularly featured on CNBC, Fox Business, MSN Money, and many other major outlets. He’s a graduate of the University of South Carolina and Nova Southeastern University, and holds a graduate certificate in financial planning from Florida State University.
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Fifth Third Bank offers three different cash back cards with solid rewards rates. All three have no annual fee and other key features. Read our full Fifth Third Bank credit cards review to see if one of them could be a good fit for you.
Credit Score:
Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good (670-850)
Poor
Fair
Good
Excellent
300-579
580-669
670-739
740-850
Credit Score
Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Good (670-850)
Intro APR
0% introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers for your first 21 billing cycles after the account is opened.
Purchases: 0%, 21 billing cycles
Balance Transfers: 0%, 21 billing cycles
Regular APR
16.24% - 27.24%, variable
Rewards
1% cash back
Annual Fee
None
Welcome Offer
N/A
Fifth Third Bank offers three different cash back credit cards with slightly different rewards rates and perks.
Read Full Review
Three different options
No annual fees
No foreign transaction fees
0% intro APR available
Top card isn't available to everyone
Better cash back rewards could be available
No unique benefits
0% intro APR for 21 months on purchases and balance transfers after your account opening. After that, your variable APR will be 16.24%-27.24%.
Earn unlimited 1% cash back on every purchase
No annual fee
No international transaction fees
Redeem your cash back anytime with no minimum
Contactless
Fifth Third 1.67% Cash/Back Card
Credit Score:
Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good (670-850)
Poor
Fair
Good
Excellent
300-579
580-669
670-739
740-850
Credit Score
Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Good (670-850)
Intro APR
0% introductory APR on balance transfers for the first 12 billing cycles after the account is opened.
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: 0% for 12 billing cycles
Regular APR
20.74% to 29.99% variable
Rewards
From grocery runs to gas fill-ups to dining out, whenever you use your Cash/Back card, you get 1.67% cash back.
1.67% cash back
Annual Fee
None
Welcome Offer
N/A
Fifth Third Bank offers three different cash back credit cards with slightly different rewards rates and perks.
Read Full Review
Three different options
No annual fees
No foreign transaction fees
0% intro APR available
Top card isn't available to everyone
Better cash back rewards could be available
No unique benefits
Earn unlimited 1.67% cash back with every purchase
No annual fee
No international transaction fees
Redeem your cash back anytime with no minimum
Contactless
Fifth Third Preferred Cash/Back Card
Credit Score:
Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good (670-850)
Poor
Fair
Good
Excellent
300-579
580-669
670-739
740-850
Credit Score
Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Good (670-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: 0%, 12 billing cycles
Regular APR
20.74% - 29.99% variable
Rewards
2% cash back
Annual Fee
None
Welcome Offer
N/A
Fifth Third Bank offers three different cash back credit cards with slightly different rewards rates and perks.
Read Full Review
Three different options
No annual fees
No foreign transaction fees
0% intro APR available
Top card isn't available to everyone
Better cash back rewards could be available
No unique benefits
Earn unlimited 2% cash back with every purchase
No annual fee
No international transaction fees
Redeem your cash back anytime with no minimum
Contactless
Full Fifth Third Bank credit cards review
This credit card is a good fit for: People who are looking for a basic cash back credit card, especially those who already have a banking relationship with Fifth Third Bank.
Top perks
Fifth Third Bank's credit cards are primarily focused on cash back rewards, and there are some perks that you might find attractive.
Three different cash back credit cards
Fifth Third Bank has three different cash back credit cards currently available:
Fifth Third 1.67% Cash/Back Card: The 1.67% cash back rate might sound odd, but it's a play on the bank's name (five-thirds of one percent). It earns this rewards rate on every purchase, has no annual fee, and has no foreign transaction fees.
Fifth Third 1% Cash/Back Card: The Fifth Third 1% Cash/Back Card has a lower 1% cash back rate, but also has an intro APR of 0%, 21 billing cycles on both purchases and balance transfers. It also has no annual fee or foreign transaction fees.
Fifth Third Preferred Cash/Back Card: The Fifth Third Preferred Cash/Back Card offers unlimited 2% cash back on all purchases. However, it is only open to Fifth Third Preferred Banking clients.
In addition to the three cash back credit cards offered by Fifth Third Bank, there's also the Fifth Third Secured Card that is designed for people who need to build or rebuild their credit. The secured credit card requires a deposit equal to your desired credit limit (at least $300), has a $24 annual fee, and works just like a regular credit card.
No annual fees
All three of Fifth Third Bank's cash back credit cards have no annual fees. The bank's secured card has a $24 annual fee, but this is rather low compared to some competing products.
No foreign transaction fees
This is a perk that is more often seen in travel-focused credit cards and can be valuable if you regularly travel overseas. Many credit cards (especially those without annual fees) charge an additional fee of about 3% for foreign transactions, which can add up if you take several overseas trips each year.
0% intro APR available
The 0%, 21 billing cycles intro APR from the Fifth Third 1% Cash/Back Card is one of the best offers in the industry, especially since it applies to both purchases and balance transfers. However, it's important to note that balance transfers have a fee, which is in line with most competitors. This card's is $5 or 4% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
Credit card comparison
We recommend comparing options to ensure the card you're selecting is the best fit for you. To make your search easier, here's a short list of standout credit cards.
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs. = Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor
Best for cash back on rotating categories
Discover will match all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year.
N/A
1% - 5% Cashback
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 unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases—automatically.
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs. = Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor
Best for cash back
Up to $300 cash back
Earn an extra 1.5% on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) — worth up to $300 cash back. That's 6.5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 4.5% on dining and drugstores, and 3% on all other purchases.
1.5% - 5% cash back
Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 1.5% on all other purchases
Intro:
0% Intro APR on Purchases and Balance Transfers for 15 months
Purchases: 0% Intro APR on Purchases, 15 months
Balance Transfers: 0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers, 15 months
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs. = Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor
Best for earning travel rewards
75,000 Miles
75,000 Miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
2X-5X miles
Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day. Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options.
As mentioned in the previous section, the Fifth Third Bank credit cards aren't the most competitive cash back credit card products in the market. Here are a few of the reasons why.
2% cash back card isn't available to everyone
While the 2% cash back rate from the Fifth Third Preferred Cash/Back Card is in line with industry leaders, it is only available to customers who have a Preferred Banking relationship with Fifth Third Bank. Meanwhile, there are some excellent 2% cash back credit cards available that don't require you to have a banking relationship.
Better cash back rates and intro perks may be available
There are some great credit cards in the market that not only have a 2% cash back rate on all purchases, but that also have excellent 0% intro APR offers on purchases and balance transfers. Fifth Third Bank only offers a 0% intro APR on its lowest-earning cash back card.
Few unique benefits
While it is common for no annual fee credit cards to offer little more than a rewards program, there are some that offer some unique perks. For example, there are some no-fee credit cards that give customers access to their FICO® Score, concert ticket pre-sales, benefits on hotel stays, and more.
No welcome offers
One of the biggest drawbacks to the Fifth Third Bank credit cards is that none of them advertise a welcome bonus. There are some no annual fee credit cards on our radar that offer $200 or more after meeting certain spending thresholds, and this can be a big differentiator when opening a new credit card.
Suggested credit score
With the exception of the secured credit card, we'd suggest having an above average credit score to apply for the Fifth Third Bank credit cards, which can be loosely defined as a FICO® Score of 700 or more. However, other factors such as your income and other debts are considered when applying, so it's entirely possible to get approved with a lower credit score or rejected with a higher score.
A Fifth Third Bank credit card is right for you if:
The cash back credit cards offered by Fifth Third Bank are best suited for people who have a Preferred Banking relationship with Fifth Third Bank and can qualify for the Fifth Third Preferred Cash/Back Card. Or, they can be solid products for people who simply want a basic cash back credit card.
Our credit card methodology
At The Motley Fool Ascent, we rate credit cards on a five-star scale (1 = poor, 5 = best). Our rating criteria includes rewards rates, welcome bonuses, fees, and perks like travel credits and 0% intro APR offers to evaluate our ratings.
We combine these factors with an evaluation of brand reputation and customer satisfaction to ensure you're getting the best card recommendations. Learn more about how The Ascent rates credit cards.
FAQs
Fifth Third Bank offers three different cash back credit cards. The most competitive is the Fifth Third Bank Fifth Third Preferred Cash/Back Card, which offers a 2% cash back rate on all purchases, but it is only available to Fifth Third's Preferred Banking customers.
Fifth Third Preferred Banking is a relationship benefit program offered to Fifth Third Bank customers, and is designed for people with relatively high account balances of $100,000 or more between deposit and investment accounts.
Fifth Third Bank offers a total of four credit cards as of November 2023. It has three different cash back credit cards -- the Fifth Third 1.67% Cash/Back Card, the Fifth Third 1% Cash/Back Card, and the Fifth Third Preferred Cash/Back Card. It also offers a secured credit card for people trying to establish or reestablish credit.
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We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent, a Motley Fool service, does not cover all offers on the market. The Ascent has a dedicated team of editors and analysts focused on personal finance, and they follow the same set of publishing standards and editorial integrity while maintaining professional separation from the analysts and editors on other Motley Fool brands.
Wells Fargo is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. American Express is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. Matt Frankel has positions in American Express and Wells Fargo. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Target and Visa. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Mastercard.
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Fact Checked
Nathan Alderman
