BMO Cash Back Mastercard
BMO and related product names are trademarks of their respective owners. Madeen is not affiliated with, sponsored by, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of BMO. Madeen is an independent credit-card comparison and education service. Issuer websites control current terms, fees, and eligibility.
How we calculate effective rate →
The BMO Cash Back Mastercard from BMO earns up to 5% effective value on other in Madeen's catalog snapshot. It has no annual fee. New applicants may see: Earn $250 cash back when you spend $2,000 in the first three months of account opening.
- Top category
- Other
- Effective value
- 5%
- Annual fee
- $0
Best for other-heavy spend when you want to avoid an annual fee; confirm issuer terms before applying. Best for spenders who put meaningful volume in other and can earn 5% back. The welcome bonus can help if you can meet the spend requirement.
What does the BMO Cash Back Mastercard earn in each category?
Other is the strongest category at 5% effective value (5% back). That other rate ranks higher than about 93% of the 2,849 cards we track in that category. The five-category effective-rate table on this page shows how BMO Cash Back Mastercard compares across dining, grocery, gas, travel, and other spend. Catalog spend signals highlight music and audio at 5x among.
Other is the strongest category at 5% effective value (5% back). That other rate ranks higher than about 93% of the 2,849 cards we track in that category. The five-category effective-rate table on this page shows how BMO Cash Back Mastercard compares across dining, grocery, gas, travel, and other spend.
| Category | Earn rate | Effective value |
|---|---|---|
| Dining Restaurants, cafes, takeout | 1% back | 1% |
| Grocery Supermarkets and grocery stores | 3% back | 3% |
| Gas Gas stations and fuel | 3% back | 3% |
| Travel Flights, hotels, transit | 1% back | 1% |
| Other General everyday spend | 5% back | 5% Top category |
Madeen values cash back at about 1 cents each. Madeen compares every card using this cash-equivalent estimate while still showing the raw earn rate for context.
What are the BMO Cash Back Mastercard reward caps and conditions?
The BMO Cash Back Mastercard has 1 notable cap or condition rule(s) in Madeen's catalog, including activation windows, spend limits, and category exclusions. Review each bullet below before assuming unlimited earn rates.
- Capped at $2500 per quarter.
Who should get the BMO Cash Back Mastercard?
The BMO Cash Back Mastercard fits spenders who put meaningful volume in other and can earn 5% back. Best for spenders who put meaningful volume in other and can earn 5% back. The welcome bonus can help if you can meet the spend requirement.
BMO Cash Back Mastercard fits spenders who put meaningful volume in other and can earn 5% back. Madeen ranks its other effective rate higher than about 93% of the catalog in that category. Compare it against cards you already carry with Madeen — no bank login required.
Best for spenders who put meaningful volume in other and can earn 5% back. The welcome bonus can help if you can meet the spend requirement.
Foreign transaction fees make it weaker for international spend.
Best for other-heavy spend when you want to avoid an annual fee; confirm issuer terms before applying.
Pros
- Strongest Madeen category is other at about 5% effective (5% back).
- That other rate ranks higher than about 93% of cards we track in the category.
- No annual fee in our catalog snapshot.
- Welcome bonus may add value if you can meet spend requirements.
Cons
- Charges $3 foreign transaction fees.
What is the BMO Cash Back Mastercard welcome bonus?
In Madeen's catalog snapshot, the BMO Cash Back Mastercard welcome offer is Earn $250 cash back when you spend $2,000 in the first three months of account opening. Minimum spend, eligibility, and offer windows are set by the issuer and can change — confirm on the issuer application page before applying.
- Offer
- $250
- Terms (catalog snapshot)
- Earn $250 cash back when you spend $2,000 in the first three months of account opening
- Minimum spend
- $2,000
- Window
- 3Months
Does the BMO Cash Back Mastercard have an annual fee?
The BMO Cash Back Mastercard has an annual fee of $0 and a foreign transaction fee of $3. Confirm current fees on the issuer page before applying.
- Annual fee
- $0
- Foreign transaction fee
- $3
What benefits come with the BMO Cash Back Mastercard?
The BMO Cash Back Mastercard includes Cell Phone Protection, Global emergency services, HealthLock in our snapshot. Perks and benefits can change; verify coverage on the issuer site before you rely on them.
Cell Phone Protection
$7,200/yrUp to $400 in coverage. Must charge your monthly wireless telephone bill to your card.
Mastercard Transit Benefit
$200/yrSave when you tap and go with your eligible Mastercard and receive a $2.50 statement credit when you spend $10 or more each month at participating transit systems.
Instacart
$140/yrGroceries and more delivered in as fast as one hour. Get $10 off your second order each month, and new Instacart+ members can also get three free months of Instacart+.
Global emergency services
$10/yrCall 1-800-MASTERCARD (1-800-627-8372) for 24/7 assistance to report a lost or stolen card.
HealthLock
$10/yrEnjoy a HealthLock for Mastercard Medical Claim Monitor complimentary membership plus a 90-day upgrade to all HealthLock services at no monthly cost.
Mastercard Golf
$10/yrGet exclusive PGA TOUR® experiences and access amazing golf benefits with our Golf Concierge Service.
Mastercard ID Theft Protection
$10/yrMonitor your credit file for fraud, get alerts for suspicious activity and access a resolution specialist.
Mastercard Music and Entertainment Access benefit
$10/yrMastercard gives you exclusive access to ticket presales at top venues and festivals across the U.S. Eligibility restrictions, exclusions and terms apply. Offer expires 3/31/2027.
Mastercard Travel
$10/yrBrowse exclusive Mastercard benefits, book travel, get hotel upgrades and more.
Priceless Experiences
$10/yrEnjoy experiences in culture, dining, sports, entertainment and more in over 45 exciting destinations around the globe.
Protection wherever you shop
$10/yrWith Mastercard Zero Liability protection you’re protected against unauthorized transactions in stores, online and in app.
Related encyclopedia topics
Common questions about the BMO Cash Back Mastercard
Where do cardholders spend most with the BMO Cash Back Mastercard?
Madeen's RewardsCC catalog snapshot shows the strongest bonus categories on music and audio (5x), tv and movies (5x), groceries (3x) for the BMO Cash Back Mastercard. These are anonymized issuer category signals, not individual cardholder transactions. Route everyday spend through categories that match your habits, then compare effective rates with Madeen at checkout.
Does the BMO Cash Back Mastercard have an annual fee?
The BMO Cash Back Mastercard carries an annual fee of $0 in Madeen's catalog snapshot. Issuer terms can change, so confirm the current fee on the issuer's site before you apply. Madeen does not predict approval or prequalification.
What category earns the most with the BMO Cash Back Mastercard?
Other is the strongest Madeen category for the BMO Cash Back Mastercard at about 5% effective value, based on our catalog snapshot and standard point valuations. Other categories are listed in the effective-rate table on this page.
Does the BMO Cash Back Mastercard charge foreign transaction fees?
The BMO Cash Back Mastercard charges a foreign transaction fee of $3 in our catalog snapshot. Check issuer terms before international spend because rates and fee waivers can change.
What is the BMO Cash Back Mastercard welcome bonus?
The BMO Cash Back Mastercard welcome offer in our snapshot: Earn $250 cash back when you spend $2,000 in the first three months of account opening. Minimum spend, eligibility, and offer windows are set by the issuer and can change.
What credit score do you need for the BMO Cash Back Mastercard?
Madeen's catalog lists a typical credit range of Good for the BMO Cash Back Mastercard. Issuers decide approval using their own criteria; Madeen does not predict approval odds or prequalification.
How does the BMO Cash Back Mastercard compare to similar cards?
Compare the BMO Cash Back Mastercard against BMO Escape (4% on Dining, $150 fee); BMO Business Platinum Rewards (3% on Gas, $0 fee); BMO Premium Rewards Mastercard (3% on Dining, $95 fee). Madeen ranks effective value by category and annual fee using the same catalog snapshot dated 2026-05-01.
| Card | Top category | Effective value | Annual fee |
|---|---|---|---|
BMO Cash Back Mastercard This card | Other | 5% | $0 |
| Dining | 4% | $150 | |
| Gas | 3% | $0 | |
| Dining | 3% | $95 | |
| Grocery | 2% | $0 |
Side-by-side comparisons
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BMO and related product names are trademarks of their respective owners. Madeen is not affiliated with, sponsored by, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of BMO. Madeen is an independent credit-card comparison and education service. Issuer websites control current terms, fees, and eligibility.
Madeen compares cards you add to your wallet using published catalog rules — no bank login required. Issuer pages control current fees, caps, exclusions, and eligibility; Madeen does not issue cards, make approval decisions, or provide financial advice. Apply links are temporarily hidden on madeen.app. Affiliate disclosure