Bank Of The West Cash Back Mastercard Review – 3% On Groceries, Dining & Gas Purchases [AZ, CA, CO, ID, IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, NV, NM, ND, OK, OR, SD, UT, WA, WI, WY]

In this review we will look at the Cash Back Mastercard from Bank of The West. You may be familiar with them due to the fact they frequently offer checking account sign up bonuses (some examples can be found here).

Card Basics

  • No sign up bonus (might be a $100 bonus after $1,000 in spend in branch)
  • No annual fee
  • Card earns at the following rates:
    • 3% cash back on groceries & dining with no limit
    • 3% cash back on gas purchases up to $1,500 per quarter, then it reverts to 1% cash back
    • 1% cash back on all other purchases
  • Cash back is automatically applied to your account as statement credit each quarter.
  • Limited to the following states: AZ, CA, CO, ID, IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, NV, NM, ND, OK, OR, SD, UT, WA, WI, WY

cashback mastercard

Our Verdict

Groceries, dining & gas are all popular categories that many people spend a lot of money in, that being said for most people there will be better options available:

Using it for every day purchases doesn’t make sense as 1% is easily beat (full list of better cards here). It’s also important to remember that this card doesn’t come with a sign up bonus. If you already have a 2% cash back card, then this basically just gives you an extra 1% in specific categories. You’d need to spend $10,000 in those categories to earn $100 (and that’s a pretty small cash sign up bonus).

For the majority of people this card just doesn’t make sense, I’d guess it only really makes sense for people that are manufactured spending large amounts at grocery stores and already maxing out other cards. In that case it’s really going to depend on what sort of limits & cycling Bank of The West are comfortable with.

One of the things I do like about this card is the fact that you get your cash back (actually statement credit) on a quarterly basis without having to meet a minimum threshold level.

What are your thoughts of this card? Let me know in the comments below.

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DS
DS (@guest_1031876)
August 7, 2020 14:02

Entertained by the dialog between Al and William………both having good points of view. In the card market today, you will not find a no annual fee card with a better value proposition for the average consumer spend. 3% on gas, dining and grocery offered by this Bank of the West card and UMB when you do the math will provide maximum cash back if you only want one card in your wallet. My personal strategy is to have 3 cards: Citi Costco card – 4% Costco Gas, 3% restaurants/travel, 2% Costco + Bank of the West – 3% on non Costco Gas, 3% grocery, 3% dining + Bank of America Cash Card – set your 3% category to online purchases. That combination is really hard to beat. + Find a wife to maximize 2 household credit files and apply for cash back bonuses every 6 months on a rotation. Most important to watch your credit score monthly. If it dips below 760 stop what you are doing and let your credit file rest.

Great info on this sight doctor of credit, you have made my independent searches for bonuses super easy.

Jimmy Bluffit
Jimmy Bluffit (@guest_967782)
April 29, 2020 21:02

They are giving away a $150 bonus now for 1k spent in 90 days. Not a bad deal, might do it.

SeanK
SeanK (@guest_799359)
August 16, 2019 18:08

Was in branch the other day and they were giving away thermoflask water bottle when you sign up for the card. Obviously didn’t do it but great to read about the review since I didn’t know much about the card. Thanks!

Jx
Jx (@guest_799353)
August 16, 2019 17:50

Got an offer to spend $1500 for a $150 bonus in the mail, I don’t have any product from BOW.

The Value Traveler
The Value Traveler (@guest_621965)
July 25, 2018 20:25

I received this in the mail with an offer of $150 cash back after spending $1000 in 3 mths. I opened a checking account about 5 mths back to get $150, which I just got now. 3% unlimited cash back for groceries is pretty good, especially when you have access to VGCs …

Hannah F
Hannah F (@guest_606303)
June 16, 2018 10:00

I’m currently just trying to understand why the credit card has a pin # like a debit card?

Wong
Wong (@guest_606372)
June 16, 2018 15:59

Probably for cash advances

Al
Al (@guest_590701)
May 5, 2018 04:40

Will I know you got an associate join you at the end of this discussion with some slang but it shows me who you guys are and what is going on inside, I noticed you edited one of my comments as well and deleted a thing or two. Anyways Amex Blue everyday now running a promo for $150 bonus and I’ll leave the link under since it is very similar and comparable to the one you hate! Amex gives 3% back on Groceries and 2% Gas and 1% on rest. This is just to show you some math again and hopefully potential readers can decide on their own. per our previous Scenario of $3600 groceries, $3000 Gas, and $2500 Restaurant a year (all below average figures) BOW card holders earn 1% more on gas and 2% more restaurant which means $30 and $50 more respectively total of $80 per year. So in just 2 years it is $160 and beats the $150 Bonus Promo by Amex. Imagine if those customers charge more on gas or fast food or restaurants they possibly could beat that $150 bonus a lot sooner. it was never about one card like BOW it is about any card with some desirable reward categories even without bonus promo.

Anyways this is the Link for the Amex Blue
https://www.americanexpress.com/us/credit-cards/card-application/apply/blue-cash-everyday-credit-card/28009-10-0#/

AP
AP (@guest_625465)
August 1, 2018 22:32

LOL this guy has to be a troll, stop wasting your time doc. You spelled out the math no need to engage further

Al
Al (@guest_588211)
April 30, 2018 18:17

Hi, I wonder why an experienced credit doc says such a thing! “For the majority of people this card just doesn’t make sense, I’d guess it only really makes sense for people that are manufactured spending large amounts at grocery stores and already maxing out other cards. In that case it’s really going to depend on what sort of limits & cycling Bank of The West are comfortable with.”
Other than new Uber card 4% on restaurant which no one knows how long that would last (like everything else with Barclays such as Sallie Mae or Cash-Forward) which other card gives you more on Restaurant including fast foods with no caps?! when comes to Groceries 3% with no caps and no annual fees is as good as it gets other than some limited credit unions & Amex Blue. Also 3% on gas with a reasonable cap is a decent reward. This card is unique in nowadays credit market and for most people would serve as a great primary card in addition to the Citi Double Cash Back. I really don’t get why most of the time credit guru over-hype value of sign-up bonuses. Cards with these types of rewards pay multiple times in cash back during their life than their sign up bonus. You want to get a card that you intend to keep and use and if everyone just focused on the value of bonuses then we end up having to apply frequently and have a credit profile which shows a very young credit history and fails to prove the real age or chronicity of our credit profile!

Al
Al (@guest_588435)
May 1, 2018 02:59

No dear, I never even stepped in one of their branches to date. If you check you see I am posting my comments on this page which is only for those who found the exclusive link for it and in my comments for the best restaurant cards I did not even use Bank of the West as full name and typed BOW instead! Encouraging your readers to focus on the sign-up bonuses and neglecting the true everyday value of a card is simply misguiding your readers and gives wrong impression to those newcomers in this tricky field. There are impending sign-up bonuses for new cards almost every week or month, should I apply for a one that gives $150 or $200 or 20000 points (after those qualified spending met) but the reward program is not desirable and I likely stop using the card after the bonus, or Get a card that I know will meet my needs and can use on a regular basis which has sub-par or no sign up bonus.but great reward program. For example I would get the Sallie Mae MasterCard in a heart-beat if it was offered again today with no Sign-up bonus but is a shame that I had to close it when it was changed to Commence.

Al
Al (@guest_588573)
May 1, 2018 11:45

If you spend just $5000 in the first year in those 3% categories you get your $150 worth of cash back in that same First Year and after that is just win for you year after year after year using that card compared to those cards with less rewards! It’s not as complicated as you are making it doc!

Al
Al (@guest_589073)
May 2, 2018 04:20

Even if I go by what you’re falsely claiming that are many of them, the 2% reward cards with $200 bonus! (just read your own review in the best cards for restaurants and see how many of those 2% reward cards you announced have annual fees?!) these days most common bonus amount is between $100 to $150 but still I give you a break and lets compare your ideal manufactured card with 2% reward $200 bonus and no annual fees with this card, assuming one makes only $10000 in purchases per whole year for combined Gas, Grocery, and Restaurants, (which is less than average for majority of the people) So this is extra 1% per 10000 which is additional $100 per year and in only two years cardholder be ahead and will stay ahead for years to come but your guided clients every two years need to search for another card and this is the best case scenario for them!

Al
Al (@guest_589186)
May 2, 2018 12:21

I have the same impression exactly about your comments as well that you do not get the idea of an ideal reward card, since with your advise your clients should apply for a new card every year or at least every two years! This significantly reduces the average age of their credit and harms their score, hence I suggest you change the website name to Doctor of Rewards not Credit!

Al
Al (@guest_589282)
May 2, 2018 15:35
  Al

“Doctor of One-Time Reward” to be more transparent but for that people could use other money blogs

Al
Al (@guest_589236)
May 2, 2018 14:18

10000 in purchases per whole year for combined Gas, Grocery, and Restaurants, as such:
$300/Mo Groceries = $3600
$285/Mo Gas = $3420
$250/ Restaurant & Fast Food = $3000
total $10020

Is this surprisingly high amount for you?

Al
Al (@guest_589286)
May 2, 2018 15:41
  Al

If you spend more than this on groceries and you want 5% yes go get Amex Blue Preferred and pay annual fees which offsets your rewards ! So Which other card gives 5% back on groceries all- year-long Doc with No annual fees?!!!
Please en-light us with your insight ?!!

Al
Al (@guest_589714)
May 3, 2018 03:09

As I just asked you earlier if you at least could announce or declare one card currently available that as you claim gives 5% back on groceries all the time hassle free with no annual fees then I happily forgive this blog but if you don’t have such a card in your pocket please be honest and transparent to your readers. I criticized your original verdict on this card and still do since I find your dislike for such cash back rewards totally unusual and odd! There ain’t many or better alternatives out there for these 3 common categories all combined in one card and disregarding it due to sign-up bonus is invalid and unprofessional! The comparable alternatives are credit unions and UMB Card and Let’s be clear; No I don’t want only one card, I want a card that I can keep and use and not throw away after just one or two years. Hope this Helps.

Curmudgeon
Curmudgeon (@guest_589721)
May 3, 2018 04:59
  Al

Al – whatever you’re smokin’ you need to bundle it up and sell it. You’ll make a fortune.

Al
Al (@guest_589964)
May 3, 2018 14:53

Did you find the quote in your Fortune Cookie or made it with your own vocabulary. Seems like it has been you smoking all this time and hiding then just woke up and showed up all of the sudden at the end, or if this is someone from the site pretending to be Cumudgeon?! Hay if you know grocery cards with 5% rewards with no fees just reply or please go back to your sleep!

David
David (@guest_741722)
April 1, 2019 00:37
  Al

Not sure if still on the blog but this Al gal is being very dumb. DoC has a page dedicated to this type of thing already.

Ex. https://www.doctorofcredit.com/best-credit-card-for-grocery-store-purchases/#Old_American_Express_Blue_Cash_5_Cash_Back_After_6500_In_Spend_No_Annual_Fee_50000_Limit

Jeff H
Jeff H (@guest_375099)
March 22, 2017 18:02

Looks like a nice replacement for Santander Bank Bravo for the same category 3%. Santander has annual fee or excessive checking deposit and minimum rewards balance to collect. This card lacks both problems.
I like one card for all three categories . KISS plan in action.
I am not applying at this time as I have a few more months of Bravo before I am threated by annual fee. I am trying to reduce my hard pulls for now.

Raul
Raul (@guest_354734)
February 16, 2017 12:28

They would except they are not too tech savvy so the auto redeem to bank account is a big plus and they already bank with Bank of the West since it’s the only Bank in their small town. 99% of their daily purchases would fall into the 3 categories since they buy just about everything they need at the local grocery store or Food Co when they do go into the city. A 2% card would also make more sence for them if they also didn’t pay for most their bills with checks.