Top questions

What is Rakuten In-Store Cash Back?

In-Store Cash Back allows Rakuten members to earn Cash Back when shopping in person at participating local retail stores. Now you can earn online and in-store!

How do I earn In-Store Cash Back?

Earning Cash Back in store is simple! Just link one or more eligible American Express, Mastercard or Visa credit cards to your Rakuten account and add available In-Store Cash Back offers to your card(s). When you shop at participating local stores and pay with your eligible linked card, you’ll automatically earn Cash Back on qualifying purchases. Cash Back will typically be added to your Rakuten account within seven days of your purchase. If you’re using a debit card for purchase, do not enter your PIN and process the payment as credit.

Do I need to upload a receipt when I make a purchase?

No, you don’t need to upload a receipt to earn Cash Back. Simply pay with the credit card that has your in-store offer. We do recommend that you keep your receipt in the rare event that you do not receive Cash Back as expected. We’ll need your receipt to verify your transaction.

How do I know my credit card information is secure?

Rakuten takes your privacy and security very seriously. Your credit card data is safely stored in a secure, encrypted environment that has been certified as compliant by the Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council (PCI). Visit PCI’s site to learn more about PCI compliance. For more information on how Rakuten handles your private information, please see Rakuten’s Privacy Policy and the In-Store Cash Back Terms & Conditions and Privacy Statement.

Do all purchases qualify for In-Store Cash Back?

Most in-store purchases at participating merchants are eligible for In-Store Cash Back. However, some stores may exclude certain products or categories from eligibility. For example, some merchants may not reward In-Store Cash Back for gift-card purchases or purchases within certain departments, such as pharmacy or automotive. Be sure to review any exclusions in the In-Store Cash Back offer details for each offer you add. Rakuten reserves the right to deduct Cash Back from your account if we determine that your purchase is for a product or category that is ineligible.

Can I earn In-Store Cash Back for online purchases or orders placed at stores using their online ordering system?

No. Rakuten In-Store Cash Back offers are valid only for purchases made in physical stores when you check out via a store register. You can still enjoy Cash Back for qualifying online purchases when you start your shopping trip at Rakuten.com.

General Info

What type of credit cards can I use?

Rakuten In-Store Cash Back works with most American Express, Mastercard or Visa credit cards. Exceptions include Macy’s American Express cards, corporate and purchasing cards, Health Savings Account cards, Flexible Spending Account cards, government-administered prepaid cards (including EBT cards), insurance prepaid cards and Visa Buxx. Diners Club and Discover cards are not eligible for In-Store Cash Back at this time.

Can I earn In-Store Cash Back when using a mobile payment method such as Apple Pay, Android Pay, Samsung Pay?

We strongly recommend using only physical credit cards for In-Store Cash Back purchases since we do not consistently receive mobile wallet transaction details from American Express, Mastercard or Visa. Without that transaction information, we cannot give you Cash Back.

Can I use my debit card to earn In-Store Cash Back?

It is recommended that you use an eligible American Express, Mastercard or Visa credit card. If you choose to use your debit card, do not enter your PIN at checkout. Instead, select “credit” instead of “debit” when your card is swiped or inserted, which means you will sign a receipt instead of entering your PIN. If you use your PIN for debit, Rakuten will not get your transaction information and you will not be eligible for Cash Back.

Why can’t I use my Diners Club and Discover cards?

We’re working to add more payment card options for use with In-Store Cash Back. We’ll let you know when we other payment options become eligible.

Can I use my store credit card for In-Store Cash Back?

Rakuten In-Store Cash Back is added to your balance when American Express, Mastercard or VISA report your purchase to us. Unfortunately, most store cards, even if they have a major credit card logo, are processed through the store’s bank and not the major credit card networks. This prevents us from being able to provide Cash Back on these transactions.

Can I use a credit card issued outside of the United States to earn In-Store Cash Back?

Only cards issued in the United States are eligible to earn Cash Back at participating stores in the United States.

How many cards can I enroll for In-Store Cash Back?

You can enroll as many credit cards as you like. There is no limit to the number of eligible American Express, Mastercard or Visa cards that can be added to your Rakuten account to earn In-Store Cash Back.

Can I earn In-Store Cash Back for purchases made via phone?

No. Rakuten In-Store Cash Back offers are valid only for purchases made in person at physical stores. Orders placed via phone (whether to a merchant’s call center or to a specific store location) are not eligible for In-Store Cash Back.

Can I earn In-Store Cash Back while shopping outside of the United States?

In-Store Cash Back is currently available only for in-store purchases at participating merchant locations in the 50 states of the United States.

Does Rakuten In-Store Cash Back cost extra?

Absolutely not. Rakuten In-Store Cash Back is offered to all Rakuten members for no extra cost.

Adding Offers

How do I add an offer to my credit card?

Once you link an eligible credit card to your account, go to the Rakuten In-Store Cash Back page to view all available In-Store Cash Back offers. Find an offer and select “Add Offer” to add it to all cards you have enrolled for Rakuten In-Store Cash Back. You may also add an offer by selecting “Get In-Store Cash Back” on each participating merchant’s Rakuten page. Now you’re ready to start earning In-Store Cash Back.

When I add an offer to my card, do I get In-Store Cash Back for all future purchases at the store?

No. For some offers, you may make additional qualifying purchases within a 24-hour window following your initial redemption, but, for others, the offer is only good for a single redemption. Check “See Details” on the In-Store Cash Back site to determine the rules for a specific offer. After that time, you must re-add the offer to your card to earn Cash Back.

How many times can I add an offer?

If there is a limit on the number of times you can add an Rakuten In-Store Cash Back offer, it will be in the specific offer’s details. Select “See Details” for an offer to determine whether there is a limit per person. For example, if an offer has a limit per person of three, then you can link the offer up to three times and redeem it to earn Cash Back on three separate qualifying purchases.

Do offers expire?

Yes. Link expiration varies by merchant, so please check “See Details” on the In-Store Cash Back site to determine the rules for a specific offer. If the offer is no longer linked to your card, you will not receive Cash Back for your purchase. We recommend reconfirming your link status before your shopping trip.

If I make a purchase before I add an offer, will I still get Cash Back?

Unfortunately, no. To earn Cash Back, you must add offers to your eligible American Express, Mastercard or Visa credit card before you make an in-store purchase.

Redeeming Offers

How do I redeem an In-Store Cash Back offer?

Redeeming an In-Store Cash Back offer is simple. Once you add an offer to your eligible American Express, Mastercard or Visa credit card, simply use that card to make an in-store purchase that meets the terms and conditions of the offer. Remember, if you use your debit card to redeem an offer, do not enter your PIN. You must use your signature in order for Rakuten to be notified of the transaction.

Do I need to present anything at the time of purchase?

No. That’s the best part! With Rakuten In-Store Cash Back, there are no coupons to clip, no vouchers to print and nothing extra to present to the store at the time of purchase. Just remember to use a credit card that you that has your added offer.

Do offers expire?

Yes, merchant offers expire. Expiration dates are specific to each offer and may be found by selecting “See Details” on the offer. You will not qualify for Cash Back on any purchase made after the offer expiration date.

What happens if an offer expires and I haven’t redeemed it?

When an offer that is added to one of your cards expires, it will be automatically removed.

How will I know if I’ve successfully redeemed an offer?

Rakuten will send you an email or Rakuten App notification when we learn of your in-store purchase, typically within 24 hours. Cash Back earned from In-Store Cash Back offers will be added to your Cash Back Balance in My Account, along with all the other Cash Back you’ve earned.

When will Cash Back be added to my account?

It can take up to seven business days for In-Store Cash Back to be added to your account. If you do not see your Cash Back within seven business days of your in-store purchase, please contact Rakuten Member Services.

Do I need to keep my receipts?

We recommend that you do keep receipts. If the Cash Back does not automatically report to your account, we will need to see your receipt to resolve the issue.

Can I remove my credit card from My Wallet in my Rakuten account after making a purchase?

Cash Back will not post to your account if your credit card is not in your Rakuten Wallet. If you wish to remove your credit card, you will need to wait until after the Cash Back has posted to your account.

What percentage of Cash Back will I earn? Do Cash Back rates change during the offer period?

When using In-Store Cash Back, you will earn the amount of Cash Back that is advertised on the date you make your purchase. For example, if you add an offer when the Cash Back rate was 4%, but made your purchase during a 2x Cash Back promotion, you will earn the promotional rate of 8%. Alternatively, if you add an offer at the promotional rate of 8% but make your purchase once it has returned to 4%, you will earn the 4% Cash Back rate. If you add an offer during a promotional period, we recommend you shop before it ends so you can get more Cash Back.

How can we help?

In-Store Cash Back