RBC Makes It Official: Unlimited Cash Back, Redeem From $1
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Since October 1, 2026, your RBC Cash Back Mastercard cards earn unlimited cash back, with no cap on earnings. Starting December 2, 2026, you can also redeem it anytime, as soon as your balance reaches $1. RBC confirmed these changes in its November 2, 2026 news release.
We sum up the key points for you here. To find out which of the two cards pays you more based on your budget, read our analysis of the RBC cash back revamp across 6 spending profiles.
The new rates on both cards
The new rates apply automatically to existing and new cardholders, with nothing for you to do. Here is how the RBC Cash Back Mastercard, with no annual fee, now earns:
- Groceries: 2%
- Gas, EV charging, rideshare and transit: 1%
- All other net purchases: 0.5%
The RBC Cash Back Preferred World Elite Mastercard costs $120 a year, plus $50 per additional cardholder. In return, you earn:
- Groceries, dining (including takeout and food delivery), gas, EV charging, transit, rideshare, streaming and digital gaming: 3%
- All other net purchases: 1%
Welcome offer
Up to $100 cash backEnds Feb 2, 2027
Up to $300 cash backEnds Feb 2, 2027
Our valuation
$100First-year valueWelcome bonus$100Total$100Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
$300First-year valueWelcome bonus$300Total$300Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
Annual fee
$0
$120
Three new insurance coverages on the Preferred
The Preferred World Elite now gives you more protection on the road and day to day. RBC adds out-of-province/country emergency medical insurance, flight delay and delayed baggage insurance, and mobile device insurance. These join the purchase security, extended warranty and auto rental collision/loss damage waiver coverage you already had.
Redeem your cash back from $1
From December 2, 2026, you redeem your cash back whenever you want, through RBC Online Banking or the RBC Mobile app. You can check your balance there too, and your cash back keeps accumulating with no time limit. Until now, a redemption required a balance of at least $25.
Avion Rewards partners included
Both cards also give you access to the RBC Avion Rewards partner network: Petro-Canada, Canadian Tire, METRO's Moi Rewards, Pattison Food Group, DoorDash and Rexall. "Canadians are looking for straightforward, high-value rewards," said Vinita Savani, Executive Vice President, Cards & Loyalty, RBC.
Our take
For us, removing the cap is the main gain in this revamp. At 3% back, the Preferred World Elite covers its annual fee once you spend $4,000 a year in its accelerated categories.
- Annual fee
- $120
- Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$300Total$300Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- $300
- Welcome offer
- Up to $300 cash back
- Ends Feb 2, 2027
Apply Now
on RBC's website
With the RBC Cash Back Preferred World Elite Mastercard, new cardholders get 15% extra cash back on their first $2,000 in spend for 3 months1, for up to $300 in cash back.
Thereafter, earn unlimited cash back13:
- 3% cash back on groceries, dining and food delivery1
- 3% cash back on gas, EV charging, rideshare and transit1
- 3% cash back on streaming and digital gaming1
- 1% cash back on all your other everyday purchases1
From December 2, 2026, you can redeem your cash back at any time, starting at $1, through Online Banking, the RBC Mobile App or by phone11.
The card also includes Out of Province/Country Emergency Medical, Flight Delay and Delayed Baggage, and Mobile Device Insurance2, in addition to Purchase Security and Extended Warranty and Auto Rental Collision/Loss Damage Waiver Insurance.
You also enjoy several everyday benefits:
- Instant fuel savings and 20% more Petro-Points at Petro-Canada3
- 3x Canadian Tire Money with your linked Triangle Rewards account4
- 50 Be Well points per $1 at Rexall5
- A free 12-month DashPass subscription with DoorDash6
- Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide with Mastercard Travel Pass provided by DragonPass9
The annual fee is $120, and $50 per additional card.
Legal
® / ™ Trademark(s) of Royal Bank of Canada. RBC and Royal Bank are registered trademarks of Royal Bank of Canada.
‡ All other trademarks are the property of their respective owner(s).
1 This offer only applies to new applications for an RBC Cash Back Preferred World Elite Mastercard credit card received between October 1, 2026 and February 2, 2027 (“Offer Period”) and approved by Royal Bank of Canada (“Royal Bank”), subject to the conditions below. Additional cardholders(s) (co-applicant and authorized user(s)) on the RBC Cash Back Preferred World Elite Mastercard credit card account, as well as existing cardholders on any RBC Royal Bank personal credit card transferring to an RBC Cash Back Preferred World Elite Mastercard credit card during the Offer Period, are not eligible for this offer.
You will earn an additional $15.00 back for every $100.00 (15% Cash Back Credit) in Net Purchases (including pre-authorized bill payments) charged to your RBC Cash Back Preferred World Elite Mastercard account within the first 3 months from your account opening date (“Period”), on up to $2,000 in Net Purchases (“Welcome Bonus”), for a total Welcome Bonus of up to $300 in Cash Back Reward. Once you have reached $2,000 in Net Purchases or 3 months from your account opening date, the standard earn rate applicable to your credit card type will apply. The Welcome Bonus is in addition to the standard Cash Back Credit earn rates. Cash Back Credits are not earned on cash advances (including balance transfers, cash-like transactions and bill payments that are not pre-authorized charges that you set up with a merchant), interest charges or fees, and credits for returns and adjustments will reduce or cancel the cash back credits earned by the amounts originally charged. The Welcome Bonus will be credited to your Cash Back Account within 4-6 weeks after each Statement Date within the Period, provided your credit card account remains open and in good standing at that time “Good standing” meaning that your Credit Card Account must not be past due for more than two (2) consecutive credit card account statement periods, closed, charged off or in credit revoked status.
If you close or change your RBC Cash Back Preferred World Elite Mastercard credit card for another type of RBC Royal Bank credit card before the Welcome Bonus has been credited to your account, you may lose the benefit of this offer. This offer may not be combined or used in conjunction with any other offer. Royal Bank reserves the right to cancel, modify or withdraw this offer at any time without notice, even after your application has been approved, including if we suspect that you may be manipulating or abusing it, or engaging in any suspicious or fraudulent activity, as determined by Royal Bank in its sole discretion. For complete details on the RBC Cash Back Program including standard earn rates and crediting of Cash Back Rewards, please refer to the RBC Cash Back Program Terms and Conditions at www.rbc.com/cashbackterms.
1 You will earn (i) $3.00 Cash Back for every $100.00 (3% Cash Back Credit) spent on eligible purchases, unlimited, in the following categories: Grocery Store, Dining and Food Delivery, Transit, Rideshare, Gas and Electric Vehicle Charging, and Streaming and Digital Gaming (“Eligible Purchases”) made at merchants that are classified by the following eligible Mastercard’s Merchant Category Codes (“Eligible MCCs”), and (ii) $1.00 Cash Back for every $100.00 (1% Cash Back Credit) in Net Purchases other than Eligible Purchases, unlimited.
Eligible MCCs:
Grocery Stores and Supermarkets” (MCC 5411), “Eating Places and Restaurants” (MCC5812), “Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) – Bars, Taverns, Nightclubs, Cocktail Lounges, and Discotheques” (MCC 5813), “Fast Food Restaurants” (MCC 5814) are “Grocery, Dining and Food Delivery Purchases”. Government liquor agencies and package stores that sell beer, wine, and liquor do not qualify as part of MCC 5813.
“Service Stations (With or without Ancillary Services)” (MCC 5541), “Automated Fuel Dispensers” (MCC 5542), “Taxicabs and Limousines” (MCC 4121), “Local and Suburban Commuter Passenger Transportation, Including Ferries” (MCC 4111), “Electric Vehicle Charging” (MCC 5552) are “Transit, Rideshare, Gas & Electric Vehicle Charging Purchases”. Non-commuter passenger railway purchases and non-commuter bus line purchases do not qualify as part of MCC 4111.
“Digital Goods Media – Books, Movies, Music” (MCC 5815), “Digital Goods – Games” (MCC 5816), “Digital Goods – Applications (Excludes Games)” (MCC 5817), “Digital Goods – Large Digital Goods Merchants” (MCC 5818), “Cable, Satellite and Other Pay Television/Radio/Streaming Services” (MCC 4899) are “Streaming and Digital Gaming Purchases”. Games of chance and gambling do not qualify as part of MCC 5816.
Even though some merchants may sell groceries, prepared food, food delivery, transit, rideshare, gas, EV charging, streaming services and video games, purchases made at these locations may not necessarily qualify as an Eligible Purchase if the merchant is not classified by an Eligible MCC. Also, you may make a purchase at a merchant that is not classified as an Eligible MCC but is located on the premises of a merchant that is classified as an Eligible MCC, in which case your purchase would not qualify as an Eligible Purchase. We cannot guarantee that any merchant, operating in whole or in part as a Grocery Store, Dining, Food Delivery, Transit, Rideshare, Gas, Electric Vehicle Charging, Streaming and Digital Gaming merchant is classified as an Eligible MCC and in no event will we be liable or responsible for any claims with respect to a Grocery, Dining, Food Delivery, Transit, Rideshare, Gas, Electric Vehicle Charging, Streaming and Digital Gaming Purchase made at a merchant that is not classified as an Eligible MCC.
Cash Back Credits are earned on Net Purchases only; they are not earned on Cash Advances (including balance transfers, Quasi-Cash Transactions and certain bill payments that are not pre-authorized charges that you set up with a merchant), interest charges or fees, and credits for returns and adjustments will reduce or cancel the Cash Back Credits earned by the amounts originally charged.
From October 1st 2026 until December 1st , 2026: Provided your New Cash Back Balance is $25.00 or more, you can request your Cash Back Reward (representing your New Cash Back Balance) to be credited to your credit card account at any time, by calling us at 1-800-769-2512. To make a credit request, please note that your credit card account must be in Good Standing at the time of your request.
From December 2nd, 2026 onwards: Your Cash Back Reward (representing your New Cash Back Balance or any amount between $1.00 and your New Cash Back Balance) can be credited to your Account at any time, upon your request, provided your Account is in Good Standing at the time of your Credit Request. A Credit Request can be made in Online Banking, the RBC Mobile app, or by calling us at 1-800-769-2512.
For complete details, including the meaning of capitalized terms, please refer to the RBC Cash Back Program Terms and Conditions available at: www.rbc.com/cashbackterms.
2 Coverages are underwritten by RBC Insurance Company of Canada and are subject to terms, conditions, limitations and exclusions. As of October 1, 2026, refer to the certificate of insurance for full details. https://www.rbcroyalbank.com/credit-cards/cash-back/rbc-cash-back-preferred-world-elite-mastercard/rbc-cash-back-preferred-world-elite-mastercard-certificate-of-insurance.pdf
3 To participate in this offer, you must have an RBC debit card or a credit card which is issued by Royal Bank of Canada (excluding RBC commercial credit cards) (“RBC Card”). RBC business clients will only be able to link up to two (2) RBC business credit cards and one (1) RBC business debit card to a Petro-Points card.
4 To participate in the Linked Loyalty Program, you must have an eligible debit or credit card that is issued by RBC Royal Bank of Canada (full list of cards is available at https://linkedloyalty.avionrewards.com/triangle-rewards/linked-loyalty-terms-en.pdf.) (“eligible RBC Card’), be enrolled in RBC Online Banking, be a registered member of the Triangle Rewards Program, link your eligible RBC Card to your Triangle Rewards Account and comply with the Linked Loyalty Program Terms and Conditions. Any/every card means an eligible RBC card that is linked to a Triangle Rewards account.
Once you link your RBC Credit or an RBC Debit Card to your Triangle Rewards Account (“RBC Linked Card”), you’ll earn 3X CT Money, consisting of the .4% base rate earned by Triangle Rewards members X 3 for a total of 1.2% of the pre-tax amount of the purchase each time you present your Triangle Rewards card/key fob or any approved Cardless Method and use your Linked RBC Card to pay for qualifying purchases at Canadian Tire or Designated Partner Locations. The 3X CT Money is exclusive of any bonus or promotional offers. CT Money you collect upon making a purchase cannot be redeemed for that purchase and can only be redeemed for a subsequent eligible purchase after the CT Money has been processed and issued to the Triangle Rewards Account.
5 You must be enrolled in RBC Online Banking or the RBC Mobile App in order to link your RBC Card to your Petro-Points card. Card linking may take up to 2 business days to process before savings and bonus points can be applied to purchases. A linked RBC Card means an RBC Card linked to a Petro-Points Account. Your linked RBC Card acts as your Petro-Points card. You will automatically earn Petro-Points when you pay for qualifying purchases with your linked RBC Card at Petro-Canada locations and you do not need to swipe your Petro-Points card before you pay. You can redeem your Petro-Points at Petro-Canada using your linked RBC Card. Each time you use your linked RBC Card to purchase any grade of gasoline, or diesel, at a Petro-Canada location, you will save three cents ($0.03) per litre at the time of the transaction.
Each time you use your linked RBC Card to pay for qualifying purchases at a Petro-Canada location, you will earn a bonus of twenty percent (20%) more Petro-Points than you normally earn, in accordance with the Petro-Points terms and conditions available at www.petro-canada.ca/en/personal/terms-conditions. Petro-Points are not awarded on tobacco products, vaping products, gift cards, transit tickets and taxes on non-petroleum purchases.
To participate in this offer, you must have an eligible RBC Debit Card, Personal Credit Card or Business Credit Card which is issued by Royal Bank of Canada (excluding RBC commercial credit cards) (“RBC Card”). RBC Business Owners will only be able to link up to two (2) Business Credit Cards and one RBC Debit Card to a Be Well Card
Eligible RBC Debit Cards are debit cards tied to a personal banking or savings account or a business banking or savings account in good standing that is set up to pay for goods and services at a store or merchant that has point of sale or other designated debit card terminals that accept debit card payments.
You must be enrolled in RBC Online Banking or the RBC Mobile App in order to link your RBC Card to your Be Well Card. Card linking may take up to 2 business days to process before Be Well points can be applied to purchases. Each time you scan your Be Well Card and pay with your Linked RBC Card, you will earn 50 Be Well points for every $1 spent on eligible purchases at Rexall Locations, in accordance with the Be Well Terms and Conditions available at https://www.letsbewell.ca/terms-conditions.
Be Well points are not awarded on taxes; tobacco products; products containing codeine; lottery tickets; alcohol; bottle deposits; gift cards; prepaid cards and wireless or long distance phone cards; event tickets; transit tickets and passes; post office transactions; stamps; passport photos; cash back; gifts with purchases; delivery charges; environmental levies; Home Health Care services/rentals and any other products or services that we may specify from time to time or where prohibited by law.
6 To receive a complimentary DashPass subscription for $0 delivery fees and reduced service fees on eligible orders when you pay with your Eligible RBC Credit Card, you must subscribe to DashPass by adding an Eligible RBC Credit Card, accept the DoorDash terms and conditions, and activate your benefit by clicking “Activate Free DashPass” before November 16, 2028 (“Offer Period”). If you are an existing DashPass subscriber and have already added an Eligible RBC Credit Card to your account you must activate your benefit by clicking “Activate Free DashPass” during the Offer Period. If you have been charged for DashPass you will receive a refund to the method of original payment, in the amount of the monthly subscription fee for the month you activate your complimentary subscription. For all clients, by clicking on “Activate Free DashPass” you agree to the DoorDash terms and conditions which can be found at https://help.doordash.com/consumers/s/terms-and-conditions.
Eligible RBC Credit cardholders include primary cardholders, co-applicants, authorized users, primary business cardholders and secondary business cardholders on an Eligible RBC Credit Card account.
The DashPass monthly subscription fee will be waived (“Complimentary DashPass Subscription”) and you will receive either a 6 months or 12 months Complimentary DashPass Subscription based on the Eligible RBC Credit Card you use to subscribe to DashPass.
DashPass subscriptions purchased through third parties, including third-party payment accounts, or online or mobile digital wallets (like Apply Pay and Google Pay) are not eligible for the Complimentary DashPass Subscription.
Eligible RBC Credit Cards: Your Eligible RBC Credit Card may only be used with one DoorDash account to receive a Complimentary DashPass Subscription. Once you have received a Complimentary DashPass Subscription you cannot use the same eligible RBC Credit Card to obtain a Complimentary DashPass Subscription with another DoorDash account.
You are only eligible for one 12 month Complimentary DashPass Subscription Offer and one 6 month Complimentary DashPass Subscription Offer during the Offer Period. The Complimentary DashPass Subscription Offer Commences on the date you subscribe to receive the Complimentary DashPass Subscription. Eligible RBC Credit Cardholders may upgrade their card to receive a 12 month DashPass after subscribing to a 6 month DashPass, but they may not acquire a card of lesser value and subscribe to a 6 month DashPass after activating a 12 month DashPass.
In order to validate your credit card as an Eligible RBC Credit Card, Royal Bank may need to administer a $0.50 charge to validate your card enrollment. This charge will be reversed in 3 to 5 days once your account has been validated.
12 Month Complimentary DashPass Subscription is available for the following Eligible RBC Credit Cards:
As an RBC Avion Visa Platinum, RBC Avion Visa Infinite , RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege, RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege for Private Banking, WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard, RBC Rewards Visa Preferred, RBC Cash Back Preferred World Elite Mastercard, More Rewards RBC Visa Infinite, RBC British Airways Visa Infinite, RBC Avion Visa Business, RBC Avion Visa Infinite Business, WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard for Business (Elite Benefit cards) cardholder, you are eligible for a complimentary DashPass Subscription for a period of 12 months from the date you complete the steps above, including subscribe to receive the complimentary DashPass Subscription.
You will only be entitled to DashPass benefits when your Elite Benefit Card is designated as your primary payment method on DoorDash. Should you use an alternative payment method on DoorDash, you will not be entitled to DashPass benefits for your order. Your RBC credit card account must be open and not in default to maintain the benefits of DashPass
6 Month Complimentary DashPass Subscription is available for the following Eligible RBC Credit Cards:
As an RBC Rewards+TM Visa‡, Signature® RBC Rewards® Visa‡, RBC® Visa‡ Platinum, RBC® Visa‡ Cash Back, RBC® Cash Back Mastercard‡, RBC® Visa‡ Classic Low Rate Option, RBC® Visa‡ Classic, RBC® Student Visa‡ Classic, RBC® Visa‡ Classic II Student, RBC® Visa‡ Gold, RBC® U.S. Dollar Visa‡ Gold, RBC Rewards Visa‡ Gold, RBC RateAdvantage® Visa‡, WestJet RBC® Mastercard‡, RBC ION Visa, RBC ION+ Visa, More Rewards RBC Visa, RBC Staff VISA Classic Expense, RBC Staff VISA Gold Expense, RBC® Visa‡ Business, RBC® Visa‡ Business Gold, RBC® Visa‡ CreditLine for Small BusinessTM, or RBC® Business Cash Back Mastercard‡, WestJet RBC® World Elite Mastercard‡ (Premium Benefit Cards) cardholder you are eligible for a complimentary DashPass Subscription for a period of 6 months from the date you complete the steps above, including subscribing to receive the complimentary DashPass Subscription.
You will only be entitled to DashPass benefits where your Premium Benefit Card is designated as your primary payment method on DoorDash. Should you use an alternative payment method on DoorDash, you will not be entitled to DashPass benefits for your order. Your RBC credit card account must be open and not in default to maintain the benefits of DashPass
Two complimentary periods: Subject to meeting and retaining the eligibility criteria, Each person is entitled to a maximum of two complimentary DashPass Subscription periods through DashPass for RBC over their lifetime. The two complimentary periods may be redeemed by:
Completing your first complimentary DashPass Subscription period, remaining unsubscribed from DashPass (on any membership plan) for at least six (6) consecutive months, and then enrolling in a second complimentary DashPass Subscription period, provided you are still an Eligible RBC Cardholde at the time of re-enrollment.; or
Completing your first complimentary DashPass Subscription period and upgrading to a higher tier Eligible RBC Card and enrolling into the complimentary DashPass Subscription period associated with that higher tier Eligible RBC Card (see upgrades terms below).
At the completion of your complimentary DashPass subscription period, you will automatically be charged the then current DashPass subscription fee, currently $9.99 / month (plus any applicable taxes) on a recurring basis until you cancel. Cancellation instructions may be viewed here. The DashPass membership fee will be charged to your preferred or any other payment method you have on file for your DoorDash account.
DoorDash not Royal Bank of Canada, is responsible for (i) services and products provided through DoorDash; (ii) DashPass, including the DashPass Benefits, the administration of DashPass and (iii) the DoorDash terms and conditions. The Complimentary DashPass Subscription offer may be amended or withdrawn at any time. To learn more about DashPass, visit www.doordash.com/dashpassopens in a new window. For full DashPass for RBC Program Terms and Conditions, visit rbcroyalbank.com/credit-cards/documentation/pdf/full-doordash-tcs-en.pdf(PDF).
7 The Mastercard Collection is provided by Mastercard as a benefit to cardholders of eligible World Elite Mastercard credit cards. Mastercard, not Royal Bank of Canada, is responsible for this benefit. Offers are subject to terms and conditions and may be subject to change without notice, detailed at priceless.com/themastercardcollection(opens external site in new window)
8 Mastercard Travel Rewards is provided by Mastercard as a benefit to cardholders of eligible World Elite Mastercard credit cards. Mastercard, not Royal Bank of Canada, is responsible for this benefit. Offers are available for a limited time and subject to partner terms and conditions, detailed at www.traveloffers.mastercard.com. Offer eligibility requires spend in local currency and minimum spend requirements apply. Offers may be subject to change without notice.
9 Mastercard Travel Pass, provided by DragonPass, is being provided as a benefit to cardholders with eligible and valid RBC World Elite Mastercard cards. Each eligible World Elite Mastercard cardholder is entitled to a complimentary membership to DragonPass Airport Lounges Program (as long as they remain a World Elite Mastercard cardholder). Access to participating DragonPass Airport Lounges is at the cost of US$32 per person (subject to change), per visit, and lounge access charges will be billed to the World Elite Mastercard card connected to the cardholder’s DragonPass membership. DragonPass benefits do not apply to all lounges, including (as of May 30, 2022) the Calgary WestJet Elevation lounge. To view a full list of participating DragonPass Airport Lounges, their facilities, opening times and restrictions, cardholders can visit airport.mastercard.com(opens external site in new window). By using this benefit, you agree to all of DragonPass terms and conditions, including privacy and security policies available at mastercardtravelpass.dragonpass.com(opens external site in new window). These policies may be amended or updated at any time and without notice. RBC reserves the right to modify or cancel this benefit at any time and without notice. Mastercard Travel Pass, DragonPass Airport Lounges and associated services are provided by DragonPass, not Royal Bank of Canada (“RBC”), and RBC is not responsible for any claims or damages arising from the use of the Mastercard Travel Pass or the DragonPass Airport Lounges services. Mastercard reserves the right to cancel, modify or withdraw this benefit at any time, even after you have enrolled in Mastercard Travel Pass.
11 From October 1st until December 1st, 2026: As soon as you New Cash Back Balance reaches $25.00 or more, you can request your Cash Back Reward, representing the New Cash Back Balance, to be credited to your credit card account, by calling us at 1-800-769-2512. Your Cash Back Reward will be credited within five (5) business days from your credit request, provided your Account is in Good Standing at the time of the Credit Request. If you make your Credit Request one (1) business day or less prior to your Statement Date, your Cash Back Reward amount may appear on your Cash Back Summary portion of your Account Statement for that month but may not actually have been credited to your Account by the Statement Date. In that case, the Cash Back Reward amount will be displayed as "Cash Back Credit" in the transactions section of your next Account Statement. The New Cash Back Balance will reset to zero at the time of your request, as a Credit Request can only be for the entire New Cash Back Balance. There is no maximum number of Credit Requests that can be made during an Annual Period.
From December 2nd, 2026 onwards: As soon as your New Cash Back Balance reaches $1.00 or more, you can request your Cash Back Reward to be credited to your credit card account, either (i) in full, representing the dollar amount of your New Cash Back Balance at the time of your credit request, or (ii) partially, representing any dollar amount between $1.00 and your New Cash Back Balance at the time of your credit request. Your Cash Back Reward will be credited to your credit card account and will appear in your credit card account transaction history in Online Banking and the RBC Mobile App as “Cash Back Reward” within five (5) business days from your credit request, provided your credit card account is in Good Standing at the time of the credit request. The Cash Back Reward amount credited to your credit card account will also appear on the Cash Back Summary section of your account statement for that month, provided your credit request was processed at least five (5) business days prior to the statement date. Credit requests can be made by the primary cardholder or the co-applicant in Online Banking, the RBC Mobile App or by calling 1-800-769-2512. Authorized user(s) cannot make credit requests. There is no maximum number of credit requests that you can make during an annual period. Cash Back Reward credited to your credit card account does not count towards the minimum monthly payment and you are still responsible for making the minimum monthly payment for that statement period. Credit requests are final and cannot be canceled or reversed.
For complete details, consult the RBC Royal Bank Cash Back Program Terms and Conditions at www.rbc.com/cashbackterms.
13 Unlimited means there is no maximum Cash Back Credits you can earn on Grocery Store, Dining Purchases and Food Delivery, Transit, Rideshare, Gas and Electric Vehicle Charging Purchases, Streaming and Digital Gaming Purchases, and other purchases (up to your available credit limit). For complete details, including the meaning of capitalized terms, please refer to the RBC Cash Back Program Terms and Conditions available at: www.rbc.com/cashbackterms.
All insurance is subject to limitations and exclusions. Please refer to the insurance certificate for full details.
Annual fee
Primary card$120
Additional card$50
Annual income required
Individual$80,000
Household$150,000
Conversion fees
2.5%
Earning rate
- 3xGas
- 3xTransit
- 3xGroceries
- 3xRestaurants
- 3xStreaming
- 1xAll spending
Value
1st Year Value$852
2nd Year Value$261
Travel insurance
Travel medical (55-64)Included
Travel medical (65+)Included
Delayed BaggageIncluded
Flight DelayIncluded
Purchase protection
Purchase ProtectionIncluded
Extended Warranty+2 years
Mobile DeviceIncluded
Auto Rental CollisionUp to $65,000 / 48 days
Comparing with other cards? See our ranking of the best cash back credit cards.
To keep up with the next offers, create your free member account.
Do the new RBC cash back rates apply to existing cardholders?
Yes. The new rates have applied automatically since October 1, 2026, to existing and new cardholders alike. You have nothing to do: RBC calculates your cash back at the new rate on transactions posted to your account from that date.
When can you redeem your RBC cash back anytime?
Starting December 2, 2026. You redeem your cash back through RBC Online Banking, the RBC Mobile app or by phone, once your balance reaches $1. Before that date, phone redemptions require a $25 minimum.
Is RBC cash back capped?
No. Since October 1, 2026, RBC has removed the annual earning cap on both of its Cash Back Mastercard cards. You earn cash back at each category's rate, no matter how much you spend in net purchases.
When does the $120 Preferred World Elite annual fee apply?
For an account opened before October 1, 2026, RBC charges the $120 fee on the first account anniversary after October 1, 2026. For an account opened on or after that date, the fee posts on the 1st day of the month following account opening. Each additional cardholder costs $50 a year.
Does the Preferred's medical insurance cover you after age 65?
Yes, but for fewer days. The out-of-province/country emergency medical insurance covers the first 10 consecutive days of a trip if you are under 65, and the first 3 consecutive days if you are 65 or older. It applies to trips departing on or after October 1, 2026.
Can you close your card if these changes don't suit you?
Yes. RBC lets you close your account without cost or penalty if you notify it before December 30, 2026, and pay the balance you owe. You can also switch to another RBC credit card online, in the app or by phone.