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Chase cashback shake-up: can you earn more elsewhere?
Customers can still earn £15 a month in cashback, but overseas spending will no longer be included
A Chase bank account is a popular option for cashback hunters, offering 1% back on most purchases – but that’s about to change.
From next month, the digital bank is reducing its list of eligible transactions and cutting out some of the spending categories that made it so popular, including earning cashback on overseas spending.
Here, we explain what’s changing, whether it’s still worth keeping a Chase card in your wallet and the alternatives if you’re looking for a better deal.
How does Chase cashback work?
Chase offers 1% cashback on everyday spending, capped at £15 per month.
Cashback is collected in a rewards pot and can be transferred into another account at any time.
New customers can earn cashback for 12 months from the date they open an account. After this period, they must pay at least £1,500 per month into their Chase account to continue earning.
To qualify for cashback, purchases must be made using the Chase debit card. Direct debits and bank transfers don't count.
- Find out more: best banks and bank accounts 2025.
What's changing from April?
From 7 April, Chase will restrict where you can earn 1% cashback, limiting it to a smaller selection of everyday spending categories, including grocery shopping, fuel and public transport.
Previously, you could earn cashback on most everyday spending, with some exclusions.
This table outlines how you can earn cashback from 7 April:
| Cashback category | What's included |
|---|---|
| Groceries | Food bought at supermarkets, grocery stores, convenience stores and specialty food stores |
| Public transport | Buses, trains, and ferries |
| Fuel and EV charging | Fuel stations, automated fuel dispensers and EV charging points |
What other perks do you get with Chase?
Chase still offers several perks that might make the account worth keeping, even with the cashback changes:
- Fee-free spending abroad There are no charges for using a Chase debit card overseas, including for ATM withdrawals.
- Linked savings account This offers 3% AER, with interest paid monthly.
- Numberless debit card Your card details are stored in the app rather than printed on the card, reducing the risk of fraud if lost or stolen.
Can you earn more cashback elsewhere?
If you’re looking for a better cashback deal, it might be worth considering an alternative cashback debit card.
Here’s how they compare, ranked by maximum annual cashback earnings:
| Current account | Cashback rate | Maximum you can earn per month | Monthly fee | Maximum annual profit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santander Edge Up account | 1% on supermarket and transport spending + 1% on household bills paid by direct debit | £30 | £5 | £300 |
| Santander Edge | 1% on supermarket and transport spending + 1% on household bills paid by direct debit | £20 | £3 | £204 |
| Chase | 1% on groceries, public transport and fuel | £15 | £0 | £180 |
| NatWest Reward account | Up to 15% with selected retailers, plus earn cashback on direct debits and app logins | £5 | £2 | £36 |
| RBS Reward account | Up to 15% with selected retailers, plus earn cashback on direct debits and app logins | £5 | £2 | £36 |
| TSB Spend and Save Plus | £5 cashback for making 20 debit purchases per month | £5 | £3 | £24 |
Santander’s Edge and Edge Up accounts offer the highest cashback potential, but you’ll need to meet spending thresholds to maximise rewards and there is also a monthly fee to consider.
To earn the full £10 monthly cashback on the Edge account, you must spend at least £1,000 on bills and £1,000 on supermarket and travel spending.
The Edge Up account requires £1,500 of spending in both of these categories to reach its £30 monthly cap.
Chase has similar spending requirements, as you need to spend £1,500 per month on eligible purchases to earn the full £15 cashback.
NatWest, RBS and TSB offer easier ways to earn cashback. With NatWest and RBS, you get £2 for having two or more direct debits (capped at £4) and £1 for logging into online banking each month.
With TSB, you need to make 20 debit card purchases per month.
- Find out more: best bank accounts for cashback.
Is Chase still worth it?
Chase continues to offer a strong mix of benefits, particularly for those who travel.
It has no monthly fee and, unlike some other providers, it doesn’t charge for spending abroad, making it a good option for holidaymakers.
It received an 82% customer score in our latest survey of banks, ranking 4th out of 20 providers.
Chase also earned four stars for customer service, its application process, mobile banking app and ease of contacting support.
- Find out more: best debit cards to use abroad.
3 ways to maximise your cashback
If you’re looking to boost your cashback earnings, consider these strategies.
1. Use cashback websites and apps
Cashback sites offer rewards when you shop through their links. Popular options include Quidco and TopCashback.
Some lesser-known sites also offer cashback on gift card purchases. For example, Cheddar, HyperJar and Jam Doughnut allow users to buy gift cards for major retailers such as Asda and John Lewis, offering instant cashback on the purchase.
- Find out more: cashback sites explained.
2. Check for retailer cashback offers
Many banks run cashback schemes where you can earn extra rewards when spending with selected retailers.
This can be a simple way to get additional cashback if you were already planning to shop with them.
3. Be aware of fees
Always check whether cashback accounts have monthly fees. Most of the providers listed in our table (excluding Chase) charged fees on their cashback accounts.
Fees reduce your overall cashback earnings, so make sure you’re earning enough to justify the cost.
