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Two RBC Mastercard options are getting a serious facelift in terms of benefits, but there are a few catches.
RBC shared on Friday that there are changes coming to two of its cash back Mastercard options in October and December this year.
Though a couple of the changes may irk cardholders (one of the cards’ annual fee will go up by $21), the benefits are getting a serious facelift that’ll be a net positive to most. Starting later this year, RBC Cash Back Preferred World Elite Mastercard and RBC Cash Back Mastercard cardholders will have new ways to earn cash back, with more flexible redemption and no spend cap on earning cash back, among other things.
At a glance, you can expect the following changes:
Changes to the RBC Cash Back Preferred World Elite® Mastercard® — source: RBC, “Updates to RBC Cash Back Credit Cards”
| What’s changing | Current | New |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $99 | $120 |
| Additional (supplementary) cardholder fee | $0 | $50 per additional card |
| Purchase interest rate (APR)* | 20.99% | 21.99% |
| Cash back – groceries, dining, restaurants & food delivery | Up to 1.5% | 3%, unlimited |
| Cash back – gas, EV charging, public transit & rideshare | Up to 1.5% | 3%, unlimited |
| Cash back – streaming & digital gaming (new category) | Up to 1.5% | 3%, unlimited |
| Cash back – all other purchases | Up to 1.5% | 1%, unlimited |
| Annual spending cap on cash back earning | Bonus rate applied on first $25,000/yr in purchases; 1% earned above that | No cap — full rate applies to every eligible purchase |
| Insurance coverage | Not included | Adds Out of Province/Country Emergency Medical Insurance, Flight Delay & Delayed Baggage Insurance, and Mobile Device Insurance |
| What’s changing | Current | New |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum redemption amount | $25 | $1 |
| How to redeem | By phone only | Online Banking, RBC Mobile app, or by phone |
| Redemption timing | Cash back automatically redeemed once a year, in December | Redeem anytime, in any amount above the $1 minimum — no automatic annual redemption |
| Opt-out option | — | Cardholders can close the account or switch to another RBC credit card at no cost, penalty, or cancellation indemnity by notifying RBC before Dec 30, 2026 |
*The new purchase interest rate takes effect on the first day of the cardholder’s statement period beginning on or after October 1, 2026. Details reflect RBC’s official update notice as of August 21, 2026; confirm current terms at rbcroyalbank.com before publishing, as issuers can revise terms.
Changes to the RBC Cash Back® Mastercard® (no annual fee card) — source: RBC, “Updates to RBC Cash Back Credit Cards”
| What’s changing | Current | New |
|---|---|---|
| Purchase interest rate (APR)* | 20.99% | 21.99% |
| Cash back – groceries | 2% on the first $6,000/yr, then 1% after | 2%, unlimited |
| Cash back – gas, EV charging, public transit & rideshare (new dedicated category) | Counted as “other purchases”: 0.5% on the first $6,000/yr, then 1% after | 1%, unlimited |
| Cash back – all other purchases | 0.5% on the first $6,000/yr, then 1% after | 0.5%, unlimited |
| Annual spending cap on cash back earning | Bonus rate applied on first $6,000/yr per category; rate changes above that | No cap — full rate applies to every eligible purchase |
| What’s changing | Current | New |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum redemption amount | $25 | $1 |
| How to redeem | By phone only | Online Banking, RBC Mobile app, or by phone |
| Redemption timing | Cash back automatically redeemed once a year, in December | Redeem anytime, in any amount above the $1 minimum — no automatic annual redemption |
| Opt-out option | — | Cardholders can close the account or switch to another RBC credit card at no cost, penalty, or cancellation indemnity by notifying RBC before Dec 30, 2026 |
*The new purchase interest rate takes effect on the first day of the cardholder’s statement period beginning on or after October 1, 2026. The annual fee ($0) and insurance benefits (Purchase Security & Extended Warranty Insurance) are not changing for this card. Details reflect RBC’s official update notice as of August 21, 2026; confirm current terms at rbcroyalbank.com before publishing, as issuers can revise terms.
The RBC announcement comes days after Scotiabank told customers it will lower cash back rates for rent and tax payment in the Scotia Momentum lineup in October, leaving many disappointed, confused, and rushing to social media to complain and ask questions.
In online discussions, cash back hunters are wondering if RBC’s accelerated grocery cash back rate applies to Costco purchases. “This would be the only reason I would consider picking this up,” one person said on the Personal Finance Canada subreddit. Unfortunately, it’s not the case.
If you’re looking for grocery shopping benefits, RBC specifies that it does not classify Costco and Walmart as traditional grocery stores, but as warehouse clubs. This means the accelerated 2% grocery cash back won’t apply, and you’ll earn 0.5% cash back starting October 1. This is a loss for those who shop for groceries at Walmart and Costco frequently, because under the current policy, you get 0.5% more cash back in the “everyday purchases” category on both cards.
There will be no changes to RBC partner perks and savings for either card. According to RBC, perks include your ability to:
For the RBC Cash Back Preferred World Elite Mastercard, you’ll continue to:
The upcoming changes may not be worth it to every cardholder. You can cancel your credit card without cost, penalty or cancellation indemnity by notifying RBC before December 30, 2026, and by paying the total amount you owe on your credit card account.
“If you feel the enhanced product isn’t right for you, you have the option to switch to another RBC credit card product. This can be done through your Online Banking or Mobile Banking portal, or by contacting an advisor at 1-800-769-2512,” RBC advises on its FAQ page.
If you’re shopping for a credit card that best suits your needs, check out Ratehub’s CardFinder.
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