Rakuten ‘biggest cash back week’ of the year offering up to 20X points on purchases, bonuses on new cards
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers. Rakuten is out with what it is calling the biggest cash-back week of the year, running May 5-May 12. And after checking over the deals, there are some pretty legit offers you don’t want to accidentally miss. We’re talking 15%-20% cash …

Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.
Rakuten is out with what it is calling the biggest cash-back week of the year, running May 5-May 12. And after checking over the deals, there are some pretty legit offers you don’t want to accidentally miss.
We’re talking 15%-20% cash back right now from Rakuten on retailers such as Saks Fifth Avenue, Hertz, Urban Outfitters, PetSmart, Bergdorf Goodman, Athleta, Viator, Bombas, Stanley and many more.
With Rakuten, you can also earn American Express Membership Rewards points instead of cash back if you want. So, instead of getting up to 15%-20% cash back in the examples below, you could earn 15-20 Amex Membership Rewards points per dollar spent. This can yield a significantly higher value overall if you maximize the points with Amex travel partners.
Those new to Rakuten can get an even better deal right now and layer on a $40 bonus (or 4,000 points) on their first $40 spent at an eligible retailer. This is higher than the normal $30 referral bonus for new users.
Here’s what you need to know about increased cash-back opportunities with Rakuten.
Increased cash back with Rakuten
To earn cash-back rewards or Membership Rewards points when shopping online, begin your shopping trip on the Rakuten website.
Once there, search for your desired store and click to be redirected to the retailer’s website. After you make a qualifying purchase, Rakuten will track your transaction and add bonus rewards to your account, generally within a couple of days.
Here are some of the retailers offering 15%-20% cash back through Rakuten from May 5-12 during “Big Give Week”:
Travel
- Expedia
- Hotels.com
- Sixt Rent a Car
- Hertz
General shopping
- Athleta
- Bombas
- Bose
- Carter’s
- Crocs
- CVS
- Dermstore
- DSW
- KitchenAid
- Lego
- PetSmart
- Stanley
- Ulta
Even 1800Flowers is at 20%, so with Mother’s Day right around the corner, now could be a great time to send mom a nice bouquet — especially if you can stack it with an Amex Offer or Chase Offer (many of which are floating around right now).
Increased card bonuses are also available
In addition to the 15%-20% shopping bonuses, a very interesting thing we’ve seen pop up on Rakuten’s site this week is cash-back rebates of sorts for getting some rewards credit cards. This is a new development, but one to take notice of. For example, there is a $300 cash-back rebate for getting the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. This is not something we have tested and tried, so we can’t speak to it from personal experience — but it is a hefty offer.
RAKUTEN
The best credit cards for shopping online
Rakuten users will earn cash back and any earnings on the rewards credit card they use at the selected retailers. At most merchants participating in these promotions, you’ll want to pay with a credit card that earns bonus points and miles on everyday purchases, such as:
- Chase Freedom Flex® (see rates and fees): Earn 5% back on up to $1,500 spent in quarterly rotating categories (that you must activate to benefit from), including Amazon and select streaming services.
- Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express: Earn 3% cash back on online purchases from U.S. retailers (on the first $6,000 spent in each category during a calendar year, then 1% cash back until the following year). Cash back is received as reward dollars that can be redeemed for statement credits or amazon.com checkout.
- Citi Double Cash® Card: Earn 2% cash back on all purchases — 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases (see rates and fees).
For additional options, see our favorite cards for online shopping. Or, use one where you’ve added a Chase Offer or Amex Offer for that retailer to stack your savings.
Bottom line
The summer travel season is upon us. Whether you’re booking a last-minute trip or stocking up on essentials, the increased cash-back opportunities are in full effect. To ensure you choose the right option with the best rewards for your planned purchase, compare all the different cash-back sites before you buy, as Rakuten is not always the top choice.
Remember that new Rakuten shoppers can earn a $40 cash bonus when they spend at least $40 on a qualifying purchase within the first 90 days.
Many eligible merchants for these promotions also participate in credit card merchant offers. So, it’s smart to check whether a merchant has an offer through Amex Offers, Chase Offers, Citi Merchant Offers and American Airlines AAdvantage’s SimplyMiles program before making your purchase.
Related reading: