First Citizens Bank

First Citizens Bank Cash Rewards

Highest earn rate in Dining at 1.5% effective value

The First Citizens Bank Cash Rewards from First Citizens Bank earns up to 1.5% effective value on dining in Madeen's catalog snapshot. It has no annual fee. Madeen compares this card against the cards you already carry — no bank login required.

Top category
Dining
Effective value
1.5%
Annual fee
$0

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First Citizens Bank Cash Rewards card art
Reviewed by Madeen editorial review
Catalog snapshot 2026-05-01
Updated 2026-06-07
Data source Madeen catalog analysis

Madeen compares public issuer terms with its card-rule catalog. Issuer pages control rewards, fees, benefits, exclusions, and eligibility; Madeen does not issue cards, make approval decisions, or provide financial advice.

Madeen analysis

What does the First Citizens Bank Cash Rewards earn in each category?

Dining is the strongest category at 1.5% effective value (1.5% back). That dining rate ranks higher than about 35% of the 2,850 cards we track in that category. Madeen summarizes catalog reward rules for comparison only; issuer pages control current fees, caps, exclusions, and eligibility.

Dining is the strongest category at 1.5% effective value (1.5% back). That dining rate ranks higher than about 35% of the 2,850 cards we track in that category.

Category Earn rate Effective value
Dining
Restaurants, cafes, takeout
1.5% back 1.5% Top category
Grocery
Supermarkets and grocery stores
1.5% back 1.5%
Gas
Gas stations and fuel
1.5% back 1.5%
Travel
Flights, hotels, transit
1.5% back 1.5%
Other
General everyday spend
1.5% back 1.5%

Madeen values cash back at about 1 cents each. Madeen compares every card using this cash-equivalent estimate while still showing the raw earn rate for context.

Madeen take

Who should get the First Citizens Bank Cash Rewards?

The First Citizens Bank Cash Rewards fits spenders who put meaningful volume in dining and can earn 1.5% back. Best for spenders who put meaningful volume in dining and can earn 1.5% back. Madeen summarizes catalog reward rules for comparison only; issuer pages control current fees, caps, exclusions, and eligibility.

First Citizens Bank Cash Rewards fits spenders who put meaningful volume in dining and can earn 1.5% back. Madeen ranks its dining effective rate higher than about 35% of the catalog in that category. Compare it against cards you already carry with Madeen — no bank login required.

Best for spenders who put meaningful volume in dining and can earn 1.5% back.

Foreign transaction fees make it weaker for international spend. Mostly a flat base earn card without strong category bonuses.

Best for dining-heavy spend when you want to avoid an annual fee; confirm issuer terms before applying. Madeen summarizes catalog reward rules for comparison only; issuer pages control current fees, caps, exclusions, and eligibility.

Pros

  • Strongest Madeen category is dining at about 1.5% effective (1.5% back).
  • No annual fee in our catalog snapshot.

Cons

  • Charges $3 foreign transaction fees.
Fees

Does the First Citizens Bank Cash Rewards have an annual fee?

The First Citizens Bank Cash Rewards has an annual fee of $0 and a foreign transaction fee of $3. Issuer pages control fees and offers; Madeen labels this as catalog analysis, not issuer-confirmed terms. Madeen summarizes catalog reward rules for comparison only; issuer pages control current fees, caps, exclusions, and eligibility.

Annual fee
$0
Foreign transaction fee
$3
Benefits

What benefits come with the First Citizens Bank Cash Rewards?

The First Citizens Bank Cash Rewards includes Booking.com, Cell phone protection, Credit monitoring in our snapshot. Perks and benefits can change; verify coverage on the issuer site before you rely on them. Madeen summarizes catalog reward rules for comparison only; issuer pages control current fees, caps, exclusions, and eligibility.

Madeen estimated annual value~$784
17 of 19 benefits valued
  • Sofar Sounds

    $240/yr

    Enjoy a free ticket per show with the purchase of one or more tickets, plus you can access 7-day Visa Exclusive Presale opportunities.

    Visa Signature®
    How we value this

    Editorial review of "Sofar Sounds" — annual face value verified from issuer title (converted from legacy taxonomy draft). Applied to catalog title "Sofar Sounds".

  • Global Entry Statement Credit

    $120/yr

    Apply for Global Entry, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection program and use your Visa Signature card to pay the application fee (currently $120) to receive a $120 statement credit.

    Visa Signature®
    How we value this

    Global Entry application fee is $120; TSA PreCheck is $85 — we use the higher program fee as the annual credit ceiling. Applied to catalog title "Global Entry Statement Credit".

  • OpenTable

    $120/yr

    Eligible Visa cardholders can enjoy special events access to the hottest dining events on OpenTable. Restrictions apply.

    Visa Signature®
    How we value this

    Editorial review of "OpenTable" — annual face value verified from issuer title (converted from legacy taxonomy draft). Applied to catalog title "OpenTable".

  • Priority Pass airport lounge access

    $99/yr

    Enjoy access to over 1,700 airport lounges and experiences around the globe.

    Visa Signature®
    How we value this

    Priority Pass Standard membership lists at $99/year for individual access (retail, 2026). Applied to catalog title "Priority Pass airport lounge access".

  • Cell phone protection

    $25/yr

    When you pay your monthly wireless bill with your covered First Citizens credit card, your cell phone is protected for the next calendar month.

    How we value this

    Conservative expected value for insurance/protection benefits based on typical claim likelihood. Applied to catalog title "Cell Phone Protection".

  • Credit monitoring

    $25/yr

    Take charge of your credit rating with DOVLY Uplift™, a Visa-backed free credit monitoring service. Dispute credit issues, monitor and track score changes, and more.

    How we value this

    Conservative expected value for insurance/protection benefits based on typical claim likelihood. Applied to catalog title "Credit monitoring".

  • Identity protection

    $25/yr

    Your First Citizens credit card includes ID Navigator powered by NortonLifeLock, providing tools so you can act quickly if your identity is threatened.

    How we value this

    Conservative expected value for insurance/protection benefits based on typical claim likelihood. Applied to catalog title "Identity Protection".

  • Porch piracy protection

    $25/yr

    When you use your covered First Citizens account for your purchases, your new purchases can be protected against theft from your home or other location.

    How we value this

    Conservative expected value for insurance/protection benefits based on typical claim likelihood. Applied to catalog title "Porch piracy protection".

  • Roadside assistance

    $25/yr

    Call on Roadside Dispatch® whenever you're in need of a tow. Assistance is available to eligible First Citizens credit cardholders 24/7 with no membership required.

    How we value this

    Conservative expected value for insurance/protection benefits based on typical claim likelihood. Applied to catalog title "Roadside Assistance".

  • Golf Benefits from Troon Rewards®

    $10/yr

    Enjoy automatic Silver Status when you sign up for Troon Rewards®, for 10% savings on golf fees, merchandise and lessons at over 150 golf courses across the United States and the world.

    Visa Signature®
    How we value this

    Minimal expected value for standard network-tier boilerplate; excluded from card totals when flagged as network benefit. Applied to catalog title "Golf Benefits from Troon Rewards®".

  • Roadside Dispatch®

    $10/yr

    This is a pay-per-use roadside assistance program available 24x7. Roadside Dispatch will ask for your location, find out what the problem is, and will remain on the phone with you while arranging a dispatch to a reliable tow operator or locksmith. You pay a set price per service call.

    Visa Signature®
    How we value this

    Minimal expected value for standard network-tier boilerplate; excluded from card totals when flagged as network benefit. Applied to catalog title "Roadside Dispatch®".

  • Stay connected in over 175 countries

    $10/yr

    Eligible Visa cardholders can now use the GigSky app to access complimentary or discounted global mobile data, in 175+ countries and destinations worldwide as well as on over 200 of the world’s top cruise ships.

    Visa Signature®
    How we value this

    Minimal expected value for standard network-tier boilerplate; excluded from card totals when flagged as network benefit. Applied to catalog title "Stay connected in over 175 countries".

Common questions about the First Citizens Bank Cash Rewards

How to redeem rewards with First Citizens Rewards cards?

Rewards on the First Citizens Bank Cash Rewards post as cash back. Redemption value depends on how you use cash back (statement credit, travel, transfers, or issuer portals). Madeen shows effective cash-equivalent rates using standard valuations. Madeen summarizes catalog reward rules for comparison only; issuer pages control current fees, caps, exclusions, and eligibility.

How do I redeem my reward points for cash?

Rewards on the First Citizens Bank Cash Rewards post as cash back. Redemption value depends on how you use cash back (statement credit, travel, transfers, or issuer portals). Madeen shows effective cash-equivalent rates using standard valuations. Madeen summarizes catalog reward rules for comparison only; issuer pages control current fees, caps, exclusions, and eligibility.

Does the First Citizens Bank Cash Rewards have an annual fee?

The First Citizens Bank Cash Rewards carries an annual fee of $0 in Madeen's catalog snapshot. Issuer terms can change, so confirm the current fee on the issuer's site before you apply. Madeen does not predict approval or prequalification. Madeen summarizes catalog reward rules for comparison only; issuer pages control current fees, caps, exclusions, and eligibility.

What category earns the most with the First Citizens Bank Cash Rewards?

Dining is the strongest Madeen category for the First Citizens Bank Cash Rewards at about 1.5% effective value, based on our catalog snapshot and standard point valuations. Other categories are listed in the effective-rate table on this page. Madeen summarizes catalog reward rules for comparison only; issuer pages control current fees, caps, exclusions, and eligibility.

Does the First Citizens Bank Cash Rewards charge foreign transaction fees?

The First Citizens Bank Cash Rewards charges a foreign transaction fee of $3 in our catalog snapshot. Check issuer terms before international spend because rates and fee waivers can change. Madeen summarizes catalog reward rules for comparison only; issuer pages control current fees, caps, exclusions, and eligibility.

What credit score do you need for the First Citizens Bank Cash Rewards?

Madeen's catalog lists a typical credit range of Good for the First Citizens Bank Cash Rewards. Issuers decide approval using their own criteria; Madeen does not predict approval odds or prequalification. Madeen summarizes catalog reward rules for comparison only; issuer pages control current fees, caps, exclusions, and eligibility.

Compare

How does the First Citizens Bank Cash Rewards compare to similar cards?

Compare the First Citizens Bank Cash Rewards against First Citizens Bank Premium Rewards Business (3% on Dining, $95 fee); First Citizens Bank Travel Rewards (2% on Dining, $95 fee); First Citizens Bank Low-Interest Business (0% on Dining, $0 fee). Madeen ranks effective value by category and annual fee using the same catalog snapshot dated 2026-05-01.

CardTop categoryEffective valueAnnual fee
First Citizens Bank Cash Rewards
This card
Dining1.5%$0
Dining3%$95
Dining2%$95
Dining0%$0
Dining0%$0
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