Rakuten is a shopping portal that lets you earn rewards when shopping online at thousands of retailers. Instead of going directly to a retailer’s website, you start on Rakuten, click their link to the retailer, and earn cash back or Amex points for your shopping purchases.

Why Use Rakuten?

• High Rewards: Rakuten frequently offers promotions with up to 15-20% or more back per dollar spent and even bank bonuses!
• Membership Rewards (MR) Option: If you have an American Express card that earns Membership Rewards (e.g., Amex, Green, Gold, Platinum or Blue Business Plus), you can choose to earn MR points instead of cash back.
• Pro Tip: Membership Rewards points can often be worth more than 1 cent per point when transferred to travel partners, making this a great deal. If your’e not in the credit card points game, you can still cash out via Paypal or even a physical check.

Getting Started:

1. Sign Up: Create a Rakuten account (use a referral link for a bonus, see below)

      2.  Link Your Card: Add an AMEX Membership rewards earning card in your account settings if you want to earn points instead of cash. Examples:

• Amex Gold Card
• Amex Platinum Card
• Blue Business Plus Card (doesn’t affect your 5/24 status).

3. Shop Through Rakuten: Use the Rakuten website, app or activate the browser extension to ensure you get rewards.

• Avoid the mobile app for setting up MR earning; use the desktop version.

Extra Tools:

• Browser Extensions: This tool reminds you when a site qualifies for Rakuten rewards, so you don’t miss out.

Rakuten is an easy way to maximize your spending, especially if you’re focused on earning valuable points for travel or other rewards. 

If you’re not already part of our Facebook community, you can join our group Bank Bonus and Travel Points to get the latest bank bonus and travel points alerts.