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Cashback vs Points — what's the difference?

Both show up in your KAST rewards. Both grow when you spend. But they work in very different ways.

In short:

Cashback is redeemable USD value you can spend on your next card purchase. Every member earns it.

KAST Points are a separate rewards balance earned on top of cashback — exclusive to Premium and Private members.

Here is how they differ.

Cashback and points at a glance

Reward type What it is Who gets it How it works
USD Cashback Redeemable USD value Standard, Premium, Private Earned on eligible card spend, then redeemed in the app and applied to the next card purchase
KAST Points Separate points balance Premium, Private Earned separately on eligible card spend and tracked separately from cashback

What cashback is

Cashback is the reward you can use toward card spending.

You earn it based on your membership tier. Then, when it becomes available, you redeem it in the Rewards Hub. After that, it moves into your card spending account and applies automatically to your next card purchase.

Cashback rates by tier

Membership tier USD cashback rate Monthly eligible spend cap Max monthly cashback
Standard 1.5% First $2,000 Up to $30
Premium 2% First $10,000 Up to $200
Private 3% First $40,000 Up to $1200

The cashback cap resets on the 1st of each calendar month.

What points are

Points are a separate rewards balance. They are not USD cashback.

Premium and Private members earn points on eligible card spend. Points continue accruing even after the monthly USD cashback cap is reached:

Membership tier KAST Points
Standard No points
Premium 1% on eligible card spend
Private 2% on eligible card spend

The practical difference

Here is the clean split:

  • Cashback is redeemed in the app and then used toward card purchases
  • Points stay in a separate balance
  • Cashback is available across all tiers
  • Points are available on Premium and Private

How cashback works

Cashback follows a simple flow:

  • You make an eligible card purchase
  • Cashback is awarded
  • It becomes redeemable
  • You tap Redeem
  • It moves into your redeemed cash rewards balance
  • It applies automatically to your next card purchase

Cashback is not auto-redeemed. You need to redeem it in the Rewards Hub first.

What you can and cannot do with Card USD Cashback

You can:

  • earn it on eligible card spend
  • redeem it in the Rewards Hub
  • use it toward your next card purchase

You cannot:

  • withdraw it to an external wallet
  • withdraw it to a bank account
  • convert it to points

Refunds and clawbacks

If a transaction that earned cashback is later refunded or reversed, the related cashback can be clawed back.

If you already redeemed and used it, the shortfall can be deducted from your card spending account. In some cases, that can push the balance negative.

Quick comparison

Question Cashback Points
Is it USD value? Yes No
Is it tracked separately? Yes Yes
Do all tiers get it? Yes No
Does it need redemption? Yes No
Can it be used toward card purchases? Yes No
Continues earning past cashback cap? No Yes, for Premium and Private

Points in the app

Points are tracked separately in your Rewards Hub and remain visible in the app as a separate balance.

The short answer

Cashback gives you redeemable USD value for card spend.

Points are a separate balance earned on eligible card spend for Premium and Private members.

If you see both in your account, that is expected. They work side by side, but they are not the same reward.

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