• March 15, 2011

Cash back rewards programs have become increasingly popular, according to Bankrate.com in its "2011 Cash Back Rewards Credit Card Survey."

One percent cash back continues to be the baseline from which comparison should begin, with 44% of the cards studied offering a 1% payout beginning with the first dollar of spending. Introductory bonuses are common, with 41% of cards offering, but the bonuses are also on the rise from last year.

Of the cards surveyed, 28% offer higher payouts in certain categories of spending, including gasoline, groceries and travel. Half of the cards surveyed had no expiration date. Of those that did have a time limit, the most common was five years before rewards expire.

Bankrate surveyed 32 cash-back cards offered by large U.S. issuers as well as several investment cards that offered a competitive reward ratio. The survey was conducted during the week of Feb. 18.--Tanya Irwin