Elan Financial Services · Visa Signature · Personal
Associated Bank Max Cash Preferred
A no-annual-fee card earning cash back: 5× on Quarterly Categories, 1× on everything else.

- Annual fee
- $0No annual fee
- Signup bonus
- $150Cash bonus
- Top rate
- 5×Quarterly Categories
- Point value
- 1¢Cash back, a cent a point
Year one and year two
Is it worth it for you?
Tick the credits you’d really use and enter what you spend. The ledger adds up the bonus, your points and the credits, less the fee.
| Line | Year one | Year two |
|---|---|---|
| Signup bonus cash | $150 | – |
| Cash back on your spend Enter your spending | $0 | $0 |
| Credits you’d use No statement credits listed | $0 | $0 |
| Annual fee No annual fee | $0 | $0 |
| NetYear one includes the bonus · at your inputs · our estimates* | $150 | $0 |
Bonus terms: $150 bonus awarded after you spend $500 within first 90 days of account opening.
Earning structure
3 categories, 3 rates
| Icon | Category | Points per $1 | Worth per $100 (our estimate)* |
|---|---|---|---|
Quarterly Categories Cap $2,000 / 3 moNotesSelect up to two categories to earn 5% cashback on combined purchases (up to $2,000 per quarter). The available categories include: Home Utilities, Cell Phone Providers, TV, Internet, and Streaming Services, Select Clothing Stores, Fast Food, Furniture Stores, Gyms and Fitness Centers, Ground Transportation, Department Stores, Sporting Goods Stores, Electronic Stores, Bookstores. NOTE: Sports and Recreation and Gym are combined one category selection. Entertainment includes "amusement parks" (Disney, Six Flags, etc.), 3rd party events ticket vendors and movie theaters. Gas and ground transportation are combined as one selection. Grocery and delivery and restaurants and delivery (not fast food) are also combined as one selection. | 5× | $5.00 | |
Daily Categories NotesThe 2% unlimited cash back on one everyday category, like gas stations & ground transportation, restaurants & food delivery, and grocery stores & grocery delivery. Effective April 22, 2025, purchases at Grocery Stores/Supermarkets and Gas Stations/EV Charging Stations at wholesale clubs, discount stores, and supercenters (e.g., Target, Walmart) will earn only 1% cash back. | 2× | $2.00 | |
| All Other | 1× | $1.00 |
The rest of the card
Details, rules and benefits
Card details
- Annual fee
- None
- Card type
- Personal
- Network
- Visa Signature
- Bank
- Elan Financial Services
- Point system
- Cash back
- Foreign transaction fee
- Yes
- Transfer partners
- No
- Travel portal redemption
- No
- Cash to travel
- No
Alternatives
Head to head with similar cards
Associated Bank Max Cash Preferred | Associated Bank Everyday Rewards+ | Fidelity Rewards | Chase Freedom Flex | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $0 | $0Same | $0Same | $0Same |
| Signup bonus | $150 | 15,000 pts | None | $200 |
| Top rate | 5×Quarterly Categories | 4×Dining | 2×All Other | 5×6 categories |
| Travel value * | –Cash back | 1¢Elan Rewards | –Cash back | 1.85¢Ultimate Rewards |
| Why it’s here | This card | Also no annual fee | Also no annual fee | Also no annual fee |
Full list of categories can be found here: https://card.associatedbankcreditcard.com /credit/associated/pdfs/categories_max_cash_preferred_visa.pdf
* Point valuations are RICH with POINTS™ editorial estimates, averaged from published valuations by The Points Guy, Upgraded Points, and Frequent Miler. They are not issuer figures and do not represent guaranteed redemption value.







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