How Varo cashback works

Getting cashback1 on everyday spending feels like a win, but the ‘how’ and ‘when’ are just as important as the ‘how much’.

At Varo, we believe online banking should be transparent. That’s why we’re here to answer some of your common cashback questions, including why money might not appear in your account immediately or how location services help improve your cashback experience. We’ve got your covered, from Claimed to Settled.

When will I get my cashback?

When you make a qualifying purchase, you won’t earn cashback immediately. This is a standard part of the digital banking reconciliation process.

To award your cashback, we first have to verify the purchase details with the merchant. Click-to-activate offers usually take 2-3 business days to process, while automatic offers may take 3-5 business days.

Once we can confirm the transaction was completed and calculate your exact reward, the cashback will be added to your Varo Bank Account. While most rewards move to your account within two weeks, some merchant processing times can take up to 60 days.2

A look under the hood (how the system works)

Transparency is key to a good banking relationship, so we wanted to share the inner workings of our cashback program with you, our customer. 

Expired vs voided offers

Offers at Varo typically fall under two statuses after you use them:

Expired: Our local "hometown" deals are on-demand and high-value. Once activated, they usually stay active for 4 to 24 hours. Once expired, we begin looking for your transaction to match it and get you your cashback. As long as you made a transaction before expiration, you’re good to go! If you don’t make the purchase in that window, the offer expires and you won’t earn any cashback.3 However, our daily limit resets at midnight (your local time), so you can always try again tomorrow with a fresh offer at that location—in most cases.

Voided: This typically means the cashback could not be verified with the merchant. This can happen if the purchase wasn’t made prior to expiration or if the specific terms of the offer (like a minimum spend amount) weren't met.

Location services: How we find your deals

One of the most common questions we get is: "Do I have to share my location to get cashback?"

The short answer is no, but sharing your location makes the experience much better.

With location services on: The Varo app acts as a real-time radar, showing you dining, gas, and grocery deals exactly where you are standing. Whether you’re at work, on vacation, or just across town, we will find you the best deals near you to earn cashback.

With location services off: We will still show you the best attempts at local deals, but we have to rely on your home address. This means if you’re out running errands five miles away, you might miss a great offer that’s right next door because the app assumes that you’re still at home.

No receipts, no hassle

Unlike many standalone rewards apps, Varo is an all-in-one mobile banking app. That means you don’t have to scan a paper receipt or upload a photo of your bag in order to get cashback.

Because your rewards are integrated directly into your Varo Visa® Debit Card or Varo Visa® Believe Credit Card,4 we do the work for you. Once you activate an offer and swipe any of your cards (or tap, for the digital wallet people out there), the data moves securely between the merchant and Varo to ensure a friction-free path to getting you paid.

Getting the most out of your cashback

Your cashback rewards aren’t just a number in an app, they’re a tool for your financial health. Once your rewards are settled and automatically transferred to your Varo Bank Account, consider moving them into your High-Yield Savings Account.5 This allows your everyday shopping “wins" to start earning compounding interest, turning small daily savings into long-term growth.

Ready to start earning?

Let’s find your first deal! Whether you're planning your weekly grocery trip or looking for a new local favorite for dinner, your rewards are waiting to be claimed.

See all available Cashback offers in your area, right in the Varo app.

1 Cashback is available on qualifying items or services purchased with your Varo Debit Card or Varo Believe Card at participating merchants. Select offers require activation in the Varo app prior to purchase. Offer details, including reward rates, merchant participation, and offer expiration may vary; see the Cashback tab for specific terms and current deals. The maximum cashback earned is $750 USD per calendar month.

2 This balance is subject to adjustments from returns on merchandise purchased where Cashback rewards were applied.

3 Once an offer expires, it can't be replaced or deactivated, counting toward the 5 offer limit. Your 5 offer limit resets daily at midnight (your local time), and includes both active and expired offers. Cashback processing begins once the offer expires.  

4 Varo Believe is a secured credit card designed to help you build credit; however, a variety of factors impact your credit and not all factors are equally weighted. You must add money before using, money added sets the spending limit. Funds spent are held in your Varo Believe Secured Account to pay off any balance in full monthly, when due. Quals apply.

The Varo Visa® Debit Card and the Varo Visa® Believe Credit Card are issued by Varo Bank, N.A. pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc and may be used everywhere Visa debit cards are accepted.

5 To open a Varo Savings Account all you need is a Varo Bank Account. Applying won’t impact your credit score, plus there are no monthly fees, and no minimum balance required.