Savvy consumers are always looking for ways to maximize their rewards on everyday purchases. Fortunately, two popular programs, Rakuten and American Express Membership Rewards, can be linked for an extra boost in points earning.
Don’t have a free Rakuten account yet? Sign up with through this link to receive a $30 bonus.
This guide will walk you through the simple process of connecting your Rakuten account to your Amex Membership Rewards account, allowing you to seamlessly earn valuable points on your online shopping sprees.
What is a Shopping Portal?
Before we dive into the step-by-step instructions on how you’ll link your two accounts, let’s learn a little bit about the basics of a shopping portal (like Rakuten).
In essence, a shopping portal acts as an online intermediary between you and your favorite retailers. These platforms typically boast a vast network of partnered stores across various categories.
Here’s how it works:
- You visit the shopping portal website (Rakuten).
- Browse the listed retailers and find the store you want to shop at.
- Click through a special link provided by the shopping portal that directs you to the retailer’s website.
- Complete your purchase as usual on the retailer’s website.
- The shopping portal tracks your purchase and credits your account with pre-determined rewards, such as cash back or points (depending on the portal and your chosen option).
Benefits of Linking Accounts
Rakuten on its own can be a great tool in helping you build up your travel funds for things that points don’t cover, but there’s a (somewhat) hidden perk with plenty of upside.
- Earn Membership Rewards points: Instead of receiving cash back through Rakuten, you can opt to earn Membership Rewards points for every qualifying purchase. This allows you to leverage the flexibility and potential value offered by the Membership Rewards program for travel, merchandise, and gift cards.
- Streamlined experience: Once linked, you won’t need to switch between programs or manually track points. Rakuten will automatically track your eligible purchases and transfer the earned points to your Amex account, simplifying the process.
Steps to Link your Accounts
The process itself is pretty straightforward and extremely quick to complete, but it can sometimes be a little difficult to know exactly where to navigate to in order to get everything linked. We’ll make this one easy:
- Log in to your Rakuten account.
- Navigate to “My Account” through the Account Settings area in the top right of the main screen.
- Click “Choose Payment Method” in the banner at the top of the page to start the linking process.
- Enter your name and address info to continue.
- Under “How would you like to get paid?,” select “Switch to Membership Rewards points.”
- You’ll be redirected to a secure login page for your American Express account. Enter your credentials to link the accounts
Important Notes
There are a few key pieces of info you should know about jumping in, as they may impact your decision to link your Amex and Rakuten accounts.
- Ensure you have an eligible American Express card enrolled in the Membership Rewards program. Corporate cards are not eligible.
- You can only switch your earning preference from cash back to points once. If you choose to opt out of points later, you won’t be able to switch back.
- Rakuten transfers confirmed points to your Amex account quarterly according to their payment schedule.
Getting to the Point
By linking your Rakuten and Amex Membership Rewards accounts, you unlock a convenient way to earn valuable points on your online shopping. Consider this strategy to enhance your rewards journey and maximize the value you get from both programs.
Additional Tips:
- Always activate cash back (even though you’ll receive points) before shopping through Rakuten to ensure you’re eligible for rewards.
- Explore Rakuten’s vast selection of stores and deals to maximize your points earning potential.
- Regularly check your Rakuten and Amex accounts to monitor your points balance and track your progress towards your reward goals.
- Download the web browser extension for whichever browser you use so you’ll always know if there’s a cash back / MR opportunity before a purchase.
By following these steps and tips, you can effectively leverage the combined power of Rakuten and Amex Membership Rewards to elevate your rewards game and get the most out of your shopping experience.
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