Consumers may save on credit card cash-back deals

— -- As Black Friday kicks off a holiday buying frenzy, credit cards can become a back-pocket arsenal for shoppers looking to save more than a few bucks on myriad purchases.

Credit card companies and retailers with credit cards will be more aggressive than ever this holiday season in promoting cash-back deals and savings benefits, credit card experts say.

"Card issuers are courting consumers again," says Beverly Harzog at Credit.com. "This is the perfect time, when people are really looking to get a deal to make it through the holidays."

•American Express this month started offering five times the amount of rewards points to card holders when they buy from certain brands, such as Apple and Target. A "Cyber Week" promotion Nov. 21-30 allows card holders to redeem their points on discounted items.

•Discover card members will receive 5% to 10% more cash back during the holidays when they shop certain retailers through Discover's ShopDiscover.

•The Amazon.com rewards card offers extra points for all digital downloads from the site Nov. 15-Dec. 31.

Deals such as those can mean significant savings at a time consumers are buying more than usual.

"It becomes a wonderful financial tool," says Bill Hardekopf, CEO of LowCards.com.

But shoppers considering rewards cards should understand that there are drawbacks.

Paying a credit card bill off in time is key. If you don't pay off your bill in full, "you're going to negate any rewards you get," Harzog says.

Places such as Macy's, Gap and Best Buy will push their store-specific credit cards on consumers visiting during the holidays more than any other time of year, says John Ulzheimer, president of consumer education at SmartCredit.com.

However, the interest rate on retail credit cards is usually 10 percentage points more than with general use cards such as Visa and American Express, he says. And you can only use the cards with that specific retailer.

That doesn't deter some shoppers. Connie Tilton, a paralegal from Topeka, has cards for Kohl's and Macy's "because of the extra discounts I receive during the year," the 49-year-old says.

Year-long discounts are one of the upsides to store-specific cards, Ulzheimer says.

"There is a benefit if you frequent a store a lot, and you're going to be spending money there, anyway. Why not save 10, 15 bucks on your purchases?"