Fat Cat Card: Why a KAST Purchase Earned No Cashback

You tapped the card, the purchase went through, and the cashback line is blank.

It rarely means something is broken. KAST’s own help article lists the reasons, and most of them can be checked in the app in under a minute.

Educational content, not financial advice. Rules and rates can change, so check the KAST app before relying on any figure here.

Compare crypto cards on Fat Cat Card

Contents

• Why didn’t a KAST purchase earn cashback?
• Which transactions never earn cashback?
• How much cashback does a month lose to exclusions?
• What happens when you pass the monthly cap?
• How do you check a single transaction?
• Pre-spend checklist

Why didn’t a KAST purchase earn cashback?

A KAST Card purchase misses cashback when the merchant’s category code (MCC) is not eligible, the transaction type is excluded, the purchase was refunded or reversed, or the monthly cap on your tier is used up, according to KAST’s cashback eligibility article updated August 31, 2026.

The part that surprises people: cashback follows the code the merchant’s bank assigns, not the store name. KAST says similar merchants can use different codes, and one merchant can process different purchases under different codes.

When I checked the article, I found that it also says KAST cannot change a merchant’s code. So there is nothing to argue about in the app. You can only see whether the reward appeared.

Which transactions never earn cashback?

KAST’s help article says ATM withdrawals, cash advances, money transfers and transfer-like transactions, quasi-cash purchases, fees and charges, refunded or reversed transactions, chargebacks, and cancelled or disputed transactions are generally excluded from cashback.

The same article says eligibility rules can change over time and can differ by tier, rewards program or promotion. Treat the table as a snapshot.

How much cashback does a month lose to exclusions?

On the Standard tier, KAST’s fee page updated October 30, 2026 lists 1.5% USD cashback on the first $2,000 a month, so each excluded dollar costs you 1.5 cents of expected reward.

Here is one invented month, worked line by line. The amounts are examples. Only the rate and cap come from KAST.

The naive guess is 1.5% of $1,900, or $28.50. The real number is $22.50. The $6.00 gap is $2.25 + $2.25 + $1.50, one line per excluded item.

The ATM line costs more than the missing reward. KAST’s fee page lists a $3 flat fee plus 2% on a USD withdrawal, so $150 in cash costs $6.00 in fees. Fees earn no cashback either.

What happens when you pass the monthly cap?

Eligible purchases above the cap earn nothing until it resets, and on the Standard tier the cap is the first $2,000 of cashback-eligible spend each month, per KAST’s fee page updated October 30, 2026.

In the busy month the last $300 earns nothing, which is $4.50 not earned at 1.5%. Our post on timing a big purchase around cashback caps shows how to plan around that.

How do you check a single transaction?

You check one transaction by opening it in the KAST app activity list and looking for a cashback line, because KAST says that if no reward appears on the transaction, the transaction is not eligible.

1. Open the KAST app and find the transaction in your activity.
2. Look for cashback, which may first show as Locked Cashback.
3. Wait for settlement if the purchase is still pending.
4. If you still expected a reward, contact KAST Concierge with the date, amount, merchant name and a screenshot.

I noticed that the article does not promise a fix, only an explanation of whether the purchase qualified. Set your expectations to that.

Pre-spend checklist

1. Keep ATM and transfer-like payments out of your cashback math.
2. Expect refunds to cancel their reward.
3. Track eligible spend against your tier cap during the month.
4. Check the first purchase at any new merchant in the app before relying on the reward.

Compare crypto cards on Fat Cat Card

Tips

• Use the same sum every month: eligible spend times your rate, capped.
• Plan cash needs with the ATM limit planning guide so fees do not surprise you.
• Compare tiers with the Premium versus Standard break-even before upgrading for a higher rate.

Warnings

• Rewards can be reduced or removed after a refund, reversal or chargeback.
• Rates, caps and rules change. The figures here were read on KAST’s pages as of November 4, 2026.
• Crypto-funded spending has price and tax effects that cashback does not offset. This is not financial advice.

FAQ

Does a refunded KAST purchase keep its cashback?

No. KAST’s cashback eligibility article says that if a purchase that earned cashback is later refunded, reversed or charged back, the associated cashback may also be removed from your account.

Why does a KAST purchase show Locked Cashback?

KAST’s article says cashback is typically calculated after a transaction is completed and settled, and it may first appear as Locked Cashback. A pending transaction usually shows no cashback until processing finishes.

Can KAST change the merchant category code on a purchase?

No. KAST’s article says Merchant Category Codes are assigned by the merchant’s acquiring bank and the payment network. If a purchase has no cashback reward, KAST says the transaction is not eligible, and Concierge can review it if you send the date, amount and merchant.

Sources

• KAST Help Center: Which Purchases Earn Cashback on KAST? (updated August 31, 2026)
• KAST Help Center: What Are the Fees and Conditions for KAST Cards and Accounts? (updated October 30, 2026)

Fact-checked against KAST’s published help articles as of November 4, 2026. The monthly spending example is hypothetical. General information, not financial advice.