The latest edition of Bankrate.com's annual cash-back credit card rewards survey found that more than half of the cards (55%) offer introductory bonuses. But some cards are offering fewer points or require more spending in order to get the same bonus as last year.

Fifty-three percent of the cards that Bankrate.com recently surveyed offer 1% cash back beginning with the first dollar of spending (last year, 48% did so). Plenty of cards (47%) offer higher payouts for certain categories of spending – such as gasoline, groceries or dining. Nine percent of the cards have tiered payouts based upon total spending volume and offer higher cash-back ratios the more the consumer spends on the card each year.

Annual fees for cash-back cards remain uncommon: 22% charge annual fees this year, up slightly from 18% last year. Sixty-five percent of the cards that Bankrate.com surveyed do not have expiration dates on their rewards, virtually unchanged from 66% last year. The cards that do have expiration dates typically offer between three and five years before the expiration date.

"As long as you pay your balance in full every month, a rewards card is a good way to get some of that money back," said Greg McBride, CFA, Bankrate.com's senior financial analyst. "Make sure to find the card that offers the best fit for your lifestyle. For example, one consumer might want to maximize cash back at the gas pump, but others might place more value on grocery, dining or travel rewards. It depends on your personal habits and there isn't a one-size-fits-all solution."

The full results of the survey (which included 55 cash-back credit cards offered by the largest banks and credit unions, plus other prominent cash-back offerings) can be found here:

http://www.bankrate.com/finance/credit-cards/2011-credit-card-rewards-survey.aspx