Barclaycard last week announced a revamped version of its credit card partnership with Apple, the Barclaycard Apple Rewards Visa, offering a new Apple rewards program and financing deals (via AppleInsider).
The new reward card offers three points per dollar spent at the Apple Store (iTunes and App Stores do not qualify), two points spent in restaurants, and one point on all other purchases. Once a customer breaks 2,500 points, they receive a $25 Apple Store gift card.
Within the first thirty days of opening an account, users can also finance purchases made through Apple with deferred interest. Purchases under $498 can be financed for six months, $499-$998 for twelve months, and $999 and over for eighteen months.
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The last Barclaycard with iTunes Rewards didn't have a triple-points reward tier for customers. It started at paying out two points for every dollar spent at the Apple Store or iTunes Store, and one point for every dollar spent everywhere else. Instead of an Apple Store gift card, the payout at 2,500 points was an iTunes gift card.
The card isn't yet confirmed to work with Apple Pay, but is expected to as both Visa and Barclaycard are participating partners. The new card also supports Chip & Pin security, not Chip & Signature like most other new cards in the United States, with an embedded EMV Chip for security.
The Barclaycard Apple Rewards Visa can be applied for today on Barclaycard's Official Website. Apple is also promoting the new card, touting its reward and financing options, on the company's online store.
Top Rated Comments
at 24% interest, it's best to pay it off early.
at 24% interest, it's best to never give them the opportunity to charge you 24% interest.
As an "everyday" card this one stinks. So, it's a bit of a sticky wicket -- get it and save on one purchase at the detriment of having another unwanted card with terrible APR (assuming you don't pay off your balance monthly). Yes, you can cancel it after your payments are done, but that really messes up your credit rating. Better to keep an unwanted card and not use it -- well once a year so its not canceled.
There are better credit cards out there like the Amex Blue Cash Preferred which pays 6% for groceries, 3% for gas and 1% for everything else. I buy gift cards at grocery stores and earn 6% cash back on them.
Just checked out the Amex Blue Cash Preferred card, it looks great but you are hit with a $75 annual fee. Seems like the card would be useful if you make a lot of purchases. So if you opt for a lower reward points card + not having annual rate, I bet you can still come out even with the lower reward rate card.