Barclays revamps and launches new AARP cards for all applicants
Towards the end of last year, Barclays acquired the AARP portfolio from Chase and announced a new lineup of cobranded cards coming in 2021 for AARP members. Today, Barclays announced the launch of a new suite of cobranded credit cards — The AARP® Essential Rewards Mastercard® from Barclays and the AARP® Travel Rewards Mastercard® from Barclays which are now open for applicants.
The information for the AARP® Essential Rewards Mastercard® from Barclays and the AARP® Travel Rewards Mastercard® from Barclays has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
The cards offer a generous cash-back bonus structure for today's everyday purchases like gas stations, restaurants, drug stores, travel and medical expenses. There is no limit to the rewards that cardmembers can earn and rewards never expire as long as the account remains open and in good standing. Although an AARP membership is not required to apply for the cards and anyone can become a member regardless of age, AARP members can save considerably on travel expenses such as flights and hotels. Let's take a look at each new card:
AARP Essential Rewards Mastercard
Sign-up bonus: Earn $100 after spending $500 on purchases in the first 90 days.
Earning structure: 3% cash back on gas and drugstore purchases, 2% cash back on medical expenses, 1% cash back rewards on all other purchases.
Annual fee: $0
AARP Travel Rewards Mastercard
Sign-up bonus: Earn $100 after spending $500 on purchases in the first 90 days.
Earning structure: 3% cash back on airfare, hotel stays and car rentals, 2% cash back on restaurant purchases, including food delivery services, 1% cash back rewards on all other purchases.
Annual fee: $0
Other benefits: Along with the useful bonus categories for each card, Barclays will donate $10 per new account opened (for both cards) and 1% of all eligible electronic and telecommunications purchases to the AARP Foundation on up to $1 million annually.
Why the new cards are worth a look
While the new Barclays cards are targeted at AARP members, you do not need to have an AARP membership to apply. The AARP Essential Rewards Mastercard offers 3% cash back at drugstores and 2% back on medical expenses. The medical expenses category is a unique bonus category and is defined broadly by Barclays as:
Medical purchases are defined as Dentists, Orthodontists, Osteopathic Physicians, Chiropractors, Optometrists, Ophthalmologists, Opticians, Optical Goods & Eyeglasses, Chiropodists, Podiatrists, Hospitals, Medical and Dental Laboratories, Hearing Aids, Ambulance Services, Orthopedic Goods, Prosthetic Devices, Nursing and Personal Care Facilities, Medical Services & Health Practitioners not elsewhere classified (NEC) and Doctors not elsewhere classified (NEC), as identified by the merchant category codes.
So if you have regular medical expenses and prescriptions, the Essential Rewards Mastercard may be a worthwhile addition to your wallet.
Related: Best credit cards for paying your medical bills
Next, the AARP Travel Rewards Mastercard earns a solid 3% cash back on common travel expenses such as airfare, hotels and car rentals and 2% back at restaurants, including food delivery services such as UberEats, Grubhub and DoorDash. As far as cash-back cards go, the 3% back on those travel categories is competitive.
Both cards offer a 0% introductory APR for 15 months on balance transfers made within 45 days of account opening and no annual fee. While each card comes with a modest sign-up bonus, the low minimum spend requirement makes it easy to earn the $100. Cardholders can redeem rewards at a 1:1 rate for cash back, statement credits, gift cards, merchandise and AARP memberships starting at $16 in rewards.
Bottom line
Though both AARP cards provide valuable cash back rewards on everyday purchases, including medical expenses, drugstore purchases, dining and more, there may be more compelling cash-back and travel rewards cards for your bonus category spend. Still, if you spend a considerable amount on medical expenses — a unique bonus category — the 2x cash back offered by the Essential Rewards Mastercard could be very valuable to you.
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 5X | New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Valuable dining and food-related credits
- Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
- Multiple travel and purchase protections
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.