Credit Cards » Credit Card Reviews » Athleta Rewards Mastercard Review 2023
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Athleta Rewards Mastercard Review 2023

The Athleta Rewards Mastercard cardholders enjoy fast shipping for free, early access to sales and quarterly bonus. But, there are limitations.
Author: Baruch Mann (Silvermann)
Baruch Mann (Silvermann)

Writer, Contributor

Experience

Baruch Silvermann is a financial expert, experienced analyst, and founder of The Smart Investor, which helps consumers make better financial decisions.  Silvermann’s areas of expertise include investing, banking, and credit cards. Silvermann has contributed to Yahoo Finance and cited as an authoritative source in financial outlets like Forbes, Business Insider, CNBC Select, CNET, Bankrate, Fox Business, The Street, and more. Aside from being a finance expert, his background includes working as a business and financial analyst. Above all, he is passionate about teaching people how to manage their money and helping millions on their journey to a better financial future.

Review & Fact Check: Baruch Mann (Silvermann)

Baruch Mann (Silvermann)

Financial Expert, The Smart Investor CEO

Experience

Baruch Mann (Silvermann) is a financial expert and founder of The Smart Investor. Above all, he is passionate about teaching people how to manage their money and helping millions on their journey to a better financial future.
Author: Baruch Mann (Silvermann)
Baruch Mann (Silvermann)

Writer, Contributor

Experience

Baruch Silvermann is a financial expert, experienced analyst, and founder of The Smart Investor, which helps consumers make better financial decisions.  Silvermann’s areas of expertise include investing, banking, and credit cards. Silvermann has contributed to Yahoo Finance and cited as an authoritative source in financial outlets like Forbes, Business Insider, CNBC Select, CNET, Bankrate, Fox Business, The Street, and more. Aside from being a finance expert, his background includes working as a business and financial analyst. Above all, he is passionate about teaching people how to manage their money and helping millions on their journey to a better financial future.

Review & Fact Check: Baruch Mann (Silvermann)

Baruch Mann (Silvermann)

Financial Expert, The Smart Investor CEO

Experience

Baruch Mann (Silvermann) is a financial expert and founder of The Smart Investor. Above all, he is passionate about teaching people how to manage their money and helping millions on their journey to a better financial future.

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Athleta Rewards Mastercard

Athleta Rewards Mastercard®

Rewards Plan

1x – 5x 5 points per dollar on purchases at the Gap Group and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases

Welcome Bonus

20% off your first purchase Receive 20% off your first purchase at the Gap Inc group using your new card

Credit Rating

Good – Excellent

0% Intro

N/A

Annual Fee

$0

APR

29.99%
Athleta Rewards Mastercard

Athleta Rewards Mastercard®

Rewards Plan

1x – 5x 5 points per dollar on purchases at the Gap Group and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases

Welcome Bonus

20% off your first purchase Receive 20% off your first purchase at the Gap Inc group using your new card

0% Intro

N/A

PROS

CONS

APR

29.99%

Annual Fee

$0

Balance Transfer Fee

$5 or 5%, whichever is greater

Credit Requirements

Good - Excellent

The Athleta Rewards Mastercard may be appealing to those who regularly shop with the brand. With bonus points, access to events and sales, and free fast shipping for your online orders over $50, if you regularly shop with Athleta, this card could be a good choice for you.

However, outside of the Gap Inc group, the rewards and card perks are very limited. You’ll not get any additional purchase protections or free subscriptions that you may find with competing cards. This means that if you’re not especially brand loyal to Athleta, you are likely to find that there are a number of annual fee free cards that offer far more benefits and perks.

So, have a serious think about whether you shop at Athleta enough to warrant having a dedicated co-branded card when there are cards that offer more generous rewards for your retail purchases and everyday shopping.

  • Fast Shipping for Free
  • Early Access to Events and Sales
  • Family Brand Bonus
  • Quarterly Bonus
  • Support Charities
  • $0 Fraud Liability
  • Limited Welcome Bonus
  • One APR for All
  • Limited Perks

What are card income requirements?

There are no official income requirements for the Athleta Rewards Mastercard, but you do need to have good to excellent credit. So, while your income will be evaluated, it is not the only factor that will be considered when Barclays is making an approval decision.

Can I get pre-approved?

There is no pre approval button on the official Barclays website, but Barclays may periodically send out mailers or other marketing materials to select customers offering pre approval. You may also be offered pre approval when you visit your local Athleta store.

How do I redeem rewards?

Your Athleta Rewards points have a set value of 100 points for one dollar. You can accumulate your points to be able to redeem them for purchase up to a maximum redemption of $500. However, you can only redeem your points for purchases made with a brand in the Gap Inc group. Just bear in mind that there is some fine print associated with redeeming your rewards.

This includes that you cannot use your rewards to pay down your credit card balance, purchase subscriptions or gift cards or use to pay fees or taxes associated with packaging, gift wrap or shipping your Athleta order.

To claim your rewards, you’ll need to log into your account and then select “redeem.” You’ll then receive a reward that you can use for in store or online Athleta purchases.

In this Review

Rewards Simulator: Unveiling Your Potential Benefits

Figuring out exactly how much rewards you'll get with this card can be tricky since it depends on how you use it. Whether you use it a lot or just occasionally, and whether you use it for certain types of purchases, all these things impact your rewards.

But don't worry. We've done the math for you and can give you an idea of the rewards you might earn with the Athleta Rewards Mastercard. We looked at how people typically spend on things like groceries, travel, and dining and came up with an average estimate of the total rewards you could get.

Athleta Rewards Mastercard®

Spend Per Category
Athleta Rewards Mastercard
$10,000 – U.S Supermarkets
10,000 points
$3,000 – Gap Group
15,000 points
$5,000 – Airline
5,000 points
$4,000 – Hotels
4,000 points
$4,000 – Gas
4,000 points
Estimated Annual Points
38,000 Points

Pros and Cons

Similar to other credit cards on the market, the Athleta Rewards Mastercard has its own set of pros and cons:

Pros
Cons
Fast Shipping for Free
Limited Welcome Bonus
Early Access to Events and Sales
One APR for All
Family Brand Bonus
Limited Perks
Quarterly Bonus
Support Charities
$0 Fraud Liability

As a cardholder, you can enjoy fast shipping with no fee for all of your online orders of $50 or more.

Athleta Rewards cardholders will have early access to select events and sales, so you can have first pick of the shopping bargains at your favorite Athleta or Gap group stores. 

There are also members only exclusive events and offers.

You can unlock an annual points bonus if you shop at multiple Gap Inc brands. 

If you shop at two brands, you’ll get a 500 point bonus, but this increases to 1,000 points if you shop at three brands and 2,000 points for four brands.

There is also a quarterly bonus in each quarter that you make a purchase at Athleta, Gap, Old Navy or Banana Republic. 

This bonus is determined by your status, with 125 points for Core members, 250 points for Enthusiasts and 500 for Icons.

Barclays also has a program which allows you to support good causes. You can donate your points to select charities, but the causes are chosen at the discretion of Gap Inc.

Although a 20% discount is nice, it is limited to your first purchase with the card. 

When you consider that welcome bonuses for new credit card accounts can offer a value of several hundred dollars, this does seem a little paltry.

Regardless of whether you have spotless credit or just good credit, you’ll still pay the same APR. 

This means that there is no real incentive or perk for having better credit.

Unlike general rewards credit cards, the Athleta Rewards card does not offer a full suite of benefits. 

So, if you’re looking for a card that offers some really nice perks, you may find this card a little lacking.

This is quite standard on most credit cards, but it is still nice that you will not be responsible for any charges to your account that you did not authorize.

Who is the Athleta Rewards Mastercard Best For?

Since this is a co-branded credit card, it is obviously designed for those who are brand loyal to Athleta and the Gap Inc group. As all of the perks relate to shopping with the brand, with the exception of the base rewards rate for purchases outside the Gap Inc group, you will need to shop there on a regular basis to get the most from the card.

The card is also best for those who don’t want to miss out on sales deals and offers. As a cardholder, you’ll get early access to sales and exclusive member only events, which are a must for keen shoppers. 

If you are looking for an alternative co-branded, clothing store card – here are some options:

Card
Rewards
Annual Fee

chase_sapphire_preffered

2X – 5X 5x total points on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 3x points on dining and online grocery purchases and 2x on other travel purchases. Plus, earn 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases
$95

Holland America credit card

1x – 2x 2 points per dollar on all Holland America purchases, including any onboard purchases. 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.
$0

Venture X Rewards

1X – 10X 10 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars when booking via Capital One Travel, 5 miles per dollar on flights and 2 miles per dollar on all eligible purchases
$395

Wells Fargo Autograph

1X – 3X 3X points on restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services, and phone plans. Also, earn 1X points on other purchases
$0

Carnival World Mastercard review

1x – 2x 2x FunPoints for every dollar spent with Carnival Cruises and World Leading Cruise Lines brands and 1x FunPoints on all other purchases
$0

1X – 10X 5X total points on air travel and 10X total points on hotels, car rentals when you purchase through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, immediately after earning your $300 annual travel credit. Also, earn 3x points on dining at restaurants and travel (after meeting the $300 travel credit), then 1x points per dollar spent on all other purchases
$550

amex platinum

1X – 5X 5X points on up to $500,000 spent on directly-booked airfare and flights and prepaid hotels booked through American Express Travel (per calendar year), 2X points on prepaid car rentals through American Express Travel and 1X points on all other purchases

FAQs

This card is not a good idea if you plan on using a credit card to earn rewards on your everyday purchases. The rewards and card perks are almost exclusively related to Gap Inc brands. There are numerous other credit cards that offer greater rewards rates for everyday purchases.

You will also have more flexibility when you want to redeem your rewards. So, unless you are highly brand loyal to Athleta, this card will not be a good idea for you.

Unfortunately, while you can earn rewards on your travel purchases, you’ll not get any automatic travel insurance. Since this card is a Mastercard, you will miss out on the travel insurance that is offered as part of the Visa benefits package.

Baruch Mann (Silvermann)

Baruch Mann (Silvermann)

Baruch Silvermann is a financial expert, experienced analyst, and founder of The Smart Investor, which helps consumers make better financial decisions.  Silvermann's areas of expertise include investing, banking, and credit cards. Silvermann has contributed to Yahoo Finance and cited as an authoritative source in financial outlets like Forbes, Business Insider, CNBC Select, CNET, Bankrate, Fox Business, The Street, and more. Aside from being a finance expert, his background includes working as a business and financial analyst. Above all, he is passionate about teaching people how to manage their money and helping millions on their journey to a better financial future.

Editorial Note: Opinions expressed here are author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.

Credit Card Reviews Methodology

In order to determine the best possible credit cards, we look at things like fees, interest rates and rewards. We do this with companies that are associated with us as partners as well as other offerings. From there, we make a decision about what the best card is related to different categories and needs. We focus on interest rate cost & fees, especially the cost of carrying a balance, rewards – cards accumulate rewards in different currencies—points, miles, cash back—and their values vary widely usability – cards that accept a wide range of credit profiles and offer simple solutions for things like checking your credit score or contacting. We also consider customer reviews.

We look at cards related to good or excellent credit ratings that will then provide a range of different benefits and improvements for someone who has these scores. We also look at low fees when it comes to those who have lower credit scores.