Rewards Plan
Welcome Bonus
Credit Rating
0% Intro
Annual Fee
APR
- Free Shipping
- Early Access to Sales
- High APR
- Limited Redemption Options
Rewards Plan
Welcome Bonus
0% Intro
PROS
- Free Shipping
- Early Access to Sales
CONS
- High APR
- Limited Redemption Options
APR
29.99%
Annual Fee
$0
Balance Transfer Fee
5% or $5, whichever is greater
Credit Requirements
Fair - Good
The Banana Republic credit card does offer some nice perks for brand loyal customers, but it is a little on the limited side. Although the rewards for purchases within the retail group are decent, they are rather paltry for all other purchases. Additionally, the APR for any balance remaining is exceptionally high.
If rewards and flexibility are a bigger priority for you, there are a number of no annual fee credit cards that offer more generous rewards on all purchases. There are many cards that have spending categories with fashion as a category option, or you could opt for a more general rewards card that offers a percentage on all your purchases.
So, unless you are especially brand loyal to Banana Republic and will be able to leverage the full benefits of the card, you may want to consider alternative card options.
- Free Shipping
- Early Access to Sales
- Bonus Within the Family of Brands
- Quarterly Bonus
- Upgrade Option
- Birthday Gift
- High APR
- Limited Redemption Options
- Low Out of Brand Rewards
What are card income requirements?
There are no official income requirements for the Banana Republic credit card, but you do need to have good to excellent credit. So, while your income will be assessed, it is not the only factor for consideration when an approval decision is being made.
Can I get pre-approved?
There is no pre approval option on the Barclay’s official web page for the Banana Republic credit card, but Barclays does occasionally send out mailers and other marketing materials offering pre approval for select customers.
How do I redeem rewards?
You can redeem your rewards in $5 increments with any of the Gap Inc brands including Banana Republic. You can redeem your points at the time of purchase online or in store. However, you can log into your account to check your points balance at any time.
In this Review
Simulation: How Much Rewards You Can Earn?
Check out the table below to see how many points you could earn by using the Banana Republic card. The table estimates how many points you could earn based on your typical spending in different categories.
Please keep in mind that the table is just an estimate, and your actual earnings may vary depending on your spending habits and other factors. However, it can give you a good idea of the potential benefits of this card.
| |
|---|---|
Spend Per Category | Banana Republic Credit Card
|
$10,000 – U.S Supermarkets | 10,000 points |
$3,000 – Banana Republic/Gap/Old Navy
| 15,000 points |
$4,000 – Airline | 4,000 points |
$3,000 – Hotels | 3,000 points |
$4,000 – Gas | 4,000 miles |
Estimated Annual Points | 36,000 Points |
Pros and Cons
Just like any other credit card, the Banana Republic credit card has some advantages and disadvantages:
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Free Shipping | High APR |
Early Access to Sales | Limited Redemption Options |
Bonus Within the Family of Brands | Low Out of Brand Rewards |
Quarterly Bonus | |
Upgrade Option | |
Birthday Gift |
- Free Shipping
You can enjoy fast shipping free of charge on all of your online orders, providing you spend $50 or more in your transaction.
- Early Access to Sales
As a card holder, you can enjoy early access to sales within the Banana Republic group. There are also members only exclusive deals and offers.
- Bonus Within the Family of Brands
You can unlock bonus points each year when you shop with the family of brands within Gap Inc.
You can earn up to 2,000 bonus points, with 500 points for two brands, 1000 points for three brands and the maximum for four brands.
- Quarterly Bonus
You’ll get a points bonus each quarter provided that you have made a purchase at Banana Republic, Gap, Athleta or Old Navy during the quarter.
- Upgrade Option
If you earn 5,000 points or more during the calendar year, you can have the option to upgrade to the Banana Republic Luxe Card with no charge. This card provides even more benefits for those who enjoy clothes shopping within the Gap Inc group.
5,000 points will also provide you with Icon status, which offers free basic alterations on your qualifying Banana Republic purchases and the ability to “Choose your own sale day.”
- High APR
Considering that you need good to excellent credit, the Banana Republic credit card has a very high APR, which increased even more due to the recent changes in interest rates.
This means that you should avoid carrying a balance at all costs or you’ll end up paying hefty interest charges.
- Limited Redemption Options
You will get a $5 reward for every 500 points, but you can only redeem them with the Gap Inc brands.
You can use your reward online or in store at Banana Republic, Banana Republic Factory, Gap, Gap Factory, Hill City, Athleta and Old Navy.
- Low Out of Brand Rewards
If you’re not shopping within the Gap Inc group, you’ll earn a low rate of rewards at just one point per dollar.
For more general spending, there are many other cards that offer far greater rewards.
- Birthday Gift
This is a surprise gift each year on your birthday. You only need to have made one purchase on your card or more during the year to receive your gift.
Who is the Banana Republic Card Best For?
Since this is a co branded credit card, it is obviously best suited to those brand loyal to Banana Republic. However, if you are brand loyal to any of the stores in the Gap Inc group, this card could be beneficial for you. If you frequently shop at any of the Gap Inc brands, this card could offer some nice perks and rewards.
The card is also a good option if you aspire for the Banana Republic Luxe Card, but may struggle to qualify for it independently. Once you accumulate 5,000 points, you will qualify for an upgrade from the basic Banana Republic credit card.
If you are looking for an alternative co-branded, clothing store card – here are some options:
Card | Rewards | Bonus | Annual Fee | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15X
15 points per dollar spent at American Eagle | 30% off your first order | $0 | |
| 2X – 5X
spend $1,200 or more annually to get 5X points per dollar on purchases made at Macy's, 3X points if you spend $500 to $1199 and 2X points if you spend up to $500. Also, get 3X points at restaurants including delivery, 2X at gas stations & supermarkets and 1 point per $1 spent everywhere else
| 20% discount
20% discount on Macy's on the day you are approved and the following day, up to $100
| $0 | |
| 1% – 5%
5% back on Sears + 5% eligible gasoline purchases, 3% back on grocery stores and restaurants (limited to the first $10,000 of qualifying payments, then 1% thereafter), plus 2% back when used at eligible merchants such as Sears or Kmart, and 1% on all other purchases
| None | $0 | |
| 7.5%
7.5% cash back on Kohl’s purchases | %35 off on first purchase
7.5% cash back on Kohl’s purchases | $0 | |
| 5%
1 point for every dollar at JCPenney, 200 points worth $10 -> $10 per $200 spend on JCPenney = 5% back
| Extra 5% – 35% off
Extra 5% – 35% off on selected merchants in the first purchase on the same day the card has been opened
| $0 | |
| 1% – 5%
5% (10 points) back in rewards at Victoria Secret or PINK, 2% (4 points) on dining, travel and streaming services and 1% (2 points) on all other purchases
| $25
$25 off in first purchase
| $0 | |
| 1x – 2x
2X points per dollar spent at Nordstrom and its brands, including Nordstrom Rack, and 1X points on all other purchases
| $40
$40 bonus note if you make any purchase at Nordstrom or Nordstrom.com on the day your card is approved.
| $0 |
Tips for Using the Banana Republic Card
While this card is quite straightforward, there are some tips that can help you to maximize its value. These include:
-
Don’t Just Stick to Banana Republic
Although this is a Banana Republic co branded card, it actually works in your favor to shop with other stores in the Gap Inc group. You can qualify for up to a 2,000 point annual bonus if you shop with multiple sister brands.
-
Make At Least One Purchase Per Quarter
If you tend to prefer to shop once per season, make sure that you time your shopping trips carefully to have at least one purchase per quarter. This will ensure that your quarterly bonus activates.
-
Don’t Carry A Balance
While this is sensible advice with any credit card, it is especially important with the Banana Republic credit card.
This card has an exceptionally high APR, particularly since you need good to excellent credit to qualify. So, make sure that you clear your card balance every month.
FAQs
How hard is it to get a Banana Republic credit card?
You do need to have good to excellent credit to qualify for the Banana Republic credit card, but there are no other specific barriers to entry. So, if you have decent credit, it should not be overly difficult to get this card.
When it may not be a good idea?
This card is not a good idea for those who are only casual visitors to Banana Republic. Only frequent Banana Republic customers will be able to leverage the full benefits of the card. If this does not apply to you, you are likely to be better suited with a more general rewards credit card.
