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Bankrate Staff
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The Bankrate promise
At Bankrate we strive to help you make smarter financial decisions. While we adhere to strict,this post may contain references to products from our partners. Here's an explanation for andhow we rate our cards.The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer.
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Bankrate.com is an independent, advertising-supported publisher and comparison service. We are compensated in exchange for placement of sponsored products and services, or by you clicking on certain links posted on our site. Therefore, this compensation may impact how, where and in what order products appear within listing categories, except where prohibited by law for our mortgage, home equity and other home lending products. Other factors, such as our own proprietary website rules and whether a product is offered in your area or at your self-selected credit score range, can also impact how and where products appear on this site. While we strive to provide a wide range of offers, Bankrate does not include information about every financial or credit product or service.
Snapshot
4.3
Bankrate rating
Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards.
Rating: 4.3 stars out of 5
Banana Republic Visa® Card
*The information about the Banana Republic Visa® Card has been collected independently by Bankrate.com. The card details have not been reviewed or approved by the card issuer.
*
4.3
Rating: 4.3 stars out of 5
Bankrate score
Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards.
See Terms
A FICO score/credit score is used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.
Recommended Credit
Intro offer
Receive 20% Off your first purchase with your card
1X Points - 5 Points
Rewards rate
Earn 5X Points for Every $1 Spent on Mastercard purchases made outside our brands until 1/31/23 Earn 1X Points for Every $1 Spent on Mastercard purchases made outside our brands starting 2/1/23 Earn 5 Points for every $1 Spent across our family of brands
Annual fee
Regular APR
On This Page
On This Page
- Current offer details
- Key cardholder perks
- How the Banana Republic Visa Card compares to other rewards cards
- Best cards to pair with the Banana Republic Visa Card
- Is this card worth getting?
- Pros and cons
Banana Republic Visa® Card overview
If you’re an avid shopper at Banana Republic or its sister brands Gap, Old Navy, Hill City and Athleta, then the Banana Republic Visa can afford you some valuable perks. Outside of these companies, however, it functions much like any other high APR credit card. If you’re capable of paying your bill in full each month and the rewards make sense for you, then the Banana Republic Visa Card will be a good fit.
A deeper look into the current card offer
Quick highlights
- Rewards rate: 5 points per $1 at Gap Inc. brands (online and in-store), 1 point per $1 at all other stores
- Welcome offer: 20 percent off your first store purchase
- Annual fee: $0
- Purchase intro APR: N/A
- Balance transfer intro APR: N/A
- Regular APR: 26.99 percent (variable)
Current welcome offer
The Banana Republic Visa Card is designed for hardcore fans of Gap Inc. brands, and more specifically, Banana Republic. To entice new card owners, there’s a welcome offer of 20 percent off of your first purchase. You can unlock this offer by opening a card at the time of purchase.
The rest of the Banana Republic Visa benefits function through a points system. When you open your credit card, you can earn 500 bonus points when you subscribe to Gap Inc. emails and 500 points for electing to receive paperless statements.
Rewards
After the initial welcome offer, the Banana Republic Visa Card rewards function on a points system.
Earning rewards
To earn rewards on the Banana Republic Visa Card, you’ll primarily want to use the card at Gap Inc. brands. When you do, you’ll earn 5 points for every dollar you spend. While you’re not limited solely to Gap Inc. purchases, you’ll earn only one point for every dollar you spend anywhere else.
Redeeming rewards
The points that you earn, detailed below, can be redeemed at the time of purchase both in-store and online, at any of the following brands: Old Navy, Gap, Gap Factory, Banana Republic, Banana Republic Factory, Hill City and Athleta.
How much are points worth?
For every 500 points earned through the Banana Republic Visa Card rewards program, you’ll earn a $5 reward. To get the most bang for your buck, you’ll want to make the majority of your purchases with Gap Inc. brands. This way, you’re earning $5 for every $100 you spend. Otherwise, you’ll have to spend $500 at non-Gap stores just to earn $5.
Other cardholder perks
To unlock the full Banana Republic Visa Card benefits, make sure you’re an avid Gap Inc. shopper. In addition to the rewards points system, there are some other notable benefits.
Shopping perks
With the Banana Republic Visa Card, you’ll have access to special offers and private sales. In addition, you’ll be able to attend special events. And if you change your mind on a purchase, you can make returns without your receipt.
Birthday gift
Although unspecified, your Banana Republic Visa Card entitles you to a surprise birthday gift each year, provided you’ve made at least one purchase on the card during the year.
Option to upgrade
To get the most from your Banana Republic Visa Card benefits, you’ll want to make sure you rack up rewards points. If you earn at least 5,000 points in a calendar year, you’ll be upgraded to the Banana Republic Luxe Card for free. The benefits for this card are even more exciting for those interested in clothing.
Rates and fees
While there is no annual fee on the Banana Republic Visa Card, it’s important to note the high APR. The APR is a variable rate starting at 26.99 percent, with a minimum interest charge of $2. There is no intro APR offer, so it’s important to keep this in mind. To reap the full rewards benefits and keep interest payments low, consider paying your monthly balance in full. Otherwise, you’ll likely discover that the interest charges outweigh the benefits of the rewards system.
Additionally, while late payments may not affect your APR, they will incur a steep late fee of $39.
You can use the Banana Republic Visa Card anywhere you can use a regular Visa, including overseas, but an applicable foreign transaction fee of 3 percent will apply in this case. However, rewards earned at Gap Inc. brands can only be earned at stores within the U.S. (including Puerto Rico) and Canada.
How the Banana Republic Visa Card compares to other rewards cards
If you’re considering the Banana Republic Visa Card, it’s likely because you’re an avid shopper. And while you may be looking for store specific benefits, other cards with rewards programs may offer more long-term savings.
A card like the Chase Freedom Unlimited® rewards everyday shoppers, which means you’ll have a wider variety of stores in which to earn points. In addition to a generous welcome offer, you’ll earn 5% cash back on Chase travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases. So you can enjoy rewards on your retail purchases as well as any other shopping.
Another option is the Prime Visa card, which can earn you 5 percent cash back on eligible Amazon.com and Whole Foods Market purchases. Other spending categories include 2 percent back at restaurants, gas stations and on local transit and commuting, as well as 1 percent cash back on all other purchases. If you shop regularly on Amazon.com or plan to make other purchases throughout the year, don’t count this card out.
Banana Republic Visa® Card
Bankrate Score
Annual fee
$0
Intro offer
20% Off
Receive 20% Off your first purchase with your card
Rewards rate
1X Points - 5 Points
Earn 5X Points for Every $1 Spent on Mastercard purchases made outside our brands until 1/31/23 Earn 1X Points for Every $1 Spent on Mastercard purchases made outside our brands starting 2/1/23 Earn 5 Points for every $1 Spent across our family of brands
Recommended Credit Score
See Terms
A FICO score/credit score is used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.
Bankrate Score
on Chase's secure site
Annual fee
$0
Intro offer
Up to $300 cash back
Earn an extra 1.5% on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) — worth up to $300 cash back. That's 6.5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 4.5% on dining and drugstores, and 3% on all other purchases.
Rewards rate
1.5% - 5%
Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service 1.5% on all other purchases
Recommended Credit Score
Good to Excellent(670–850)
A FICO score/credit score is used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.
Prime Visa
Bankrate Score
Annual fee
$0
Intro offer
Get a $100 Amazon Gift Card
Get a $100 Amazon Gift Card instantly upon approval exclusively for Prime members
Rewards rate
1% - 5%
Earn unlimited 5% back at Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods Market, and on Chase Travel purchases with an eligible Prime membership Earn unlimited 2% back at gas stations, restaurants, and on local transit and commuting (including rideshare) Earn unlimited 1% back on all other purchases
Recommended Credit Score
Good to Excellent(670–850)
A FICO score/credit score is used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.
Best cards to pair with the Banana Republic Visa Card
If you’re looking to maximize the Banana Republic Visa Card, consider pairing it with a cash back card like the above. That way, you can reap some of the exclusive benefits of a Banana Republic Card membership while maximizing your other purchases.
Bankrate’s take—Is the Banana Republic Visa Card worth it?
The Banana Republic Visa Card is most powerful for someone who shops frequently at Gap Inc. brands. Otherwise, the card can be more of a burden than a benefit. If you aren’t dedicated to paying down your balance and aren’t aiming for Luxe status, consider other rewards credit cards or credit cards for shopping online.
Pros and cons
Pros
No annual fee
Access to member sales and rewards
Free upgrade to Luxe status after earning 5,000 points
Annual birthday gift
Cons
High APR
Limited rewards
Lack of flexibility
The information about Banana Republic Visa® Card has been collected independently by Bankrate.com. The card details have not been reviewed or approved by the card issuer.
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* See the online application for details about terms and conditions for these offers. Every reasonable effort has been made to maintain accurate information. However all credit card information is presented without warranty. After you click on the offer you desire you will be directed to the credit card issuer's web site where you can review the terms and conditions for your selected offer.
Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, and have not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser. The information, including card rates and fees, is accurate as of the publish date. All products or services are presented without warranty. Check the bank’s website for the most current information.
