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Banana Republic Visa Card review

Written by June 7, 2022 June 7, 2022

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Snapshot

4.3 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. star icon star icon star icon star icon star icon star icon star icon star icon star icon star icon 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 .

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 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 may offer more long-term savings. A card like the 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 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 , which can earn you 5 percent cash back on all Amazon.com and Whole Foods Market purchases. Other spending categories include 2 percent back at restaurants, gas stations and drugstores, 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

star icon star icon star icon star icon star icon star icon star icon star icon star icon star icon 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. Annual fee Intro offer Receive 20% Off your first purchase with your card 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 Recommended credit 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.

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

on Chase's secure site Annual fee Intro offer Intro Offer: Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back! Rewards rate Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 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 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.

Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card

Annual fee Intro offer Up to a $150 Amazon gift card instantly upon approval Rewards rate 5% back at Amazon.com and Whole Foods Market with eligible Prime membership* 2% back at restaurants, gas stations, and drugstores* 1% back on all other purchases* Recommended credit 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 .

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 and Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature 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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Bankrate has partnerships with issuers including, but not limited to, American Express, Bank of America, Capital One, Chase, Citi and Discover. * 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.