This article may be outdated
Terms, offers, links, or instructions in this article may no longer be valid. Please verify with official sources before taking action.

【12/1 Update】This card can no longer be found on the official website, and the previous application link now shows a 404 error. The well-known SallieMae credit card went through a similar situation and was eventually discontinued. What will happen to this Cash Forward card?..

【4/7 Update】The limited-time sign-up bonus has been increased to $200, with $1,000 in spending required within three months. For a no-annual-fee card that can be kept long term and earns 1.5% cash back on all purchases, that’s pretty good.

Barclays Cash Forward Credit Card Overview

Application link:

None

Key features

  • Sign-up bonus: $200 (requires $1,000 in spending within 90 days)
  • Cash back on purchases: 1.5% on all purchases
  • Cash back redemption: Redeem from $50 for cash, gift cards, and more; redemptions also earn 5% cash back
  • Balance Transfer 0 APR
  • No annual fee

Highlights

  • Limited-time $200 sign-up bonus: Pretty high for a no-annual-fee card
  • 1.5% cash back: As a no-annual-fee card, earning 1.5% back on all purchases is also pretty solid.
  • 5% redemption bonus: Each time you redeem cash or gift cards, the bank gives you back 5% of the amount redeemed
  • Free monthly FICO score: You can keep track of your credit score; see: free credit score comparison
  • Balance Transfer 0 APR: If you do a balance transfer within 45 days of opening the card, you can enjoy 15 months of 0 APR, but note that BT fees apply. This is useful for moving debt around or lowering your overall credit card APR. See: Balance Transfer introduction

Drawbacks

  • Not many ways to use it; basically only good for everyday spending

My take

This card is a good fit for no-annual-fee fans. The 1.5% cash back on all purchases plus the 5% redemption bonus makes it easy to use for everyday spending. If you already have other cards with bonus categories, this card can also serve as a backup for non-bonus spending. Keeping this no-annual-fee card in the drawer to add to your credit history and get free access to your credit score is not bad either.

Apply

Application link

None