If you're a frequent shopper at Athleta and its sibling brands under the Gap Inc. corporate umbrella, the $0-annual-fee Athleta Encore Mastercard® might be your style — but it's not the best fit for an everyday credit card.
True, it boasts high reward rates on spending with Athleta and affiliated brands, plus solid rates on some shopping outside of Athleta, too. But those rewards come as relatively low-value "points," instead of cash back, so your redemption options will be limited.
Here are five things to know about the Athleta credit card, issued by Barclays.
» SEE: Best store credit cards
1. There are two versions of the Athleta credit card
The Athleta credit card comes in two flavors: the Athleta Encore Credit Card and the Athleta Encore Mastercard®. The Mastercard version is an "open-loop" card, meaning it can be used anywhere Mastercard is accepted. The non-Mastercard version, by contrast, is a closed-loop card, meaning it's usable only for purchases at the Gap family of brands: Athleta, Gap, Old Navy and Banana Republic.
Applicants are first considered for the Athleta Encore Mastercard®, but if they’re not approved, they’ll be evaluated for the store-only card.
2. Reward rates are high ...
The Athleta Encore Mastercard® earns rewards as points in the retailer's "Encore" customer loyalty program. The program is free to join, and cardholders are enrolled automatically. There are multiple Encore membership tiers, but cardholders get placed in the top "All-Access" tier.
At that level, the Athleta Encore Mastercard® earns:
- 25 points per $1 spent at Athleta and other Gap Inc. brands.
- 15 points per $1 spent at other retail apparel brands. Purchases made at wholesale clubs, Amazon, Target and Walmart are ineligible.
- 5 points per $1 spent on all other purchases. (This rate jumps to 10 points per $1 if you receive a Mastercard World or World Elite version of the Athleta credit card.)
The store-only version earns 25 points per $1 spent on Gap Inc. brands, in-store and online.
3. ... But points aren’t worth much, and redemption is limited
To redeem rewards, you'll need to have earned a minimum of 500 points, equal to $1 in value. That pegs point values at a miniscule 0.2 cent each, well below the industry standard of a full cent per point.
And while there's no limit on the number of points you can earn, those points will expire after 12 months of account inactivity.
Furthermore, the only redemption option for those points is more merchandise from the Gap family of brands or the Encore Market, a marketplace that offers exclusive products and experiences.
Points may be redeemed in-person or online.
4. Cardholders get a few extra incentives
The Athleta Encore Mastercard® comes with a modest bonus offer in the form of a 20% discount on your first Athleta purchase. Upon account approval, you receive a code that you can use in-store or online at Gap Inc. brands. The code expires in 14 days, and you must use your card for the purchase.
Other benefits include free shipping on orders of $35 or more, early access to sales, a choose-your-own sale day, and a birthday bonus for yourself and three family members.
Those benefits can offer some savings, but plenty of other cards offer more. If you’re looking for a card that earns solid rewards on shopping, consider the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express. It earns 3% back on U.S. online retail purchases on up to $6,000 spent per year* and comes with a generous welcome offer: You may be eligible for as high as $200 cash back after spending $2,000 in purchases on your new Card in the first 6 months. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Cash back is received as Reward Dollars, redeemable for statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout. Terms Apply.
5. The interest rate is high
This isn't a card you'll want to carry a balance on: As of this writing, the ongoing APR ranged higher than 33%. For comparison, the average APR on credit cards that assessed interest was 21.52% as of February 2026, according to data from the Federal Reserve. That means that it's best to pay your bill in full every month and avoid interest entirely with the Athleta Encore Mastercard®.
*Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.
