5 Unusual Credit Cards That Actually Exist

Sure, thousands of credit cards offer cash back or travel rewards, but a smaller subset of co-branded cards can speak to your passions. Designed to build brand loyalty or support a cause, they may not be as rewarding as other cards. But what you'll lack in points, you’ll make up for in heart.

In some cases, these niche cards offer extra rewards for highly specific purchases. Others provide perks that may have absolutely nothing to do with the picture on the card. But either way, they’re sure to make a statement, even if they’re rarely the highest-earning option.

» MORE: NerdWallet’s best credit cards

For the outdoors enthusiast: The Ducks Unlimited Rewards Visa® Card

A portion of every purchase you make with the Ducks Unlimited Rewards Visa® Card is donated to Ducks Unlimited, a nonprofit dedicated to preserving wildlife habitat and hunting grounds by replanting forests and restoring grasslands and watersheds.

Beyond its charitable component, the $0-annual-fee card, which is issued by the First National Bank of Omaha, earns 3% cash back on Ducks Unlimited purchases (on up to $10,000 in spending per year, then 1.5% back) and 1.5% cash back on other purchases. Redeem rewards for cash back (as a statement credit, deposit into a bank account or mailed check), travel, gift cards, merchandise and more.

Several years ago, you could earn 5% cash back at gas stations and sporting goods stores, but the card was revamped in the spring of 2020 to eliminate this benefit, which ran counter to the organization’s goal of nature preservation. Wildlife 1, gas-guzzling SUVs 0.

» MORE: What is First National Bank of Omaha?

For racing fans: The NASCAR American Express Card

The NASCAR American Express Card, issued by Credit One Bank, earns 1% cash back on gas, grocery, mobile phone, internet, cable and satellite TV services. Terms apply. Your rewards are automatically redeemed as a statement credit.

You can qualify for the co-branded credit card with average credit, but the rewards are modest for the $39 annual fee. Other cards for average credit charge $0 annual fees or earn 1.5% cash back or more. With excellent credit, you’ll pay a $0 annual fee — but you could also qualify for many stronger rewards cards.

The NASCAR American Express Card might start conversations with fellow fans who see you pay with the card, but otherwise, what it offers is pretty lackluster.

» MORE: What is Credit One Bank?

For gambling purchases: The GBank Visa Signature Card

Many credit cards can’t be used for online gambling, or if they can, they treat those purchases as cash advances, which come with higher fees and interest rates.

The $0-annual-fee GBank Visa Signature Card, issued by (where else?) Las Vegas-based GBank, earns 1% cash back on gaming and sports app loads, and 2% cash back on all other eligible purchases. Instead of treating gaming purchases as cash advances, it awards them if they align with specific merchant category codes, including those for money transfers, government-owned lotteries, online casinos, horse and dog racing, and other betting purchases such as casino chips, race track wagers and lottery tickets.

You can redeem rewards for a statement credit once you earn at least $5 worth of rewards. While the card earns a decent rewards rate for purchases and makes it possible to use a credit card for gambling-related transactions, potential gambling losses can far exceed what you’d earn in the form of cash back. Ultimately, this isn’t a slam-dunk strategy for earning rewards.

» MORE: What is a credit card cash advance?

For the gamer: The PlayStation Visa Credit Card

The PlayStation Visa Credit Card, issued by Comenity Bank, is a $0-annual-fee gaming credit card that rewards PlayStation-related spending and lets you redeem those rewards for more PlayStation- and Sony-related spending. Earn:

• 5 points per $1 on PlayStation purchases, including games, consoles, accessories and subscriptions.

• 5 points per $1 when you buy Sony products at the Sony Pictures Studio and the Sony Store.

• 3 points per $1 on internet and cable services, including streaming service purchases.

• 2 points per $1 at restaurants, including takeout and delivery.

• 1 point per $1 on all other purchases.

Redeem for merchandise, including games and electronics, or event tickets. Point values can vary based on how you choose to redeem them.

» MORE: What is Comenity Bank?

For fans of radio-controlled models: The Horizon Hobby Visa credit card

The Horizon Hobby Visa credit card, issued by First Electronic Bank, is the co-branded card for Horizon Hobby, a merchant specializing in radio control (RC) models, including cars, motorcycles, boats and planes.

The $0-annual-fee card earns 7% back at HorizonHobby.com and 1.25% back on all other purchases. As of this writing, you’ll also get a $40 bonus if you make three purchases on the card in the first 180 days. However, points are worth only 0.25 cent each, which isn’t great.

Rewards are in the form of RC Club points, which can be redeemed for purchases at Horizon Hobby or partner merchants. You must be a member of the RC Club, and there are tiers of membership that allow you to earn additional points per $1 spent.

» MORE: What is First Electronic Bank?

Niche credit card graveyard

These discontinued credit cards once served ultra-specific fanbases but were phased out due to low demand or issuer changes. Let's have a brief moment of silence for these offbeat cards that have come, but sadly, have also gone. Examples include: