5 Things to Know About the Gap Credit Card
It features rewards and benefits for frequent Gap brand shoppers, but a general rewards credit card will offer better value and flexibility.
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Although the Gap Encore Mastercard® can be used anywhere that accepts Mastercard, the best value comes from using it at Gap and its sister brands, whether in person or online.
Issued by Barclays, the $0-annual-fee card is geared toward those who want to save on clothing purchases. Note that rewards earned with the card can only be redeemed when you shop within the Gap family.
Here are five things to know about the Gap Encore Mastercard®.
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The retailer also offers the Gap Encore Credit Card, which is a closed-loop version, meaning it can be used only at Gap brand stores or online. Applicants will first be considered for the Mastercard version. If they're not approved for that card, they'll then be considered for the store-only Encore card. 1. You'll earn elevated rewards at Gap and sibling brands
The Gap Encore Mastercard® earns a rich rewards rate at Gap and the other three retailers under the Gap umbrella: Old Navy, Banana Republic and Athleta. Those rewards come in the form of points in the retailer's "Encore" customer loyalty program, which is free to join. Cardholders are enrolled automatically and get placed in the top "All-Access" tier of the program.
At that level, the Gap Encore Mastercard® earns:
- 25 points per $1 spent at the Gap family of brands.
- 15 points per $1 spent at other eligible clothing retailers. (Purchases from warehouse clubs, Amazon, Target, and Walmart don’t qualify.)
- 5 points per $1 spent everywhere else. (This rate jumps to 10 points per $1 if you receive a Mastercard World or World Elite version of the Gap credit card.)
If you have the non-Mastercard version of the Gap credit card, you’ll only earn rewards on purchases from the Gap and its sibling stores.
» LEARN: The 4 levels of Mastercard benefits
2. Rewards are limited by restrictions and caveats
To start redeeming, you'll need to have amassed at least 500 points, worth $1 in rewards. That means points are worth just 0.2 cent each, well below the industry standard of a full penny per point. Plus, rewards can only be redeemed on more merchandise from Gap stores or the Encore Market, a marketplace that offers exclusive products and experiences.
On top of all that, rewards expire after 12 months of account inactivity.
Gap enthusiasts likely won’t have to worry about letting their points expire, but infrequent shoppers may do better with a general rewards card that has more flexible rewards and no rewards expiration.
The Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card may be a perfect alternative to the Gap credit card, as it earns 3% back in a category you choose, which includes online shopping. The card also earns 2% back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs (up to $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club quarterly purchases) and an unlimited 1% on all other purchases.
3. The welcome bonus is meager
If you’re thinking about getting the Gap Encore Mastercard® for the one-time discount you get when you open an account, think twice. The card’s welcome offer is a meager 20% discount off your first Gap purchase, and it expires within 14 days of account opening. Any number of rewards credit cards offer better welcome bonuses, worth as much as several hundred dollars.
4. The card offers a few extra perks
Holders of the Gap Encore Mastercard® receive the following benefits beyond its rewards:
- Free standard shipping on purchases $35+.
- Free basic alterations on apparel purchased at Banana Republic in-store or online.
- A 20% off choose-your-own-sale day.
- 60-day extended return window.
- Birthday gift for cardholder and up to three family members.
5. Carrying a balance will be costly
As of this writing, the card's APR topped 33%, which is exceptionally high. 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. So even if you save money with the Gap credit card's deals and discounts, make sure you're able to pay your balance in full every month. Otherwise, the outsize interest rate is sure to negate those savings.
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