Barnes & Noble Mastercard®
Basic Information
Program ID: barnes-and-noble-mastercard
Issuer: Barclays
Card Type: Credit
Network: Mastercard
Card Tier: World Elite
Data Complete: Yes
Created: 01/07/2026 11:50
Last Scraped: 01/15/2026 06:29
Fee Structure
| Annual Fee: | $0.00 |
| Year 1 Waived: | No |
| Effective Annual Fee: | $0.00 |
| Authorized User Fee: | $0.00 |
| Penalty APR: | 30.00% |
Additional Fees
| Late Fee: | $40.00 |
| Returned Payment: | $40.00 |
| Balance Transfer: | Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater. |
| Cash Advance: | Either $10 or 5% of the amount of each cash advance, whichever is greater. |
| Foreign Transaction: | 0.00% |
Interest Rates
Purchase APR Range: 2,124.00% - 2,924.00%
Intro Purchase APR: 0.00%
Intro APR Duration: 15 months
Balance Transfer APR: 2,924.00%
Intro BT APR: 0.00%
Intro BT Duration: 15 months
Cash Advance APR: 2,999.00%
Sign-Up Bonus
Bonus Amount: $100.00
Spending Requirement: $500.00
Time Period: 90 days
Bonus Timing: Statement credit typically posts to your account within 6-8 weeks after you have met the spending requirement.
Rewards Program
Reward Type: Points
Base Reward Rate: 1.00%
Bonus Reward Rate: 5.00%
Bonus Categories: 5x at Barnes & Noble stores and BN.com, 2x at restaurants and gas stations
Point Value Estimate: 0.0100 cents/point
Expiration Policy: Points do not expire as long as the account is open and in good standing.
Transfer Partners: N/A
Card Benefits
Protection Benefits
- Extended Warranty
- Purchase Protection
- Cell Phone Protection
- Price Protection
Travel Benefits
- Travel Insurance
- Primary Rental Protection
- Trip Delay Coverage
- Lost Luggage Coverage
- No Foreign Transaction Fees
Premium Benefits
- Airport Lounge Access
- Concierge Service
- Global Entry Credit: $0.00
- TSA PreCheck Credit: $0.00
Approval Criteria
Recommended FICO Range: 690 - 850
Approval Odds Category: Good
Pre-qualification Available
Soft Pull Supported
Hard Pull Bureau: Varies (Experian, TransUnion, Equifax)
Issuer Rules
Rules: To be eligible for the Barnes & Noble Mastercard, applicants must generally possess good to excellent credit (typically a FICO score of 700+). A critical application rule for Barclays is the '6/24 Rule': applicants must not have opened more than 6 new credit card accounts (from any issuer) in the past 24 months to be approved. Barclays is also known to be sensitive to recent credit inquiries and overall credit exposure, meaning applying for multiple Barclays cards in a short period or having a very high existing credit limit with them may lead to denial. The typical sign-up bonus involves earning a statement credit or bonus points (e.g., $50-$100 value) after spending a specified amount (e.g., $500) within the initial months of account opening. Applicants must be U.S. residents and 18 years or older.
Maximum Cards Per Issuer: 2
Minimum Spend Interval: 3 months
Shutdown Risk Triggers: Manufactured spending (MS) inconsistent with typical retail patterns, high cumulative credit limit across all Barclays accounts relative to stated income, rapid application for multiple Barclays cards or other credit products, frequent balance transfers or cash advances without clear repayment plans, late payments or defaulting on any credit obligations, abuse of return policies to generate points or meet spending requirements, and suspicious activity flagged by fraud detection systems.
International Friendly
User Analytics & Insights
User Ratings
Average Rating: 3.8 / 5.0
Top Positive Feedback:
Users appreciate the high rewards rate on Barnes & Noble purchases, making it valuable for frequent shoppers, along with decent bonus categories for gas and dining, all without an annual fee.
Top Negative Feedback:
Common complaints include the restriction of rewards redemption to Barnes & Noble gift cards, lower rewards on general spending, and occasional issues with customer service.
Approval Experience Score: 75.0 / 100
Recommended Alternatives
- Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature
- Chase Freedom Flex
- Citi Double Cash
Card Value Score: 68.0 / 100
Est. Annual Rewards: $307.50
User Portfolio Metrics
Avg Portfolio Size: 3 cards
Avg Portfolio Age: 60 months
Store vs Co-brand: 80% General / 20% Store
Risk Assessment
Default Risk Group: Medium
Predicted Approval Probability: 75.0%
Terms Version Control
Version ID: February 2024