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Apple and Barclays Stop Issuing 'Apple Rewards Visa' as Product Financing Shifts to Apple Card

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Apple has ended its credit card partnership with British bank Barclays, according to Bloomberg, on the same day as the company's virtual "Time Flies" event.

barclays-apple-rewards-visa.png

For many years, Barclays issued an "Apple Rewards Visa" with special financing rates for qualifying Apple purchases, but this offer has now been discontinued. Apple has advised its retail employees that existing cardholders can continue using the card as a normal credit card, according to today's report.

Apple now offers interest-free financing on iPhones, iPads, Macs and several other products through its own Apple Card, although only in the United States. There are some hints that the Apple Card may be released in other countries soon.

Article Link: Apple and Barclays Stop Issuing 'Apple Rewards Visa' as Product Financing Shifts to Apple Card
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2020/09/15/barclays-apple-rewards-visa-discontinued/
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I got one of these Barclays cards too and haven't touched it since I got my Apple Card. I agree - the Apple Card is much better (Goldman Sachs). My wife and I use our Apple Cards as our primary CCs and have since we got them. The ease of use is huge.
 
I have enjoyed the longer terms that Barclay's has offered (18 and even 24 months) on large purchases like Macs, Apple Watches (I buy the stainless steel model) and iPad Pros. I usually get one or two SAC offers per year.

I do have a current SAC offer that expires on the 29th. I am guessing this will be the final one and I will be using my Apple Card going forward to finance Apple products. But maybe they will keep them going to encourage me to use their card instead of the Apple Card.

I am guessing that one still earns points towards Apple iTunes Gift Cards since I have not seen any communication from them that it is no longer a feature.
 
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I love my Apple Card, got the 3 percent on my MacBook Pro 16 upgrade last fall, Use it a lot because not all stores terminal machines have contactless pay systems yet. If they do I use it with the Apple card. Was nice during the last couple of months that they have let people to postpone payment during Covid. And When I get my Apple Watch 6 I am going to take advantage of the 12 month no interest. In the past I had to use my Best Buy card if I wanted to do that.
 
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I just took advantage of 18 months no interest (vs only 12 months with Apple Card) with the Barclay Card. I agree the no interest only comes once or twice a year but for large purchases it is a better option than the Apple Card.

I wonder what is going to happen with current card holders in the future...
 
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igetit said:
I just took advantage of 18 months no interest (vs only 12 months with Apple Card) with the Barclay Card. I agree the no interest only comes once or twice a year but for large purchases it is a better option than the Apple Card.

I wonder what is going to happen with current card holders in the future...
Click to expand...

But you also get the 3 percent off the purchase of Apple products when you use the card, so if you are making a large purchase, that is money that goes into Apple Cash and then I put it back into my bank account.
 
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BigMcGuire said:
I got one of these Barclays cards too and haven't touched it since I got my Apple Card. I agree - the Apple Card is much better (Goldman Sachs). My wife and I use our Apple Cards as our primary CCs and have since we got them. The ease of use is huge.
Click to expand...
how has the dashboard held up as far as spending and pie charts/graphs? this would have been my biggest upside, unfortunately the rewards are better on my other card since i dont buy apple products but once every 4-5 years
 
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McKodiak said:
When will this impact my current Apple Visa Card from Barclays?
Click to expand...

It won't in that your current card will still work. And will probably still earn Apple Rewards (mine are redeemed as iTunes Gift Cards) since there has been no communication that those are ending. We might even still get future SAC offers to encourage us to use it instead of the Apple Card, but that I do not know.

It is just that if you do not currently have an Apple Visa Card, you can no longer sign up for one.
 
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While the 3% cash back is a decent return, the thing I don't like is that it would essentially force me to pay full price for any Apple product since I would have to buy it directly from Apple. A couple months after the 2020 MBP came out, I picked up the 1799 model at Best Buy on sale for 1599, plus used a $50 gift card I had sockdrawered. $250 off to me is a far better return, plus double MR points on my Amex for purchases at Best Buy.
 
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repoman016 said:
how has the dashboard held up as far as spending and pie charts/graphs? this would have been my biggest upside, unfortunately the rewards are better on my other card since i dont buy apple products but once every 4-5 years
Click to expand...

Yeah, in that aspect, not much change - I would appreciate more information outside of the monthly spending - like an overall. I have other cards that have much better rewards and rates - MUCH better rates. But the ease of use (using my iPhone/Watch to pay) keeps me using my Apple Card most of the time, especially during these virus times.

We're lucky to be in a part of California that ... basically everything we do uses Apple Pay.
 
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CWallace said:
It won't in that your current card will still work. And will probably still earn Apple Rewards (mine are redeemed as iTunes Gift Cards) since there has been no communication that those are ending. We might even still get future SAC offers to encourage us to use it instead of the Apple Card, but that I do not know.

It is just that if you do not currently have an Apple Visa Card, you can no longer sign up for one.
Click to expand...

The bloomberg article states that the barclays can be used as a regular credit card from now on.
I have a feeling they are sacking the whole apple thing completely.
 
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