Barclaycard has now discontinued the CashForward card. It’s no longer available for new applications and all application links lead to errors. This is somewhat surprising given that they recently increased the sign up bonus to $200. It’s unclear what will happen to current cardholders, but we will update when that becomes clearer. Information regarding the old card can still be viewed below. Card was originally launched in December of 2015.
Application Information
This card was previously available only for targeted recipients but has now been made public. Not much is known regarding the exact criteria to get approved for this card, but being that it’s a no-annual-fee card – it would be considered a step-down from the Arrival Plus and shouldn’t be terribly difficult to get approved.
As always, Barclay’s does not like approving many cards per year, and they don’t like approving you for a second card if your first one looks dormant.
Signup Bonus
CashForward comes with $100 cash bonus after you spend $500 in purchases within the first 90 days following account opening.
Rewards Program
The card earns 1.5% cashback on all purchases, with no categories or limits. Additionally, every time rewards are redeemed you’ll receive a 5% redemption bonus to use toward your next redemption. This addition makes the rewards worth almost 1.6% total.
Cash rewards can be redeemed as a deposit into your bank account, a statement credit or gift cards. Redemptions start at $50. Rewards do not expire as long as your account is open, active and in good standing.
Card Benefits
- No annual fee
- Free online access to FICO score – allows you to keep an eye on your credit and get alerts
- 0% APR for the first 12 months on purchases and balance transfers (balance transfers will incur a 3% fee)
Note that there is a 3% foreign transaction fee.
Final Thoughts
Not a bad card for everyday spend, but pretty lackluster being that there are already two credit cards that earn a full 2% cashback and have no annual fee – the Citi Double Cash and the Fidelity Amex.
When compared to Barclay’s own, this card is better for most everyday spend versus their other no-annual-fee cards. On the other hand, for a big spender (who also travels), it would be worth paying the $89 annual fee for the Arrival Plus card and earn 2.1% back on all spend.
It will be interesting to see if Barclay’s phases out their no-annual-fee Arrival card and leaves this as the base option or if that card is here to stay. Currently, the Arrival card is one of the not-too-many cards without an annual fee which still have no foreign transaction fee.
I was able to close the account today through the automatic voice menu, didn’t even need to speak to a representative, and you are able to receive a letter of cancellation in the mail through the voice prompts.
They are restructuring the reward program not discontinuing according to their supervisors
Fidelity no longer has the AmEx card, it’s a Visa card. It’s going on about two years since they changed from AmEx card to the Visa and issued by Elan Financial Services.
Any idea how long I have to have the account open before closing it to not have to pay it back??
Thanks!
pay back the signup bonus*
No minimum period AFAIK
Just a heads up: I reached out to Barclaycard to confirm and they didn’t discontinue it. Looks like they’re working on testing different features. It’ll be back next year.
Scratch that. Got another reply with a clarification. They’re coming out with a new card to replace the CashForward. So the card itself will remain for current cardholders, but there will be a new cash-back card.
Any more details regarding the new card?
Unfortunately, no. Just that they’re “testing different offers to determine which are the most valuable to consumers.”
Which makes me wonder if they provided more value than they could afford on the CashForward like they did with the Arrival+ before it was devalued.
It is interesting how the banks constantly introduce new cards and then remove them from their product line if they do not reach market share goals. We have to assume that it is relatively inexpensive to introduce new card lines vs. new physical consumer products like shampoo, etc.
The card business has become highly competitive and each bank is maneuvering to gain market share.
I am guessing that each bank is looking for new card hits to gain market share. If the new card does not live up to projections, the banks axe the card.
Not sure if this has anything to do with it but I just received the card and tried a few transactions and had them fail.
I just received mine in the mail earlier this week. The application went offline a few days after I was approved. I actually just got it added to Samsung Pay (via phone verification)… Tried that initially and it failed. Anyway, seems good to go.
Barclay’s only “own” card left now is Arrival+. Everything else is cobranded. They seem to want to be basically like Comenity. Only offer cobranded/partner cards, none of their own.
I still using it monthly. They write off balance .99 or less. I charge 50GB iCould plan to this, statement have 0 balance and 1 penny reward :)).