Barclaycard Closing Applications For Sallie Mae Card (5% Gas, Grocery & Bookstore)?

The Sallie Mae card from Barclaycard is one of my favorites, it gives you 5% cash back on gas purchases ($250 monthly limited), grocery store purchases ($250 monthly limit) and bookstores ($750 monthly limit) and Amazon.com gift card purchases code as a bookstore so it’s basically 5% year round there as well.

Reader koloinik let me know that the Sallie Mae page for the credit card is no longer working, they said it was redirecting to the Upromise card but now it just shows a general 404 error. The card is also not listed anywhere on the Barclaycard site.

I was able to find this application link that’s still working (although I didn’t try to actually apply, if you do let us know how it goes in the comments), but my gut feeling is that Barclaycard is planning on phasing this card out. I hope they don’t product change existing cardholders, but I suspect at some stage they will do a forced product change to the Upromise card if they do plan to discontinue the Sallie Mae card.

Who knows, I might be completely off base with this speculation and Barclaycard/Sallie Mae are doing some minor maintenance, or even making the card even better.
    William Charles
  • On September 28, 2015, 09:05

View Comments (15)

  • I received mail today that noted Sallie Mae Rewards will be changed to Commence on March 1, 2017. 2% for groceries and utility (phone, gas, electric) and 1% back on everything else.

  • THis just in: I have the Sallie Mae card, and today I got a piece of mail telling me that it's being changed to a card called "Commence". The benefits are far inferior to the old Sallie Mae card at a glance. The change is effective by March 2017. Sad.

  • Applied right after I heard the news about it being taken off of the website. I was given the message about waiting to hear from them, then I got a call today. I was able to get the card, but I asked the man on the other end of the phone about what's going on.

    *Apparently today (Sept 30th) is the last day they accept applications for this card.*

    He didn't seem to think that any benefits will be removed or that the card will be changed any time in the future. Hopefully this means we won't be screwed over in the near future with this card.

  • the application link is not available now.
    The only concern for me is if Barkley can keep benefits for existing cardholder......

  • SallieMae offered add'l 2% back on department store purchases Oct 1 through Dec 31. I need clothes dryer and will buy at Sears if they consider it a department store. I posted question "do you have list of department stores, for purposes of this offer?" but got no response. I called, asked same question, plus "do you classify Sears as dept store?". CSA said they wouldn't know until transaction posts. Does anybody know the answer? Thanks.

  • Just applied through the link the 26th, called and was approved the 28th.

    Barclaycard was a bitch about giving me 4th card despite excellent use and credit. They used one returned payment several months ago as justification not to extend more credit. Ended up reducing my credit line on one card to get this.

  • Just used the link provided and got approved as well. Thanks for the heads up, now what to double dip them for so as not to waste the hard pull?

  • I applied before the link went away and was approved. Just got the card today, though. It would be a shame if they changed terms moved to the upromise, which requires all the annoyances of a portal to be worthwhile. At it is it's an easy 12.50/month on groceries + a few bucks on gas and some amazon for bonus. I figure it's a non MS way to generate 20 bucks a month.

  • I love this card. We have several. 1 $250 GC to our favorite grocery store, same for gas station, and we get an easy $25 back for $$$ we were going to spend anyway. WM super centers and some Targets count as grocery stores on this card as well, not to mention Amazon. Very underrated card for everyday spend. I hope it sticks around.

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