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Nature-Lover’s Credit Card
National Geographic Society announced today the new National Geographic Visa credit card in partnership with First Bankcard, a division of FNBO.
National Geographic is a leading nonprofit scientific and educational organization. Back in 2013 the Chase-branded National Geographic card was discontinued and they’re now partnering with FNBO to launch a new credit card.
Reward Details
- 2 points per dollar made on purchases through National Geographic at their store locations, their website, or phone orders
- 1 point per dollar on all other purchases
- No annual fee
Each point is worth 1¢ and can be redeemed for a statement credit in $25 increments. There are also other redemption options for gift cards, travel, and merchandise.
Other Benefits
- $250 off National Geographic Expeditions and Adventure trips
- 20% off certain purchases made from National Geographic online or through their catalog
- 12 digital issues of National Geographic magazine, plus access to the online archive
- Newsletters are sent out to cardholders with photos, videos, and stories
Signup Bonus
Additionally, there is a signup bonus of 5,000 points, or $50, after spending $1,500 within the first 3 billing cycles.
Card Design
There are five card designs to choose from, all with relevant themes, chosen from the National Geographic archive.
- Polar bear
- Penguin
- Leopard
- Everest
- Colosseum
Final Thoughts
There are obviously many credit cards which will get a better value for most people from a rewards perspective, but some may decide to support the cause of nature and go for this card.
From a benefits point-of-view, the card could make sense for a nature enthusiast who is interested in the free issues of the magazine (though that appears to be a one-time 12 issue benefit) and the newsletter with special breaking stories. There’s also the 20% discount on certain purchases from National Geographic, the $250 discount on expeditions, and the $50 signup bonus.
Remember that there’s no annual fee for the card. Someone interested in nature and exploring may find it worthwhile to apply for the card to get the ongoing benefits.
The card could have been more interesting to some if it would have come with exclusive reward-redemption options, such as going on official NG expeditions and photo-taking sessions, but there’s no mention of such redemption options.
HT: Lowcard.com