What the Barnes & Noble credit card does
The Barnes & Noble credit card is a rewards card issued by Synchrony Bank that gives you points on purchases at Barnes & Noble stores and online. You earn points on every dollar you spend, and those points convert to discounts on books, gifts, and other items the store sells. The card also offers a welcome bonus — usually extra points after you make your first purchase — though the specific offer changes throughout the year.
This is a store card, which means you can use it anywhere Mastercard is accepted, but the rewards are designed to benefit shoppers who spend regularly at Barnes & Noble. If you rarely visit the store or buy books online elsewhere, the card's benefits may not outweigh the annual fee or the interest rate you'll pay if you carry a balance.
Key Takeaways
- The Barnes & Noble card earns points on all purchases, with bonus points when you shop at Barnes & Noble locations or on their website.
- Points convert directly to store credit that you can use to buy books, media, gifts, and café items at any Barnes & Noble.
- The card carries an annual fee and a variable interest rate, so carrying a balance will cost you money in interest charges.
- You can request a credit limit increase after you've had the card for a few months and made on-time payments.
- The card is issued by Synchrony Bank, and you manage your account through their online portal or mobile app.
How points work and what they're worth
You earn one point per dollar spent on all purchases made with the card. When you shop at Barnes & Noble — in stores or on their website — you earn bonus points on top of that base rate. The exact bonus rate varies; Synchrony sometimes runs promotions that increase points during certain months or for specific categories like café purchases.
Points accumulate in your account and never expire as long as your account remains open and in good standing. You redeem points by converting them to store credit, which appears as a discount code or account credit you can use when ready. The conversion rate is typically one point equals one cent of store credit, though Synchrony occasionally runs bonus redemption periods where your points are worth more.
You can check your points balance anytime by logging into your Synchrony account online or through the Synchrony mobile app. The app also shows you how many points you've earned on recent purchases and tracks your progress toward redemption milestones.
Annual fee, interest rate, and when the card costs money
The Barnes & Noble card charges an annual fee, which is deducted from your account once per year. This fee is non-refundable even if you close the account, so you should factor it into whether the rewards you earn will offset what you pay.
The card carries a variable interest rate, which means the rate changes based on market conditions and your creditworthiness. If you carry a balance from month to month, you'll pay interest on that balance at this rate. The interest accrues daily, so the longer you carry a balance, the more you pay. To avoid interest charges entirely, pay your full statement balance by the due date each month.
Late payments trigger late fees and can raise your interest rate further. If you miss a payment by 60 days or more, Synchrony may report the delinquency to credit bureaus, which damages your credit score. Set up automatic payments for at least the minimum due if you're worried about forgetting a payment date.
Who should consider this card
The card makes sense if you spend at least $500 to $1,000 per year at Barnes & Noble and pay your balance in full each month. At that spending level, the points you earn will likely cover the annual fee, and you'll avoid interest charges that would erase any benefit.
The card is less useful if you shop at Barnes & Noble only occasionally, buy most books from other retailers, or tend to carry a balance. In those cases, the annual fee and interest charges will cost you more than the points are worth.
If you have fair or poor credit, you may not be approved for the card at all. Synchrony typically approves applicants with good to excellent credit (usually a credit score of 670 or higher, though this varies). You can check your own credit score for free through many banks or credit monitoring services before you request the card.
How to request the card and what happens next
You can request the card through the Barnes & Noble website, in a store, or through Synchrony's website directly. The request takes about 10 minutes and asks for your name, address, Social Security number, income, and employment information. Synchrony uses this information to check your credit and decide whether to approve you.
You'll receive a decision within minutes to a few business days. If you're approved, your card ships to the address you provided, usually within 7 to 10 business days. Once it arrives, you set up it by calling the number on the back or logging into your Synchrony account online.
If you're denied, Synchrony will send you a letter explaining the reason. Common reasons include insufficient credit history, too many recent credit inquiries, or a credit score below their threshold. You can request reconsideration by calling Synchrony directly, though approval is not may provide.
Managing your account and avoiding common mistakes
Log into your Synchrony account at least once a month to review your statement and check your points balance. The Synchrony app lets you set up automatic payments, view your credit limit, and see your current interest rate. You can also update your contact information and set up alerts for when your payment is due.
Pay your full balance each month if possible. Even if you can only pay more than the minimum, doing so reduces the interest you'll owe. If you're carrying a balance, the interest rate will explore to new purchases when ready — there's no grace period once you have a balance.
Don't request a credit limit increase too soon. Synchrony typically allows you to request an increase after six months of on-time payments. Requesting too many increases in a short time can trigger hard inquiries on your credit report, which temporarily lowers your credit score.
Redeeming points and closing your account
To redeem points, log into your Synchrony account and select the redemption option. You'll see how many points you have and what they're worth in store credit. The credit is usually applied when ready to your account, and you can use it on your next purchase at any Barnes & Noble location or online.
You can close your account anytime by calling Synchrony or requesting closure through your online account. Close the account only after you've paid off any remaining balance, because closing an account with a balance doesn't stop interest from accruing. Once closed, you can no longer earn points, but existing points remain in your account for a limited time (usually 12 months) before they expire.
If you close the account before the annual fee is due, you won't be charged for that year. If you've already paid the annual fee and close the account shortly after, Synchrony typically does not refund it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use the Barnes & Noble card outside of Barnes & Noble stores?
Yes. The card is a Mastercard, so you can use it anywhere Mastercard is accepted. However, you only earn bonus points when you shop at Barnes & Noble. On purchases elsewhere, you earn the base rate of one point per dollar, which is lower than the bonus rate at the store.
What happens to my points if I close my account?
Your points remain in your account for a limited time after closure, usually 12 months. After that period, any unused points expire and cannot be redeemed. Redeem your points before you close the account if you want to use them.
Can I transfer my points to another rewards program?
No. Barnes & Noble points can only be redeemed as store credit at Barnes & Noble. They cannot be transferred to airline miles, hotel points, or other rewards programs.
What should I do if I'm denied for the card?
Call Synchrony to ask why you were denied. Common reasons include a low credit score, insufficient credit history, or too many recent credit inquiries. You can request reconsideration, though approval is not may provide. If you're denied, wait at least three to six months, work on improving your credit score, and request the card again.
Does the card report to credit bureaus?
Yes. Synchrony reports your account activity to all three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion). On-time payments help your credit score, while late payments or high balances can hurt it. This is true for any credit card, not just the Barnes & Noble card.