AARP Essential Rewards Mastercard from Barclays
Earn 3% Cash Back on Gas & Drug Store purchases (excluding Target and Walmart). Earn 2% Cash Back on eligible Medical expenses. Earn 1% Cash Back on all other purchases. $0 annual fee.
Annual Fee
$0
Top Earning Rate
0.03% back gas and drug store purchases
Foreign Tx Fee
3%
Rating
N/A
Current Welcome Offer
100 cashback
$100 estimated value
Spend $500 in 90 days
Card Offers
public
100 cashback
$100 estimated value
Spend $500 in 90 days
Earning Rates
excluding Target and Walmart
purchases at doctors, dentists, chiropractors, glasses, hearing aids and more
Pros & Cons
Pros
- No annual fee
- $100 welcome bonus after $500 spend in 90 days
- 3% cash back on gas and drug stores, 2% on medical expenses
- Rewards never expire if account in good standing
- 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 15 billing cycles
Cons
- 1% cash back on all other purchases
- 3% foreign transaction fee
- Gas and drug store bonus excludes Target and Walmart
- High ongoing APR up to 29.99%
Key Takeaways
- Earn 3% on gas/drug stores (excl. Target/Walmart), 2% on medical, 1% elsewhere
- $100 bonus after $500 in 90 days
- No annual fee and non-expiring rewards
- 0% intro BT APR for 15 cycles
- 3% foreign transaction fee applies
Fees
| Fee Type | Amount |
|---|---|
| Annual Fee | $0 |
| Foreign Transaction Fee | 3% |
APR Information
- Purchase APR
- 20.24% - 29.99%
- Balance Transfer APR
- 20.24% - 29.99%0% intro APR for 15 months
- Cash Advance APR
- 29.99%
APRs shown are variable and may change based on the Prime Rate. Your actual APR will be determined based on your creditworthiness.
Card Benefits
4 benefits
Purchase Protection
Statement Credits
Lifestyle Benefits
Coverage Tier Legend
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the annual fee for the AARP Essential Rewards Mastercard from Barclays?
What are the cash back earning rates?
What is the welcome bonus?
Do rewards expire?
What redemption options are available?
Is there a foreign transaction fee?
What is the intro APR offer?
What benefits does the card offer?
About This Card
This card suits consumers with regular spending on gas, drug stores excluding Target and Walmart, and eligible medical expenses who want simple cash back with no annual fee and rewards that do not expire.
The AARP Essential Rewards Mastercard from Barclays offers unlimited cash back rewards: 3% on gas and drug store purchases (excluding Target and Walmart), 2% on eligible medical expenses (doctors, dentists, chiropractors, glasses, hearing aids, etc.), and 1% on all other purchases. Earn a $100 cash back bonus after $500 spend in first 90 days. Rewards never expire if account in good standing. Redeem for cash back, statement credits, AARP memberships, gift cards, merchandise. $0 fraud liability. Complimentary FICO score access. 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 15 billing cycles if posted within 45 days. Variable purchase APR 20.24%-29.99%. Foreign transaction fee 3%.
It stands out in its entry-level tier with 2% cash back on eligible medical expenses and non-expiring rewards alongside a no-annual-fee structure.
Ready to Decide?
Apply for the AARP Essential Rewards Mastercard from Barclays
100 cashback, worth about $100 estimated value, with no annual fee.
Spend $500 in 90 days
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Sources & Methodology
Sources & Methodology
Card details are collected by automated crawlers from official issuer pages, then verified by editorial review.
Last updated:
Pending editorial review.
- 4 of 4 benefits rated high confidence
- 1 of 1 offer verified
Read our full methodology for how we collect, verify, and rate credit cards.
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