The Bass Pro Shops MasterCard directly targets people who like to shop at Bass Pro Shops and want to earn reward points on all their purchases. This card is currently offering new members a 0% introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers. The Bass Pro Shops MasterCard comes in two versions depending on your credit score – a World MasterCard and a Platinum Plus credit card. Both cards are issued by Bank of America.
New cardholders can currently take advantage of a 0% introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 12 billing statements from when your account is opened. To qualify, balance transfers must post to your account within 60 days of when you open your account. After this promotional period expires, the APR will be 12.99% to 22.99% (variable based on the Prime Rate). Your specific APR will depend on your financial history and credit score at the time of approval.
A balance transfer fee of 3% of the total amount of the transfer or $10 (whichever is greater) is applied to all balance transfers. This fee is not waived during the promotional offer.
There is no signup bonus currently offered with this card.
Members earn Outdoor Rewards points at the following rates:
- 5% on qualifying net purchases made at Bass Pro Shops with a World MasterCard (3% with a Platinum Plus credit card)
- 1% on all other qualifying net purchases
Net purchases are the total amount of transactions minus any returns, credits, fees, or other adjustments.
Rewards can be redeemed as certificates for future purchases of qualifying Bass Pro Shops merchandise. Members can use these certificates at any Bass Pro Shops retail location as well as for catalog and online purchases.
Points earned with your credit card will be credited to your Bass Pro Shops Member account. The minimum redemption level is 500 points (or $10 in rewards). Once you accumulate 500 points you will receive a certificate which can then be used towards upcoming purchases. Certificates are issued in $10 increments. For example:
- 500 points = $10 certificate
- 1,000 points = $20 certificate
- 1,500 points = $30 certificate
The redemption value of one point is $0.02.
Points expire on the date shown on the certificate but never less than 75 days from the date the certificate is issued.
Cardholders qualify for $5 standard shipping on orders sent to U.S. and Canadian addresses for items purchased via the internet or phone and charged to the Bass Pro Shops Outdoor Rewards MasterCard. You must use promotion code FLAT5 at checkout. Note: Canadian orders are charged an additional $3.50 brokerage fee, duty and tax.
There’s an added benefit for wildlife lovers- with each purchase made on the card, Bass Pro Shops and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation will make a contribution to help conservation efforts. There is a guaranteed yearly contribution as high as $1 million.
Members have access to additional Bank of America services. These include:
1) Mobile Banking- Allows you to check available credit, pay your credit card bill online, and perform other financial transactions quickly and securely from nearly everywhere.
2) Account Alerts- Allows you to keep track of balances and payment due dates via text alerts or email.
3) Text Banking- Allows you to request account information or ask a question simply by sending a text. Your reply comes in seconds.
Members are charged a 3% foreign transaction fee on purchases made on the card while traveling abroad.
There is no annual fee for this card.
The Facts
Below we have broken down the details of the Bass Pro Shops MasterCard to help you determine if it’s the right choice for you.
The Good:
0% introductory APR:
This card currently offers new members a 0% introductory APR on both purchases and balance transfers for the first 12 billing cycles of your account. Balance transfers must be completed and post to your account within 60 days from when your account is opened. A balance transfer fee of 3% of the total amount of the transfer or $10 (whichever is greater) is applied to all balance transfers. This fee is not waived during the promotional offer.
Outdoor Rewards points program:
Members earn Outdoor Rewards points at the following rates:
- 5% per dollar spent on qualifying net purchases made at Bass Pro Shops with a World MasterCard (3% with a Platinum Plus credit card)
- 1% per dollar spent on all other qualifying net purchases
Points earned with your credit card will be credited to your Bass Pro Shops Member account.
Simple redemption process:
Rewards can be redeemed as certificates for future purchases of qualifying Bass Pro Shops merchandise. Members can use these certificates at any Bass Pro Shops retail location as well as for catalog and online purchases.
The minimum redemption level is 500 points (or $10 in rewards). Once you accumulate 500 points you will receive a certificate which can then be used towards upcoming purchases. Certificates are issued in $10 increments. For example:
- 500 points = $10 certificate
- 1,000 points = $20 certificate
- 1,500 points = $30 certificate
The redemption value of one point is $0.02.
Bank of America services:
1) Mobile Banking- Allows you to check available credit, pay your credit card bill online, and perform other financial transactions quickly and securely from nearly everywhere.
2) Account Alerts- Allows you to keep track of balances and payment due dates via text alerts or email.
3) Text Banking- Allows you to request account information or ask a question simply by sending a text. Your reply comes in seconds.
No annual fee:
There is no annual fee for this card.
The Bad:
No signup bonus:
This card offers no signup bonus at the present time.
Variable APR:
Once the 0% introductory APR expires, the APR on purchases and balance transfers will be 12.99% to 22.99%. If your credit score is average or below, you may be charged a high annual percentage rate after 12 months. If you maintain a balance on your credit card account, this could end up costing you a lot in finance charges.
Foreign transaction fees:
Members are charged a 3% foreign transaction fee on all purchases made while traveling outside of the U.S.
No smart-chip technology:
This card does not yet offer smart-chip technology. (Less secure than a chip-enabled card)
The Ugly:
Different cards are offered based on credit:
Bank of America states that you must be approved for at least a $5,000 credit limit in order to receive the World MasterCard. For those applicants who qualify for a lesser credit limit, the Platinum Plus credit card will be given. The rewards differ with these cards – the World MasterCard offers members 5% reward points per dollar spent at Bass Pro Shops while the Platinum Plus credit card only delivers 3%. Terms and conditions may differ also.
Rewards can only be redeemed at Bass Pro Shops:
If you only shop at Bass Pro Shops occasionally, this card may not do much for you. The highest reward points (5% or 3% depending on the card) are for purchases made at the store, in the catalog, or online. All other purchases earn a meager 1%- not a great return for a rewards card.
Points expire:
Certificates are automatically generated and sent once you accumulate 500 points (and in 500 increments going forward). Once you receive the certificate you will have a certain amount of time to use the certificate for purchases at any Bass Pro Shop (retail location, catalog or online). This time frame will not be less than 75 days from the date your certificate is issued.
If you are a regular customer of Bass Pro Shops then this card may be a good fit. It offers members good rewards on purchases made at stores (or through the catalog or online) and gives perks such as access to special discounts. The card is currently offering a 0% introductory APR on balance transfers so it may be worth considering if you want to move an existing high-interest credit card balance to one with a lower rate. The offer is good for 12 months so it gives you breathing room to pay off the balance without incurring finance charges.