Samsung today announced the launch of its first credit card in the United States, launching the Samsung Galaxy Card in partnership with Barclays.
The Samsung Galaxy Card works like a standard Visa card and offers special financing options for Samsung Galaxy devices purchased through Samsung. Apple Card offers a similar financing option for Apple devices.
There is no annual fee for the Samsung Galaxy Card, and cardholders earn 5% cash back rewards on in-store or online purchases made directly from Samsung in the United States. There are 3% cash rewards on purchases made with Samsung Wallet, 2% cash rewards on purchases of streaming services like Netflix, Disney+ and Spotify, and 1% on everything else.
New users can earn $200 in cash rewards after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first 90 days of opening an account, and receive 20% off Samsung VIP Advantage membership when using a Galaxy Card. The Apple Card offers 3% cash back for Apple purchases and those made with select merchants, 2% for Apple Pay purchases, and 1% for everything else, so Samsung offers higher cash back amounts.
Apple Card is built around Apple’s Wallet app, and the same goes for the Galaxy Card. It is integrated with Samsung Wallet and the app can be used for account management. Samsung Wallet also hosts digital passes, IDs, and keys, much like the Apple Wallet app.
Barclays says the Samsung Galaxy Card is its first native digital wallet credit card, without a separate banking app. Apple worked with Goldman Sachs for the Apple Card, but Goldman Sachs is withdrawing from the partnership and JPMorgan Chase is taking over as issuer in a transition that will continue through 2027.
Once a user applies for the Samsung Galaxy Card and is approved, it can be used immediately in Samsung Wallet. Samsung will ship a physical version of the card, which is black metal, the opposite of the white titanium Apple Card.
Samsung users can apply for the card online or at Samsung retail stores starting July 22, the date of the Samsung Unpacked event. Samsung is expected to showcase its latest Galaxy foldable devices at the event.
