MastercardSallie Mae Rewards Mastercard
5 percent on gas, groceries and Amazon-as-books, neutered in 2017.
Welcome Bonus
None
Discontinued
Spend Requirement
None
Annual Fee
$0
No FTF
Credit Score
670+
(Good)
Historical Offers Chart
Every public offer change we've tracked. Hover for details, timing your application is worth hundreds of dollars.
Last verified 2026-06-11 · spot an outdated offer? Tell us in the comments.
Earning Rates
- 5xGas stations
- 5xGrocery stores
- 5xBookstores
- 1xEverything else
Credits
No statement credits, this card wins on earn rates, not coupons.
Benefits
- ✦Amazon gift card reloads at 5 percent through the bookstore category
- ✦Monthly caps reset 12 times a year instead of quarterly
Why it earns its spot
- +Triple 5 percent categories on a no-fee card
- +The 750 dollar monthly bookstore cap made it an Amazon card in disguise
Where it costs you
- −Tight monthly caps limited absolute earnings
- −Replaced overnight by a 2 percent card nobody wanted
The Compound Verdict
The Sallie Mae card paid 5 percent on gas, groceries and bookstores, and since Amazon coded as a bookstore the hobby treated it as a 5 percent Amazon card with a 750 dollar monthly allowance. Barclays stopped applications at the end of September 2016, and on March 1, 2017 existing cards were converted to the forgettable 2 percent Commence Mastercard, later folded into Barclaycard Rewards. Few nerfs were mourned louder.
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