Uber Introduces its Own Credit Card

author: Eric Walz   

SAN FRANCISCO — Uber Technologies Inc. has announced a credit card in partnership with Barclays and Visa targeting riders (mainly millennials) and offering reward points back on purchases using the card. The card seamlessly integrates with the Uber mobile app, allowing a cardholder to easily apply credits directly to pay for Uber rides.

$100 in Uber Credit for Spending $500

The primary cardmember will earn 10,000 bonus points, redeemable for $100 in Uber credits, statement credits or gift cards after spending $500 on net purchases on the new Uber Visa Card within the first ninety (90) days from the account open date. This one-time bonus points offer is valid for first-time cardmembers with new accounts only. The bonus points will be awarded after qualifying net purchases have posted to your account.

Cardholders may earn up to a $50 credit for net purchases from Spotify, Netflix and other online shopping subscription services after spending $5,000 or more in total net purchases on your account during each 12-month period through and including your account anniversary date. When you meet the $5,000 spend threshold, cardholders will receive statement credits for each new eligible digital subscription services transaction when it posts to your account.

Cardmembers can also earn 4% back (4 points for every $1.00 spent on net purchases made through UberEATS and at restaurants). Cardmembers can also earn 3% back on net purchases on airfare, hotels and vacation home rentals (including travel agencies and home share exchanges), as defined by merchant category codes.

Additionally, cardmembers will earn 2% back on digital net purchases which includes purchases that occur online or in a mobile device but not utilities or contracted services. Cardmembers also earn 2% back on video and music streaming services including Spotify or Google Play Music.

Cardmembers earn 1% back, or 1 point for every $1.00 spent on net purchases everywhere else. There is no limit to the total points cardmembers can earn as long as the program continues and the account is open and in good standing.

Valuable User Data for Uber

While the card benefits seem attractive, the real reason for the card may be a chance for Uber to gather valuable personal data from cardholders, such as where they shop and what they spend their money on, including online purchases.

The card will come with annual percentage rates of 15.99 percent, 21.74 percent and 24.74 percent based on an applicant's credit worthiness… and there's no upper limit on credit lines, according to a Barclays spokeswoman. The Uber Visa card launches on November 2, 2017.

Eric Walz

Originally hailing from New Jersey, Eric is a automotive & technology reporter covering the high-tech industry here in Silicon Valley. He has over 15 years of automotive experience and a bachelors degree in computer science. These skills, combined with technical writing and news reporting, allows him to fully understand and identify new and innovative technologies in the auto industry and beyond. He has worked at Uber on self-driving cars and as a technical writer, helping people to understand and work with technology.