Samsung launches first US credit card with Barclays

Samsung has launched its first US credit card, the Samsung Galaxy Card, in partnership with Barclays and Visa. The card is managed entirely through Samsung Wallet and targets the company's loyal customers with generous cash back on Samsung purchases.

What the card offers

The Galaxy Card offers 5% cash back on purchases made directly from Samsung (online, in-store, or via Galaxy Store), 3% on transactions using Samsung Wallet, 2% on streaming services like Netflix and Spotify, and 1% on everything else Source: TheNextWeb. There is no annual fee, and new cardholders get a $200 bonus after spending $2,000 within 90 days Source: Wired. The physical card is made of recycled steel, not titanium like the Apple Card.

Competitive positioning

The card is a direct rival to the Apple Card, which offers 3% on Apple purchases and 2% via Apple Pay. Samsung's higher top-tier rate and deeper ecosystem integration (including Samsung Wallet, Care+ and SmartThings) aim to attract users who own multiple Samsung devices — about 70% of US households own at least one, nearly 30% own three or more Source: CNA.

What's next

Samsung and Barclays signal long-term plans beyond this single card, hinting at additional financial products Source: CNA. The card is available from July 22, coinciding with Samsung's Unpacked event. For users switching to a non-Samsung phone, the physical card still works and can be managed via a Barclays web portal, though key perks require Samsung Wallet.