CNET’S PICK
BJ’s One™ Mastercard®
4.56/10 CNET Rating CNET rates credit cards by comparing their offers to those of their categorical competitors. Each card is individually evaluated through a formula which reflects the standards and expectations of the contemporary market. Credit card issuers have no say or influence in our ratings. How we rate credit cards
- Intro Offer
-
No current offer
- Annual fee
- N/A
- APR
- 20.24% – 30.24% (Variable)
- Recommended Credit A credit score is used to indicate an applicant’s credit worthiness and may provide guidance about account eligibility. It does not necessarily guarantee approval for any financial product.
- N/A
- Rewards rate
-
1.5% back – 3% back 3% back in rewards on most BJ’s purchases; 1.5% back in rewards everywhere else Mastercard® is accepted
Rewards Rate
3% back
3% back in rewards on most BJ’s purchases
1.5% back
1.5% back in rewards everywhere else Mastercard® is accepted
With stubborn inflation and rising prices persisting, your paycheck may not be stretching as far these days. Any discounts and savings on everyday purchases can help.
If you’re a frequent BJ’s shopper, the BJ’s One™ Mastercard®* may help you save on bulk shopping and gas at BJ’s locations. And since most rewards credit cards don’t offer boosted rewards categories for wholesale clubs, if you’re a BJ’s loyalist, the card may offer an even better value.
Note: The BJ’s One™ Mastercard® now replaces the BJ’s Perks Plus® Mastercard®. Existing credit card holders will need to activate the new card to continue making purchases and earning rewards since the old card will no longer work.
Read on for this card’s top spending categories, program information and other cards worth considering.
Rewards and redemption
With the BJ’s One card, you’ll earn 3% cash back on eligible in-store or online BJ’s purchases and 1.5% back everywhere else Mastercard is accepted. BJ’s gas station purchases do not qualify for 3% cash back.
We like that there’s no cap on the amount of rewards you can earn, and they don’t expire. And you may have a chance to earn more rewards with bonus earnings on eligible purchases. You may have to register or activate the offer. When you’re ready to redeem them, you can redeem your rewards in $10 increments at BJ’s checkout in-store and online. You cannot redeem your rewards toward your outstanding credit card balance.
If you’re an existing cardholder that already had rewards before the new program, your rewards should automatically convert over to your new card.
This card may make sense if you visit BJ’s a few times a month. If not, other store cards or cash-back credit cards may help you earn more on all of your purchases or top spending categories.
Read more: Best Store Credit Cards for March 2023
Other cardholder perks
The BJ’s One card comes with a few big benefits for shopping at BJ’s and everywhere else. As a cardholder, you’ll save 10 cents per gallon at BJ’s Gas® when you pay with your BJ’s credit card. This card has World Mastercard status, which comes with several benefits, including:
- $5 Lyft credit once a month if you take three rides with Lyft in a month
- Three free months of DoorDash DashPass and $5 off their first order per month (new members only)
- Free ShopRunner membership
- 30-day free McAfee trial and a one-year subscription discount to McAfee Total Protection
- Mastercard Global Services
- Mastercard ID Theft Protection™
Fees
The BJ’s One card doesn’t charge an annual fee, but it does require a BJs membership -- which costs $55 per year. The card also has a $41 late or returned payment fee.
If you don’t renew your BJs membership when it expires, you can still shop at BJs, earn and redeem rewards with this card. However, there’s a non-member charge on all BJ’s purchases -- (20% of your total in-club purchases and $5 per BJs.com purchase).
If you cancel your membership, you’ll keep the rewards that you earned, but won’t be able to earn any going forward. Aside from losing card benefits, you’ll also pay the non-member price for purchases.
So, if you’re on the fence about keeping your membership for the coming years or often switch between wholesale clubs in your area, you may want to consider another card. The non-member fees can be costly, and the card won’t be as valuable.
Comparable cards
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card
This Bank of America credit card* is one of the few that offers boosted rewards at wholesale clubs. You’ll earn 3% cash back on the category of your choice and 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs on the first combined $2,500 each quarter, then 1%. Plus, you’ll earn 1% on all other purchases.
This rewards card also comes with a $200 cash rewards welcome bonus after you spend $1,000 within the first 90 days of account opening. You can redeem your rewards as a statement credit, deposit into a Bank of America account or credit to an eligible Merrill account in $25 increments.
The big difference is that the BJ’s One doesn’t have category spending caps. That means you can earn unlimited 3% rewards on BJ’s purchases and 1.5% rewards on all other purchases. But the Bank of America card gives you the flexibility to choose your top spending category and lets you earn higher tier rewards at different, eligible stores. This may be beneficial if your spending habits change from month to month, or you don’t shop at BJ’s regularly.
For more information, read our Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card: Choose Your Rewards review.
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
You’ll have more flexibility to earn and redeem rewards on your purchases with the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card. You’ll earn unlimited 2% cash rewards, including at wholesale clubs.
Just like the BJ’s One card, you won’t have an annual fee. But the Active Cash comes with a 0% introductory APR on purchases and qualifying balance transfers for the first 15 months from account opening (then, 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% variable APR), and you can earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first three months.
The BJ’s card only lets you redeem rewards in $10 increments towards future BJ’s purchases. If you want more flexibility, the Active Cash lets you redeem rewards in $25 increments as a credit toward your billing statement, a deposit into a Wells Fargo account or by check. Your Wells Fargo rewards also don’t expire as long as you have an account. That means you can use the rewards earned with your Active Cash card toward BJ’s purchases, travel or more.
For more information, read our Wells Fargo Active Cash Card review.
If you’re not close to BJ’s, but still want to consider other wholesale club credit cards, these cards may be worth considering:
- Sam’s Club Mastercard: Are the Gas Rewards Worth It?
- Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi: Should I Buy a Costco Membership for Gas Rewards?
How BJ’s One™ Mastercard® compares to other cards
CNET’S PICK
BJ’s One™ Mastercard®
4.56/10 CNET Rating CNET rates credit cards by comparing their offers to those of their categorical competitors. Each card is individually evaluated through a formula which reflects the standards and expectations of the contemporary market. Credit card issuers have no say or influence in our ratings. How we rate credit cards
- Intro Offer
-
No current offer
- Annual fee
- N/A
- APR
- 20.24% – 30.24% (Variable)
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Recommended Credit A credit score is used to indicate an applicant’s credit worthiness and may provide guidance about account eligibility. It does not necessarily guarantee approval for any financial product.
- N/A
- Rewards rate
-
1.5% back – 3% back 3% back in rewards on most BJ’s purchases; 1.5% back in rewards everywhere else Mastercard® is accepted
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card
6.9/10 CNET Rating CNET rates credit cards by comparing their offers to those of their categorical competitors. Each card is individually evaluated through a formula which reflects the standards and expectations of the contemporary market. Credit card issuers have no say or influence in our ratings. How we rate credit cards
- Intro Offer
-
$200 $200 online cash rewards bonus after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening
- Annual fee
- $0
- APR
- 19.24% – 29.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases
- Recommended Credit A credit score is used to indicate an applicant’s credit worthiness and may provide guidance about account eligibility. It does not necessarily guarantee approval for any financial product.
- Good – Excellent
- Rewards rate
-
1% – 3% Earn 3% cash back in the category of your choice (up to $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club quarterly purchases).; Earn automatic 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs (up to $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club quarterly purchases).; Earn unlimited 1% on all other purchases.
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
8.8/10 CNET Rating CNET rates credit cards by comparing their offers to those of their categorical competitors. Each card is individually evaluated through a formula which reflects the standards and expectations of the contemporary market. Credit card issuers have no say or influence in our ratings. How we rate credit cards
See Rates & Fees
- Intro Offer
-
$200 cash rewards Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months. Select “Apply Now” to take advantage of this specific offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
- Annual fee
- $0
- APR
- 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% Variable APR
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening
- Recommended Credit A credit score is used to indicate an applicant’s credit worthiness and may provide guidance about account eligibility. It does not necessarily guarantee approval for any financial product.
- Good – Excellent
- Rewards rate
-
2% Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases
Apply Now
On Wells Fargo’s secure website
FAQs
When comparing the two cards, the BJ’s One+ offers rewards at a higher rate. BJ’s One credit card offers 3% on eligible BJ’s purchases, 1.5% on all other purchases and 10 cents off per gallon at BJ’s gas stations. But the BJ’s One+ Mastercard* offers 5% on eligible BJ’s purchases, 2% on all other purchases and 15 cents off per gallon at BJ’s gas stations. Both cards come with World Mastercard status.
Yes, you can use your BJ’s One card anywhere that Mastercard is accepted. However, if you’d like to maximize your cash-back rewards, it’s best to use this card at BJ’s and consider another card, such as a flat-rate cash-back card, to earn more on other purchases.
If you have an existing Perks Mastercard, your rewards and balance will transfer to Capital One. When your new card arrives, you’ll need to activate it and set up an account online. If you have questions about an existing account, contact Comenity Bank.
*All information about the BJ’s One Mastercard and BJ’s One+ Mastercard, and Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards credit card has been collected independently by CNET and has not been reviewed by the issuer.
The editorial content on this page is based solely on objective, independent assessments by our writers and is not influenced by advertising or partnerships. It has not been provided or commissioned by any third party. However, we may receive compensation when you click on links to products or services offered by our partners.
