Update: This has now been confirmed. Existing Barclays Choice cardholders will be converted to the new Wells Fargo card in May. Details of the new card are as follows:
- No annual fee
- Card earns at the following rates:
- 5x points on stays at participating Choice® hotels
- 3x points on purchases at gas stations, grocery stores, home improvement stores, and phone plans
- 1x points on other purchases
- Automatic Gold Elite Membership- 10 Elite night credits qualifying cardmembers for at least Gold level status each calendar year
- Cell Phone Protection
Original post: It looks like Wells Fargo will be the new issuer of the Choice Privileges credit card. At some stage the Choice card stopped appearing on the Barclays website and when you navigate to Choice website here it sometimes says ‘back to wellsfargo choice privileges travel rewards credit card’.
Hat tip to CericRushmore
WF sent me a new Choice card, got it activated and less than a week later they promptly closed my account. Wells closed all my accounts with them a few years ago with no stated reason, just “we’ve reviewed your account and decided to close your card”. I don’t carry balances, FICO in the 820-830 range, no real debt beyond a mortgage and monthly expenses which I pay in full.
I didn’t want this card to go to WF, now I’ve lost a card with years of history and a high credit line. I hate WF. I hope they go under.
Wells Fargo listed the sign up bonus for the new card. 60,000 points after spending $1,000 in qualifying purchases during the first three months. Do people who have the Barclays card also receive the bonus?
I did find this (Eligibility for introductory bonus rewards offer – You may not be eligible for an introductory bonus rewards offer if you opened a Choice Privileges Mastercard Credit Card or a Choice Privileges Select Mastercard Credit Card within the last 15 months from the date of this application and you received an introductory bonus rewards offer – even if that account is closed and has a $0 balance.)
There are two cards and it has launched today
Is there an estimate to the launch date?
The go-live is scheduled for May 1st, according to their press release. Existing cardmembers will get the new benefits starting that day and WF is scheduled to begin taking new applications as well.
I dumped it today as i didn’t want Wells Fargo. Cancelled via automated phone system.
Same here. Anyone but Wells Fargo.
For those in the same boat, here is the official statement:
if you still don’t want the Choice Privileges Mastercard, you can close your account by calling the number on the back of your current Choice Privileges Visa Card with Barclays. Please note that if you have an outstanding balance on your Choice Privileges Visa Card with your Barclays account, you will still be issued a Choice Privileges Mastercard account number and will need to make payments to Wells Fargo after May 1, 2023. If you close your card on or after March 5, 2023, you will still receive a Choice Privileges Mastercard in the mail.
Hi Max, wonder where you get the March 5 date? I just received the notice from wells Fargo in the mail today, haven’t found the date in the package yet… thanks!
https://sites.wf.com/choice-conversion-faq/.
There is a FAQ on what happens for those who do not want a WF card at any cost
I have both the barclays and Citi cards. I also have like 100000 choice points in my choice rewards account. If I cancel the Barclays card now, will I lose any of those points?
no, but watch out for the points expiration date though.
I actually like this card because it gets 2 points per dollar, and I often can get almost 1 cent pp out of my redemptions, but I’m canceling right away if it’s going to only be half the earning in the future.
Choice Hotels have some sweet spot for redemption. Mainly overseas. I’m debating if I want to cancel my card now, and get a new SUB. The largest SUB they offer was during the pandemic for 75k. Seems like they’re getting rid of the 8k bonus for spending 10k per year.
I was thinking the same thing.. I usually earn my bonus on my June Statement… But if I cancel it now, I won’t receive that… But signing up later for the Wells Fargo card would probably be more beneficial.
No bonus points offer?
Citi Double Cash + Citi Premier = 4x Choice Points on every purchases