Apple Barclays credit was a card deal that let shoppers buy Apple products and pay over time, and it stopped taking new customers in 2020. People still search for it today, though. Some own an old card and wonder if it still works. Others read news about Barclays and Apple talking to each other and think the two companies are partners again. This guide clears up both questions in plain words. You will learn what the Apple Barclays card was, why Apple closed it, what happened to people who already had one, and which options you can use now to pay for an iPhone, Mac, or iPad over time.
Here is the short version. Apple and Barclays ended their U.S. card partnership on September 15, 2020. Apple replaced it with the Apple Card, which Goldman Sachs issues today and Chase will issue after a planned move. Barclays talked with Apple about taking over that card, but Chase won the deal. So the old Apple Barclays credit card is gone for new customers, and you have better choices now.
What Was the Apple Barclays Credit Card?
For almost ten years, Apple sent shoppers to a credit card from Barclays. Barclays is a British bank with its main office in London, and it runs a large credit card business in the United States. The card first carried the name Barclaycard Visa with Apple Rewards. It gave you points when you shopped at Apple, and you could turn those points into Apple gift cards. According to Bloomberg, cardholders earned three points for every dollar they spent on Apple purchases, plus extra gift card bonuses.
The card also came with something many shoppers loved: special financing. If you bought a new MacBook or iPhone with the card, you could pay with no interest for a set time. The length of that time depended on how much you spent. Bloomberg gave one example. If you spent less than $499 on an Apple purchase, you got six months with no interest. Bigger purchases earned longer periods.
Apple later changed the name to Barclaycard Financing Visa. That change happened after Apple launched its own card, and it shows where the company was heading. Apple wanted people to think about its own product, not a bank card with its name on the side.
How the Rewards and Financing Worked
The old setup had two parts, and it helps to keep them apart because people often mix them up.
The first part was the rewards program. Apple and Barclays ended it in August 2019, the same month Apple Card launched in the United States. After that date, the card stopped earning the three points per dollar on Apple purchases. The second part was the financing deal. It stayed alive for another year, and it was the main reason people still applied for the card in 2020.
That financing deal worked like a store plan. You applied at an Apple Store or on Apple’s website, Barclays checked your credit, and you got a credit limit if the bank approved you. You then used the card for your Apple purchase and paid it off during the no-interest period. If you paid the full amount in time, you paid no interest. If you did not, interest could add up quickly, so the plan only worked well for people who made a clear payoff plan.
Why Apple Ended the Partnership
Apple made the decision official on September 15, 2020. Bloomberg reported that Apple told its store employees about it in a memo. From that day, shoppers could no longer apply for the Barclays card in Apple retail stores or on Apple’s website. Apple also told staff that people who already had the card could keep using it like a normal credit card.
The timing was not an accident. Apple made the change on the same day it announced two new Apple Watch models and a new iPad Air. The company wanted to point shoppers toward Apple Card and its new payment plan, called Apple Card Monthly Installments. That plan lets Apple Card owners in the United States pay for certain Apple devices with no interest over 6, 12, or 24 months, depending on the product.
In simple terms, Apple had built its own card, and it no longer needed another bank card to sell its products. The Barclays deal had been slowing down since Apple Card arrived in 2019, so the final step surprised few people who follow the company.
What Happened to Existing Cardholders?
If you already had the card, your account did not vanish in September 2020. Apple and Barclays said existing cardholders could keep using it. You could still make purchases, earn whatever the card offered, and pay your bill in the normal way.
The bigger change came in 2021. According to AppleInsider, Barclays mailed letters to cardholders saying that it would move them to a new card called the Barclays View Mastercard on May 7, 2021. The letters said the new card would earn 3X points on restaurant purchases and 2X points on internet, select streaming, phone, and TV services. They also said cardholders would get special financing offers from time to time, up to 18 months, at stores such as Apple and Best Buy.
Those details come from letters sent in 2021, so card terms may look different today. If you still hold a card that started as the Apple Barclays card, the best move is to log in to your Barclays account or read your latest statement. Your card agreement tells you the current rewards and rates, and that is the only source that counts for your account.
Is Barclays Apple’s Credit Card Partner Again?
Not at this time, but the confusion is easy to understand. In January 2025, Reuters reported that Apple was in talks with Barclays and with Synchrony Financial to replace Goldman Sachs as the company behind Apple Card. Those talks made headlines, and many people started searching for Apple Barclays credit again.
Goldman Sachs launched Apple Card with Apple in 2019, and it had lost money on the business for years. Goldman wanted out of consumer lending. Several banks showed interest, and Barclays was one of them. Barclays already had experience with big brand cards. In 2024, Goldman moved its General Motors credit card business to Barclays, which helped the bank grow its card business in the United States.
Even so, Barclays did not win the Apple deal. In January 2026, Apple announced that JPMorgan Chase would become the new issuer of Apple Card. The two companies said the move would take about 24 months and would need approval from regulators. News outlets reported that the deal would bring more than $20 billion in card balances to Chase. So if you see a headline about Barclays and Apple from 2025, remember that it described talks, not a finished partnership.
What Apple Card Looks Like Today
Apple Card is the product that replaced the Barclays deal, so it helps to know how it works now. You can read a full overview of the Apple Card on Wikipedia, and Apple’s own announcement explains the Chase plan in detail.
Here are the main points as of this writing. Goldman Sachs Bank USA still issues the card today. Chase will take over later, and Apple has said that people can keep using their cards as normal while that happens. Mastercard stays as the payment network. The card offers up to 3 percent Daily Cash back on purchases, and it has no annual fee. Apple Card Family lets you share an account with people in your Family Sharing group, and the Savings account is part of the package. Apple Card Monthly Installments also stay available, so you can still buy Apple products and pay over time with no interest.
Apple has said it will share more details as the move gets closer. Based on the 24 month timeline from January 2026, you can expect the change to finish around early 2028. During that time, it makes sense to watch your email and the Apple Wallet app for updates, because Apple has said it will tell cardholders what to do and when.
Old Barclays Cards vs. Apple Card: A Quick Comparison
The table below puts the three cards side by side so you can see how they differ.
| Card | Issuer | Can you apply today? | Apple financing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barclaycard Financing Visa (first called Visa with Apple Rewards) | Barclays | No, closed to new applicants since Sept. 15, 2020 | Ended in 2020 |
| Barclays View Mastercard | Barclays | Check with Barclays | Special financing from time to time, up to 18 months at some stores, based on 2021 letters |
| Apple Card | Goldman Sachs now, Chase later | Yes, in the U.S. | Apple Card Monthly Installments, 0% interest |
How to Pay for Apple Products Over Time Now
You came here because you may want to spread out the cost of a new Apple device. You have a few good options today, and the right one depends on your credit and your budget.
The first option is Apple Card Monthly Installments. If you have an Apple Card, you can pick this plan at checkout for products such as the iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch. You pay the same amount each month, and you pay no interest. This plan replaced the old Barclays financing deal, and Apple built it to feel simple. You can see your payments right in the Wallet app.
The second option is a regular credit card with a 0% intro APR offer. Many banks give new customers a period of no interest on purchases, often for 12 to 21 months. The Motley Fool also noted in 2020 that these cards can work just as well as the old Barclays card for Apple purchases. Compare a few offers before you apply, because the length of the no-interest period and the rules after it can differ a lot.
The third option is to wait and buy with cash or debit. This sounds boring, but it costs the least. If you can save for a few months, you avoid interest and a credit check altogether. People who plan to research gadgets before they buy often find that waiting for a sale or a trade-in deal saves more than any financing offer.
What to Check Before You Apply for Any Card
Financing can help, but it can also cost you if you rush. Read these points before you apply for any card, whether it carries Apple branding or not.
Start with the interest rules. A true 0% plan charges no interest when you pay on time. A deferred interest plan works differently, because the bank can charge all the interest from day one if you miss the final payoff date. Always check which kind of plan you are getting.
Next, think about your credit. Most card applications cause a hard inquiry, which can lower your score by a few points for a short time. If you plan to apply for a home loan or car loan soon, you may want to hold off on a new card.
Then make a payoff plan. Divide the price by the number of months in the plan, and check that the monthly amount fits your budget. If it does not, choose a cheaper device or a longer plan. Finally, read your card agreement. If you want help with the basics, a site with plain English money guides can explain terms like APR, credit limit, and late fees in simple words.
A Note for Shoppers Outside the United States
The Apple Barclays credit story is mostly an American one, and the United Kingdom works differently. In 2018, AppleInsider reported that Apple’s UK store offered Barclays financing with 0% interest over 12 months for approved customers who spent at least 399 pounds. That offer was separate from the U.S. card, and Apple has changed its financing options in many countries over the years. If you live in the UK or another country, check your local Apple website to see what is available now. Apple Card itself is only available in the United States.
How to Check If You Still Have an Old Apple Barclays Card
Some people find an old card in a drawer and wonder if it still counts. You can check in a few quick steps. Look at the front of the card for the Barclays name and the Visa or Mastercard logo. Then log in to your Barclays online account, or call the number on the back of the card. Ask which product you hold today, what your rate is, and what rewards you earn. If you do not use the card, you can also ask the bank to close it, but remember that closing an old account can affect your credit history length, so think about that first.
Conclusion
Apple Barclays credit is a piece of Apple history, and it no longer works as a way to get new Apple financing. Apple ended the partnership on September 15, 2020, and it moved shoppers to Apple Card and its Monthly Installments plan. People who held the old card kept their accounts, and Barclays later moved them to the Barclays View Mastercard in 2021. Barclays talked with Apple again in 2025 about running Apple Card, but Chase won that deal, and the move from Goldman Sachs should finish in about two years.
If you want to buy an Apple product today, you have clear choices. You can use Apple Card Monthly Installments, a 0% intro APR card from another bank, or your own savings. Whichever path you pick, read the interest rules, plan your monthly payments, and keep an eye on Apple’s updates about the Chase change. A little planning keeps your new device fun and your budget calm.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Apple Barclays credit card still exist?
The card is closed to new applicants. Apple stopped offering it on September 15, 2020. Existing cardholders could keep using their accounts, and Barclays later moved many of them to the Barclays View Mastercard.
Is Barclays the issuer of Apple Card?
No. Goldman Sachs issues Apple Card today. Chase announced in January 2026 that it will take over, and Apple says the move should take about 24 months.
What replaced Apple Barclays credit financing?
Apple Card Monthly Installments replaced it. This plan lets Apple Card owners pay for certain Apple products over time with no interest.
Can I still earn Apple gift card points with the old Barclays card?
The original Apple Rewards program ended in August 2019. Your current card may have a different rewards plan, so check your latest Barclays statement for the exact terms.
Is Apple Card available outside the United States? No. Apple Card is only available in the United States at this time, so shoppers in other countries should check their local Apple website for financing options.
