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Samsung has launched its first co-branded credit card in the US, deepening its push into financial services and placing the electronics group in more direct competition with Apple.
Samsung launches US Credit Card
The Samsung Galaxy Card is issued by Barclays US Consumer Bank and operates on Visa’s network. Applications are due to open to the wider public on 22 July, following an initial early-access phase.
The product will be available as both a virtual card and a premium metal physical card. It has been designed to integrate closely with Samsung Wallet, allowing customers to manage the card alongside payment credentials, digital keys, passes and identity documents.
Rewards Designed Around the Samsung Ecosystem
Samsung is using rewards to encourage customers to spend within its wider hardware and digital ecosystem.
Cardholders can earn 5 per cent cash rewards on eligible purchases made directly from Samsung and 3 per cent on qualifying transactions completed through Samsung Wallet. Additional rewards will be available on streaming services and general spending.
The proposition reflects a broader shift in digital wallets. Rather than simply storing payment cards, wallets are increasingly becoming interfaces through which consumers manage spending, rewards, instalments and account information.
For Samsung, the card provides a way to strengthen customer loyalty across a large installed base. The company says around 70 per cent of US households own at least one Samsung device, while almost 30 per cent own three or more.
Barclays Partnership Could Support Further Products
Samsung has described its relationship with Barclays as strategic and long term, suggesting that the credit card could be the first of several financial products developed by the two companies.
Barclays contributes established co-brand card expertise, while Visa provides global acceptance, security and network infrastructure. Samsung supplies the consumer brand, device ecosystem and digital wallet interface.
The launch also gives Samsung a clearer response to Apple Card, which is issued by JPMorgan Chase and runs on Mastercard’s network.
The competitive challenge will be persuading consumers to adopt another credit product in an already crowded market. Samsung’s advantage lies in its ability to embed payments directly into devices and services that customers use every day.
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