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It’s the final quarter for football fans wielding the Bank of America NFL rewards card—and you can be sure that in this game, there’ll be no overtime. Cardholders looking to cash in their points for pigskins must scramble to do so within the next four weeks: on August 31st, all NFL credit card rewards expire, when the NFL hands the ball over to British-owned Barclays Bank.
The pass came as a surprise for many. Not only has Bank of America hosted the NFL rewards program for the past 15 years, the financial institution is also the official bank for NFL teams including the Dallas Cowboys, Washington Redskins, Carolina Panthers, and New England Patriots. Analysts suggest that Barclays, which has demonstrated the desire to play a stronger position on the field of U.S. sports, simply extended an offer too good for the NFL to pass up.
Whatever the case, fans are now pressed to redeem rewards earnings before the clock hits zero. Fortunately, Bank of America has grabbed a megaphone to give cardholders the head’s-up: the issuer’s rewards page displays a giant countdown clock warning fans that it’s the “Last chance to spend your points.” Bank of America also states that it will provide current NFL rewards card holders with more information.
As the throngs head over to the NFL rewards redemption website to shop for points, however, one key category is already sold out: free football tickets. Fans are left selecting between jerseys for their favorite teams, tailgating essentials like a Cincinnati Bengals cooler bag or a New York Jets Tailgating canopy, NFL sports games and other merchandise.
For sport rewards cards fans preferring event perks to products, there are numerous great choices remaining. For 10,000 points, cardholders can get a one-day Washington Redskins VIP training camp pass or a Chicago Bear parking pass. High-flyers looking to cash in 25,000 points might think about surprising Dad at his next birthday bash with a 1-hr. appearance by Sir Purr, the Carolina Panthers Mascot.
As for Barclay’s, the British bank’s new NFL card program is due to kickoff in September along side the NFL’s regular season, bringing Barclay at least to the ten-yard line in its bid to be the bank of choice on the U.S. sports scene. With Bank of America still remaining the official bank for several NFL teams, as well as Major League Baseball, Barclay’s will still have to contend with the fact that when it comes to developing winning a presence in the U.S. sports scene, scoring an NFL deal will only get you to first base.
