What the Bass Pro Shops Credit Card offers

The Bass Pro Shops Mastercard is a store card that earns rewards on purchases at Bass Pro Shops and Cabela's locations and websites. You earn 5% cash back on Bass Pro and Cabela's purchases, 2% at gas stations and restaurants, and 1% everywhere else. The card also includes promotional financing offers — typically 12 months interest-free on purchases of $149 or more — and an annual $20 statement credit toward future purchases.

The card is issued by Synchrony Bank and requires a credit check to open. There is no annual fee. Unlike travel rewards cards or premium cash-back cards, this one is built around repeat spending at two specific retailers, so its value depends entirely on how often you shop there.

Key Takeaways

  • The 5% cash back rate applies only to Bass Pro Shops and Cabela's purchases; the 2% rate at gas and restaurants is standard for store cards, and the 1% elsewhere is lower than many general-purpose cards.
  • Promotional financing (usually 12 months interest-free) can save money on larger purchases, but interest rates after the promo period are typically 21% to 29%, so carrying a balance is expensive.
  • The $20 annual statement credit offsets part of the value proposition only if you spend enough to earn it back through cash back or use the promotional financing.
  • This card works best for people who regularly buy outdoor gear, fishing equipment, or hunting supplies at Bass Pro or Cabela's and want to avoid interest charges on larger purchases.
  • If you rarely shop at these retailers, a general-purpose cash-back card with no annual fee will earn more value across your everyday spending.

How the rewards structure compares to other store cards

Store cards typically offer higher rewards rates at their own locations in exchange for lower rates elsewhere and no rewards outside their ecosystem. The Bass Pro Shops card follows this pattern: 5% at the two stores, but only 1% on most other purchases. A general-purpose card like the Chase Freedom Flex or Discover It offers rotating 5% categories (up to $1,500 spent per quarter) plus 1% on everything else, which can match or exceed this card's value if you don't spend heavily at Bass Pro or Cabela's.

The 2% rate at gas stations and restaurants is competitive for a store card, but it is not exceptional. Many no-annual-fee cash-back cards offer 2% on gas and dining as a standard feature. The real advantage here is the 5% rate at the two retailers — that is where the card earns its keep.

The promotional financing is the second draw. A 12-month interest-free period on purchases over $149 can save $100 or more on a $1,000 purchase if you would otherwise pay interest. However, the regular APR after the promo period ends is typically 21% to 29%, depending on your creditworthiness, so this card is useful only if you plan to pay off the balance before interest kicks in.

When promotional financing makes financial sense

Promotional financing is valuable only if you have a concrete plan to pay off the balance before the interest-free period ends. If you charge $1,000 to the card during the 12-month promo period and pay it off in 11 months, you pay zero interest. If you pay it off in month 13, you owe interest on the full $1,000 from the original purchase date — not just the remaining balance — at a rate that could be 25% or higher.

This card makes sense for a specific purchase: a new fishing boat, a complete hunting setup, or a large outdoor equipment order that you know you can pay off within the promotional window. It does not make sense as a general spending card where you carry a balance month to month. The interest rate is too high, and the cash-back rewards do not offset the cost of carrying debt.

Before using the promotional financing, check the terms on your statement or the Synchrony website. Some promotions exclude certain product categories, and the interest-free period length can vary by offer.

Annual statement credit and how to use it

The $20 annual statement credit is applied automatically once per year and shows up as a credit on your statement. You do not have to do anything to receive it — it is not a bonus you earn by hitting a spending threshold. This credit reduces your effective annual cost of the card to zero, since there is no annual fee.

The credit is most valuable if you spend at least $400 per year at Bass Pro or Cabela's, because that is the point where the 5% cash back ($20) plus the statement credit ($20) equals $40 in total value. Below that spending level, the card's rewards are modest compared to a general-purpose card. Above that level, the card begins to pull ahead.

Credit requirements and how the process works

Synchrony Bank does not publish a minimum credit score for this card, but store cards typically approve applicants with fair credit (scores around 600 and up). You will need a Social Security number, current address, and income information. The process takes a few minutes online or in-store at Bass Pro Shops or Cabela's.

A hard inquiry will appear on your credit report, which can lower your score by a few points temporarily. If you are approved, you receive a temporary card number when ready and can use it online the same day. A physical card arrives in 7 to 10 business days.

If you are denied, you can contact Synchrony to ask why, though they are not required to give detailed reasons. Reapplying when ready after a denial is unlikely to change the outcome; waiting 3 to 6 months and improving your credit profile (paying down other balances, fixing errors on your report) is a better strategy.

Comparing this card to Bass Pro's other payment options

Bass Pro Shops also accepts all major credit cards, debit cards, and gift cards. If you already have a 2% or higher cash-back card from another issuer, using that card at Bass Pro will earn you rewards without tying you to a store-specific card. The Bass Pro card's 5% rate beats a 2% card, but only if you value the extra 3% more than the flexibility of using a card you can use anywhere.

Bass Pro also offers a layaway program and in-store financing through third-party lenders, which can be useful if you do not want to open a credit card. Layaway requires a deposit and holds the item for you; in-store financing through other lenders may have different terms and rates than the Synchrony card.

If you shop at Bass Pro or Cabela's multiple times per year and carry a balance on other cards at higher interest rates, moving that spending to this card and using the promotional financing could save money. If you pay off your cards in full each month, the difference between 5% and 2% cash back is small enough that a general-purpose card may still be the better choice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use the Bass Pro Shops card at Cabela's?

Yes. The card earns 5% cash back at both Bass Pro Shops and Cabela's locations and websites. Both retailers are owned by the same parent company, so the card works at either location.

What happens to my promotional financing if I don't pay it off in time?

Interest accrues on the full original purchase amount from the purchase date, not just the remaining balance. If you charged $1,000 during a 12-month interest-free promotion and still owe $500 in month 13, you owe interest on the full $1,000 at the regular APR (typically 21% to 29%), which can add up quickly.

Does this card hurt my credit score?

Opening the card results in a hard inquiry, which may lower your score by a few points for a few months. Over time, the card can help your credit if you use it responsibly and keep your balance low, because it adds to your available credit and shows you can manage multiple accounts.

Can I earn rewards on gift cards purchased at Bass Pro?

Yes, gift card purchases at Bass Pro or Cabela's earn the same 5% cash back as other purchases. This can be a way to earn rewards on gifts for others, though you should confirm the current terms on your account since reward structures can change.

What if I want to close the card later?

You can close the card anytime by calling Synchrony. Closing it will not hurt your credit score directly, though it does reduce your total available credit, which can slightly raise your credit utilization ratio if you carry balances on other cards. Any remaining cash-back rewards are forfeited when you close the account.