With roots dating back to the 17th century, The Hudson’s Bay Company has a proud Canadian history. Going through a lot of changes over the years, it rebranded as The Bay and later returned to its namesake, going by Hudson’s Bay once more. A hub of retail sales and commerce, as the world moved digital, it partnered with credit card companies like Capital One. However, in late 2020, the joint arrangement ended between the two parties.
February 2021, Hudson’s Bay entered into a new agreement, joining up its MasterCard services with a company called Neo. Replacing all of its card programs, the Neo-powered Hudson’s Bay Mastercard is becoming available in the spring. The main idea is to focus on a digital retail strategy, with a view to enhancing customer experience in-store and online. So, if you’re a frequent Hudson’s Bay shopper (or are looking into a new Mastercard), this new opportunity could be a great option for you.
Neo Financial is a tech company that focuses on the financial sphere. Founded to be a way to apply digital innovations to the Canadian banking sector, Neo seeks to streamline reward programs, along with spending and saving methods. This company partners directly with Mastercard to power the Hudson’s Bay reward card.
It has a proven track record of success, propelling companies like Skip the Dishes into a top-ten Canadian service. Along with Hudson’s Bay, its other partnerships are Esso, Husky, and Guardian Pharmacies across the nation. By growing its impact, it has been able to net consumers an average of 2% cashback.
Check out Neo Financial’s credit card.
The idea is that, as more businesses partake, the returns for cardholders increases. Since, in 2019, Hudson’s Bay earned roughly 5.47 billion dollars by the third quarter, the boost in sales is expected to grow earnings for cardholders of the new Neo Hudson’s Bay Mastercard.
There’s no shortage of credit and reward card opportunities on the market — so much so that it can be challenging to identify which will serve you best. Though some cards have impressive names and flashy rates, if you have responsible spending habits and reasonably good credit, the main benefits to look at are the extra features. By investigating the individual criteria of the Neo Hudson’s Bay Mastercard, you can gain a full understanding of how to make the card work for your wallet.
The first feature is the points system, which is extremely straightforward. When you use your card at a Hudson’s Bay store or online at thebay.com, you get double points. For these purchases, you can make up to four points on every dollar spent. Using the card at different locations nets you two points on every dollar you spend.
Enjoy earning points? Check out how you can earn additional points using the drop app.
After you’ve accrued sufficient points, you can cash them out. The value of these points varies based on how you redeem them. When used for travel rewards, you get a penny per point, leading to a return of as much as two percent. Alternatively, you can redeem your points for store products or gift cards.
The redemption process is straightforward as well. You can automatically redeem your points when shopping at Hudson’s Bay (in-store or online). For every 1,000 points you accrue, you can get five dollars off your purchase.
An innovative new feature to encourage customers to use their points, you can transfer points from the Neo Hudson’s Bay Mastercard to your Air Miles cards. Points can also be migrated to your RBC Rewards cards. Though the transfer rates are less substantial (40 points for a single Air Mile), it lends a bit of versatility and can free you up to use points wherever you benefit most.
Find out the “catch” of credit card rewards.
One of the key benefits of the Neo Hudson’s Bay Mastercard is that there are no annual fees for the card. There are few things less pleasant than getting a new backup credit card, not spending anything, and getting a bill for the annual fee. The Hudson’s Bay card avoids this pitfall.
Additionally, there is no cost for going over your limit. Since there are no fees associated with this common accident, it is a safe option to add to your digital wallet. You can link it to your Google Pay account and not worry about spending a bit over your limit. It’s a particularly useful feature for those with busy lives, who don’t want to pay extra for a minor slip-up.
One of the major reasons people gravitate to cards affiliated with companies like Hudson’s Bay is the opportunity to get cashback on your purchases. The Neo-powered Mastercard gives consumers approximately 2% cashback on their purchases.
Since you earn more points by shopping at stores that partner with Neo if you focus your purchases at affiliate locations, you can gain more cashback. Neo partners with massive companies like Guardian pharmacies, Husky, and Esso, it is relatively easy to accrue points that translate to cashback rewards.
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According to the Neo Hudson’s Bay Mastercard website, you are able to cash out quickly and at any time. Using the proprietary Neo app, you can check your rewards balance at any point in time. Using the same in-app features, you can cash out immediately. Keep in mind that the points work in increments of 1,000 when redeeming them for cashback on purchases, so it may round down to the closest threshold.
The Neo application gives you the ability to manage your card from the convenience of your smartphone. It lets you put a hold on your card if you misplace it or order a replacement if you’re confident the card is lost. If you prefer using virtual cards, you can link up your account with Google Pay or Apple Pay. It lets you make contactless payments using your smart device. You will receive the same amount of points whether you use a physical or virtual card.
To encourage customers to sign up for the new rewards card, Hudson’s Bay (in partnership with Neo) is offering 15% cashback on all purchases made on the first day. These purchases must be made on eligible items and at a Hudson’s Bay location or through thebay.com.
The company is sweetening the pot by offering the equivalent of $25 in points as a welcome offer. You will receive 5,000 points via email ten days after you make your first purchase on the card. To qualify for this incentive, you must make a qualifying purchase within a month of opening your card.
Since the Neo-powered Hudson’s Bay Mastercard is a new initiative, the first round of offers has yet to hit the market. However, according to the company, there will be member-only exclusive events and special deals available throughout the year.
Interested in switching credit cards? Learn how to switch over from a secured credit card to a regular credit card.
Sometimes, it’s good to compare things side by side. Especially if you previously used the Capital One-powered Hudson’s Bay credit card, it helps to understand how the new Neo-powered Mastercard will stack up.
| Neo-Powered Mastercard | Capital One |
| No annual fee | No annual fee |
| Up to 4 points at Hudson’s Bay for every dollar spent | Up to 4 points at Hudson’s Bay for every dollar spent |
| Up to 2 points for every dollar spent outside of Hudson’s BayRoughly 2% cash back at Neo-partnered stores | Up to 2 points for every dollar spent outside of Hudson’s BayTwice-annual bonus of 25% on points gained outside Hudson’s Bay |
| No fees for going over-limit | Nominal fees for going over-limit |
| Return standards vary | 90-day returns on items |
| Supplemental offers with exclusive deals for members, including events and special offers available throughout the year. | Supplemental offers with exclusive deals for members, including events and special offers available throughout the year. |
Especially if you regularly shop at Hudson’s Bay, there are a lot of benefits to having their new Neo powered credit card — even more so if you were a cardholder previously. Since Hudson’s Bay tends to be on the higher end of the pricing spectrum in terms of retail offerings, the opportunity to save is very desirable. Be sure to consider the drawbacks of applying for a new card, namely the impacts on your credit score and whether it works for your budget. Provided you plan to shop at Hudson’s Bay or other Neo-affiliated locations, there are ample advantages to the card.
Corrina Murdoch has been a dedicated freelance writer and editor for several years. With an academic background in the sciences and a penchant for mathematics, she seeks to provide readers with accurate, reliable information on important topics. Working as a print journalist for several years, Corrina expanded her reach into the digital sphere to help more people gain insight into the realm of finances. When she's not writing, you can find Corrina swimming and spending time with family.
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