Amtrak Guest Rewards Mastercard
- Best for: Regular Amtrak riders who spend their points on train fares
- What Sets It Apart: Points worth roughly 2.6 cents each on Amtrak fares, by NerdWallet’s estimate; 5% of points back on Amtrak redemptions
- Cost: $0 annual fee; 26.49% variable APR; no foreign transaction fee
- Rewards: 2 points per $1 on Amtrak and dining; 1 point per $1 elsewhere; 10% back on onboard food and drinks
- Welcome Offer: 15,000 points for $1,000 in purchases and 5,000 for adding an authorized user, both within the first three billing cycles; apply by Nov. 4, 2026
- Pros: No annual fee; up to 20,000 bonus points; points don’t expire while the account is open
- Cons: Gift cards pay 1 cent a point; no companion ticket coupon, seat upgrade, or lounge pass; 1 point per $1 on most spending
Get the Amtrak Guest Rewards Mastercard if you ride Amtrak regularly and will spend your points on train tickets, where NerdWallet estimates each is worth roughly 2.6 cents, compared with 1 cent as a gift card. It has no annual fee. If you rarely ride, pick a 2% cash-back card or a general travel card instead.
The card’s points go into your Amtrak Guest Rewards account each month, where they cover Amtrak fares starting at 400 points, plus seat upgrades, station lounge passes, and gift cards. It replaced the Amtrak Guest Rewards Platinum Mastercard in 2022, when Amtrak moved its cards from Bank of America to FNBO, which issues it.
Key Features
- No annual fee or foreign transaction fee
- 2 points per $1 on Amtrak purchases and dining, 1 point per $1 on everything else
- 15,000 bonus points for $1,000 in purchases and 5,000 more for adding an authorized user, both within the first three billing cycles (apply by Nov. 4, 2026)
- 10% back as a statement credit on food and drinks bought on board
- 5% of your points back when you redeem them for Amtrak travel
Pros
- Points worth roughly 2.6 cents each on Amtrak fares, by NerdWallet’s estimate
- Up to 20,000 bonus points, about $520 in fares at that rate
- Points that don’t expire while your card account stays open
- No annual fee, so the card costs nothing to keep in years you ride less
Cons
- A $25 gift card costs 2,500 points, just 1 cent a point
- Only 1 point per $1 outside Amtrak and dining
- No companion ticket coupon, seat upgrade, or station lounge pass, perks the Preferred card adds for a $99 annual fee
- A 26.49% variable APR, the interest rate on any balance you carry, with no 0% intro period
For regular riders like Northeast Corridor commuters who spend every point on fares, the card beats a 2% cash-back card, since even its 1 point per dollar on everyday purchases is worth roughly 2.6 cents toward fares. If you ride only now and then, or fly more than you ride, pick a 2% cash-back card or a general travel card whose points cover flights and hotels instead.
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