RCI® Elite Rewards® Mastercard®
The RCI® Elite Rewards® Mastercard® from Barclays earns up to 1% effective value on dining in Madeen's catalog snapshot. It has no annual fee. New applicants may see: Earn 2,500 Bonus Rewards after your first purchase – that’s worth $25 in RCI Member Rewards. Madeen compares this card against the cards you already carry — no bank login required.
- Top category
- Dining
- Effective value
- 1%
- Annual fee
- $0
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Madeen compares public issuer terms with its card-rule catalog. Issuer pages control rewards, fees, benefits, exclusions, and eligibility; Madeen does not issue cards, make approval decisions, or provide financial advice.
What does the RCI Elite Rewards Mastercard earn in each category?
Dining is the strongest category at 1% effective value (1x points at about 1 cents each). That dining rate ranks higher than about 2% of the 1,547 cards we track in that category. Madeen summarizes catalog reward rules for comparison only; issuer pages control current fees, caps, exclusions, and eligibility.
Dining is the strongest category at 1% effective value (1x points at about 1 cents each). That dining rate ranks higher than about 2% of the 1,547 cards we track in that category.
| Category | Earn rate | Effective value |
|---|---|---|
| Dining Restaurants, cafes, takeout | 1x points | 1% Top category |
| Grocery Supermarkets and grocery stores | 1x points | 1% |
| Gas Gas stations and fuel | 1x points | 1% |
| Travel Flights, hotels, transit | 1x points | 1% |
| Other General everyday spend | 1x points | 1% |
Madeen values RCI Elite at about 1 cents each. Madeen compares every card using this cash-equivalent estimate while still showing the raw earn rate for context.
Who should get the RCI Elite Rewards Mastercard?
The RCI Elite Rewards Mastercard fits spenders who put meaningful volume in dining and can earn 1x points. Best for spenders who put meaningful volume in dining and can earn 1x points. The welcome bonus can help if you can meet the spend requirement.
RCI Elite Rewards Mastercard fits spenders who put meaningful volume in dining and can earn 1x points. Madeen ranks its dining effective rate higher than about 2% of the catalog in that category. Compare it against cards you already carry with Madeen — no bank login required.
Best for spenders who put meaningful volume in dining and can earn 1x points. The welcome bonus can help if you can meet the spend requirement.
Mostly a flat base earn card without strong category bonuses.
Best for dining-heavy spend when you want to avoid an annual fee; confirm issuer terms before applying. Madeen summarizes catalog reward rules for comparison only; issuer pages control current fees, caps, exclusions, and eligibility.
Pros
- Strongest Madeen category is dining at about 1% effective (1x points).
- No annual fee in our catalog snapshot.
- No foreign transaction fee listed.
- Welcome bonus may add value if you can meet spend requirements.
Cons
- RCI Elite value depends on how you redeem, not straight cash back.
Does the RCI Elite Rewards Mastercard have an annual fee, and what's the welcome bonus?
The RCI Elite Rewards Mastercard has an annual fee of $0 and a foreign transaction fee of None. New applicants may see: Earn 2,500 Bonus Rewards after your first purchase – that’s worth $25 in RCI Member Rewards. Confirm current issuer terms before applying.
- Annual fee
- $0
- Foreign transaction fee
- None
- Signup bonus
- Earn 2,500 Bonus Rewards after your first purchase – that’s worth $25 in RCI Member Rewards
What benefits come with the RCI Elite Rewards Mastercard?
The RCI Elite Rewards Mastercard includes $250 USD Vacation Credit, 5% Rewards back, Global emergency services in our snapshot. Perks and benefits can change; verify coverage on the issuer site before you rely on them. Madeen summarizes catalog reward rules for comparison only; issuer pages control current fees, caps, exclusions, and eligibility.
- $250 USD Vacation Credit
Earn a $250 USD Vacation Credit toward one RCI vacation when you spend $10,000 in net purchases each calendar year.
- 5% Rewards back
Get 5% Rewards back every time you redeem, as a bonus to use toward your next redemption.
- Global emergency servicesIncluded with World Mastercard®
Call 1-800-MASTERCARD (1-800-627-8372) for 24/7 assistance to report a lost or stolen card.
- HealthLockIncluded with World Mastercard®
Enjoy a HealthLock for Mastercard Medical Claim Monitor complimentary membership plus a 90-day upgrade to all HealthLock services at no monthly cost.
- InstacartIncluded with World Mastercard®
Groceries and more delivered in as fast as one hour. Get $10 off your second order each month, and new Instacart+ members can also get three free months of Instacart+.
- Mastercard GolfIncluded with World Mastercard®
Get exclusive PGA TOUR® experiences and access amazing golf benefits with our Golf Concierge Service.
- Mastercard ID Theft ProtectionIncluded with World Mastercard®
Monitor your credit file for fraud, get alerts for suspicious activity and access a resolution specialist.
- Mastercard Music and Entertainment Access benefitIncluded with World Mastercard®
Mastercard gives you exclusive access to ticket presales at top venues and festivals across the U.S. Eligibility restrictions, exclusions and terms apply. Offer expires 3/31/2027.
What annual spend bonuses does the RCI Elite Rewards Mastercard offer?
- Earn a $250 USD Vacation Credit towards one RCI vacation when you spend $10,000 in net purchases each calendar year
Common questions about the RCI Elite Rewards Mastercard
Does the RCI Elite Rewards Mastercard have an annual fee?
The RCI Elite Rewards Mastercard carries an annual fee of $0 in Madeen's catalog snapshot. Issuer terms can change, so confirm the current fee on the issuer's site before you apply. Madeen does not predict approval or prequalification. Madeen summarizes catalog reward rules for comparison only; issuer pages control current fees, caps, exclusions, and eligibility.
What category earns the most with the RCI Elite Rewards Mastercard?
Dining is the strongest Madeen category for the RCI Elite Rewards Mastercard at about 1% effective value, based on our catalog snapshot and standard point valuations. Other categories are listed in the effective-rate table on this page. Madeen summarizes catalog reward rules for comparison only; issuer pages control current fees, caps, exclusions, and eligibility.
Does the RCI Elite Rewards Mastercard charge foreign transaction fees?
The RCI Elite Rewards Mastercard does not charge a foreign transaction fee in Madeen's catalog snapshot, which can make it stronger for purchases outside the U.S. Issuer terms still control international acceptance and other fees. Madeen summarizes catalog reward rules for comparison only; issuer pages control current fees, caps, exclusions, and eligibility.
What is the RCI Elite Rewards Mastercard welcome bonus?
The RCI Elite Rewards Mastercard welcome offer in our snapshot: Earn 2,500 Bonus Rewards after your first purchase – that’s worth $25 in RCI Member Rewards. Minimum spend, eligibility, and offer windows are set by the issuer and can change.
What credit score do you need for the RCI Elite Rewards Mastercard?
Madeen's catalog lists a typical credit range of Good to Excellent for the RCI Elite Rewards Mastercard. Issuers decide approval using their own criteria; Madeen does not predict approval odds or prequalification. Madeen summarizes catalog reward rules for comparison only; issuer pages control current fees, caps, exclusions, and eligibility.
How do you redeem rewards on the RCI Elite Rewards Mastercard?
Rewards on the RCI Elite Rewards Mastercard post as RCI Elite. Redemption value depends on how you use RCI Elite (statement credit, travel, transfers, or issuer portals). Madeen shows effective cash-equivalent rates using standard valuations. Madeen summarizes catalog reward rules for comparison only; issuer pages control current fees, caps, exclusions, and eligibility.
How does the RCI Elite Rewards Mastercard compare to similar cards?
Compare the RCI Elite Rewards Mastercard against Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Mastercard (3.6% on Dining, $99 fee); Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Business Mastercard (3.6% on Dining, $99 fee); FRONTIER Airlines World Mastercard (3.3% on Dining, $99 fee). Madeen ranks effective value by category and annual fee using the same catalog snapshot dated 2026-05-01.
| Card | Top category | Effective value | Annual fee |
|---|---|---|---|
RCI Elite Rewards Mastercard This card | Dining | 1% | $0 |
| Dining | 3.6% | $99 | |
| Dining | 3.6% | $99 | |
| Dining | 3.3% | $99 | |
Barclays | Dining | 3% | $0 |
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