Synchrony Bank

Virgin Red Rewards Mastercard®

Highest earn rate in Dining at 2.8% effective value

The Virgin Red Rewards Mastercard® from Synchrony Bank earns up to 2.8% effective value on dining in Madeen's catalog snapshot. Its annual fee is $99. New applicants may see: 60,000 Virgin Points Boarding Bonus - spend $4,000 on your card in the first 90 days to earn it. It's enough to hop continents.. Madeen compares this card against the cards you already carry — no bank login required.

Top category
Dining
Effective value
2.8%
Annual fee
$99

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Virgin Red Rewards Mastercard® card art
Reviewed by Madeen editorial review
Catalog snapshot 2026-05-01
Updated 2026-06-03
Data source Madeen catalog analysis

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.

Madeen analysis

What does the Virgin Red Rewards Mastercard earn in each category?

Dining is the strongest category at 2.8% effective value (2x miles at about 1.4 cents each). That dining rate ranks higher than about 65% 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 2.8% effective value (2x miles at about 1.4 cents each). That dining rate ranks higher than about 65% of the 1,547 cards we track in that category.

Category Earn rate Effective value
Dining
Restaurants, cafes, takeout
2x miles 2.8% Top category
Grocery
Supermarkets and grocery stores
2x miles 2.8%
Gas
Gas stations and fuel
1x miles 1.4%
Travel
Flights, hotels, transit
1x miles 1.4%
Other
General everyday spend
2x miles 2.8%

Madeen values Virgin Atlantic FlyingClub at about 1.4 cents each. Madeen compares every card using this cash-equivalent estimate while still showing the raw earn rate for context.

Reward rules

What are the Virgin Red Rewards Mastercard reward caps and conditions?

The Virgin Red Rewards Mastercard has 3 notable cap or condition rule(s) in Madeen's catalog, including activation windows, spend limits, and category exclusions. Review each bullet below before assuming unlimited earn rates. Madeen summarizes catalog reward rules for comparison only; issuer pages control current fees, caps, exclusions, and eligibility.

  • 2 Virgin Points for every $1 you spend on dining out
  • 2 Virgin Points for every $1 you spend at grocery stores
  • 2 Virgin Points for every $1 you spend on popular streaming services
Madeen take

Who should get the Virgin Red Rewards Mastercard?

The Virgin Red Rewards Mastercard fits spenders who put meaningful volume in dining and can earn 2x miles. Best for spenders who put meaningful volume in dining and can earn 2x miles. The welcome bonus can help if you can meet the spend requirement.

Virgin Red Rewards Mastercard fits spenders who put meaningful volume in dining and can earn 2x miles. Madeen ranks its dining effective rate higher than about 65% 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 2x miles. The welcome bonus can help if you can meet the spend requirement.

Compare it against simpler no-fee cards if you want minimum complexity.

Best for dining-heavy spend when the $99 fee fits your usage; 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 2.8% effective (2x miles).
  • No foreign transaction fee listed.
  • Welcome bonus may add value if you can meet spend requirements.

Cons

  • $99 annual fee requires enough spend in bonus categories to offset.
  • Multiple caps, activations, or exclusions may limit headline earn rates.
  • Virgin Atlantic FlyingClub value depends on how you redeem, not straight cash back.
Fees and bonus

Does the Virgin Red Rewards Mastercard have an annual fee, and what's the welcome bonus?

The Virgin Red Rewards Mastercard has an annual fee of $99 and a foreign transaction fee of None. New applicants may see: 60,000 Virgin Points Boarding Bonus - spend $4,000 on your card in the first 90 days to earn it. It's enough to hop continents.. Confirm current issuer terms before applying.

Annual fee
$99
Foreign transaction fee
None
Signup bonus
60,000 Virgin Points Boarding Bonus - spend $4,000 on your card in the first 90 days to earn it. It's enough to hop continents.
Benefits

What benefits come with the Virgin Red Rewards Mastercard?

The Virgin Red Rewards Mastercard includes Additional cardholder bonus, Anniversary Virgin Points boost, Book two nights, get your third night free in our snapshot. Perks and benefits can change; verify coverage on the issuer site before you rely on them.

  • Additional cardholder bonus

    Add a card for a loved one and earn 2,500 Virgin Points. Maximum of 10,000 Virgin Points

  • Anniversary Virgin Points boost

    We’ll give you 5,000 Virgin Points every year you renew with us.

  • Book two nights, get your third night free

    Make it a long weekend at participating Virgin Hotels once per cardholder year.

  • Clock up Tier Points with Virgin Atlantic Flying Club

    Earn 25 Tier Points for $2,500 of qualifying spend, up to 50 Tier Points a month.

  • Global emergency servicesIncluded with World Elite Mastercard®

    Call 1-800-MASTERCARD (1-800-627-8372) for 24/7 assistance to report a lost or stolen card.

  • HealthLockIncluded with World Elite Mastercard®

    Enroll in HealthLock for Mastercard Medical Claim Monitor complimentary membership plus a 90-day upgrade to all HealthLock services at no monthly cost.

  • InstacartIncluded with World Elite 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+. Offer expires 1/31/2027.

  • LyftIncluded with World Elite Mastercard®

    More rides means more adventure. Take three rides in a month with Lyft to earn a $5 credit.3* Plus, save 10% on all scheduled rides to or from U.S. airports when you pay with your World Elite or World Legend Mastercard. Offer expires 1/31/2027.

Common questions about the Virgin Red Rewards Mastercard

Does the Virgin Red Rewards Mastercard have an annual fee?

The Virgin Red Rewards Mastercard carries an annual fee of $99 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 Virgin Red Rewards Mastercard?

Dining is the strongest Madeen category for the Virgin Red Rewards Mastercard at about 2.8% 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 Virgin Red Rewards Mastercard charge foreign transaction fees?

The Virgin Red 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 Virgin Red Rewards Mastercard welcome bonus?

The Virgin Red Rewards Mastercard welcome offer in our snapshot: 60,000 Virgin Points Boarding Bonus - spend $4,000 on your card in the first 90 days to earn it. It's enough to hop continents.. Minimum spend, eligibility, and offer windows are set by the issuer and can change.

Is the Virgin Red Rewards Mastercard annual fee worth it?

Whether the $99 annual fee pays off depends on how much you spend in dining and whether you use the card's benefits. Madeen compares effective rates across the cards you already carry without bank login. Madeen summarizes catalog reward rules for comparison only; issuer pages control current fees, caps, exclusions, and eligibility.

What credit score do you need for the Virgin Red Rewards Mastercard?

Madeen's catalog lists a typical credit range of Good for the Virgin Red 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.

Compare

How does the Virgin Red Rewards Mastercard compare to similar cards?

Compare the Virgin Red Rewards Mastercard against Verizon Visa (4% on Dining, $0 fee); PayPal Extras Mastercard (3% on Dining, $0 fee); Venmo (3% on Dining, $0 fee). Madeen ranks effective value by category and annual fee using the same catalog snapshot dated 2026-05-01.

CardTop categoryEffective valueAnnual fee
Virgin Red Rewards Mastercard
This card
Dining2.8%$99
Synchrony Bank
Dining4%$0
Dining3%$0
Synchrony Bank
Dining3%$0
Dining2.6%$99
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