The NYC & Company Credit Card is a co-branded Mastercard that rewards spending at New York City tourism businesses
The NYC & Company Credit Card is issued through a partnership between NYC & Company (the city's official tourism and marketing organization) and a bank partner. The card earns points on purchases at participating restaurants, hotels, attractions, and shops across New York City, and those points convert to statement credits or gift cards you can use at those same businesses.
This is not a general-purpose rewards card. It's designed for people who visit New York City regularly or live there and spend money at tourism-focused merchants. If you rarely eat at restaurants or stay in hotels, or if you live outside the city, the card's rewards structure may not save you money compared to a flat-rate card.
Key Takeaways
- The card earns points only at participating NYC tourism merchants, not on groceries, gas, or most everyday purchases outside that network.
- Points are redeemed as statement credits or gift cards to NYC businesses, not transferred to airline or hotel programs.
- The card carries an annual fee, which means you need to spend enough at participating merchants to earn back more than that fee costs.
- Approval and terms depend on the current bank partner, so you should check the issuer's website for current rewards rates, fees, and may be able to access requirements before you explore.
How the rewards structure actually works
Points are earned per dollar spent at participating NYC & Company member businesses. The exact earning rate varies—some categories may earn more points per dollar than others—and the current issuer sets these rates. You can find the specific earning structure on the card issuer's website or in the card's terms and conditions.
Points do not expire as long as your account remains open and in good standing, but they are only useful if you plan to return to New York City or order from participating merchants online. There is no option to transfer points to airline miles, hotel programs, or cash back. Your only redemption path is a statement credit or a gift card to a participating NYC business.
The participating merchant network includes hotels, restaurants, Broadway theaters, museums, and retail shops, but not every business in those categories participates. Before you spend expecting to earn points, check the NYC & Company website or call the card issuer to confirm a specific merchant is in the program.
Annual fee and whether it makes financial sense
The card charges an annual fee. The exact amount depends on the current issuer, so you need to check their website for the current fee. This is not a card that pays for itself through sign-up bonuses or passive rewards—you have to spend money at participating merchants to earn enough points to offset the annual cost.
To break even, you need to spend enough at participating NYC & Company merchants to earn points worth more than the annual fee. If you spend $5,000 per year at these merchants and earn 1 point per dollar, you earn 5,000 points. Whether that covers the annual fee depends on how many points equal one dollar in statement credit. Check the issuer's redemption rates before you open the account.
If you live outside New York City and visit once or twice a year, the annual fee is unlikely to pay for itself. If you live in the city and regularly eat at participating restaurants or stay at partner hotels, the math may work in your favor—but only if you would spend that money anyway, not because the card exists.
Who this card makes sense for
The NYC & Company card is most useful for people who spend regularly at New York City tourism businesses and would do so regardless of the card. This includes New York City residents who eat at restaurants and shop at retail partners frequently, and people who visit the city multiple times per year and stay at partner hotels or eat at member restaurants.
The card is less useful if you live outside the city and visit once a year, if you prefer to use a general-purpose rewards card that earns points everywhere, or if you want to transfer rewards to airline or hotel programs. A flat-rate cash back card or a card that earns points on dining and travel may give you more flexibility and higher returns on the same spending.
How to find current terms and explore
The NYC & Company Credit Card is issued through a bank partner, and that partnership can change. To find the current issuer, current annual fee, current rewards rates, and current terms, visit the official NYC & Company website or search for "NYC & Company Credit Card" on the issuer's website directly.
Read the full terms and conditions before you open an account. Pay attention to the annual fee, the earning rates for each merchant category, the redemption options, and any restrictions on which merchants participate. Some cards offer a first-year fee waiver or a sign-up bonus—check whether either applies to the current version.
The process process is the same as any other credit card: you provide personal and financial information, the issuer pulls your credit report, and they make a decision within a few business days. You'll need a Social Security number, proof of income, and a valid address.
Comparing this card to other options
Before you open the NYC & Company card, compare it to a general-purpose rewards card with no annual fee. A card that earns 1.5% cash back on all purchases will earn you more money on non-participating merchants, and you pay no annual fee. Over a year, that card may save you more money unless you spend heavily at NYC & Company partners.
If you travel frequently, a travel rewards card may offer better value. These cards often earn points on dining and hotels everywhere, not just in New York City, and some waive foreign transaction fees. If you stay at the same hotel chain or airline frequently, a co-branded card from that company may earn you more points per dollar than the NYC & Company card.
The NYC & Company card is worth opening only if the rewards you earn at participating merchants exceed the annual fee plus the rewards you would earn with a card you already have or could open instead. Use a rewards calculator or do the math yourself before you decide.
What happens if the card issuer changes
Credit card partnerships between organizations and banks sometimes end or transfer to a new bank. If the NYC & Company card switches issuers, your existing account may be closed, transferred to the new issuer, or converted to a different card product. The terms, rewards rates, and annual fee may change.
If you hold the card and the issuer changes, the card company will notify you of what happens to your account. You'll have the option to keep the new version or close the account. Check your mail and email for notices if you hold this card, and review the new terms carefully if the card is transferred.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use this card outside New York City?
You can use the card anywhere Mastercard is accepted, but you only earn points at participating NYC & Company member businesses. Purchases at non-participating merchants earn no points. If you spend most of your money outside New York City, this card will not earn rewards on most of your purchases.
Do points expire?
Points do not expire as long as your account is open and in good standing. However, if you close the account, you typically lose any remaining points. Keep the account active if you plan to use points in the future.
Can I transfer points to airline miles or hotel programs?
No. Points can only be redeemed as statement credits or gift cards to participating NYC & Company businesses. There is no option to transfer to airline miles, hotel loyalty programs, or other reward programs.
What if I don't spend enough to cover the annual fee?
If your rewards don't exceed the annual fee, you lose money by holding the card. You can close the account at any time, but you won't recover the fee you already paid. Before you open the account, calculate whether you'll spend enough at participating merchants to earn back more than the annual fee.
How do I know which merchants participate?
The NYC & Company website lists participating businesses by category and neighborhood. You can also call the card issuer or check your online account to see which merchants are in the program. Not every restaurant or hotel in New York City participates, so confirm before you spend expecting to earn points.