Ford Motor Co. is expanding its customer loyalty programs with a new co-branded credit card designed to reward everyday spending while helping owners offset the costs of owning and maintaining their vehicles.
The automaker recently introduced the Ford Rewards Visa Signature Credit Card through a partnership with financial services company Bread Financial. According to Ford, the new card is designed to integrate with the company’s FordPass Rewards program and provide additional ways for customers to earn points that can be applied toward vehicle purchases, service and accessories.
FordPass Rewards already has more than 18 million members in the United States, according to the company. The new credit card expands that program by allowing cardholders to earn rewards not only through Ford purchases, but also through everyday spending.
Customers who use the card for purchases made on Ford.com or at participating Ford dealerships can earn up to 16 FordPass Rewards points per dollar spent. Purchases for common automotive-related expenses such as gasoline, EV charging, tolls and parking — as well as everyday categories like groceries and dining — earn six points per dollar, while all other purchases earn two points per dollar.
Those points can then be redeemed for a variety of Ford-related expenses including vehicle service, maintenance, parts, accessories and certain connected services. Points may also be applied toward the purchase of a new Ford vehicle.
Ford officials say the new card is designed to make the ownership experience easier and more flexible financially while encouraging customers to remain engaged with the brand after they purchase a vehicle.
Beth Leverton, Ford’s director of rewards and loyalty, said the company wanted to create a program that better reflects how customers actually use their vehicles.
“What started as a question — how do we continue to level up the Ford ownership experience — became something bigger,” Leverton said in announcing the program. She described the new offering as a “technology-forward financing program designed around the reality of ownership.”
The program also includes incentives for new cardholders. Customers who open an account and make a purchase within the first 90 days receive a 15,000-point welcome bonus, which Ford says is worth about $75 when redeemed through the FordPass Rewards program.
In addition, cardholders can earn a $100 statement credit after spending $1,500 within the first 90 days of opening the account.
Another feature of the program is the addition of installment-based financing options tied to Ford purchases. Through the system, qualified customers will be able to finance certain purchases with zero-percent interest installment plans, according to Ford and Bread Financial.
The installment financing is expected to be available for select purchases through Ford’s digital platforms as well as at participating Ford dealerships across the country. Ford says the option is intended to help customers manage expenses related to service work, accessories and other vehicle-related costs.
Bread Financial will handle the financial services portion of the program, including issuing and managing the credit card accounts. The company also plans to use analytics and customer data to help tailor offers and rewards based on how customers interact with Ford products and services.
Ford says the initiative is part of a broader strategy to strengthen its direct relationship with customers through digital platforms, loyalty programs and connected services. By linking rewards, financing options and vehicle ownership costs within a single ecosystem, the automaker hopes to keep customers engaged with Ford long after they leave the dealership.
The program also reflects a broader trend among automakers to expand loyalty and subscription-style services as vehicles become increasingly connected and digitally integrated.
Ford Motor Co., headquartered in Dearborn, Michigan, employs roughly 174,000 people worldwide and produces Ford- and Lincoln-branded vehicles along with a range of mobility services and financial products through Ford Motor Credit.
With the new rewards credit card, Ford is betting that combining loyalty points, everyday spending and flexible financing will give customers another reason to keep their relationship with the brand running long after the purchase of a vehicle.
Photo: Ford
