The card that lives next to the shopping list has a way of becoming part of the weekly grocery routine, from the checkout swipe to the pump at the fuel center. For Kroger cardholders, that routine is changing this fall.
Kroger’s co-brand rewards credit card program is ending, and existing accounts are converting to the U.S. Bank Smartly Visa, ConsumerAffairs reported on Sept. 22, 2026. The biggest change for shoppers: the 5% cash back rate on Kroger Pay purchases goes away, along with an extra five cents per gallon at Kroger Fuel Centers. The replacement card earns a flat 2% on eligible purchases.
The 5% Kroger Pay Rate and the Fuel Perk End
According to ConsumerAffairs, the current Kroger card pays 5% back on the first $3,000 in eligible Kroger Pay purchases each calendar year, then 2%. Eligible mobile-wallet purchases earn 5% on the first $3,000 each year, then 1%. Those rates end with the conversion.
The card’s extra five-cent-per-gallon discount at Kroger Fuel Centers stops once a customer activates the replacement card, ConsumerAffairs said. Complimentary Boost memberships obtained through the card remain available until their current expiration dates, but the new card does not include that benefit.
The fuel perk is easy to picture in everyday terms. Five cents off a gallon is small on its own, though for a household that fills up at the store every week, it was an add-on to the grocery rewards.
The $3,000 cap shapes the math. On a yearly spend of $3,000 in eligible Kroger Pay purchases, 5% is $150 and 2% is $60, so the old card paid $90 more on that first $3,000. A household spending $13,000 a year at the store would earn $150 on the first $3,000 and $200 more at 2% on the other $10,000, or $350 in all, against $260 at a flat 2%. Those figures are simple math from the rates ConsumerAffairs reported, and they assume every purchase qualifies.
What the Smartly Visa Offers Instead
The replacement U.S. Bank Smartly Visa pays 2% on eligible purchases, ConsumerAffairs reported. Getting the full value requires qualifying redemptions, such as statement credits or deposits into eligible U.S. Bank accounts.
The outlet also noted that converted customers reportedly get 3% back on grocery and gas purchases for their first 12 months. ConsumerAffairs attributed that figure to media reports and did not confirm it directly, so cardholders should check the terms in their own transition notices.
SlashGear, in an Oct. 14, 2026 report, cited U.S. Bank’s July 29 announcement of the change and a Kroger statement that “the extra 5-cent gas discount ends for each user when their account is converted.” SlashGear also described the Smartly Visa terms as 2% cash back on eligible purchases with no annual fee, and said Kroger is working with First Bank & Trust through Imprint on a separate new card that earns fuel rewards points. That separate card is not the Smartly Visa.
Shoppers weighing how to budget for the holidays can find ideas at Frenz Hub, which collected 10 clever frugal living tips and 26 easy ways to save money fast. A partner site covered 5 things never to do with a buy now, pay later loan, and another looked at one shopper’s method for finding Kroger clearance deals up to 65% off.
What Carries Over Without a New Application
ConsumerAffairs said no new application is needed. Balances, credit limits and earned rewards transfer automatically, current APR terms carry over, and there is still no annual fee.
The one practical chore is recurring charges. Replacement cards have new account numbers and expiration dates, so any subscription or bill paid with the old card number needs updating, the outlet said. It advised cardholders to review their transition notices and call the number on the back of the card with account questions. Frenz Hub explains how credit cards work for readers who want the basics behind terms like APR and statement credits.
The Shopper Loyalty Program Keeps Going
Kroger’s separate shopper loyalty program is not affected by the card change, ConsumerAffairs reported. A spokesperson for Kroger-owned King Soopers confirmed that loyalty points can keep being earned and redeemed.
That distinction matters at the register. The loyalty account is a different thing from the credit card, so the shopper program carries on while the card changes hands.
Kroger is the supermarket chain at the center of the change. Wikipedia’s article on Kroger notes that The Kroger Company acquired Dillon Companies, whose subsidiaries included King Soopers, in 1983.
Timing: Cards Arrive Through the Fall
ConsumerAffairs said replacement cards are being sent between August and October, with the full conversion expected to be completed this fall. The outlet gave no other specific conversion dates. Because replacement cards go out over those months, two cardholders may switch at different times.
ConsumerAffairs published the news on Sept. 22, 2026, and SlashGear’s Oct. 14 report traces the announcement to July 29, 2026, so the transition is already underway. Cardholders who have not yet received the new card can check their mail and online account for the notice described in the announcement.
A short checklist follows from the reporting: read the transition notice, note when any Boost membership expires, and list the recurring charges tied to the old card number so each can be updated once the new card is active. None of that requires a new application, since ConsumerAffairs said the accounts convert on their own.
This article was produced with AI assistance and edited for accuracy against the sources linked above.
