Kroger World Elite Mastercard: What Is Changing
The Kroger Rewards World Elite Mastercard, issued by U.S. Bank, is being wound down. Kroger says its relationship with U.S. Bank is ending, U.S. Bank says cardholders will move to a U.S. Bank Smartly Visa card, and the card is no longer open for new applications. This page replaces our old guide, which described a card you can no longer get. Below is what has been confirmed, what has not, and what cardholders should check.
What has been confirmed
- Kroger states on its credit card update page that its relationship with U.S. Bank is ending, and that U.S. Bank is contacting cardholders directly about changes to their accounts.
- On July 29, 2026, U.S. Bank announced that cardholders with the Kroger co-brand card will move to a U.S. Bank Smartly Visa card. U.S. Bank keeps ownership and servicing of the account. It expects the change to be completed this fall and says cardholders have already been sent communications.
- Kroger says it has no announcement to share about future payment options.
- The old card website, krogermastercard.com, now sends visitors to Kroger’s update notice instead of an application.
Clark Howard’s site reports that U.S. Bank stopped taking new applications in May 2026 and that conversions are happening between August and October 2026. We could not find those two details on Kroger’s or U.S. Bank’s own pages, so treat them as reported, not confirmed.
What changes for fuel savings and points
- Your Kroger loyalty account stays active. You keep earning Kroger points on eligible purchases when you use your loyalty account number, and points you have earned can still be redeemed for fuel discounts or grocery savings. (Kroger renamed Fuel Points to Points on June 25, 2026. See how the program works now.)
- The 5 cents per gallon fuel savings at Kroger Fuel Centers that came with the card ends when your card account is converted or closed.
- Kroger has not said whether the Smartly card earns Kroger points. Clark Howard’s site describes the Smartly Visa Signature as a flat 2% cash back card, so check the terms in the notice U.S. Bank sent you.
Boost membership that came with the card
Kroger says that if your Boost by Kroger Plus membership came from the card’s benefits, it continues through its current expiration date. To see that date, log in to your Kroger account in the app or on kroger.com and open Boost Member Management. After it ends, Boost costs $99 a year or $12.99 a month, and Boost Essential costs $69 a year or $8.99 a month, based on Kroger’s current pricing. More on the plans is on our Boost page.
What the card used to offer
For anyone comparing it with what comes next: the card had no annual fee and paid 5% cash back on non-fuel purchases made with Kroger Pay and 5% on mobile wallet purchases (Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, Google Wallet and Garmin Pay). Each 5% rate applied to the first $3,000 a year, then dropped to 2% for Kroger Pay and 1% for mobile wallets. These terms come from the card’s own site before it closed and do not apply to new accounts. The old welcome offer of a $100 statement credit after $500 in spending is gone with new applications.
What cardholders should do now
- Read the letter or email from U.S. Bank. It has your conversion date and the terms of the new card, and Kroger points cardholders to it for details.
- Call the number on the back of your card, or the one in that notice, with questions about your account.
- Keep using your Kroger loyalty account number at every checkout so points keep posting.
- Check your Boost expiration date in Boost Member Management if your membership came with the card.
- Ask U.S. Bank what happens to any card rewards you have not redeemed. We did not find this in the public notices.
If you want a different card
Kroger has not announced a replacement card. Clark Howard’s review of alternatives, written after the change, names these for grocery spending:
- Blue Cash Preferred from American Express: 6% back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 a year, with a $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.
- Capital One Savor Cash Rewards: 3% back at grocery stores (superstores such as Walmart and Target excluded), no annual fee.
- Blue Cash Everyday from American Express: 3% back on groceries on up to $6,000 a year, no annual fee.
This is general information, not advice for your situation. Rates, fees and offers change, so read the issuer’s current terms before you apply.
Sources: Kroger, “Kroger World Elite Mastercard Update” (kroger.com/i/credit-faq); U.S. Bank news release, July 29, 2026; Clark Howard (clark.com) for application timing, the conversion window and card alternatives. Read September 21, 2026. Kroger Fan is an independent site and is not affiliated with The Kroger Co. or U.S. Bank. Dates and terms may change.
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