How to Earn Loyalty Points on Gift Card Purchases at the Register
Learn which register gift cards earn 2 Points per $1, which are excluded, and what to do before you pay.
Scan your store loyalty account before you pay for gift cards at the register. At Kroger and Safeway, eligible gift cards earn 2 Points per $1 when the purchase is linked to your account. Loyalty Points in this context mean store rewards tied to your account number.
They are separate from credit card rewards and from coffee-shop Stars. Have your card, phone number, or app ready before the cashier totals the sale.
Verification note: Program terms and availability can change. This page was checked against linked sources on November 04, 2026.
What do I do at the register?
Tell the cashier you have a loyalty account before payment starts. Scan the app, swipe the card, or enter the phone number linked to the account. The Points attach only when the sale is linked at checkout.
Keep the gift cards and the receipt together until Points post. If Points are missing, the receipt shows the store, date, and qualifying amount needed for help.
- Link the account first, then hand over the gift cards
- Pay after the account is accepted on the screen
- Save the receipt until Points appear
Which gift cards earn Points at Kroger?
According to Kroger, shoppers who scan their loyalty card or enter an Alt ID earn 2 Points for every $1 spent on most third-party gift cards, as described on the Kroger Points page. That rate is twice the grocery rate and can be used for fuel and grocery rewards. Not every card counts.
According to Kroger, that gift-card earning excludes Kroger Family of Companies gift cards, reloadable prepaid debit cards, and Visa and Mastercard variable-load gift cards, as listed in the Kroger Points FAQ. Check the rack label and ask before buying if the brand is unclear.
How does Safeway handle gift cards?
According to Safeway, Safeway for U members earn 1 Point per whole dollar on eligible grocery and pharmacy purchases and 2 Points per whole dollar on eligible gift cards, as stated in the Safeway for U Program Terms. Those Points can be used for gas and grocery discounts. Link the Safeway for U account the same way at checkout.
Buy only gift cards marked as eligible when you want the 2-Point rate.
When will a gift card earn nothing?
Some purchases never earn store rewards, even when linked. According to Starbucks, Starbucks does not award Stars for adding funds to, activating, or purchasing a Starbucks Card or gift card, as stated in the Starbucks Rewards Terms. Stars come only when you make an eligible purchase with a registered card or app.
Use that distinction at the register. A grocery gift-card rack can add store Points, while topping up a Starbucks Card adds spending value without adding Stars.