Best Credit Card for Big 5 Sporting Goods in 2026
Big 5 Sporting Goods is classified under MCC 5941 (Sporting Goods Stores). The best card for Big 5 Sporting Goods purchases is the Active Cash (no annual fee), earning 2x on sporting goods stores — an effective return of 2.00%.
Sporting goods stores like Big 5 are great for those who love to stay active. If you're into fitness or outdoor activities, cards that offer higher rewards in this category can really add up.
Maximize your rewards by timing purchases with promotional periods when Big 5 offers extra discounts or bonus points for using certain credit cards.
Spending Math
If you spend $200 a month at Big 5 with a card offering 2% cash back, you'd earn $4 each month, which totals $48 annually. That's twice the amount compared to a basic 1% card that would only give you $2 per month or $24 yearly.
Big 5 Sporting Goods purchases are classified under MCC 5941 (Sporting Goods Stores).
MCC Details for Big 5 Sporting Goods
Best Credit Cards for Big 5 Sporting Goods (2026)
How Big 5 Sporting Goods Codes on Your Statement
When you pay at Big 5 Sporting Goods at their locations, your card issuer sees MCC 5941 in the transaction data. This code tells your bank that the purchase was made at a sporting goods stores merchant. Bonus reward rates on your card apply based on this MCC — not the merchant name itself.
If your card earns bonus points on "sporting goods stores" purchases, Big 5 Sporting Goods transactions will qualify — even if your card terms only mention a category name and not Big 5 Sporting Goods specifically. The key is that the MCC matches your card's bonus category definition.
You can verify the MCC on any Big 5 Sporting Goods transaction by checking your card's mobile app or statement. Some issuers display the merchant category alongside the transaction details. For the most accurate information, contact your card issuer's customer service and ask whether MCC 5941 qualifies for bonus rewards.
Bonus Category Match — Big 5 Sporting Goods
About MCC 5941: Sporting Goods Stores
Merchant Category Code 5941 is assigned by card networks (Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Discover) to classify businesses in the Sporting Goods Stores industry. Issuers use MCCs to determine which transactions qualify for bonus reward rates. When a merchant is assigned MCC 5941, all qualifying card programs that include sporting goods stores as a bonus category will apply the elevated earn rate.
The Sporting Goods industry group encompasses several related MCCs. Not all merchants in a similar business will share the same MCC — for example, a grocery store inside a warehouse club may code as wholesale ({"5300"}) rather than grocery ({"5411"}). Always verify with your issuer if you're unsure whether a specific merchant qualifies for bonus rewards on your card.
Other Sporting Goods Stores merchants: Academy Sports, Bass Pro Shops, Cabela's.
What You Could Earn at Big 5 Sporting Goods
Spending $200/month at Big 5 Sporting Goods with the Active Cash (2x on sporting goods stores) earns approximately $48/year in rewards. A basic 1% card earns $24 on the same spending. That is $24 more per year with no annual fee.
Prefer no annual fee? The Signify Business Cash earns 2x at Big 5 Sporting Goods merchants, earning $48/year with no annual fee.