Which card is typically used exclusively at the store it is labeled with?

The closed-loop gift card is designed to be used exclusively at the specific retailer or location it is associated with. This means that once purchased, the gift card is confined to the issuing merchant, and it cannot be used elsewhere, unlike open-loop gift cards that can be used across a wider network of merchants who accept payment from a designated payment card processor.

Closed-loop cards often encourage consumer loyalty towards the specific brand or retailer, as they provide an incentive for customers to return and make purchases at that store. They can also provide benefits to the retailer, such as improved cash flow and the ability to gather consumer purchasing data.

In contrast, open-loop gift cards can be used at multiple locations or anywhere the branded card is accepted, general purpose reloadable cards can be used like a debit card at various points of sale, and a generic identifier card does not generally refer to a specific product within the payment card ecosystem.