Best Credit Cards for Department Stores
Using the right credit card at your favorite retailer can snag you rewards, not to mention other money-saving perks.
Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This may influence which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own.
Whether you’re shopping for a last-minute gift, treating yourself to something nice or hunting for in-house bargains, your trip to a department store doesn’t have to strain your wallet.
The right credit card can put some money back in your pocket in the form of rewards. This way, you can splurge or save a little more — your choice.
Here are some of NerdWallet’s favorite credit cards that offer big rewards for department store purchases.
Nerd tip: A credit card that offers rewards at department stores may have different terms for online and in-store purchases. Review your card’s terms to understand your rewards. If you’re more of an online department store shopper, take a look at NerdWallet’s best credit cards for online shopping.
Top credit cards for department stores
U.S. Bank Cash+™ Visa Signature® Card
Citi® Double Cash Card – 18 month BT offer
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
Stein Mart Platinum Mastercard®
U.S. Bank Cash+™ Visa Signature® Card
Our pick for: Maximum flexibility
CARD DETAILS
Rewards:
5% cash back on two categories of your choice from a list of several options (on up to $2,000 spent per quarter on combined purchases).
2% cash back on an everyday category of your choice, such as gas, groceries or restaurants.
1% cash back on all other purchases.
Sign-up bonus: $150 bonus after spending $500 in eligible net purchases within the first 90 days of account opening.
Annual fee: $0.
APR: 0% on Balance Transfers for 12 billing cycles, and then the ongoing APR of 13.99% - 23.99% Variable APR.
BENEFITS
The U.S. Bank Cash+™ Visa Signature® Card lets you choose from several 5% categories, and among the choices as of September 2019 were select department stores. When you’re not shopping at department stores, you can change your categories within U.S. Bank’s quarterly window. The 0% introductory APR can also offer a nice interest-free break, which is especially useful if you spend big at department stores.
DRAWBACKS
Not all department stores qualify. Neither Walmart nor Target is eligible to earn the top 5% cash back rate. Plus, you have to remember to opt in to bonus categories every quarter and keep spending caps in mind to qualify for that high rewards rate. Otherwise, you’ll earn only 1%.
Citi® Double Cash Card – 18 month BT offer
Our pick for: Simplicity
CARD DETAILS
Rewards:
2% back on all purchases: 1% when you buy and 1% when you pay.
Sign-up bonus: None.
Annual fee: $0.
APR: 0% on Balance Transfers for 18 months, and then the ongoing APR of 13.99% - 23.99% Variable APR.
BENEFITS
The Citi® Double Cash Card – 18 month BT offer is a low-maintenance card that doesn’t require opting in, remembering categories or staying on top of spending caps. You don't have to keep track of which department stores qualify for the rewards rate because all purchases are eligible for the same amount. And since you can collect rewards everywhere, the cash back can add up quickly.
DRAWBACKS
This card doesn’t offer much in the way of introductory incentives, such as a sign-up bonus or 0% introductory APR for purchases.
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
Our pick for: Everyday rewards
CARD DETAILS
Rewards:
3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 spent per year, then 1%).
2% back at U.S. gas stations and select U.S. department stores.
1% cash back on all other purchases.
Terms apply.
BENEFITS
The Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express earns rewards in everyday categories such as groceries and gas, making it easy to collect cash back along the way. For those who frequently spend at department stores, it also offers a solid 2% rewards rate. Also noteworthy is the lack of annual fee, and the lengthy interest-free period it offers compared with some other cards. Terms apply.
DRAWBACKS
Even though the rewards rate at department stores is good, only some U.S. department stores qualify. Unless you’re taking full advantage of the card’s other rewards categories, you may be better off with a flat-rate credit card that earns the same amount of rewards wherever you shop.
Stein Mart Platinum Mastercard®
Our pick for: Stein Mart loyalists
CARD DETAILS
Rewards:
1 point per $1 spent in-store and online at Stein Mart.
1 point per $1 spent everywhere else.
Sign-up bonus: None.
Annual fee: $0.
APR: The ongoing APR is 29.24% Variable.
BENEFITS
The Stein Mart Platinum Mastercard® earns rewards at the retailer online, in-store and everywhere that Mastercard is accepted. It also offers some introductory incentives for new cardholders: 10% off the first online purchase and a $10 Stein Mart reward certificate. Terms apply. This card also offers a chance to enroll in the Stein Mart Elite Rewards Program automatically after you spend $500 or more in purchases per calendar year. With this new status, you're eligible for more perks and rewards.
DRAWBACKS
The introductory incentives for new cardholders fall short compared with those offered by general rewards credit cards. Redemptions also have limitations. Rewards redeem only for Stein Mart reward certificates that can only be used at the retailer's locations.
Other credit cards to consider
A lot of the merchandise you might find in department stores is also available through other retailers. Some of them may even offer co-branded credit cards that make you eligible for discounts, rewards or perks.
Amazon, for example, sells a variety of clothing, furniture, accessories and very nearly anything else you can think of. If you're already an Amazon Prime member, the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card offers a high 5% rewards rate when you spend at Amazon, not to mention at Whole Foods. The annual fee is $0, but of course you'll still owe your annual Amazon Prime membership fee, which currently costs $119 a year.
And don’t dismiss a one-stop-shop warehouse like Costco if you prefer gas, groceries and department store-type merchandise in bulk. You can find pretty much everything you need there, and as a Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi cardholder, you can earn cash back on those purchases, not to mention on travel expenses as well. The annual fee is $0, but to get the card you must be a Costco member, which does require a yearly fee. Currently, the membership fee starts at $60 per year.
Or if you're just not into paying an annual membership fee, a big-box store like Target sells much of what you would find in a typical department store. And if you have the Target REDcard™ Credit Card, you'll snag a 5% discount on almost all of your purchases — no yearly membership required.
For new additions to your wardrobe, consider credit cards with fashion-forward retailers. Some — like the Old Navy Visa® Credit Card and the TJX Rewards® Platinum Mastercard® — offer perks and discounts that could be valuable to store loyalists.
These cards aren't ideal for every wallet, but you may be missing out on value if you already spend a lot at your favorite store or pay an annual membership fee.
Information related to the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card has been collected by NerdWallet and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card.
