Hudson’s Bay Credit Card Review: Is It Worth It?
Important: In March, Hudson’s Bay paused its Rewards Program due to restructuring under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (CCAA). As a result:
New applications for the Hudson’s Bay Mastercard are no longer being accepted.
Current cardholders cannot earn or redeem accumulated Hudson’s Bay Rewards points.
In the meantime, Neo (the card’s issuer) is offering a temporary cashback program for current members (2% back at Hudson’s Bay store and 1% back everywhere else). Read more on Neo’s Hudson’s Bay Mastercard FAQ page.
This no-fee store credit card offers a rare combination of rewards: Hudson’s Bay Rewards points and cash back on qualifying purchases made at Neo Financial partners. But Hudson’s Bay Rewards points can only be redeemed for Hudson’s Bay purchases, and the card has no built-in insurance coverage.
View details
Points per $1 spent at Hudson’s Bay stores and thebay.com
Points per eligible $1 spent everywhere else.
The Hudson’s Bay Mastercard is a no-fee credit card that earns both points and cash back — an uncommon combination that sets it apart from competitors. Card perks, like boosted cash-back rates, insurance coverage, wellness perks and more, are available for a monthly fee.
Pros
- No annual fee.
- Earns rewards points and cash back.
- Customizable card perks.
Cons
- Rewards points can only be redeemed for Hudson’s Bay purchases.
- No built-in insurance coverage.
- No annual fees.
- Use your Hudson’s Bay Mastercard in store and at thebay.com and get double the Rewards points—up to 4 Rewards points on almost every $1 you spend.
- Earn 2 Rewards points on almost every $1 you spend outside of Hudson’s Bay stores.
- Your Hudson’s Bay Rewards points can be redeemed instantly at Hudson’s Bay stores and thebay.com.
- Earn even more through member-only exclusive offers, events and specials throughout the year.
- Earn an average of 2% cash back at thousands of local and national Neo Financial partners and businesses, including most major gas and grocery stores, restaurants, gyms, coffee shops, and more.
- Access boosted cash back, insurance coverage, and other exclusive perks by adding reward perks for gas & groceries, travel, wellness, and more to your card.
- Manage your card right from the Neo app, freeze or replace your card, get proactive alerts and notifications in real time, and more. In addition to your physical card, you can add your card to Apple Pay or Google Pay to make contactless payments with your smartphone.
- Terms and conditions apply.
Hudson’s Bay Credit Card full review
The Hudson’s Bay Credit Card is a no-fee rewards credit card that earns Hudson’s Bay Rewards points and cash back. You can redeem Hudson’s Bay Rewards points for discounts on in-store and online Hudson’s Bay purchases.
Benefits of the Hudson’s Bay Credit Card
The Hudson’s Bay Credit Card earns points and cash back — a rare combination that helps the reward-earning credit card stand out from its competitors. It also has no annual fee and allows cardholders to customize their card perks with add-ons like insurance coverage and accelerated cash-back rates.
Drawbacks of the Hudson’s Bay Credit Card
One of the Hudson’s Bay Credit Card’s biggest drawbacks is the limitation of its rewards. Yes, it earns points and cash back. But the points can only be redeemed for Hudson’s Bay purchases, and you don’t earn cash back on every purchase — only on what you spend at Neo’s retail partners.
Who should get the Hudson’s Bay Credit Card?
The Hudson’s Bay Credit Card earns Hudson’s Bay Rewards points and offers its highest earn rate on purchases made at Hudson’s Bay. With that in mind, shoppers who frequent Hudson’s Bay stores will be able to make the most of the credit card’s rewards program.
Is the Hudson’s Bay Credit Card worth it?
Whether the Hudson’s Bay Credit Card is a practical addition to your card lineup depends on your shopping preferences. There’s no annual fee to recoup, but it may be tough to maximize the value of the card’s rewards unless you frequently spend money in Hudson’s Bay stores or its online store.
Customer ratings
The Hudson’s Bay Credit Card is offered by Neo Financial, for which we found the following:
Low Trustpilot rating: 1.5 out of 5 possible stars based on over 60 customer reviews, as of this writing.
Poor Better Business Bureau rating: 1.31 out of 5 possible stars based on over 85 customer reviews, as of this writing.
Hudson’s Bay Credit Card eligibility
Who qualifies for the Hudson’s Bay Credit Card?
To qualify for the Hudson’s Bay Credit Card, you must:
Be a Canadian resident.
Be at least the age of majority for your province or territory.
Approximate credit score needed for approval
Canadian credit card issuers rarely disclose required credit scores, which makes it hard to know your chances of approval when comparing credit cards. However, higher scores generally mean better chances of approval, and that’s true regardless of the type of credit you’re applying for.
Want to learn more? Visit our “What Credit Score is Needed for a Credit Card?” page.
Hudson’s Bay Credit Card rewards
Get up to 15% off first-day purchases made with the Hudson’s Bay Credit Card at Hudson’s Bay stores and thebay.com.
Cardholders earn Hudson’s Bay Rewards points and cash-back rewards at the following rates:
Up to 4 Hudson’s Bay Rewards points per eligible $1 spent at Hudson’s Bay stores and thebay.com.
2 Hudson’s Bay Rewards points per eligible $1 spent everywhere else.
2% average cashback on eligible purchases made at Neo Financial partners.
The Hudson’s Bay Credit Card’s welcome bonus is straightforward and doesn’t require any qualifying actions to unlock — new cardholders get up to 15% off first-day purchases made with their Hudson’s Bay Credit Card at Hudson’s Bay stores and thebay.com. The exact value of the credit card’s welcome offer depends on the first Hudson’s Bay purchase you make with your new card. But if you’ve got a sizable Hudson’s Bay purchase on the horizon, the card’s welcome bonus could offer significant savings.
Beyond its introductory offer, the Hudson’s Bay Credit Card earns up to 4 Hudson’s Bay Rewards points per eligible $1 spent on Hudson’s Bay purchases in person or online. You’ll also get 2 Hudson’s Bay Rewards points per eligible $1 spent everywhere else, plus cash-back on eligible purchases made at Neo Financial partners.
Point value breakdown
Since 1,000 Hudson’s Bay Rewards points are equal to $5, the value of 1 Hudson’s Bay Rewards point is 0.5 cents.
How to apply for the Hudson’s Bay Credit Card
The application process for the Hudson’s Bay Credit Card can be completed from Neo’s website, mobile app or in-store at a Hudson’s Bay location.
Here’s a look at the online application process:
Select the Apply Now button from the Hudson’s Bay Credit Card page on Neo’s website.
Review the application steps and select Get Started.
Create a Neo Financial profile by entering your email address, creating a password and entering your mobile number.
Verify your account by entering the six-digit code sent to your mobile phone.
Tell Neo Financial about your finances, including your annual income and residential status.
Enter your personal details, including your full name, date of birth, phone number, email address, residential address and employment status.
Submit your application.
Hudson’s Bay Credit Card vs Walmart Rewards World Mastercard
If you like the idea of earning elevated rewards where you shop, Hudson’s Bay isn’t the only retailer to offer a store credit card. Both of these cards offer in-store rewards, but their earn rates and perks vary.
Rewards breakdown
Rewards breakdownPoints per $1 spent at Hudson’s Bay stores and thebay.com
Points per eligible $1 spent everywhere else.
NerdWallet's take
NerdWallet's takeThe Hudson’s Bay Mastercard is a no-fee credit card that earns both points and cash back — an uncommon combination that sets it apart from competitors. Card perks, like boosted cash-back rates, insurance coverage, wellness perks and more, are available for a monthly fee.
Pros
- No annual fee.
- Earns rewards points and cash back.
- Customizable card perks.
Cons
- Rewards points can only be redeemed for Hudson’s Bay purchases.
- No built-in insurance coverage.
Card details
Card details- No annual fees.
- Use your Hudson’s Bay Mastercard in store and at thebay.com and get double the Rewards points—up to 4 Rewards points on almost every $1 you spend.
- Earn 2 Rewards points on almost every $1 you spend outside of Hudson’s Bay stores.
- Your Hudson’s Bay Rewards points can be redeemed instantly at Hudson’s Bay stores and thebay.com.
- Earn even more through member-only exclusive offers, events and specials throughout the year.
- Earn an average of 2% cash back at thousands of local and national Neo Financial partners and businesses, including most major gas and grocery stores, restaurants, gyms, coffee shops, and more.
- Access boosted cash back, insurance coverage, and other exclusive perks by adding reward perks for gas & groceries, travel, wellness, and more to your card.
- Manage your card right from the Neo app, freeze or replace your card, get proactive alerts and notifications in real time, and more. In addition to your physical card, you can add your card to Apple Pay or Google Pay to make contactless payments with your smartphone.
- Terms and conditions apply.
Rewards breakdown
Rewards breakdownCash back in Walmart Reward Dollars on every $1 spent at Walmart.ca.
Cash back in Walmart Reward Dollars on every $1 spent at gas stations.
Cash back in Walmart Reward Dollars on every $1 spent at Walmart stores.
Cash back in Walmart Reward Dollars on all other purchases.
NerdWallet's take
NerdWallet's takeThis card is designed to reward Walmart shoppers — both in-store and online — who want to maximize the value of money spent at this popular superstore. Cardholders earn Walmart Reward Dollars on everyday purchases and gain access to valuable perks, like six free months of Walmart Delivery Pass. Best for: Walmart regulars.
Pros
- No annual fee.
- Earn up to 3% on every eligible $1 spent.
Cons
- Interest rates as high as 26.99%.
- High $80,000 annual household income requirement.
- No travel insurance.
Card details
Card details- Walmart Rewards Mastercard® has no annual fee and lets you easily spend your Walmart Reward Dollars like cash on your choice of virtually anything Walmart sells online and in store.
- You can earn Walmart Reward Dollars by using your Walmart Rewards Mastercard® or your Walmart Rewards World Mastercard® with every purchase you make on the card.
- Walmart Reward Dollars can be redeemed at Walmart stores in Canada and online at Walmart.ca. You can redeem Walmart Reward Dollars in $5 increments for virtually anything Walmart sells.
- Boingo Wi-Fi for Mastercard — access to over 1 million hotspots worldwide — all at no added cost, and no added fees or roaming charges.
- Purchase Assurance Protection against theft, loss or damage in the first 90 days on eligible purchases made on your card from the date of purchase.
- Extended Warranty Protection which doubles the manufacturer’s regular repair services warranty for up to an additional warranty year on eligible purchases made on your card.
- Existing Walmart Rewards Mastercard® cardholders can qualify for the World card by spending $15,000 or more on their card in the previous 12 months.
- New applicants for a Walmart Rewards Mastercard® will be eligible for the World card if they have an annual household income of $100,000 or more. Standard credit and other approval criteria apply.
Reasons you might want a different card
The Hudson’s Bay Credit Card may not be a practical fit if:
You don’t often shop at Hudson’s Bay.
You’d prefer to earn different rewards, like travel points or miles.
You’d prefer a credit card with built-in insurance coverage.
Hudson’s Bay Credit Card facts
HUDSON'S BAY CREDIT CARD | |
|---|---|
Card Type | |
Fees and Interest Rates | |
Annual fee | $0.00 |
Regular/purchase APR | 19.99% - 29.99%. |
Cash advance APR | 22.99% - 31.99%. |
Rewards and Benefits | |
Intro offer | Get up to 15% off first-day purchases made with the Hudson’s Bay Credit Card at Hudson’s Bay stores and thebay.com. |
Reward earn rates | • Earn up to 4 Hudson’s Bay Rewards points per eligible $1 spent at Hudson’s Bay stores and thebay.com. • Earn 2 Hudson’s Bay Rewards points per eligible $1 spent everywhere else. |
Cash back earn rates | • Earn an average of 2% cashback on eligible purchases made at Neo Financial partners. |
Other perks | • Neo add-ons. Customize your card with add-ons like boosted cash-back rates, insurance coverage, wellness perks and more for a monthly fee. • Mobile wallet compatible. Add your card to Apple or Google Pay for contactless mobile payment options. |
Insurance coverage | |
Insurance coverage for the Hudson’s Bay Credit Card is available as an add-on. Travel insurance includes emergency travel medical, trip cancellation, car rental protection, flight delay and more for $4.99 monthly. Mobile device protection is available for 9.99% monthly. | |
Car rental accident | Up to $100,000 for the cardholder and up to $10,000 per spouse or dependent child. |
Travel medical | Up to $1 million per insured person per trip. |
Flight delay | Up to $250 per day for necessary accommodations, restaurant expenses and sundries for a maximum of 48 hours. |
Baggage delay | Up to $1,000 for essential clothing and sundry items. |
Lost or stolen baggage | Up to $1,000 of coverage per trip for all insured persons. |
Hotel burglary | Up to $1,000 of coverage for personal items. |
Rental car theft/damage | For up to 48 days. |
Extended warranty | Up to one additional year. |
Purchase protection | 90 days. |
Methodology
BACK TO TOPNerdWallet Canada rates credit cards according to overall consumer value and their suitability for specific kinds of consumers. Factors in our evaluation methodology include annual and other fees, rewards rates, the earning structure (for example, flat-rate rewards versus bonus categories), redemption options, bonus offers for new cardholders, introductory and ongoing APRs, and other noteworthy features such as airline or hotel perks or the ability to transfer points.
DIVE EVEN DEEPER
Shannon Terrell