Best credit cards for department stores

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Department stores are ideal for shoppers who appreciate customer-friendly return policies, a variety of brands, competitive sales and the convenience of one-stop shopping. Beyond store credit cards, there are plenty of other credit cards that offer lucrative rewards on department store purchases.

When searching for the best credit card for department stores, there are some standouts. Many of these cards provide valuable rewards structures and retail protections like extended warranty coverage and purchase protection.

Comparing the best cards for department stores

Discover how Bankrate’s top picks stack up against each other when it comes to annual fees and rewards structure.

Top cards for department stores

Best for cash back

U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card

Rating: 3.2 stars out of 5

3.2

• Bankrate’s view

  With the U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card, you can earn 5 percent cash back in two categories of your choice ( up to $2,000 in combined purchases per quarter, then 1 percent). Department stores are one of the categories you can earn 5 percent cash back in, and if you reach the spending maximum each quarter, you could earn $400 in cash back per year. Just make sure you choose your 5 percent and 2 percent categories each quarter. Otherwise, all eligible purchases will only earn 1 percent cash back. Also, although quarterly categories tend to stay the same, it’s possible they may change each quarter.

• Pros and cons

  

  Pros

  • Tailor your cash back rewards to the products and services you spend the most on each quarter.
  • Its introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers (for transfers made within 60 days of account opening) can help you curb interest.

  

  Cons

  • Its $2,000 limit on combined purchases in your 5 percent categories each quarter can hinder rewards for big spenders.
  • Since it’s a cash back card, you can’t transfer rewards to other rewards programs for increased value.

Best for online purchases

Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express

Rating: 4.6 stars out of 5

4.6

• Bankrate’s view

  The Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express, which comes with no annual fee, offers 3 percent cash back on U.S. online retail purchases, U.S. supermarket purchases and U.S. gas station purchases (on up to $6,000 in purchases in each category per calendar year, then 1 percent) and 1 percent cash back on all other purchases. The online retail category not only includes online purchases made at department stores — it also includes a long list of other online merchants like Amazon.com, Walmart.com and Wayfair.com. If you’re able to reach the $6,000 limit, you’ll earn $180 back on your online purchases, plus 1 percent for any spending beyond that limit.

• Pros and cons

  

  Pros

  • U.S. online retail shopping is a unique rewards category you won’t find on many other rewards cards.
  • Its competitive introductory APR offer on purchases and balance transfers can help you save on current card debt and temporarily avoid interest on new purchases.

  

  Cons

  • Wholesale clubs and superstores aren’t considered U.S. supermarkets in the card’s bonus category.
  • Maximizing the U.S. supermarket spending cap would net more cash back with the American Express Blue Cash Preferred® card.

Best for Bank of America customers

Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card

Rating: 4.1 stars out of 5

4.1

• Bankrate’s view

  The Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card allows you to choose which category you’ll earn 3 percent cash back in — you can choose from online shopping (including department stores), gas, dining, travel, drugstores or home improvement. You’ll also earn 2 percent cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs (a rare inclusion) and 1 percent cash back on all other purchases.

• Pros and cons

  

  Pros

  • Swap your highest-earning category once per calendar month to exercise this card’s flexibility for earning rewards.
  • Bank of America Preferred Rewards® members can earn up to 75 percent more cash back on all purchases.

  

  Cons

  • Other cash back and rewards cards have higher welcome offers with lower spending requirements.
  • This card has few noteworthy benefits other than its rewards program and Bank of America’s Preferred Rewards program.

Best for flat cash back

Citi Double Cash® Card

Rating: 4.1 stars out of 5

4.1

• Bankrate’s view

  The Citi® Double Cash Card is true to its name, offering up to 2 percent cash back on all purchases — 1 percent when you make purchases and another 1 percent as you pay for those purchases. This card also comes with no annual fee, so you won’t have to worry about that cutting into your rewards potential. Because there are no caps, you can purchase appliances, jewelry, housewares and wardrobe essentials at department stores and earn the same great cash back rate on all of those purchases.

• Pros and cons

  

  Pros

  • Its high flat cash back rate makes it an excellent standalone or complementary card.
  • It features one of the longest intro APR offers for balance transfers on a rewards card, giving new cardholders a chance to cut back on the interest they owe.

  

  Cons

  • Its foreign transaction fee makes this card a poor choice for international purchases and traveling abroad.
  • It doesn’t offer an introductory APR on new purchases, so it won’t be a good fit if you have bulk purchases coming up.

How to choose a credit card for department stores

When shopping for a store credit card, consider the following to determine if this type of card is the right choice for you.

Co-branded department cards versus general rewards cards

If you shop at several department stores, one of the cards listed above might be a good pick for you since they’re general rewards cards that earn boosted rates no matter where you shop (as long as you’re shopping in their boosted categories). But if you prefer shopping at just one or two department stores, a co-branded store might be better for you. 

Annual spend at department stores

Figure out how much you spend at department stores annually. If it’s much less than all of your other spending categories, it won’t be a good idea to make a department store credit card the primary focus of your rewards strategy. Instead, you should consider a flexible cash back card that offers cash back on all department store purchases, along with other key categories like groceries, gas, dining and travel.

Cards portfolio

Consider your other cards, especially how much you’re paying annually in fees. All of the above cards come with no annual fee, so they won’t cost you anything to hold — but that doesn’t make them worth it. Make sure you’re already maximizing your other cards before adding another one to your wallet.

Frequently asked questions about cards for department stores

• What are department store credit cards?

  Department store credit cards are retail cards offered by specific stores for shopping benefits like bonuses and discounts. There are two varieties: store-only cards and network cards that work like regular credit cards. They’re easier to qualify for, making them good for building credit, but they often come with high interest rates and limited usability. The cards listed here are general rewards cards that you can use to maximize on department store shopping with more flexibility.

• Are department store credit cards easier to get than a general rewards card?

  Department store credit cards tend to be more accessible, especially for those with lower credit scores or limited credit history. However, they often have higher APRs, modest credit limits and can typically only be used at specific retailers.

• What card is best for shopping?

  The best card for shopping varies by your spending habits and rewards preferences. Always weigh the annual fees, rewards categories and benefits before deciding.

The bottom line

Department store purchases can add up quickly. With careful planning, you’ll be able to earn valuable credit card rewards on all (or most) of your purchases. The cards on this page aren’t tied to a specific store, but still offer a generous amount of rewards or cash back for purchases you might make at department stores. They also don’t include substantial APRs or credit limit restrictions commonly found on store-specific cards.

However, it’s important to note that it’s becoming harder to find cards that earn rewards on department store purchases since department stores are becoming a less common category. For example, both the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express and the Chase Freedom Flex℠ used to offer boosted rewards on department store purchases years ago, but the category hasn’t returned for either. It might make sense to make the most of this category while you can, but unless you spend significantly high on department store purchases, you may not want to make it a focus of your card strategy.

*The information about the U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card has been collected independently by Bankrate.com. The card details have not been reviewed or approved by the card issuer.