Writer: Brittney Mayer
Editor: Lillian Guevara-Castro
Reviewer: Ashley Fricker
Disclosure: When you apply through links on our site, we may earn a referral fee from our partners. For more, see our ad disclosure and review policy.
Although few may realize it, Belk has been around for well over 100 years, the popular department store chain founded in Monroe, North Carolina, in 1888 by William Henry Belk. Today, Belk is a staple in dozens of malls across America, with around half of its 300 US locations serving as anchor stores for shopping malls. Belk offers a variety of clothing and home goods, including women's and men's apparel, accessories, and shoes, as well as cosmetics and home furnishings.
With more than a century of retail under its belt, Belk is a popular choice for many department store shoppers, and the Belk® Rewards Card is likely one of the reasons many make the choice to shop at Belk. With three different rewards levels, the more you spend the more you earn — just watch out for the high APR.
Better Cards to Use at Belk
Unless all of your shopping takes place in a Belk store (or at Belk.com), chances are your annual Belk spending won't hit the $1,000 point needed to unlock the best benefits. And even if it does, well, those perks and rewards are only useful at Belk.
For most shoppers, an all-purpose credit card with cash back or travel rewards will end up being a better deal. And for those who are prone to carrying a credit card balance, the Belk Rewards+ Credit Card should probably be avoided in favor of something with a much lower APR.
Cash Back
While it's true that not many cash back credit cards will give you a higher rate of return on Belk purchases than the Belk Rewards+ Credit Card — how much are you really spending at Belk?
A better option for most consumers is a regular rewards credit card that will let you earn rewards on purchases you make anywhere, not just a single store. Even better, these cards will let you redeem rewards for cash back that can be used on any purchase, rather than limiting you to branded rewards.
- $200 online cash rewards bonus after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.
- Earn 6% cash back for the first year in the category of your choice. You’ll automatically earn 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs, and unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases. After the first year from account opening, you’ll earn 3% cash back on purchases in your choice category.
- Earn 6% and 2% cash back on the first $2,500 in combined purchases each quarter in the choice category, and at grocery stores and wholesale clubs, then earn unlimited 1% thereafter. After the 3% first-year bonus offer ends, you will earn 3% and 2% cash back on these purchases up to the quarterly maximum.
- No annual fee and cash rewards don’t expire as long as your account remains open.
- Select your card design option when you apply – the Customized Cash Rewards design, or the limited-time FIFA World Cup 2026™ design.
- 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the Intro APR offer ends, a Variable APR that’s currently 17.49% - 27.49% will apply. A 3% Intro balance transfer fee will apply for the first 60 days your account is open. After the Intro balance transfer fee offer ends, the fee for future balance transfers is 5%. Balance transfers may not be used to pay any account provided by Bank of America.
- This offer may not be available elsewhere if you leave this page. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.
Additional Disclosure: Bank of America is a CardRates advertiser.
0% APR
While a potential rewards rate up to 7% can be tempting, the Belk Rewards Card's high APR can take the temptation right out of it. That's because the $1,000 worth of purchases you'd need to make for Belk Elite-level perks would cost you almost $400 to carry for a year with the card's 28.49% APR — an additional cost that makes that awesome deal a whole lot less awesome.
If you need a card you can carry a balance on, try an all-purpose credit card with a solid intro-APR deal, instead. Not only will you save on pricey interest fees, but you won't be limited to Belk purchases for the savings, either.
- New! 0% Intro APR for 21 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the Intro APR offer ends, a Variable APR that’s currently 14.99% - 25.99% will apply. A 5% fee applies to all balance transfers. Balance transfers may not be used to pay any account provided by Bank of America.
- No annual fee.
- No penalty APR. Paying late won't automatically raise your interest rate (APR). Other account pricing and terms apply.
- This offer may not be available elsewhere if you leave this page. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.
Travel Rewards
Shoppers may love Belk for its apparel and home goods, but you know what most of us love more? A great vacation. Sandy beaches, snowy mountains, and neon-colored drinks can make you forget even the best shoe sale.
And what's a fantastic way to make it to the destination of your dreams? A quality travel rewards credit card that helps you earn points or miles you can redeem for free flights, hotel stays, and other travel-related expenses. Check out of the department store and into a killer trip with a travel rewards card.
- Earn a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
- Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
- Enjoy a $50 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Lifestyle Collection
- Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Top rated mobile app
As far as store credit cards are concerned, the Belk Rewards+ Credit Card isn't a bad card option, offering an alright return for loyal shoppers and rewarding big spenders with a slew of perks. But if you don't spend enough at Belk to make it to the top tiers, many of the card's offerings will likely fall flat. For the majority of shoppers, a more versatile credit card that can be used to make purchases anywhere will provide more utility — and better value — than the Belk Rewards card.
Belk Card Overall Rating: 3.5/5.0
The Belk Rewards+ Credit Card can be a good savings tool for regular shoppers who spend a lot in the store, but the card's 28.49% APR means those shoppers need to be careful to avoid carrying a balance from month to month. For cardholders who pay it off each cycle, the Belk Rewards Card's base 4% back in Belk Reward Points can provide a nice bonus when you cash in 1,000 points for $10 in Belk Reward Dollars. The biggest rewards come to those who spend the most, however.
The Belk® Rewards Card has a three-tier rewards system, with the basic 4X rewards given to the first tier of Belk Rewards shoppers, those who spend $0 to $299 on their Belk Rewards+ Card each year. The next level, Belk Premier, is for those who spend $300 to $999 a year, and rewards cardholders with 5% in rewards points for card purchases. The top tier, Belk Elite, offers the largest rewards — 7% back on eligible purchases — but you'll need to spend at least $1,000 a year on your card to qualify.
Belk Credit Card
- APR: 28.49% as of Feb 2024
- Annual Fee: $0
- Rewards: Earn up to 7 points per $1 spent at Belk
While an extra 1% or 3% in rewards can certainly add up, especially when you reach top-tier-level spending, extra rewards points aren't the only perk to earning a higher Belk Rewards+ Card status. While the first-tier users get a few extra perks, like birthday coupons and VIP Savings Events, Belk Premier and Elite members have access to even more benefits, including the Belk Rewards Flex Pay Plan and choose your own sales days.
Even if you don't shop Belk enough to make much of the purchase rewards, you may consider obtaining a Belk Rewards+ Credit Card simply for the signup bonus, particularly if you have a big buy on the horizon. New cardholders can take 20% off (15% off Home/Shoes) all day when they open an account and make a purchase with their card. Plus earn 1,000 bonus Belk Reward Points, enough for a Belk Reward Dollars redemption.
Approval Requirements & Application
There are two versions of the Belk Rewards+ Credit Card -- the closed loop version, reviewed here, which accepts applicants with bad credit. Then there's the Mastercard version that can be used anywhere (and awards points outside of Belk purchases) for those with good credit. You can apply in store or online using the link below.
What Others Say About the Belk Credit Card
The Belk Rewards+ Credit Card has been around for a few years, and it has plenty of fans across the web. At the same time, not all reviewers are in love with the card, and many users report issues with credit lines being cut or accounts being closed for inactivity. Other reviewers recognize the card's high APR as a major drawback.
I have had the Belk credit card for several years. I have never had a missed or late payment. In fact, I have always made higher than the minimum payment. I have had a zero balance for about a year. I was just notified by Experian that my credit score went down a couple points, because Belk lowered my credit limit from $1,300 to $1,024 for no reason! What if I had a balance of, say, $1,200? Would I have been assessed an over-limit fee? Why would a company that I have had only a positive payment history with do something to harm my credit rating? This card is through Synchrony Bank, by the way, as are many department store cards. — CreditKarma.com
”
The Belk card offers a decent rewards rate and, if you are a frequent shopper, you can qualify for the tiers offering special offers, perks, and personal sale days. These extra benefits can lead to bigger savings and increase the value of the card. Plus, if you have a lower credit rating, store credit cards like the Belk card can be valuable tools for rebuilding or building a positive credit rating. However, if you qualify for other rewards cards, many other credit card alternatives provide better long-term cash back opportunities and rewards for all your purchases – not just the ones you make at Belk stores. Even if you choose a card with a lower rate of rewards, you may find that you get more value from the card simply because you can use it for all your purchases and redeem for cash back. — MyBankTracker.com
”
Having a Belk Credit Card is worth your time if you shop relatively frequently at Belk. There is no annual fee and there are instant incentives for signing up. They give you 20% off of your first purchase and give you points that result in cash after a few purchases. When they do sales such as 20% off your purchase, card owners often get an additional bonus such as 30% off. I would recommend this card for anyone who pays off their card at the end of the month, but not to someone who keeps a balance. The APR is high and adds up quickly for people I have known who do this. — WalletHub.com
”Is the Belk Card Right for You?
With a wide range of products, from clothing to closet organizers and most stuff in between, Belk has a lot to offer its loyal shoppers — and the Belk Rewards+ Credit Card can offer those shoppers a lot of value, too. Unfortunately, the amount you need to spend each year at Belk to earn the best benefits will likely place those perks out of reach for many shoppers, limiting the potential perks for the average cardholder.
Most consumers who qualify for the Belk Rewards+ Mastercard version will also qualify for a general purpose card with better overall benefits. More importantly, those cards don't limit their redemption options to one location.
Advertiser Disclosure
CardRates.com is a free online resource that offers valuable content and comparison services to users. To keep this resource 100% free, we receive compensation for referrals for many of the offers listed on the site. Along with key review factors, this compensation may impact how and where products appear across CardRates.com (including, for example, the order in which they appear). CardRates.com does not include the entire universe of available offers. Editorial opinions expressed on the site are strictly our own and are not provided, endorsed, or approved by advertisers.
Editorial Note: Our site content is not provided or commissioned by any credit card issuer(s). Opinions expressed on CardRates.com are the author's alone, not those of any credit card issuer, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by credit card issuers. Every reasonable effort has been made to maintain accurate information; however, all credit card offer details, including information about rewards, signup bonuses, introductory offers, and other terms and conditions, is presented without warranty. Clicking on any offer on CardRates.com will direct you to the issuer's website, where you can review the current terms and conditions of the offer.
About the Author
