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Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Boscov’s Credit Card Review (Feb. 2024)

Boscov’s Credit Card Review
Brittney Mayer

Written by: Brittney Mayer

Brittney Mayer
Brittney Mayer

Brittney is a Credit Strategist and Finance Expert who has spent years honing her knowledge of the credit industry both personally and professionally. Brittney applies her more than a decade of research experience to crafting in-depth consumer guides designed to help CardRates readers make better, more informed financial decisions.

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Edited by: Lillian Guevara-Castro

Lillian Guevara-Castro
Lillian Guevara-Castro

Lillian Guevara-Castro brings more than 30 years of editing and journalism experience to the CardRates team. She has written and edited for major news organizations, including The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and the New York Times, and she previously served as an adjunct journalism instructor at the University of Florida. Today, Lillian edits all CardRates content for clarity, accuracy, and reader engagement.

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Reviewed by: Ashley Fricker

Ashley Fricker
Ashley Fricker

Ashley Fricker has more than a decade of experience as a finance contributor and editor, and has specialized in the credit card industry since 2015. Her credit card commentary is featured on national media outlets that include CNBC, MarketWatch, Investopedia, and Reader's Digest, among many others. She has worked closely with the world’s largest banks and financial institutions, up-and-coming fintech companies, and press and news outlets to curate comprehensive content and media. Ashley holds a bachelor's degree in multimedia journalism from Florida Atlantic University.

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Advertiser Disclosure

Like Macy's and Belk, Boscov's is a member of the centenarian club, the chain of family-owned department stores having been originally founded by Solomon "Sol" Boscov in 1911. Under the watch of Sol's son, Albert, Boscov's grew, today consisting of more than 50 locations across the northeastern US, with stores in Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.

Selling everything from apparel and shoes to kitchen goods and bedding, Boscov's has a lot to offer its shoppers. Those who frequently take advantage of those offerings can make the most of them with the Boscov's Credit Card, but that's where the card's usefulness ends. As a closed-loop store card with a high APR and rewards that barely compete with most rewards cards, the Boscov's Credit Card is a hard sell for most consumers.

Better Cards to Use at Boscov's

For big Boscov's spenders, the Boscov's Credit Card can offer decent rewards, but other consumers are more likely to only notice its limitations — like the fact that the Boscov's rewards certificates are much like the Boscov's Credit Card itself: only usable for Boscov's purchases.

Furthermore, the requirement to reach at least 500 points before you can earn a $5 "B Rewarded" Certificate may not appeal to a number of customers, and the low 2% rewards rates for the lower earnings tiers are easily matched — if not beaten — by the majority of open-loop rewards credit cards. And those rewards will be usable for purchases anywhere your card is accepted.

Cash Back

With options for cash back rewards cards available to cardholders of every credit type (even some secured and subprime cards offers cash back rewards), nearly anyone can earn at least 1% cash back rewards on their purchases, making almost any cash back rewards card comparable to — if not better than — the Boscov's Credit Card's lower-tier rewards.

Even better, those with good credit can find a number of cards with unlimited 2% cash back on all purchases, as well as cards that provide even higher bonus cash back rates for department store purchases, giving you tons of options for better earnings (and better utility) than the Boscov's Credit Card.

Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card Review

at Bank Of America'ssecure website

CASH BACK RATING

★★★★★

4.9

OVERALL RATING

  • $200 online cash rewards bonus after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.
  • Earn 3% cash back in the category of your choice, automatic 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs (up to $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club quarterly purchases) and unlimited 1% on all other purchases.
  • Choose 3% cash back on gas and EV charging station, online shopping/cable/internet/phone plan/streaming, dining, travel, drug store/pharmacy or home improvement/furnishing purchases.
  • If you're a Bank of America Preferred Rewards® member, you can earn 25%-75% more cash back on every purchase. That means you could earn 3.75%-5.25% cash back on purchases in your choice category.
  • No annual fee and cash rewards don’t expire as long as your account remains open.
  • 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 18.24% - 28.24% 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 4%.
  • Contactless Cards - The security of a chip card, with the convenience of a tap.
  • This online only offer may not be available if you leave this page or if you visit a Bank of America financial center. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases
0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days (Balance Transfer Fee 3% for 60 days from account opening, then 4%)
18.24% - 28.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers
$0
Excellent/Good

Additional Disclosure: Bank of America is a CardRates advertiser.

0% APR

As lackluster as the Boscov's Credit Card's rewards can be, the card's APR is even less impressive, competitive only among other store credit cards and some subprime cards. Not only will the typical open-loop credit card provide a lower APR for most qualified applicants, but cards with introductory 0% APR offers can be used to make purchases with no interest for 12 months or more.

Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card Review

at Bank Of America'ssecure website

0% INTRO APR RATING

★★★★★

4.8

OVERALL RATING

  • $200 online cash rewards bonus after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.
  • Earn 3% cash back in the category of your choice, automatic 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs (up to $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club quarterly purchases) and unlimited 1% on all other purchases.
  • Choose 3% cash back on gas and EV charging station, online shopping/cable/internet/phone plan/streaming, dining, travel, drug store/pharmacy or home improvement/furnishing purchases.
  • If you're a Bank of America Preferred Rewards® member, you can earn 25%-75% more cash back on every purchase. That means you could earn 3.75%-5.25% cash back on purchases in your choice category.
  • No annual fee and cash rewards don’t expire as long as your account remains open.
  • 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 18.24% - 28.24% 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 4%.
  • Contactless Cards - The security of a chip card, with the convenience of a tap.
  • This online only offer may not be available if you leave this page or if you visit a Bank of America financial center. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases
0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days (Balance Transfer Fee 3% for 60 days from account opening, then 4%)
18.24% - 28.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers
$0
Excellent/Good

Additional Disclosure: Bank of America is a CardRates advertiser.

Travel Rewards

For those who like to travel and want to maximize their credit card rewards, travel rewards can offer a lot of value, providing a simple way to earn free airline travel and hotel stays. And since the most basic travel rewards credit card will typically offer at least one point/mile per $1 — and frequently more — they can easily compete with the lower tier rewards of the Boscov's Credit Card.

Discover it® Miles Review

at Discover Card'ssecure website

AIR MILES RATING

★★★★★

4.9

OVERALL RATING

  • UNLIMITED BONUS: Unlimited Mile-for-Mile match for all new cardmembers - only from Discover. Discover gives you an unlimited match of all the Miles you’ve earned at the end of your first year. For example, if you earn 35,000 Miles, you get 70,000 Miles. There’s no signing up, no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a Miles-for-Miles match.
  • Automatically earn unlimited 1.5x Miles on every dollar of every purchase
  • No annual fee
  • Turn Miles into cash. Or redeem as a statement credit for your travel purchases like airfare, hotels, rideshares, gas stations, restaurants and more.
  • 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases. Then 17.24% - 28.24% Standard Variable Purchase APR will apply.
  • Discover could help you reduce exposure of your personal information online by helping you remove it from select people-search sites that could sell your data. It’s free, activate with the mobile app.
  • Discover is accepted nationwide by 99% of the places that take credit cards.
  • Terms and conditions apply.
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
0% Intro APR for 15 months
0% Intro APR for 15 months
17.24% - 28.24% Variable APR
$0
Excellent/Good

Boscov's Card Overall Rating: 2.5/5.0

The Boscov's Credit Card is a store card good only at Boscov's locations or for making purchases on Boscovs.com. Which is probably a good thing, considering the card's high APR that makes carrying a balance from month to month an expensive idea.

You'll earn 2 points per $1 spent at Boscov's plus 4 points for every $1 spent on cosmetics and fragrance purchases. You'll earn an extra 2,000 points for every $1,000 spent per calendar year.

Boscov's Credit Card

  • APR: 31.24% as of Feb 2024
  • Annual Fee: $0
  • Rewards: Earn up to 4% cash back on Boscov's purchases
★★★ 2.5/5.0

Boscov's rewards are redeemed via rewards certificates that can be used in Boscov's stores. New cardholders who apply online and are approved for a Boscov's Credit Card can receive 15% off an eligible online order. While you can pair a Boscov's rewards certificate with a Boscov's coupon for extra savings, be sure to do it quickly; Boscov's certificates expire at the end of the program year on January 31st. Reward Certificates issued in November, December, and January will expire May 31st of the following year. The fine print in the terms states:

"At the end of each program year, unredeemed Point balances of three hundred (300) Points or more will be automatically issued via direct mail, email or statement for a reward down to the penny (i.e. 361 Points = $3.61 in a reward certificate). All other Point balances below three hundred (300) Points will be forfeited."

Other perks of being a Boscov's cardholder include a special birthday offer and special offers in your monthly statements. You'll also be invited to exclusive cardholder appreciation events. Plus, earn double points on all cosmetic and fragrance purchases and earn 100 rewards points on a single purchase during each Boscov's Credit Card anniversary month.

Approval Requirements & Application

The majority of Boscov's Credit Card applicants will need at least fair credit for approval. While you can apply for a Boscov's credit card in your local store, the 15% discount offer is only available for online applicants. Use the link below to apply online.

What Others Say About the Boscov's Credit Card

The general consensus of the Boscov's Credit Card is middling to poor, with many negative reviews centering on the card's issuing bank, rather than Boscov's itself. A number of cardholders have had trouble making payments, particularly by mail, and others are unhappy about spontaneous credit limit decreases.

WalletHub.com
A review from WalletHub.com says:

You have to spend a ton each year to get halfway decent rewards, otherwise you can beat the rewards with just about any cash back card. The APR is ridiculously high. If you shop at Boscov's a lot and always pay your bill, it could be a good card. Otherwise, don't bother. — WalletHub.com

★★★ 3.0/5.0
CreditKarma.com
A review from CreditKarma.com says:

The stores are great and their customer service is super but do not mail a check for payment. They are either intentionally late posting or are incredibly inefficient. A check mailed on the 8th of the month was not posted until the 22nd and not deposited until the 26th. — CreditKarma.com

1.0/5.0
ConsumerAffairs.com
A review from ConsumerAffairs.com says:

I have one (1) so-called late payment from Boscov's/Comenity which I called and told them I had not received a bill. I have paid on time forever but this is lingering and lingering and bringing my credit score down. I have tried to get it corrected to no avail. I do not have the bill as it was so long ago and by the time you realize you had a late payment on your credit report, it is too late. I am unable to retrieve it, but I did call Boscov's and ask them to please remove it. It is still there after a long period of time. It is really bringing down my credit score. Boscov's credit card holders BEWARE. — ConsumerAffairs.com

1.0/5.0

Is the Boscov's Card Right for You?

Having served shoppers in the eastern US for over 100 years, Boscov's obviously knows how to keep its customers coming back — but the Boscov's Credit Card may not garner much loyalty. Lackluster rewards for all but the biggest spenders make the card anything but competitive for most consumers, and its high APR means you may regret spending so much on the card anyway if you can't pay it off in full each billing cycle.

The long and short of it is that the Boscov's Credit Card is that it's worth getting if you spend a lot annually in Boscov's stores. For everyone else, stick to an open-loop rewards credit card that will help you earn rewards at least as good — and in significantly more places.

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.