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.
4.9
- $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/furnishings 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.
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Intro (Purchases)
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Intro (Transfers)
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Regular APR
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Annual Fee
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Credit Needed
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|---|---|---|---|---|
0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases
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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%)
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18.24% - 28.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers
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$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.
4.8
- $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/furnishings 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.
4.9
- $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
- Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel
- Earn unlimited 1.25X miles on every purchase, every day
- Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
- Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
- Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
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Intro (Purchases)
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Intro (Transfers)
|
Regular APR
|
Annual Fee
|
Credit Needed
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
0% for 15 months
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0% for 15 months
|
19.24% - 29.24% (Variable)
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$0
|
Excellent, Good
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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
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.
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
”
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
”
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
”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.
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