Today known as Buckle (or The Buckle, depending on your region), the casual clothing retailer was founded in 1948 as Mills Clothing by David Hirschfeld in Kearney, Nebraska. Then, after several decades as Brass Buckle, the company adopted its current moniker in the early 1990s. Now a staple in many malls across America, Buckle has over 450 locations around the country, offering casual clothing and denim for men, women, and children.
For big Buckle fans, the Buckle Credit Card is a way to earn rewards on Buckle purchases, offering points for every dollar spent at Buckle stores or on buckle.com. Those rewards come with a ticking time clock, however, with short expiration periods that mean you'll likely need to be a regular Buckle shopper to get full use of your rewards. Pair the expiring points with the high APR, and the Buckle card may not be the best pick for everyone.
Better Cards to Use at Buckle
With a rewards rate of $10 for every $300 spent, the Buckle Credit Card offers a moderately competitive 3% return on your purchases, making it marginally better than your typical rewards card. At the same time, since you only can use the card (and its rewards) for Buckle purchases, its usefulness is decidedly limited — and that's before you consider the harsh expiration dates on the rewards and the super high APR.
If it's rewards you're after, a quality cash back or travel credit card will likely provide as much, if not more, value than the Buckle Credit Card, and significantly more utility. And if you have any intention of carrying a balance, steer clear of the Buckle Credit Card's high APR with an intro-APR card that can make those interest fees disappear.
Cash Back
With bonus categories that cover just about everything, cash back credit cards come in so many flavors these days it's practically like an ice cream shop. With a little looking, you can likely find a cash back card that will offer you a competitive rewards rate on your purchases, plus you'll be able to use your card — and its rewards — anywhere cards are accepted.
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%. Balance transfers may not be used to pay any account provided by Bank of America.
- 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
A sky-high APR can turn even small purchases into big costs when allowed to grow unhindered, and the Buckle Credit Card's APR is certainly well on its way into orbit. With so many card options on the market offering 12 months or more of interest-free purchases and no annual fee,, it's easy to see where the better value lies.
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%. Balance transfers may not be used to pay any account provided by Bank of America.
- 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
No matter how much you love to shop, chances are good you'd rather be on vacation than in your local mall. Well, you can get there faster with a solid travel rewards credit card, which can earn you points or miles toward free flights and hotel stays, potentially turning that new pair of jeans into a part of your dream vacation.
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)
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Regular APR
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Annual Fee
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Credit Needed
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|---|---|---|---|---|
0% for 15 months
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0% for 15 months
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19.24% - 29.24% (Variable)
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$0
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Excellent, Good
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If you dream of denim and your local Buckle store is your happy place, then the Buckle Credit Card is probably a decent choice, so long as you don't carry a balance. For those consumers who wear out one pair of jeans before buying the next, however, the card's limitations will be a lot harder to overcome. So, unless you can make the most of the card's offerings, you'll likely be better off with a more flexible card that can provide much better value.
Buckle Card Overall Rating: 2.5/5.0
Right out of the gate, the Buckle Credit Card leaves a little to be desired with its high APR, typical of a store card. At 33.24%, you're going to want to avoid carrying a balance on your Buckle Credit Card so you're not stuck with high interest fees. But a subprime-level APR is not the card's only downside; its short-lived rewards also earn it a negative mark in the books of many reviewers.
And with good reason, given that you'll have as few as 30 days to use your rewards certificates. The way the B-Rewards system works, you'll earn points throughout a four-month period (for example, 1/1/24 through 4/30/24). For every 300 points you earn in that period, you'll get a $10 rewards certificate somewhere toward the end of the following month (so, in this example, the end of May). Then you'll have until the end of the next month (or two weeks after that, if you're a higher-tier cardholder) to spend those rewards — or lose them for good.
Buckle Credit Card
- APR: 33.24% as of Feb 2024
- Annual Fee: $0
- Rewards: Earn 1 point per $1 spent on Buckle purchases
This card is best paired with the Buckle Rewards loyalty program. You'll up your points earnings to 2 points per $1 spent by becoming a Buckle cardholders, and if you spent $1,000 or more in a calendar year, you'll earn 3 points per $1 spent on your Buckle Credit Card.
Spending $1,000 a year gets you into the Premier + tier, which also gets you free ground shopping on all orders paid with the card. But beware, your points expire 56 weeks from the date of the first net eligible purchase, which is just over a year.
Approval Requirements & Application
Although the overall credit requirement for the Buckle Credit Card is that you should have fair credit or better, reviewers have reported being approved for a Buckle Credit Card with scores as low as 500, so it may be an option for those with poor credit. You can apply for a Buckle Credit Card in your favorite store, or head online via the link below.
What Others Say About the Buckle Credit Card
Although customers enjoy the rewards they earn with the Buckle Credit Card, many are bothered by the quick expiration dates. More cardholders are unimpressed by the low credit limits offered, and more still are unhappy with the customer service (or lack thereof).
I found out today after paying my accounts and placing an order that all 5 of my accounts were closed without any type of notice. When I called the number for my Buckle account it rang and rang. I then called and selected the option for a new customer, it finally rang to a person who could not tell me the exact reason of why my account was closed, but she did tell me that all my accounts were closed as of June 15th. I used my cards after June 15th, so therefore that's a lie. I spoke to a supervisor who then told me that even if you are in good standing they hold the right to close your account. Say WHAAAT? — ConsumerAffairs.com
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I had applied for this card a few months ago, with a score around 500. My scores are up to around 520 now, I re-applied, and was approved. It is only $300 limit, but I am happy to have it as another open account as I rebuild my bad credit. When I applied the first time, I was denied right away, this time, I applied, and it said we will notify you in seven to 10 days. Less than one week later, my card and account terms showed up. 22% interest is high, but again, I am happy to have it for re-building at this point. There is a grace period of no interest on purchases too. I was told when I called to activate the card that limit increases come with using it and paying substantially more than the minimum payment each month, on time. I still have not figured out the online access and payments. With all of my other cards, it was easy. If your scores are in the lower to mid 500's I would recommend this as a re-build tool. I now have two first premier cards, a Wells Fargo secured card, a Citi secured, and this card, all opened in the last seven months. I think it is time now to stop opening accounts and let these age to build my score back up again. — FinanceGlobe.com
”
I had a Buckle store credit card for a short period about three years ago. I was not impressed and quickly canceled the card after about nine months. I used to shop at Buckle quite frequently and thought that a credit card would allow me to both build my credit and earn reward points. I was wrong! I was approved for only $100 which is about 1.5 t-shirts and usually not even enough for a pair of jeans. My credit was in the 680 range at that time, not great but not too poor. After months of buying products and paying off my card in full, I requested a higher credit limit on my card which was declined. After that, I said goodbye to Mr. Buckle card and it's pitiful interest rate too! — WalletHub.com
”Is the Buckle Card Right for You?
Primarily known as a retailer of jeans and t-shirts, Buckle is a popular stop for casual dressers of all types. While many of those shoppers may consider picking up the Buckle Credit Card to earn a little discount on their denim, the card has more limitations than benefits, making it easy to find better alternatives for all but the most frequent Buckle shoppers.
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