The Ultimate Guide to Credit Cards
Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Macy’s Credit Card Review (Feb. 2024)

Macy’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

Established more than 150 years ago in New York, New York, Macy's is a staple of the department store world (and the Thanksgiving Day Parade). Macy's has over 700 stores across the country, with its Herald Square location being both the largest store in the chain — and one of the largest stores in the world.

Offering a variety of perks and benefits perfect for the devout Macy's shopper, the Macy's Credit Card can be used to earn rewards on purchases made in-store, at Macys.com, or through Macy's Backstage. The Macy's card is not ideal for those who frequently pay late or carry a balance, and its limited use might make it unappealing to casual shoppers.

Better Cards to Use at Macy's

With a fairly high interest rate and severe limitations on where it can be used, the Macy's Credit Card is really only a great deal for those who frequently shop (and spend) at Macy's. Instead, try one of our favorite rewards credit cards, which offer more flexible rewards and can be used to shop practically anywhere.

Cash Back

Using cash back cards is an easy way to save on every purchase. The cards reward you with a percentage of your purchases as cash back, usually redeemable as a statement credit, gift card, or check. For extra value, try a cash back card signup bonus offer, which awards a lump-sum cash back amount for meeting a set spending requirement.

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

If the high interest rate charged by the Macy's Credit Card makes you wary, try a credit card offering an introductory 0% APR on new purchases. These card offers provide a year or more of interest-free balances, making it more affordable to pay off your credit card balance over time. Select a card without an annual fee to stack the savings.

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

While ideal for frequent travelers, credit cards offering travel rewards are a great fit for casual travelers, too. Cardholders can earn points or miles on every purchase and redeem them for a host of travel expenses, including airline tickets and hotel rooms.

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

Your credit card can say a lot about you — or, at least, about your spending habits. If you're unlikely to spend enough on your Macy's Credit Card to earn Elite status or higher, it's probably wiser to go with a rewards card that better fits your financial lifestyle.

Macy's Card Overall Rating: 3.0/5.0

The aptly named Macy's Credit Card is a store card, rather than a universal credit card, meaning it can only be used to make purchases from Macy's stores, be it online or in-person. Those who tend to carry a balance will likely find the Macy's Credit Card pricey to maintain, as the card charges a hefty 26.24% APR on purchases.

New cardholders can save 20% on their purchase for two consecutive days (up to $100) when they are approved for and use their Macy's Credit Card. The rest of the time, cardholders can earn 1X Plenti point per $1 spent on Macy's purchases, Members can save at least $10 off their Macy's purchase for every 1,000 Plenti points redeemed.

Macy's Credit Card

  • APR: 26.24% as of Feb 2024
  • Annual Fee: $0
  • Rewards: Earn 1X Plenti point per dollar spent at Macy's
★★★ 3.0/5.0

Additional perks that all Macy's cardholders receive include exclusive savings throughout the year, access to special cardholder events, and periodic surprise savings at the register during checkout. Additional benefits, such as birthday and free shipping offers, are also available for eligible Elite and Premier Elite members.

Due to the extra perks, cardholders will typically get the most benefit out of their Macy's Credit Card if they spend enough each calendar year to qualify for a better membership level. New cardholders start as Preferred members, earning Elite status after spending $500 to $1,1,99 in a year and Premier Elite status when they spend $1,200 or more a year.

Approval Requirements & Application

The Macy's Credit Card is considered to be a relatively easy card to obtain, with flexible credit requirements that make it a potential win for even those with poor credit. Credit limits cover the spectrum, with reviewers reporting limits ranging from $500 up to $8,000. You can apply for a Macy's card in your local store or by using the easy online application.

What Others Say About the Macy's Credit Card

The decision to apply for new credit isn't one to take lightly; each application means a hard credit pull, which can impact your credit score. So, before jumping into a new card, see what others are saying about the Macy's Credit Card.

WalletHub.com
A review from WalletHub.com says:

I have had this card for several years, maybe 7 or 8. Based on my excellent credit, I must admit that I was a little disappointed in the relatively low credit limit assigned -- $400. It also took quite a bit to get an increased limit. Due to the higher than normal rates, I do not use the card often -- usually only during sales/promotions -- and always pay it off right away. — WalletHub.com

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

I have had a Macy's CC for over 30 years but will be cancelling shortly. On numerous occasions after paying the card in full well before the due date I have been hit with a $2.00 fee. When I call customer service I am informed that that is minimum interest for the month. I have tried to tell customer service that this contradicts the information on the back of the statement I am told that I am not correct but they will take the 2.00 fee off bill. I did find the minimum interest statement on line but it does not appear anywhere on the billing statement. STAY AWAY FROM THIS CARD! — CreditKarma.com

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

There are some nice perks for dedicated Macy's customers to get out of this card. Make sure you don't carry a balance because this card comes with an extremely high APR and hefty fees. — ValuePenguin.com

★★★★ 4.0/5.0

Is the Macy's Card Right for You?

If the weekly Macy's ad gets you in a tizzy with shopping excitement, then the Macy's Credit Card may be for you. The perks of being an Elite or Premier Elite member can make the card a valuable addition for those who spend enough to qualify. Overall, however, the lack of flexibility in how you spend (and earn rewards) makes this card of limited use to the average shopper.

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.