Store Credit Card
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.
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 Jul 2019
- Annual Fee: $0
- Rewards: Earn 1X Plenti point per dollar spent at Macy's
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.
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.
- New Offer! Double Cash Back: Earn 3% cash back on all purchases in your first year up to $20,000 spent. After that earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases.
- 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 16.99-25.74%. Balance transfer fee is 3% of the amount transferred, $5 minimum
- No minimum to redeem for cash back
- Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open
- Free credit score, updated weekly with Credit Journey℠
- No annual fee
Intro (Purchases) | Intro (Transfers) | Regular APR | Annual Fee | Credit Needed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
0% Intro APR on Purchases 15 months | 0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers 15 months | 16.99% - 25.74% Variable | $0 | Good/Excellent |
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.
- New Offer! Double Cash Back: Earn 3% cash back on all purchases in your first year up to $20,000 spent. After that earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases.
- 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 16.99-25.74%. Balance transfer fee is 3% of the amount transferred, $5 minimum
- No minimum to redeem for cash back
- Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open
- Free credit score, updated weekly with Credit Journey℠
- No annual fee
Intro (Purchases) | Intro (Transfers) | Regular APR | Annual Fee | Credit Needed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
0% Intro APR on Purchases 15 months | 0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers 15 months | 16.99% - 25.74% Variable | $0 | Good/Excellent |
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.
- Enjoy a one-time bonus of 50,000 miles once you spend $3,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $500 in travel
- Earn 2X miles on every purchase, every day. Plus earn 10X miles on thousands of hotels, through January 2020; learn more at hotels.com/venture
- Named ‘The Best Travel Card' by CNBC, 2018
- Receive up to $100 application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA Pre✔®
- Fly any airline, stay at any hotel, anytime; no blackout dates. Plus transfer your miles to over 12 leading travel loyalty programs
- Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
Intro (Purchases) | Intro (Transfers) | Regular APR | Annual Fee | Credit Needed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
N/A | N/A | 17.99% - 25.24% (Variable) | $0 intro for first year; $95 after that | 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.
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.
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
”
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
”
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
”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.
Editorial Note: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
Share This Article
About the Author