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 Oct 2023
- 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.
- $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 - now with expanded categories, 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.
- Newly expanded categories based on Bank of America customer feedback! 3% cash back on Gas (to now include Electric Vehicle Charging (EVC) Stations) and Online Shopping (to now include Cable, Streaming, Internet and Phone Services).
- If you're a 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 no expiration on rewards.
- 0% Introductory APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the intro APR offer ends, 18.24% - 28.24% Variable APR will apply. A 3% fee applies to all balance transfers.
- 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
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18.24% - 28.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers
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$0
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Excellent/Good
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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.
- Start off strong with 0% Intro APR for 18 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers. A variable APR of 20.49% - 29.24% on balance transfers and purchases after the introductory period ends.
- Lower your interest rate by 2% each year. Automatically be considered for an APR reduction when you pay on time, and spend at least $1000 on your card by your next account anniversary.
- Raise your credit limit. Get an automatic, one-time review for a higher credit limit when you pay on time, and spend $500 in your first six months.
- All for no annual fee - You won't have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Slate Edge℠ card
- Keep tabs on your credit health - Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, real-time alerts, and more
- Member FDIC
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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 on Purchases 18 months
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0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers 18 months
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20.49% - 29.24% Variable
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$0
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Good/Excellent
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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.
- UNLIMITED BONUS: Only 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 in any amount, any time. Or redeem as a statement credit for 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.
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Intro (Purchases)
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Intro (Transfers)
|
Regular APR
|
Annual Fee
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Credit Needed
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
0% Intro APR for 15 months
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0% Intro APR for 15 months
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17.24% - 28.24% Variable APR
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$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.
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.
Final Word on the Macy's Credit Card
We rated the Macy’s Credit Card a 3.0/5.0, with it’s 26.24% APR on purchases being a major factor in that rating. We generally recommend using credit cards with a lower APR and better set of rewards, whether you’re shopping at Macy’s Credit Card or elsewhere.
For better options than the Macy’s Credit Card, see our top picks for 2023:
If you decide the Macy’s Credit Card or another card is right for you, be sure to know all the terms and details before applying. Happy shopping!
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