Writer: Brittney Mayer
Editor: Lillian Guevara-Castro
Reviewer: Ashley Fricker
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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.
- $200 online cash rewards bonus after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.
- Earn 6% cash back for the first year in the category of your choice. You’ll automatically earn 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs, and unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases. After the first year from account opening, you’ll earn 3% cash back on purchases in your choice category.
- Earn 6% and 2% cash back on the first $2,500 in combined purchases each quarter in the choice category, and at grocery stores and wholesale clubs, then earn unlimited 1% thereafter. After the 3% first-year bonus offer ends, you will earn 3% and 2% cash back on these purchases up to the quarterly maximum.
- No annual fee and cash rewards don’t expire as long as your account remains open.
- Select your card design option when you apply – the Customized Cash Rewards design, or the limited-time FIFA World Cup 2026™ design.
- 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 17.49% - 27.49% 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 5%. Balance transfers may not be used to pay any account provided by Bank of America.
- This offer may not be available elsewhere if you leave this page. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.
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.
- New! 0% Intro APR for 21 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 14.99% - 25.99% will apply. A 5% fee applies to all balance transfers. Balance transfers may not be used to pay any account provided by Bank of America.
- No annual fee.
- No penalty APR. Paying late won't automatically raise your interest rate (APR). Other account pricing and terms apply.
- This offer may not be available elsewhere if you leave this page. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.
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.
- Earn a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
- Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
- Enjoy a $50 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Lifestyle Collection
- Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Top rated mobile app
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
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.
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
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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
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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.
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Editorial Note: Our site content is not provided or commissioned by any credit card issuer(s). Opinions expressed on CardRates.com are the author's alone, not those of any credit card issuer, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by credit card issuers. Every reasonable effort has been made to maintain accurate information; however, all credit card offer details, including information about rewards, signup bonuses, introductory offers, and other terms and conditions, is presented without warranty. Clicking on any offer on CardRates.com will direct you to the issuer's website, where you can review the current terms and conditions of the offer.
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