Having opened its first store in 1901, Nordstrom has since spent the better part of a century reigning as a leader among luxury department stores. The modern Nordstrom empire includes its flagship full-line stores and compact Nordstrom Rack stores, as well as Trunk Club and Jeffrey boutiques locations, totaling 349 stores operating in 40 states, Canada, and Puerto Rico.
While Nordstrom may have begun as a shoe retailer, it now offers a variety of popular goods, including clothing, jewelry, cosmetics, and fragrances. Offering the opportunity to earn rewards on your purchases, the Nordstrom Retail Card is a closed-loop credit card ideal for loyal shoppers but of limited use to casual Nordstrom visitors.
Nordstrom Card Overall Rating: 3.7/5.0
The Nordstrom Retail Card comes with a 23.90% APR, which is decent relative to other store cards, but is still higher than your typical rewards card and may be too high for cardholders who tend to carry a balance. Additionally, the card carries a 30.90% penalty APR, which kicks in when you make a late payment.
Approved applicants can look forward to earning 2X points per $1 spent on qualifying purchases, with every 2,000 points redeemable for a $20 Nordstrom Note to spend on your next Nordstrom purchase. New cardholders can also earn a one-time bonus $40 Nordstrom Note if they spend $100 or more with their card on Nordstrom purchases the day they're approved for the card.
Nordstrom Credit Card
- APR: 23.90% as of Sep 2023
- Annual Fee: $0
- Rewards: Earn 2X per $1 spent on qualifying purchases
Cardholders can also enjoy a host of Nordstrom Rewards, with the best perks available to those who spend the most with Nordstrom on an annual basis. Specifically, Nordstrom Rewards come in four levels, with your particular level determined by how much you spend: Level 1 customers spend up to $1,199 each year, Level 2 requires $2,000 to $4,999, Level 3 spend $5,000 to $9,999, and Level 4 customers spend $10,000 or more each year.
Exclusive perks for Nordstrom Rewards members include personal triple-point days, alterations reimbursements, and early access to the anniversary sale event. You'll also enjoy special bonus-point events where you can earn extra points on your purchases, like Triple Points events in which cardholders earn 6X per $1 spent.
The higher your rewards level, the more benefits you'll receive, such as gaining an additional personal triple-point day per level. Rising through the levels will also unlock special perks, including the VIP rewards experiences available to Level 4 cardholders.
Approval Requirements & Application
As with most store cards, the Nordstrom Retail Card is easier to qualify for than a traditional open-loop (usable anywhere) credit card, and reviewers have reported being accepted with sub-600 credit scores. Those with lower scores report being approved for limits of $500 and below, but well-qualified candidates report limits $7,500 and higher. You can apply for a Nordstrom card online or in your local store.
Better Cards to Use at Nordstrom
As a closed-loop card, the Nordstrom Retail Card is only usable for branded purchases, accepted at any Nordstrom location (or associated properties), plus online at Nordstrom.com, NordstromRack.com, and HauteLook.com, and TrunkClub.com. For those who don't spend enough with these brands to make the card worthwhile, an all-around rewards card can be a much better choice.
Cash Back
Cash back rewards are like universal coupons, giving you savings on every purchase, everywhere you use your card. Rewards programs typically award cash back as a percentage of your qualifying purchases, either offering a single flat-rate percentage on all purchases or offering bonus cash back on purchases in predetermined categories. Consider your particular spending habits to select the best program.
- $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
Anyone who carries a balance can be quickly overwhelmed by the hefty 23.90% APR charged by the Nordstrom card. Instead, try a credit card with an introductory 0% APR offer to enjoy 12 months or more of interest-free purchasing. Just be sure to pay your balance off before the introductory period ends to avoid fees.
- 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
For all that cash back rewards may be the simplest, travel rewards redeemed for flights, hotel stays, and other travel expenses will often offer a better per-point value. Those who have yet to swear fealty to a particular airline or brand should look for travel rewards credit cards with flexible redemption options and no blackout dates.
- 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 - with no annual fee.
- Redeem Miles to pay any part of your monthly bill, including your minimum payment.
- 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 with no blackout dates. However you redeem, Miles keep the same value. And Miles never expire.
- 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)
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Regular APR
|
Annual Fee
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Credit Needed
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|---|---|---|---|---|
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
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Excellent/Good
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If you spend thousands a year in your local Nordstrom, the company's retail-focused credit card can be a great value. For everyone else, however, the best way to earn rewards worthy of the name is to find a great open-loop rewards credit card that can be used practically anywhere.
What Others Say About the Nordstrom Credit Card
As awesome as we are, of course, we don't expect you to just take our word for it. Check out what other reviews are saying about the Nordstrom Retail Card before making up your mind.
I had a bankruptcy in my past, in 2010 due to a serious illness. They approved me in the 600's for a low credit line of about $1500 in 2015. Now my credit line is $8500, they raised it fairly regularly but my credit score is 750. I called and got approved for the signature visa. I also think they're nice and fair. I never had problems with customer service or long waits but have only called twice. — CreditKarma.com
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The Nordstrom Store Credit Card is available to people with fair/limited credit and does not charge an annual fee. As such, it’s a great way to invest in your credit standing. This card also offers a decent initial bonus and solid ongoing rewards, at least in percentage terms, giving you a $20 rebate on a purchase of at least $100 the day of account opening and then the points equivalent of 2% back on Nordstrom purchases. Plus, you’ll benefit from free alterations, “triple-points days” and other Nordstrom deals. But it’s important to note that most of that package is easily replaceable by another credit card. So you shouldn’t lose any sleep if you choose to let this offer slip by. — WalletHub.com
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The Nordstrom Retail Card has a high interest rate, no annual fee, and an average redemption value compared to similar cards. It's great for Shopping Rewards. — BirchFinance.com
”Is the Nordstrom Card Right for You?
The more you spend with Nordstrom each year, the more you'll benefit from the Nordstrom Retail Card. And if you can spend enough to qualify for the highest level of rewards, the card can be full of value. If you don't happen to spend a small fortune in the luxury retailer on an annual basis — or tend to carry your balance from month to month — you'll be better off looking elsewhere for a new card.
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