Store credit cards offer discounts and rewards for the most loyal shoppers. If you tend to do a lot of your shopping in just one or two stores, having that store’s credit card your wallet can help you save money on your purposes. On the plus side, you don’t need excellent credit to be approved for many store credit cards, particularly limited use store credit cards that can only be used in a specific store.
Before you select a store credit card for your wallet, know that store credit cardstend to carry higher interest rates which means you should always pay your balance in full to avoid paying interest on your balance. When a store credit card offers a special interest promotion, you’ll have to pay the full balance before the promotional period ends. Otherwise, the card will add the full amount of interest to your balance.
Now that we’ve covered the essentials, here are the best store credit cards you can have in your wallet in 2018.
Best for Online Shopping: Amazon Prime Store Card
With the Amazon Prime Store Card, you’ll get two-day shipping with your Amazon Prime membership, plus earn 5 percent back on all your Amazon.com purchase. Amazon Prime membership is $99 per year, so if you spend more than $2,000 on Amazon.com purchases each year, the 5 percent cash back is worth it. Rewards are paid automatically as a statement credit.
Get access to special financing depending on your purchase amount. Get 6 months special financing on purchases of $149 or more, 12 months on purchases $599 or more, 24 months on select Amazon-sold items, and 12 months equal pay on select Amazon-sold items. With equal pay, you’re able to make 12 equal monthly payments on certain items.
Note that you must choose to earn 5 percent cash back or receive special financing, you can’t receive both. Because it’s a store credit card and not a co-branded credit card, you can only use the card on Amazon.com purchase.
Important Pricing: The APR is 25.99 percent and there’s no annual fee.
Best for Clothes: Kohl’s Charge Card
Kohl’s department store is a great place to shop for clothes for the whole family. You’ll get 25 percent off your first Kohl’s Charge purchase and another 15 percent off when your card arrives in the mail. As a special benefit, you’ll have access to 12 special offers each year. And if you spend $500 on your Kohl’s charge, you’ll become a Most Valued Customer and get at least 18 discounts a year.
Ongoing, you’ll get one Yes2You Rewards point for every dollar you spend on your Kohl’s Charge and $5 rewards for every 100 points you accumulate. Plus, you’ll receive a birthday gift and other surprises as long as you’re a cardholder.
Important Pricing: The APR is 24.99 percent. There’s no annual fee.
Best General Purpose: Target REDCard
Target shoppers can get all the everyday essentials and save 5 percent. With the Target REDCard, you’ll save 5 percent on Target and Target.com purchases each day (some exclusions apply), even on in-store Starbucks purchases.
You’ll also enjoy free shipping on most items sold at Target.com.
Pair your card with Cartwheel, Target’s coupon app to save up to 50 percent more on hundreds of in-store items. Plus, get an extra 30 days to return items you’ve purchased at Target and Target.com.
Important Pricing: The APR is 23.90 percent and there is no annual fee.
Best for Home Improvement: Lowe’s Advantage Card
If you’re big on home improvement, the Lowe’s Advantage Card is a great card to have. You’ll get 5 percent off your Lowe’s purchases everyday. Or, if you’re buying supplies for a project, you can opt to get 6 months of special financing instead of the 5 percent discount. You’ll have to make a minimum $299 minimum purchase to qualify for 6 months special financing. If you have a larger project priced at $2,000 or more, you can ask for reduced APR financing for 36, 60, or 84 months.
You can request $30 off your initial purchase if you apply for the Lowe’s Advantage Card in store and you’re approved. In cases where the 5 percent discount is greater than $35 on your initial purchase, that discount will be applied.
Important Pricing: The APR is 26.99 percent and there is no annual fee.
Best for Wholesale Clubs: CostCo Anywhere Visa
For wholesale club shoppers, the CostCo Anywhere Visa is a great choice. Cardholders get 4 percent back on eligible gas worldwide for the first $7,000 each year; 3 percent back on restaurant and eligible travel purchases worldwide; 2 percent cash back on all other purchases from Costco and Costco.com; and 1 percent on everything else including gas purchases over $7,000. Gas purchases made at superstores, supermarkets, convenience stories and warehouse clubs other than Costco or for fuel used for non-auto purposes.
Since it’s a co-branded Visa credit card, you can use your credit card anywhere Visa is accepted to earn rewards. All the cashback you accumulate in a calendar year is paid out as an annual credit card reward certificate in your February billing statement. You can redeem the certificate for cash or merchandise at U.S. Costco Warehouses.
Important Pricing: Enjoy an introductory 0 percent APR for 7 months on purchases. After that, the Apr will be 16.49 percent. There’s no annual fee.
For Fair Credit: Walmart Store Card
Walmart shoppers with fair credit should consider the Walmart Store Card—the limited purpose credit card that can only be used at Walmart stores. Note that there’s a co-branded Mastercard version of the Walmart credit card that requires you to have a better credit score to qualify.
If you apply for your Walmart Credit Card online, you’ll save $35 when you use your credit card on the same day. You’ll also save 3 percent everyday on Walmart.com; 2 percent on gas at Walmart and Murphy USA; 1 percent at Walmart and Sam’s Clubs. Savings are paid as a statement credit as long as your account isn’t past due.
Important Pricing: The regular APR is 23.9 percent and there is no annual fee.
Source: https://www.thebalance.com/best-store-credit-cards-4156922