2021 Review: Macy’s Credit Card – Your Ticket to Discounts at Macy’s
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The Macy’s Credit Card could save you some money. However, while the annual Star Passes and Star Money Days may prove useful, we’ve received numerous complaints regarding customer service, issues with payments going through, and subsequent unfair late charges.
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Our Rating: 3 Out of 5 Stars
We give the Macy’s Credit Card 3 out of 5 Stars. While it could prove useful thanks to its discounts, we’ve received numerous complaints regarding the card, particularly with payment processing and seemingly unwarranted late fees.
Why We Like It
- Annual Star Passes and Star Money Days
- 2% back in rewards at Macy’s for Silver members, 3% for Gold, and 5% for Platinum
- Special discounts and offers
- Annual birthday gift
- Free shipping (Gold and Platinum members only)
- No annual fee
Why It Could Be Better
- Many people report issues with payment processing, customer support, and unfair late charges
securely on the issuer's website
- Macy’s Star Pass mailings
- Surprise savings at checkout
- Star Money days
- Registry Star rewards
- Free shipping (Gold and Platinum members only)
- 5% back in rewards at Macy’s (Platinum members only)
- Birthday surprise
- No annual fee
The Macy’s Credit Card provides discounts and perks as you progress through the Macy’s membership tiers. You’ll start at Silver, earning 2% back in rewards at Macy’s, followed by Gold and 3% back, and finally Platinum with 5%.
To reach Platinum, you’ll need to spend at least $1,200 in a calendar year. That’s pretty high, but you’ll also unlock a few useful perks like free shipping along the way. And you’ll have Star Passes and Star Money Days to save you some cash.
However, it’s important to note we’ve received numerous reports of poor customer service, issues with submitting payments, and unfair late charges and fees.
Insider tip
If you’re looking for more versatility, there’s the Macy’s American Express® Card (Review). It earns not only at Macy’s, but also at restaurants, gas stations, and supermarkets, and unlike the basic store card, is accepted everywhere American Express is.
Insider Advice: Getting the Most Out of Your Card
- The more you spend, the better it gets: Higher status levels come with better benefits, but each level requires a certain amount of annual spending to unlock.
- Earn 2%–5% back at Macy’s: If you can unlock Platinum status ($1,200 in annual spending) you’ll earn 5% back in rewards at Macy’s. Prior to that, you’ll earn 3% for Gold ($500 in spending), and 2% for Silver (no spend requirement).
- Redeem Star Money rewards quickly: Your Star Money reward certificates, which are the form your rewards will take, will expire 30 days after being issued.
- Use your Star Passes: Get 25% off at Macy’s for a day with your yearly Star Passes.
- Macy’s won’t forget your birthday: You’ll get a small surprise on your birthday, just be sure to use it before it expires.
- Mark your calendar: Each year you’ll have access to Star Money Days, during which you’ll earn larger rewards for your Macy’s purchases.
- Tying the knot?: Create your registry through Macy’s Registry Star Rewards. You’ll earn 10% back on purchases you make, and get 5% back on purchases made by other people.
- Take advantage of free shipping: Gold and Platinum members get free shipping on eligible items from Macy’s, in-store and online.
- Use Macy’s My Wallet: Add your Macy’s card to the Macy’s My Wallet app. It’ll make managing your accounts and making payments a bit easier, as well as alert you to discount offers.
- Utilize automatic payments: We’ve gotten several reports of issues with payment processing and billing, so set up automatic payments for the full statement balance each month. It would also be a good idea to make sure the payment goes through on time, and that there are no interest charges or late fees involved.
The Rewards
Earning
| Spending Rewards |
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| Introductory Bonus Offer |
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Insider tip
If you’re looking for a card that earns a flat rate for most purchases, and not just in one place, consider taking a look at some of our favorite picks for reward cards.
Redeeming
You won’t have to worry about redeeming your rewards, that part is done for you. What you have to focus on is just using your rewards in time. Your rewards are automatically converted into $10 Star Money reward certificates, but you’ll only have a month to use them.
Star Money reward certificates can only be used for eligible Macy’s purchases and expire 30 days after being issued, so you don’t have long. And any rewards in your account that aren’t used for Star Money certificates will expire after 12 months of no account activity.
Also, note that Star Money certificates can’t be used for:
- Macy’s gift cards
- Beauty Box subscription services
- Purchases made at restaurants within Macy’s
- Purchases made from any department that doesn’t use a Macy’s point of sale register
- Purchases that will be shipped outside the U.S.
The Benefits
The more you spend, the higher your status will be, and the better the benefits will be. The higher status levels include all the benefits of the lower levels, so you won’t have to worry about losing any.
| Status | Annual Spend Requirement | Benefits |
|---|---|---|
| Silver | $0–$499.99 |
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| Gold | $500–$1,199.99 |
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| Platinum | $1,200+ |
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As a Macy’s cardholder you’ll automatically start at the Silver level. Non-cardholders will get Bronze status, which offers 1% back at Macy’s and a few perks.
After reaching a spend requirement in a calendar year, you should be upgraded to a higher status within seven days. Your new status will last for the rest of the current year.
- Star Passes: All cardholders will get Star Passes each year, which can be used to get 25% off at Macy’s on any chosen day. Cardholders with higher status may get more Star Passes per year.
- Perks and offers: All cardholders will receive occasional special offers at checkout, event invitations, access to exclusive sales, and more.
- Birthday surprise: All cardholders will receive a special birthday surprise during their birth month. This will probably take the form of a Macy’s discount of some kind. The value of the gift may vary from member to member. You must have made a purchase at Macy’s or macys.com on your account or with your membership within the last 12 months. You must not have opted out of marketing mail from Macy’s.
- Star Money days: Limited-time events during which members can earn points on eligible Macy’s purchases when spending with their credit cards.
- Registry Star rewards: You can add items to a wedding registry with Macy’s. The cardholder will get 10% back in rewards for every eligible purchase from the registry that she makes, and 5% back in rewards for every eligible purchase from the registry made by someone else.
- Free shipping: Cardholders with Gold and Platinum status will get free standard shipping on purchases from Macy’s and macys.com. You must pay with your Macy’s card to get this benefit. This offer may be applied to premium or overnight shipping, for an upgrade fee.
The Terms & Fees
| Purchase APR | Balance Transfer APR | Cash Advance APR |
|---|---|---|
| 25.24% Variable | None | None |
| Annual Fee | Foreign Transaction Fee |
|---|---|
| $0 | None |
| Balance Transfer Fee | Cash Advance Fee |
|---|---|
| None | None |
| Penalty APR | Late Fee | Returned Payment Fee |
|---|---|---|
| None | Up to $39 | Up to $39 |
This card can’t be used for balance transfers, cash advances, or foreign transactions. And while it can’t be used for balance transfers, the Macy’s American Express® Card (Review) can be used for both cash advances and foreign transactions, though cash advances are a risk we don’t recommend taking.
The Bottom Line
The Macy’s Credit Card will save you some money, especially if you’re a regular Macy’s shopper.
The more you spend, the better the card will be. You won’t reach the highest earning potential unless you spend $1,200 or more with Macy’s, but you’ll still get the discounts. Bear in mind there are quite a few reports of poor customer service, issues with payments not going through in time, and unfair late charges because of that.
But if you understand the risks and frequently shop at Macy’s, maybe the annual Star Passes and Star Money Days would prove beneficial to you.
How Do I Apply for the Macy’s Credit Card?
Just follow the link below and you’ll be taken to the credit card issuer’s site. You’ll need to fill out an application, but that likely won’t take long, and you should hear back pretty quickly if you’ve been either approved or denied.
What Credit Scores Do I Need to Qualify for the Macy’s Credit Card?
It’s recommended for you to have fair credit before applying for the Macy’s Credit Card.
That would mean your credit scores would be within the ranges of 580–669 for FICO and 650–699 for VantageScore.
Take note that credit card issuers look at more than just your scores when deciding your creditworthiness. Other factors, like income and source of income, also have a role in the decision.
That means even if your credit scores are below those ranges, you may still be approved. However, that also means if your credit scores are higher, there’s a chance you might be denied.
Qualifications and Requirements
- Must be 18 to apply
- Personal identifying information: Name, birth date, Social Security number
- Address and contact information: Phone number, address
- Financial information: Total household income, source of income, monthly mortgage/rent payment
securely on the issuer's website
- Macy’s Star Pass mailings
- Surprise savings at checkout
- Star Money days
- Registry Star rewards
- Free shipping (Gold and Platinum members only)
- 5% back in rewards at Macy’s (Platinum members only)
- Birthday surprise
- No annual fee
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I upgrade to the Macy’s American Express Card?
Yes. If you already have the regular Macy’s card and want to upgrade to the Macy’s American Express® Card (Review), you can call customer service to apply for an upgrade. This may result in a hard inquiry on your credit reports.
Some Macy’s Credit Cardholders may also receive an offer to upgrade. Macy’s terms give the impression that if you don’t manually decline this offer, you’ll automatically be upgraded to the Macy’s American Express.
Macy’s states that your account history should transfer over on your credit reports, keeping the same account age and payment history but taking on a new name. And it also states that any login details and payment allocations previously made will transfer over to the new card as well.
However, some card users report that their automatic payments did not transfer over to their new accounts, causing them to be late. If you upgrade to the Amex version be sure that your payment information transfers correctly. It’s also possible that Macy’s will open up a new account that does show up as new on your credit reports, rather than continuing the old account.
Insider tip
Our editor had this card at one time, but forgot about it after paying it off. Years later, he checked his credit reports to find he had been upgraded to the Amex version after having it open for four years. Three years after that his account was closed, probably for inactivity.
So it would seem you can be automatically upgraded, without any action required on your part. However, according to our editor’s credit reports, his original Macy’s Credit Card account was closed and a new one was opened for the Amex version. Macy’s says that shouldn’t happen, but it might be things have changed since then.
How can I decline an upgrade to the Macy’s American Express Card?
We’ve heard from a number of readers who said Macy’s contacted them about their accounts being upgraded from the store-only version of the card.
We’re not sure if Macy’s will allow you to decline an upgrade, but we recommend you call the phone number on the back of your card to ask. If you decide you don’t want the American Express card after your account has been upgraded you can always close the account, but keep in mind the impact that will have on your credit scores.
How do I pay my Macy’s Credit Card Bill?
When it comes time to pay your bill, you have a few different options to choose from. You can either pay online, in-store, by phone, or by mail.
The easiest route to take is paying online. To do that, simply log in to your account, navigate to the My Account page, select your card, and then choose to make a payment. You’ll need your bank’s routing number and your account number. Plug in that info and then choose to make the payment.
You can pay for your Macy’s card in-store at a register, using cash, check, or debit card. You can pay by phone by calling 1-888-257-6757 or 1-800-281-0820 (TDD/TTY). To pay by mail, you can use the mailing address on this page that’s appropriate for your particular card.
How do I log in to my Macy’s Credit Card account?
Just head over to Macy’s website and navigate to the Macy’s Credit Card tab. Enter your account information, and you’re good to go.
From there, you can pay your bill and manage your other credit card features.
Where can I use the Macy’s Credit Cards?
This card can only be used at Macy’s, Macy’s Backstage, and macys.com. That’s pretty typical of co-branded or closed-loop cards like retail store credit cards tend to be.
The Macy’s American Express Card, on the other hand, can be used at Macy’s plus anywhere American Express is accepted. General-use cards, which can be used anywhere their affiliated card networks are accepted, are known as open-loop cards.
How can I add cards to my account, or combine them?
As long as you have an online profile at macys.com, you can expedite things when it comes time to check out. And don’t worry if you have both the regular Macy’s Credit Card and the Macy’s American Express® Card (Review), you can add them both to your account.
You’ll need to know your card account number, the security code on your card, your name as it appears on your card or credit card statement, and the last four digits of your Social Security number.
Start by signing in at macys.com. Then, in the “My Macy’s Credit Card” section, select the “Add My Card” button. Enter the required information, and select the “Add Card” button at the bottom. If you want to add another card, select the “My Macy’s Credit Card” link on the left hand side. Select the drop down box and select the “Add Another Card” button. Enter the required information, and you’ll be good to go.
Why was I charged $2 in interest?
The minimum interest charge for both of the Macy’s cards is $2. When you carry a balance from one month to the next on your card you’ll be charged interest at a high rate; if your interest charge would be less than $2, it’s automatically increased to $2.
Some people report being charged $2 in interest for these cards, and are confused about why this charge was applied. At first glance this may seem like a minor problem for other people, but this is an important aspect of most credit cards that could have significant effects on your credit.
In some cases, people say they paid off the entire card but were still charged interest. This is usually because of something called residual interest, or trailing interest. Given the number of people who report this issue, however, it also seems possible that there’s some kind of problem or delay with the payment processing system for these cards.
Residual interest charges can occur if you carry a balance from month to month, accruing interest as you go. Say you’ve been carrying a balance, so you lost your grace period. You get your monthly statement, and see that a particular balance is due. You pay your bill a week after your statement closing date.
The key here is that the balance will continue to accrue interest during the week it takes you to make the payment. That extra interest, applied during the time between when you get your bill and when you actually pay it, is known as residual interest.
Even if your interest charge was just 5¢, it will be increased to the minimum of $2. This is why some people see $2 charges even after it seems like they’ve paid off the card completely.
Residual interest might seem like a small annoyance, but it can actually turn into a major problem when these charges go unnoticed. If you don’t pay off that charge, as small as it is, it will start to accrue interest itself, and then you’ll get late fees for not paying it; eventually the card issuer can report your account as late to the credit bureaus, which will have a massive negative effect on your credit scores.
Residual interest can easily be avoided by paying the card’s statement balance in full each month from the start of card membership. Doing so will let you completely avoid accruing interest on purchases because of your card’s grace period, which is an interest-free period between the statement closing date and the billing due date.
You’ll lose that grace period by carrying a balance on your card, which is how residual interest can happen; you can get your grace period back by paying off the entire outstanding card balance, including any residual interest, rather than just the statement balance.
Alternatives to the Macy's Credit Card
The Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card (Review) is offered through Amazon, and offers rewards for purchases made through it.
If you can find it at Macy’s you can be sure you’d see it (or something like it) on Amazon. This card offers a wider selection of categories to earn rewards in. Whole Foods, restaurants, gas stations, and drug stores are all fair game, aside from Amazon, so you won’t be stuck in one place.
The benefits won’t give you any Amazon discounts, but you will get a few shopping and travel protections. Those can prove pretty valuable in the right situations.
You’ll need a Prime membership to use this card, but if you’re not an Amazon member you can still use the Amazon Rewards Visa Signature Card, which has slightly lower reward rates.
| Spending Rewards |
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| Introductory Bonus Offer |
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- Visa Signature Luxury Hotel Collection: Offers automatic room upgrades, free WiFi, and other perks at more than 900 hotels globally
- Visa Signature Concierge: For 24-hour help with non-emergency tasks, like booking concert tickets or making restaurant reservations
- Shopping protections: Purchase protection, extended warranty protection
- Travel protections: Travel accident insurance, lost luggage reimbursement, and more
- Purchase and Balance Transfer APR: 14.24% to 22.24% Variable
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0 (Amazon Prime subscription required)
- Requires active Prime membership
- Cash back can be redeemed for statement credits or at Amazon.com checkout
- Earn 5% back at Amazon.com and Whole Foods Market
- Earn 2% back at gas stations, restaurants, and drugstores
- Earn 1% back on all other purchases
- Get a $70 Amazon.com Gift Card instantly upon credit card approval
The JCPenney Credit Card (Review) is, no surprise, co-branded with JCPenney.
As such, it offers discounts and rewards centered on that particular department store. The rewards are on par with the Macy’s Platinum membership, without having to spend $1,200. You’ll be earning the cash back equivalent of 5% right off the bat, rather than working your way up to it.
JCPenney still has a membership structure similar to Macy’s. There are three levels: the basic membership level, Gold ($500 spent in a calendar year), and Platinum ($1,000).
The benefits are also pretty similar. You’ll get discounts which will be unlocked at each membership level, a birthday gift, and special promotional offers. So if you prefer JCPenney over Macy’s, this could be the card for you.
| Spending Rewards |
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| Introductory Bonus Offer |
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- Birthday gift: You’ll be emailed a special birthday gift, probably a JCP reward certificate, as long as you’re in good standing and have earned points within the last year. Each membership tier increases its value, from $5 to $15.
- Bonus events: You’ll get access to special bonus events which allow for increased point earnings.
- 150+ credit savings days: Exclusive saving days for JCPenney cardholders
- Special financing: You’ll gain access to more financing offers, subject to credit approval and with minimum monthly payments required (follow the terms carefully, as these might be deferred-interest offers).
- Passbook of coupons: A booklet of special deals and offers, including a Pick Your Own Sale day and more (Gold)
- Bonus point days: You’ll have access to special opportunities to earn additional points on brands throughout the store. (Platinum)
- Platinum Appreciation: Enjoy exclusive sale days with an extra 30% off. (Platinum)
- Purchase APR: 25.99% Variable
- Annual fee: $0
- Earn $10 at JCPenney for every 200 points you earn
- 15% or 5% off select purchases on the day you open your card
- 1 point per $1 spent at JCPenney using your card, and 1 point per $2 spent using another form of payment
- Gold status after spending at least $500 in a year
- Platinum status after spending at least $100 in a year
- $10 or $15 birthday gift each year on your birthday
- Free shipping from JCPenney.com with Platinum status
- Earn up to 2,000 points on a single purchase
- No annual fee
- High APR of 27.99%
The Discover it® Cash Back (Review) doesn’t offer any discounts or promotional events at a department store, but instead rewards you for every purchase you make, no matter where you shop.
You’ll earn 5% cash back in different categories that rotate every three months, or per quarter (up to $1,500 spent per quarter, then 1%; activation required). It’s one of the most rewarding cash back credit cards available, especially considering it doesn’t have an annual fee. And those categories sometimes include retailers like Amazon, Walmart, and Target, so you’ll still be able to earn on department store purchases.
If you want to earn plenty of rewards and not be tied to just one store, this is a good option. You could even combine it with other cards, the Macy’s card for example, and use each when it best applies.
| Spending Rewards |
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| Introductory Bonus Offer |
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Here’s the 5% cash back calendar for 2021.
| Quarter | 2021 Categories |
|---|---|
| January – March |
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| April – June |
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| July – September |
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| October – December |
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- Free FICO credit score: See your TransUnion-based FICO Score 8 on statements, online, and by mobile app.
- Cash at Checkout: When shopping at participating locations, you can get immediate cash back by charging an additional amount over your purchase for no extra fee.
- Refer a Friend: Receive a statement credit if you refer people you know to apply for a Discover card and they’re approved. They’ll receive statement credits, too.
- Security features: Social Security number alerts, $0 fraud liability, and quick freeze, a feature that allows you to suspend your card if it’s misplaced
- Purchase and Balance Transfer APR: See Terms for See Terms, then See Terms
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0
The Chase Freedom Flex℠ (Review) is a general-use rewards card that earns in a variety of categories, including quarterly rotating categories.
You’ll earn 3% or 5% back on those purchases, with the small stipulation of a $1,500 quarterly spending cap on the rotating categories. It’ll drop to 1% when you hit that mark. So you could earn quite a bit with this card, and not be stuck shopping at one place.
While the benefits don’t include discounts or birthday gifts, you’ll get quite a few shopping and travel protections. You’ll also gain Shop through Chase, a shopping portal where you can find special earning rates. You won’t be saving much money, but the perks could still prove useful if the need arises.
| Spending Rewards |
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| Introductory Bonus Offer |
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And the 5% bonus categories are:
| Quarter | 2021 Categories |
|---|---|
| January – March |
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| April – June |
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| July – September |
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| October – December |
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- Three-month DoorDash membership: Subscribe for a free DashPass for three months, which provides free shipping and reduced service fees on orders over $12. You’ll be automatically enrolled in DashPass for 50% off for the next nine months.
- Shop through Chase/Chase Offers: Earn extra cash back and find discounts with select retailers.
- Chase Credit Journey: Monitor your credit with free access to your VantageScore 3.0, based on your TransUnion credit report, and receive helpful insight into the factors influencing the score.
- Shopping and travel protections: Purchase protection, extended warranty protection, travel and emergency assistance services, roadside dispatch, auto rental collision damage waiver, and trip cancellation/interruption insurance
- Purchase APR: 0% for 15 months, then 14.99% - 23.74% Variable
- Balance Transfer APR: 14.99% - 23.74% Variable
- Annual fee: $0
- Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening.
- Earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate. Enjoy new 5% categories each quarter!
- Earn 5% on travel purchased through Chase, 3% on dining at restaurants and drugstores, and 1% on all other purchases.
- No annual fee.
- 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases, then a variable APR of 14.99 – 23.74%.
- No minimum to redeem for cash back. Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open.
securely on the issuer's website
- Macy’s Star Pass mailings
- Surprise savings at checkout
- Star Money days
- Registry Star rewards
- Free shipping (Gold and Platinum members only)
- 5% back in rewards at Macy’s (Platinum members only)
- Birthday surprise
- No annual fee
Has the Macy’s Credit Card saved you money on your shopping sprees? How do you like it? Let us know in the comments!
Looking for a card not tied to a department store? Best Cash Back Credit Cards of January 2021
Evan Zimmer
Evan graduated from SUNY Oswego with a degree in journalism and creative writing. In his professional writing career, he strives for precision and comprehension in his work. He’s written news articles, blog posts, and copy, working across a slew of different mediums. With in-depth research and great care for accuracy and detail, he now works to bring you the most up-to-date credit information.
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