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Saks Fifth Avenue provides two options for customers: the SaksFirst Store Card and the SaksFirst Mastercard. They’re both issued by Capital One.
These cards are designed for fairly frequent Saks shoppers, both Saks Fifth Avenue and Saks OFF 5th outlets. They’ll reward you more depending on how much you spend, so if you’re spending thousands of dollars at Saks each year they could end up being pretty valuable. You’ll get a SaksFirst Membership with both cards.
The regular store card offers rewards and benefits only at Saks, while the Mastercard offers a wider selection of features and can be used anywhere.
Neither card has an annual fee, but the regular store card will give you a higher interest rate.
You could be using one of these cards to get discounts and benefits at Saks, but should you? Keep reading our review to find out.
securely on the issuer's website
securely on the issuer's website
We gave the SaksFirst Store Card 3 out of 5 Stars for its rewards, benefits, and costs. You’ll get some small rewards and a nice set of benefits to start out, but you need to spend quite a bit of money to raise your membership tier.
We gave the SaksFirst Mastercard 4 out of 5 Stars because it’s a bit better than the regular store option. It provides everything the store card does, along with the ability to earn points anywhere, some extra benefits, and a lower interest rate. So it’s a better option if you can get it.
The SaksFirst Store Card can only be used at Saks locations, which includes Saks Fifth Avenue, Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5th, saks.com, and saksoff5th.com.
The SaksFirst Mastercard can be used anywhere Mastercard is accepted, which is pretty much everywhere.
Yes. To upgrade your store card to the Mastercard version, just click this link and apply or visit a Saks store.
The SaksFirst Store Card and Mastercard give you more points per dollar for higher membership tiers. The more you spend each year, the higher your tier will be. You’ll begin earning 2X SaksFirst points per dollar, leading up to 6X points per dollar (after spending $10,000 or more).
Points are worth 1 cent each; every time you earn 2,500 points, you’ll get a $25 Saks gift card.
When you get your card, you’ll be able to get one of the following:
These rewards apply to both the SaksFirst Store Card and the SaksFirst Mastercard.
Spending Rewards |
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The more you spend each year, the more points you’ll earn. The following tiers also include additional benefits to reward you for spending more (explained in the next section).
Spend | Tier | Points Per Dollar |
Up to $5,000 | Premier | 2 |
Up to $10,000 | Elite | 4 |
Up to $25,000 | Platinum | 6 |
More than $25,000 | Diamond | 6 |
So these cards will be much more rewarding if you’re a big spender at Saks, especially if you’re making use of the double and triple point days – potentially earning 18 points per dollar if you’re in the highest tiers.
Once you reach the $10,000 Elite tier, the card gets twice as rewarding at 4 points per dollar. But take note that you need to spend 1.5 times as much to reach the next Platinum tier at $25,000, which only provides 6 points per dollar. And after that there isn’t a bump in rewards for spending more.
Whenever you reach 2,500 points, you’ll be given a $25 Saks gift card.
In addition to the rewards above, the Mastercard version also provides:
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The following benefits may or may not be available to you depending on your SaksFirst Membership tier. The more you spend, the higher your tier.
These features apply to both the SaksFirst Store Card and the SaksFirst Mastercard. The Mastercard benefits below are only available with the Mastercard version.
If you’re not exactly sure what benefits you have, check your Guide to Benefits or log on to your account.
These benefits are only available with the Mastercard version of the Saks card.
If you have a SaksFirst Mastercard some of your benefits will depend on if you qualified for the World Elite or Platinum version. Just check your Guide to Benefits, which came with your card, to learn exactly what features are available for you.
Card | Purchase APR | Balance Transfer APR | Cash Advance APR |
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SaksFirst Store Card | 23.99% Variable | None | None |
SaksFirst Mastercard | 19.24%–21.24% Variable | 19.24%–21.24% Variable | 25.49% Variable |
Card | Annual Fee | Foreign Transaction Fee |
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SaksFirst Store Card | $0 | None |
SaksFirst Mastercard | $0 | None |
Card | Balance Transfer Fee | Cash Advance Fee |
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SaksFirst Store Card | None | None |
SaksFirst Mastercard | 3%, $15 minimum | 3%, $15 minimum |
Card | Penalty APR | Late Fee | Returned Payment Fee |
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SaksFirst Store Card | 26.99% Variable | Up to $40 | Up to $25 |
SaksFirst Mastercard | 30.24% Variable | Up to $35 | Up to $25 |
Neither of these cards has an annual fee, but there are a few differences to be aware of.
As you can see, you’ll end up with a higher interest rate with the regular store card (but remember you can avoid interest by paying your balance off each billing period).
You’ll be able to use the Mastercard for balance transfers and cash advances, while you can’t with the store card. But it’s not designed for those kinds of purposes, so you should stick to using it as a way to earn rewards at Saks and elsewhere.
The SaksFirst Store Card and the SaksFirst Mastercard are meant for Saks customers who visit pretty frequently. If you’re already spending a lot of money there, you might as well get some rewards and benefits to go with it.
So check your spending habits – how often do you shop at Saks, and how much do you spend there? Are the rewards and benefits above very attractive to you?
If so, these cards should help you get more bang for your buck. They have no annual fees, so they can be completely free to use as long as you pay them off in full every billing period. That would mean you get all of the points and features without having to pay a cent.
And if you’re spending more than $5,000 or $10,000 at Saks each year, you have the potential to gain a huge amount of rewards on those double and triple point days. Those points would help put a big dent in your bill.
To apply for the regular store card, simply click the Apply Now button on the card banners sprinkled throughout the review. They’ll take you to the Saks website where you can follow links to apply.
To apply for the Mastercard, you’ll have to visit a Saks store in person, or request an upgrade once you’ve been approved for the store-only version.
For each card, the issuer (Capital One) will judge your creditworthiness, based on your financial standing and other factors, and you should hear back pretty quickly. After you’re approved, your card will be issued and you’ll be ready to start shopping with Saks.
We recommend you have a credit rating of fair before applying for either card. That means you should at least be in the FICO range of 580–669 to have a good shot at being approved.
Keep in mind that credit approval decisions rely on more than just credit scores; they include income and other factors. But obviously, the higher your scores, the easier it will be for you to get either card.
securely on the issuer's website
securely on the issuer's website
Are you not a frequent Saks shopper? Here’s a few more cards that might fit your spending habits better.
The Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card (Review) provides strong rewards and access to a wide range of products. While it doesn’t have an annual fee, the Prime version of the card requires an Amazon Prime membership. The Amazon Rewards Visa Signature Card is the non-Prime version, and has diminished rewards.
With this card you’ll earn cash back rather than points, and there are no membership tiers based on how much you spend (unless you count the Prime membership, anyway). So it provides a more straightforward rewards system without spending thresholds.
Amazon boasts a wide variety of products, more diverse than Saks, but still including clothing and accessories. You’ll earn 5% cash back on all of those purchases, which is more than you would earn at the lower membership tiers with the SaksFirst credit cards. You’ll also earn 5% at Whole Foods, adding even more versatility. With the non-Prime version that drops down to 3%, which is still decently rewarding.
So if you’re looking for a less complicated rewards program that still includes plenty of shopping options and high rewards, this is definitely one to consider.
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The Bloomingdale’s Credit Card provides Bloomingdale’s-focused rewards and discounts.
Another store card which provides an alternative to the ones Saks offers, Bloomingdale’s is another higher-end department store.
You’ll earn 6X points per dollar on shoes, cosmetics, and fragrances from Bloomingdale’s, and 3X points everywhere else. And if you spend $3,500 in a year at Bloomingdale’s, you’ll be upgraded to the Bloomingdale’s American Express® Card, which features even better perks. With this card you’ll get plenty of discounts to use throughout the year, and the added benefit of a $25 gift card every time you earn 5,000 points.
If you prefer Bloomingdale’s to Saks, this card will prove a helpful addition to your wallet.
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The Citi® Double Cash Card – 18 month BT offer (Review) is currently one of the best flat-rate cash back cards available. You’ll get 2% on every purchase, no matter where you choose to use it.
With the basic Saks store card, you’ll only earn in a few categories and won’t be able to use it anywhere else. With the Mastercard version, you’ll still earn in select categories which include gas, dining, and groceries, and you’ll only get one point everywhere else.
So rather than being restricted like that, with the Double Cash you can have the versatility of earning a good rate on every purchase, anywhere. You’ll earn 1% cash back when you make the purchase, and the other percent when you pay it off.
You won’t get any store-specific discounts, or shopping and travel protections, but you will get the added features of a concierge and access to your FICO Bankcard Score 8 based on your Equifax credit report. Helpful perks in the world of credit cards.
So if you’re unconcerned about the protections and want to earn a little extra cash without being told where you can earn it, this might be the card for you.
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There are ways to get a better return on spend than the 2% you would normally get. You can convert your rewards into ThankYou points, and even transfer them to certain other Citi cards if you have any. Once that’s done, you may be able to find a good deal with Citi’s airline partners, which could deliver a better cent-to-point ratio than 1:1.
Citi is a Credit Card Insider advertiser.
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The U.S. Bank Cash+™ Visa Signature® Card offers a bit of flexibility when it comes to how you earn your rewards.
You’ll be able to choose two categories every three months in which you’ll earn 5% cash back, and one everyday category to earn 2% in. For our purposes here, one of the available 5% categories is department stores, providing a wide-open option if you don’t exclusively shop with Saks. So you’d be able to mold this card to fit your spending habits.
The everyday category could be gas or groceries, so you’d be able to earn more rewards on purchases you’d be making regardless.
You won’t get any store-specific discounts or perks, but you could still earn quite a bit of rewards while not being restricted to simply earning at one department store.
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5% Cash Back Categories | ||
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Ground Transportation | Fast Food | Cell Phone Providers |
Department Stores | Home Utilities | Select Clothing Stores |
Electronics Stores | Sporting Goods Stores | Movie Theaters |
Gyms/Fitness Centers | Furniture Stores | TV, Internet & Streaming Services |
2% Cash Back Categories | ||
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Gas Stations | Grocery Stores | Restaurants |
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securely on the issuer's website
Do you use a Saks card or know someone who may be interested in them? Leave a comment below and share the review with someone it may help!
These cards offer rewards and discounts at Saks stores, with some added perks hidden behind a sizable spending requirement. No matter which version you’re issued, it comes with some useful benefits for Saks shoppers. The Mastercard can be utilized everywhere, however, and has some extra bells and whistles.
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