Best Store Credit Cards for December 2023
What You Should Know
- Many stores offer credit cards to their customers to incentivize shopping with rewards and discounts.
- Retail store credit card holders often get exclusive offers, deals, and personalized discounts on certain products.
- Most retail credit cards are relatively easier to qualify for, but some high-rewards cards may only be available to high-income individuals and households.
- Retail Store credit cards usually have no annual fee.
Store Credit Cards: Overview
Many large stores in Canada offer their credit cards. Canada's most popular store credit cards include Canadian Tire, Walmart, and Costco credit cards. Store credit cards are unique because they offer exclusive deals, offers, and rewards in their stores that are better than the rewards of the best credit cards in Canada.
Store credit cards usually have a simple application process with many of the cards offering instant approval. Most basic store credit cards usually require a credit score of at least 640, and they do not require any income. Some stores also offer tiered credit cards that may have better rewards, but they also have higher annual income requirements. Some high-end store credit cards may require as much as $80,000 per year as a minimum income for individuals to qualify.
Usually, store credit cards may be a great solution for frequent buyers who shop in a certain chain. On the other hand, store credit cards may not be the best option in any other case. These cards usually have high interest rates and low rewards when shopping outside of intended stores.
Most Popular Store Credit Cards
There are a lot of store credit cards. Nowadays, many large and medium-sized chains offer store credit cards. The following list provides an overview of Canada's most popular and widely used credit cards. These store credit cards can help you get large rewards on your day-to-day purchases in your favorite stores.
Canadian Tire Credit Cards
How Hard Is It to Get Approved for a Triangle Mastercard?
Getting approved for one of the Triangle credit cards is not difficult. There are three Canadian Tire cards that differ in income requirements and rewards offered. Triangle Mastercard does not have any income requirements, so it is easy to get approved for this card if you have a credit score of at least 660. Triangle World Elite Mastercard has an income requirement of $80,000 per year for an individual and $150,000 for a household, which makes it harder to qualify.
PC Financial Credit Cards
What Is the Minimum Income for PC Financial Mastercard?
PC Financial Mastercard does not have a minimum income requirement. PC Financial World Mastercard has a minimum income requirement of $60,000 per year for individuals and $100,000 for households. PC Financial World Elite Mastercard has a minimum income requirement of $80,000 per year for individuals and $150,000 for households.
What Credit Score Is Needed for PC Financial?
PC Financial credit cards require a credit score of at least 680. On the other hand, it may be possible to apply for the PC Financial credit card with a lower credit score, but they may offer a lower limit on the card, a higher interest rate, or decline your application.
Walmart Credit Cards
What Are the Perks of Having a Walmart Credit Card?
Walmart Rewards Mastercard allows you to earn 1.25% of Walmart Reward Dollars on purchases in Walmart stores and online at walmart.ca. It also allows you to earn 1% of Walmart Reward Dollars on everything else. This card also comes with the following perks: Zero Liability Protection, Purchase Assurance Protection, and Mastercard Global Services.
Walmart Rewards World Mastercard allows you to earn 3% of Walmart Reward Dollars on online purchases at walmart.ca., and 1.25% on purchases in Walmart stores and any gas stations in Canada. It also allows you to earn 1% of Walmart Reward Dollars on everything else. This card also comes with the following perks: Zero Liability Protection, Purchase Assurance Protection, and Mastercard Global Services.
How Much Credit Can I Get on a Walmart Credit Card?
Walmart’s credit card credit limit can start from $300 and go above $8,000. The credit limit depends on your credit score and your income. Even though Walmart Rewards Mastercard does not have any income requirements, low income may lead to a lower credit limit.
Home Depot Credit Cards
Does Home Depot Have a 0% Credit Card?
Home Depot Consumer Credit Card has a 0% Interest Rate and APR on all purchases of $299 or more that are paid in full within 6 months of the purchase. Any purchases of less than $299 will have a normal interest rate applied to them.
What Is the Limit on Home Depot Credit Card?
Home Depot Consumer Credit Card’s credit limit ranges from $300 to $25,000. The exact credit limit depends on your credit score and your income. Even though the Home Depot Consumer Credit Card does not have an income requirement, low income can lead to a lower credit limit.
Costco Credit Cards
What Credit Cards Are Accepted at Costco in Canada?
Costco accepts exclusively Mastercard credit cards in their stores. Costco does not accept Visa or American Express credit cards in their stores. As an alternative, they also accept all Canadian Debit cards, Cash, and Costco Gift Cards.
Amazon Credit Cards
Is Amazon Credit Card Worth It In Canada?
The Amazon Credit Card may be worth getting for people who shop at Amazon and Whole Foods a lot. This card is worth more for Prime members because it has a 2.5% cashback on Amazon purchases for Prime members and only 1.5% cashback on Amazon purchases for non-Prime members.
Other Store Credit Cards
Many retailers offer credit cards that are usually not as widely used as the cards above. These cards are niche and should only be used when shopping in the stores specific to the cards. Outside of the stores specific to them, these cards may not be as competitive as other credit cards or may not offer any rewards at all.
Alternatives to Store Credit Cards
Store credit cards may truly benefit only a small number of people. Unless you have a favorite store chain like Walmart, Canadian Tire, or Loblaws, you may not find much value in the store credit cards. Instead, you may be better off shopping with a general-purpose credit card. If you want to get a store credit card because you do not qualify for regular credit cards, you may find more value in getting a credit card for bad credit.
Best Store Credit Card Alternatives With Cash Back
Read more about the best cashback credit cards in Canada.
Best Store Credit Card Alternatives With Rewards
Read more about the best cashback credit cards in Canada.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Are Retail Store Credit Cards?
Retail stores and groups of retail stores offer credit cards that can earn faster rewards for you depending on your shopping habits. These credit cards offer benefits in different forms such as personalized discounts, reward points, VIP sales, and exclusive offers.
For example, if you shop at a particular grocery store every week, using the credit card offered by the store to make your purchases might earn you reward points that you can redeem against your future purchases.
Most store credit cards are co-branded with Visa or Mastercard and can be used to shop everywhere they are accepted.
What Are the Benefits of Store Credit Cards?
Store credit cards can have the many benefits such as:
- Most store credit cards have no annual fees.
- Most store credit cards are easy to qualify for.
- You can earn reward points on purchases at the stores and at partner stores, that can be redeemed at these stores for future purchases.
- If you qualify for the premium cards, you can earn better rewards.
- Store credit cards also report to credit bureaus and can help improve your credit score.
- You can get access to exclusive offers and VIP sales.
- Few credit cards also offer benefits such as purchase insurance, free returns, extended warranty, rental car collision/damage insurance and travel emergency medical insurance.
What Are the Drawbacks of Store Credit Cards?
Store credit cards can have the following drawbacks:
- Most store credit cards have lower credit limits.
- Most store credit cards have very limited insurance benefits.
- Some store credit cards can have high interest rates.
- The rewards can be limited to certain stores and you may not earn any rewards at other stores.