- Annual percentage rate (APR): Current prime rate plus 22.74%.
- Purchase intro APR: 0% during promo periods.
- Rewards: Discounts on purchases; bonus gifts and events.
- Annual fee: $0.
- Late fee: $39.
- Credit score: Fair to Excellent (580-850).
- Compare cards here.
If you’re looking for greater details regarding the JCPenney Credit Card, you can find benefits, drawbacks, and further considerations detailed below for your consideration.
Table of Contents
Benefits
The JCPenney Credit Card comes with a wide variety of benefits. Some of these vary over time or with various levels of card membership, but the most common rewards include:
- Occasional “No Interest” promotions: At times a no-interest promotion lasting between 6 and 30 months will be offered on select purchases (the specific time varies by promotion).
- Reward points: Cardholders receive one rewards point per $1 of qualifying purchases. Comparatively, JCPenney members who use other payment options must spend $2 per single rewards point. Rewards are disbursed in the form of $10 JCPenney coupons.
- A quality app: The app allows you to manage your account and even make in-store and online purchases without a physical card.
There are also Gold and Platinum membership levels that unlock further benefits, including birthday coupon vouchers, member-only coupons, extra bonus point days, and member-exclusive sales.
Drawbacks
While there are plenty of different benefits that come with the JCPenney Credit Card, there are a few minor considerations that should be kept in mind as well. These include:
- Minimum interest charges: A minimum interest charge of at least $2 is incurred whenever interest is charged.
- Late payment fees: While a normal feature of most credit cards, you can be charged a late fee of up to $39 per incident if you neglect to pay your JCPenney Credit Card bill.
- Potential high APR: If you keep balances on a credit card, be aware that the APR can shift with the prime rate. At times this will mean the rate is low (for a credit card, at least), but at other times it can lead to a steeper interest rate than is preferable.
- Limited purchase rewards: If you make very large purchases, you may only earn up to 2,000 points per purchase.
While there are a number of drawbacks to consider, none of these are dramatically different than what you’ll see with most credit card options. Nevertheless, any savvy spender interested in financial health can benefit from being aware of the various potential drawbacks that come with using particular credit cards.
What Can You Expect From the JCPenney Credit Card?
The kind of JCPenney Credit Card that you use will have a significant impact on where you can use the card. For instance, a simple JCPenney Credit Card can be used in JCPenney stores and online at Jcp.com, while a JCPenney Mastercard can be used in many other locations.
Either way, using the card is simple. It’s advisable to download the JCPenney app and then sync your card to the app and your member account. This will enable you to use the app to make easy, quick, convenient purchases, and you won’t even need to have your card physically present as you do so. It will also ensure that you get every rewards point possible while you shop.
Who Should Get the JCPenney Credit Card?
The JCPenney card is an ideal in-store card for those who frequent JCPenney, either in person or online. It provides excellent rewards and is easy to use, especially when integrated with the company app.
In addition, if you’re looking for a low-cost, low-pressure way to improve your credit, applying for a JCPenney credit card may be a good option. When done correctly, one of the best ways to build your credit and improve your credit score is to increase your available credit.
The “Fair to Excellent” credit score required to qualify for a JCPenney Credit Card also means you’ll likely be able to be approved for a card — although not necessarily a higher membership level — even if you don’t have great credit.
Be warned, opening a new card may lead to a temporary decrease in your credit score if a hard credit inquiry is made. However, if you use the card to lower your credit utilization ratio and make regular payments on time, both activities can benefit your credit score over time.
As always, choosing a new credit card should be done thoughtfully and only when you know that you can pay off the balance on the card on a regular basis.
Compare other rewards cards and learn more here.
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