Department store cards are easier to get than bank cards, but approval still depends on your credit score
Department store credit cards typically have lower approval thresholds than Visa or Mastercard issued by banks. Most department store issuers — Macy's, Kohl's, Target, Walmart, Bed Bath & Beyond — will consider applicants with fair credit (scores around 600–669) where a bank card might decline you. Some will even look at applicants below 600 if you have recent on-time payments or a thin credit file.
The catch is that "easier to get" does not mean automatic approval. You still need a Social Security number, a verifiable income, and no recent delinquencies or charge-offs on your credit report. The issuer pulls your credit report and checks your income against your existing debt. If you have multiple recent hard inquiries, recent late payments, or a very high debt-to-income ratio, you can still be denied.
The reason department store cards approve more applicants is simple: they make money from interest and fees on the card itself, not from interchange fees on every purchase. They can afford to take on slightly riskier customers because the interest rate is higher (usually 19–27% APR) and the credit limit is lower (often $300–$1,500 to start). A bank card issuer has tighter margins and needs a safer customer.
Key Takeaways
- Department store cards approve applicants with credit scores as low as 600, while most bank cards require 670 or higher.
- Target, Walmart, Kohl's, and Macy's cards are among the most accessible, but approval still requires verifiable income and no recent late payments.
- Your approval odds improve if you have an existing relationship with the store — a checking account, a previous purchase history, or an existing card with them.
- Interest rates on department store cards run 19–27% APR, so carrying a balance costs significantly more than a bank card would.
- A hard inquiry for a department store card stays on your credit report for 12 months and can lower your score by a few points, even if you are denied.
Which department store cards have the most lenient approval standards
Target RedCard and Walmart Walmart+ Card are the most accessible entry points. Both issuers (Synchrony for Target, Capital One for Walmart) have publicly stated they consider applicants with fair credit and shorter credit histories. Target's card in particular has a reputation for approving applicants with limited credit or recent credit rebuilding, possibly because Target has existing customer data on many applicants.
Kohl's Card (issued by Synchrony) and Macy's Card (issued by Citibank) are also known for approving applicants in the fair-credit range. Kohl's has been especially willing to approve applicants with thinner files — people with only a few accounts or a short credit history. Bed Bath & Beyond's card (when available through its issuer) followed similar patterns, though the company's bankruptcy in 2023 disrupted that program.
The actual approval threshold varies month to month and depends on the issuer's current risk appetite. During economic downturns, even department store issuers tighten standards. During strong retail periods, they loosen them. You cannot know your odds without applying, but these four cards represent your best starting point if your credit score is below 650.
What your credit score needs to be
A credit score of 600–650 puts you in the range where department store cards are possible but not may provide. At 650–700, approval is likely unless you have other red flags (recent late payments, high debt, multiple recent inquiries). Above 700, you should be approved unless your income is very low relative to your debt.
Below 600, approval becomes unlikely even for department store cards. You may still be approved if you have a very recent positive change — a late payment that is now 12+ months old, a paid-off collection account, or a new job with verifiable income. But the issuer will see the low score as the primary signal and will usually decline.
Your credit report matters as much as your score. A score of 620 with no late payments in the past 24 months is stronger than a score of 640 with a 90-day late payment from six months ago. Issuers weight recency heavily. If your last late payment was more than two years ago and your score has climbed since, you have a real shot at approval.
How income and debt affect your approval odds
Department store issuers verify income but do not require a specific minimum. They compare your stated annual income to your total monthly debt obligations. If you earn $30,000 per year and already carry $800 per month in debt payments (car loan, student loans, existing credit cards), a new card with a $500 monthly payment would push your debt-to-income ratio above 50%, and you are likely to be declined.
The income you report is typically verified through a soft inquiry into your bank account or a request for recent pay stubs. Some issuers ask you to upload a document; others simply check against IRS records or employment databases. Lying about income is fraud and can result in criminal charges, so report what you actually earn.
If you are self-employed or have variable income, report your average monthly or annual income from the past two years. The issuer may ask for tax returns or bank statements to verify. If your income is very recent (less than three months at a new job), some issuers will decline you or require additional documentation.
How recent hard inquiries and applications affect your chances
Each credit card application triggers a hard inquiry, which appears on your credit report and can lower your score by 5–10 points. If you apply for three department store cards in one week, you now have three hard inquiries visible to future lenders, and your score has dropped 15–30 points. This makes the next application harder, not easier.
Issuers see multiple recent hard inquiries as a sign of credit-seeking behavior — you may be desperate for credit or planning to take on a lot of new debt. Even if each individual application would have been approved, the pattern of multiple inquiries can trigger a decline on the second or third application.
Space applications out by at least two weeks, ideally a month. If you are denied, wait 30 days before applying elsewhere. Hard inquiries stay on your report for 12 months, but their impact on your score fades after three to six months. If you were declined, reapplying after 60–90 days gives you a better shot because your score will have recovered somewhat and the previous inquiry will matter less.
Why having an existing relationship with the store helps
If you already have a checking account at Target or Walmart, or if you have made purchases there and have transaction history, the issuer already has data on you beyond your credit report. They know you shop there regularly, that your checks clear, or that you have been a customer for years. This reduces their perceived risk and improves your approval odds.
Some issuers offer pre-approval offers to existing customers — you receive a mailer or an in-app notification saying you have been pre-approved for a card. These are not guarantees, but they signal that the issuer has already run a soft inquiry and believes you are a reasonable risk. Pre-approvals do not trigger a hard inquiry until you formally apply.
If you do not have an existing relationship, opening a checking account or making a few purchases at the store before applying can help, though it is not required. The issuer will still approve you based on your credit report and income if those are strong enough. But the existing relationship removes friction and gives the issuer more confidence.
What happens after approval and what the card actually costs
Once approved, you receive a credit limit — usually $300–$1,500 for a first department store card. This limit is based on your credit score, income, and the issuer's risk model. You can request an increase after six months of on-time payments, and most issuers will grant it.
Department store cards carry an annual percentage rate (APR) of 19–27%, depending on the issuer and your creditworthiness. If you carry a balance, you pay interest daily on that balance. A $500 balance at 24% APR costs you about $10 per month in interest alone. This is significantly higher than a bank card (typically 15–22% APR for fair-credit applicants) and much higher than a rewards card (12–18% APR for good-credit applicants).
Most department store cards have no annual fee, which is their main advantage over premium bank cards. They also often offer store-specific rewards — 5% off purchases on certain days, points toward store gift cards, or special financing offers (0% APR for 12 months on purchases over $250, for example). These rewards can offset the high APR if you pay your balance in full each month.
How to improve your odds before applying
If your credit score is below 600, wait three to six months before applying. In that time, pay all bills on time, pay down existing balances to below 30% of your credit limits, and do not apply for other credit. Your score will climb, and your debt-to-income ratio will improve.
If you have a recent late payment (within the past 12 months), the issuer will see it and likely decline you. Wait until that payment is at least 12 months old before applying. If you have a collection account, try to pay it off or negotiate a pay-for-delete agreement with the collection agency before applying. A paid collection is still negative, but it is less damaging than an unpaid one.
If you have no credit history at all (no credit cards, no loans, no payment history), you will likely be declined for a department store card. Instead, start with a secured credit card — you deposit $300–$500 with a bank, and they issue you a card with that amount as your credit limit. After 12 months of on-time payments, you can graduate to an unsecured card, including a department store card. Secured cards have lower approval thresholds and help you build the credit history you need.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get a department store card with no credit history?
Unlikely. Department store issuers want to see at least some credit history — a previous card, a loan, or a year of on-time rent or utility payments reported to the credit bureaus. If you have none, a secured credit card is your first step. After 12 months of on-time payments, you will may have access to for a department store card.
What if I was denied for a department store card?
The issuer must send you a denial letter within 30 days explaining the reason — usually credit score, income, or debt-to-income ratio. Wait at least 60 days before reapplying to the same issuer; your score will have recovered and the previous hard inquiry will matter less. In the meantime, focus on paying down existing balances and making all payments on time.
Does applying for a department store card hurt my credit score?
Yes, the hard inquiry lowers your score by 5–10 points immediately. The impact fades after three to six months. Multiple applications in a short period compound the damage. Space applications at least two weeks apart to minimize the cumulative effect.
Should I use a department store card if the APR is so high?
Only if you pay the balance in full each month. The rewards (5% off, points, special financing) are valuable, but the 24% APR makes carrying a balance very expensive. If you cannot pay in full, use the card only for small purchases you can pay off immediately, or skip it and use a bank card with a lower APR instead.
Can I get approved for multiple department store cards at once?
Technically yes, but it is risky. Multiple hard inquiries in one week will lower your score significantly and may trigger declines on later applications. If you want two cards, apply for one, wait 30 days, then apply for the second. This spreads out the damage and gives your score time to recover between inquiries.