Easiest Department Store Credit Cards for Bad Credit

If you have a low credit score, traditional credit cards can feel like a locked door. Department store cards are often an easier opening. They're designed to keep customers shopping, so stores tend to approve applicants that banks would decline.

Used the right way, one of these cards can rebuild your credit without a security deposit.

Why Store Cards Are Easier to Get

Department stores partner with banks that specialize in subprime lending. Their goal isn't to be your main credit card, it's to keep you shopping at that store. That changes the math of approval.

You can often qualify with a credit score in the high 500s or low 600s, and in some cases even lower. Credit limits usually start low ($150-$500), which limits the bank's risk.

The trade-off: interest rates are high, often around 25-30%, and the card usually only works at that store or brand family.

14 Best Department Stores Most Likely to Approve You

Approval odds shift over time, but these retailers are consistently ranked as easier approvals:

• Target RedCard: offers both a store card and a Mastercard; the store version is typically easier to get.
• Kohl's Card: known for approving scores in the high 500s and sending frequent discount coupons.
• JCPenney Credit Card: long-running easy-approval store card.
• Macy's Credit Card: starts with low limits for new credit profiles.
• TJX Rewards Card (T.J. Maxx, Marshalls, HomeGoods): one of the most accessible store cards for limited credit. Our step-by-step walkthrough for how to apply for the TJ Maxx credit card covers the process and approval odds in detail.
• Walmart Credit Card: a popular big-box option worth checking if you already shop at Walmart. See our guide on Walmart credit card approval odds with bad credit for score ranges, the Capital One underwriting process, and what happens if you get declined. Warehouse-club shoppers should also see our step-by-step guide to applying for the Sam's Club credit card, which uses the same Capital One underwriting and pre-approval flow.
• Victoria's Secret Credit Card: a specialty retail card that typically approves fair to poor credit and reports to the bureaus. See our step-by-step guide on how to apply for a Victoria's Secret credit card for requirements and perks.
• Tractor Supply Credit Card: if you shop at TSC for feed, tools, or ranch supplies, see our walkthrough on how to apply for the Tractor Supply credit card for approval requirements and rewards.
• Fingerhut: technically a catalog credit account; often approves very low credit scores.
• Old Navy Credit Card: the Navyist Rewards card covers Gap Inc. brands like Old Navy, Gap, Banana Republic, and Athleta. It is one of the easier apparel cards to get approved for, and the store version reports to the credit bureaus.
• Amazon Store Card: a store-branded secured option that bundles credit building with Prime rewards. The secured structure makes approval easier for thin or damaged credit, so it is worth a look if Amazon is where most of your spending goes.
• Buckle Credit Card: this denim and apparel chain runs the Buckle Bucks loyalty program and tends to approve fair credit. It is a closed-loop card, so it only works at Buckle.
• Woman Within Credit Card: a plus-size apparel card with lenient approval standards for shoppers rebuilding credit. Limits usually start low, which keeps the balance manageable.
• Eddie Bauer Credit Card: aimed at outdoor and workwear buyers, this card reports to the bureaus and is reachable with fair credit. Use it for planned purchases and pay in full to build history.

All are closed-loop store cards or have an optional upgrade to a network-branded version.

How to Pick the Right One

Choose a store you actually shop at. A Kohl's card you never use won't help your credit nearly as much as a card you put a small monthly charge on.

Also check the APR, late fees, and whether the card reports to all three credit bureaus. Most major department store cards report to all three. If two stores feel equal, pick the one with the lower minimum interest charge.

Using a Store Card Without Getting Hurt

Store cards are a tool, not a spending license. Follow these rules:

• Charge one planned purchase per month, nothing more.
• Pay in full before the due date, always.
• Keep your utilization below 30% of the low credit limit.
• Never carry a balance at a 25-30% APR unless you absolutely cannot avoid it.

Do this for six months and you'll have a positive tradeline that can raise your score by double digits.

3 Store Card Alternatives

If you shop mostly online or at non-department retailers, a store card might not add much value. These three cards work anywhere and are built for people rebuilding credit, so they can do more for your score than a card tied to a single store.

The Aspire® Cash Back Rewards Mastercard is an unsecured card with no security deposit, and you can prequalify for up to a $1,000 credit limit without affecting your score. It earns up to 3% cash back and works anywhere Mastercard is accepted, which makes it far more flexible than a closed-loop store card.

Perpay takes a different approach by tying your payments to your paycheck. Automatic transfers from each paycheck make it easier to stay on track, and there is no security deposit to fund up front. Members see an average score increase of around 30 points, so it is a strong pick if you want credit building to run on autopilot.

Arro is a good fit if you want a credit line that grows with you. There is no deposit and no hard credit check, and you start with up to $300 and build toward a $2,500 limit by completing simple in-app tasks. It also earns 1% cash back on gas and groceries, including at Walmart and Target.

And if you can't trust yourself not to overspend at your favorite store, it's better to pass until you've built a steady payment habit.

Store Card Comparison Chart

Here is a side-by-side look at all 14 store cards, who each one fits best, and how easy approval tends to be.

Approval is never guaranteed, and the difficulty column is a general guide based on each issuer's typical underwriting. Always use a store's pre-qualification tool when one is available.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the easiest department store credit card to get with bad credit? Kohl's, Target RedCard (store version), JCPenney, and TJX Rewards are consistently among the easiest approvals for lower credit scores. Approval is never guaranteed, but these retailers target credit rebuilders with lenient underwriting.

Will a department store card help my credit score? Yes, as long as the issuer reports to the major credit bureaus, which most major store cards do. On-time payments build credit history, and responsible use can raise your score in 3-6 months.

Can I get a department store card with a 550 credit score? Many store cards approve scores in the 550-600 range. Some, like Fingerhut, have even lower thresholds. Use the store's pre-qualification tool (soft pull, no score impact) to check your odds before applying.

Why are interest rates on store cards so high? Store cards target higher-risk borrowers, so the issuer prices in more risk. APRs of 25-35% are common. Always pay your store card balance in full to avoid these rates.

Should I keep a store card after I qualify for a better credit card? Yes, if it has no annual fee. An older account in good standing improves your credit age and lowers overall utilization. Use it for one small purchase each year with autopay to keep it active.

The Bottom Line

Department store cards are one of the easiest approvals for bad credit, but only worth it if you treat them as a credit-building tool. Pick one store you genuinely shop at, pay on time every month, and upgrade to a better card as your score climbs.