Store cards from these one-stop-shop giants offer great value

By Sabrina Karl

Opening a store credit card often isn’t a great idea. While the cashier will tempt you with an attractive discount that day, the card may end up costing you more than it saves you, given the never-ending hooks they’ll send to lure you into spending more at their store.

 

There are four store cards, however, that offer much better odds of benefiting you overall (assuming you pay off your balance every month), and those stores are Target, Amazon, Walmart, and Costco.

 

These behemoth retailers each offer a card that provides discounts as high as 5%. And since these are places you likely stock up on groceries and household supplies, you’re saving on everyday purchases, not just discretionary purchases you get tempted into.

 

Target’s RedCard is arguably the most consumer-friendly, as it provides a 5% discount right at the register, both in-store and online. No need to accumulate rewards and redeem them later (which is how the three cards below operate). The RedCard also extends your return window and provides free shipping from Target.com.

 

Amazon has two store cards, both offering 5% off Amazon purchases. One card can only be used at Amazon and also offers a “buy now, pay later” option, while the other card works everywhere, with 5% also earned at Whole Foods, 2% at restaurants, gas stations, and drugstores, and 1% elsewhere.

 

Walmart’s card also offers 5% cash back—at Walmart.com always, and in-store for the first year. In Year 2, the in-store cash back percentage changes to 2%, which is also what you’ll earn on dining and travel. Everything else earns 1%.

 

Lastly, Costco’s card is great for gasoline. While in-store and online Costco purchases earn 2% cash back, you’ll earn 4% at almost any U.S. gas station, with restaurants and travel earning 3%, and everything else 1%.