Pros
- No annual fee is required
- Entitle to earn 1 rewards point for every $1 spent at JCPenney or jcp.com
- $10 in JCPenney Rewards for every 200 points you earn
- Tons of ways to exclusively save at JCPenney
Cons
- It has a very high purchase APR
- Reward points don’t expire as long as you earn points at least once every 12 months
- Rewards certificates expire within a few months
- The card can only be used at JCPenney and affiliated stores
Table of Contents
What to know about the JCPenney Credit Card
The JCPenney Credit Card is issued by Synchrony Bank, serves as a persuasive alternative for admirers of department store credit cards. Before you apply, there is a certain prerequisite that must be taking into consideration.
Simple points for your purchases
At every purchase whether in-store or online to qualify you to a JCPenney Credit Card, you are entitled to one point of every $1 spent.
Automatic rewards
When your account hits a balance of 200 rewards points, you’ll automatically be sent a $10 JCPenney Rewards certificate that you can be used for eligible purchases at JCPenney.
That works out to a rewards rate of 5%, which is pretty nice. And rewards certificates should be available electronically within 24 hours of reaching the magic 200-point mark.
When benefits in your favor accrue to some certain percentage such as 200 rewards, automatically a $10 JCPenney Rewards certificate that serves you to be eligible will be available to you electronically.
Unlimited Rewards that you can stack
There’s no limit to the number of JCPenney Rewards certificates you can earn. You can redeem up to 10 JCPenney Rewards certificates — that’s up to $100 in rewards — on a single purchase in-store or online.
JCPenney cardholders have no limit in earning benefits or rewards as required. You could redeem up to 10JCPenney rewards certificates which is equivalent to $100 in the reward being it on a single purchase in-store or online.
Points that never expire (as long as you keep spending)
Your rewards points remain yours as long as keep your JCPenney Rewards membership active by earning points at least once every 12 months.
To sustain your JCPenney rewards membership, all you need to do is to keep earning points at least once every 12 months.
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Find Exclusive deals
Eligible JCPenney Rewards members will receive notification of members-only offers such as bonus points opportunities, coupons, and even a special birthday offer.
Exclusive deals include rewards where members will enjoy bonuses like coupons and a birthday offer etc.
What More to know about the JCPenney Credit Card
The JCPenney Credit Card isn’t without its drawback. Watch out for these unimpressed features.
Just like any other credit card with its weakness, so is The JCPenney Credit Card
#1. High purchase APR: This card comes with an interest rate that’s no joke — 25.99%. If your balance carries over month to month, your interest due could be exorbitant.
#2. High Purchase APR: The 25.99% interest rate is so exorbitant and it’s not favorable to rely on for operation.
#3. Cap on your transactional earnings: If you’re hoping to collect in the rewards on a huge single purchase, have a second thought. You’re limited to 2,000 Rewards Points per transaction, regardless of the price of your purchase.
#4. Ticking clock on rewards certificates: Your points may not expire while your account is active, but those $10 rewards certificates don’t last as long.
Note the expiration date on each certificate you have — and be sure to use your rewards certificates before that date.
Who this card is good for
Who needs this card most?
As with most store cards, there are zero benefits to carrying this, if you’re not a regular shopper at JCPenney. And if you tend to carry a balance from one month into the next, you could wind up paying more in crazy-high interest rates — considering the card’s 25.99% purchase APR — than you recoup in rewards.
It is obvious that there exists a zero benefit to be carried on provided you are not a regular shopper at JCPenney. This means that carrying a balance from one month to the other will compel you to pay high-interest rates.
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Want more rewards? How to get the JCPenney® Gold Card and JCPenney Platinum Card
Do you need more rewards with JCPenney Gold Card and JCPenney Platinum Card
Like other retailers, JCPenney offers a tiered rewards system for its cardholders.
When your spending on the JCPenney Credit Card for the calendar year hits $500 in purchases at JCPenney stores and online, you’ll be upgraded to the JCPenney Gold Card, though that level gives you a little more than a special JCPenney coupon book.
You’ll have to keep your annual spending on the card at $500 or more on qualifying purchases to maintain Gold status.
This depends on your spending in a year. If your purchase in a year is estimated to be $500 at JCPenney stores and online, then be sure of your upgrade to the next Gold card with an offer of the coupon book.
Once your calendar-year spending on the JCPenney Credit Card hits $1,000-plus in purchases at JCPenney stores and online, JCPenney bumps you up to its Platinum Card.
Extra perks include special sales available only to Platinum members. You’ll have to keep your annual spending at $1,000 or more on qualifying purchases to maintain Platinum status.
When your spending in a year at JCPenney Credit Card hits $1,000 or more in purchases at any of their outlet or online, it will definitely take you to Platinum Card. Extra bonuses such as special sales are available to the members.
So there you have it. I hope this helps!